Jim Brown, NFL’s all-time great running back and social activist, dies at 87 | NFL News

Cleveland Browns: It’s not possible to explain the deep love and gratitude we really feel for having the chance to be a small piece of Jim’s unbelievable life and legacy. We mourn his passing, however have fun the indelible gentle he dropped at the world.

NFL Corridor of Famer Jim Brown, the unstoppable working again who retired on the top of his glittering profession to turn into an actor in addition to a distinguished civil rights activist within the Nineteen Sixties, has died on the 87 years outdated.

A spokeswoman for Brown’s household stated he handed away peacefully at his Los Angeles residence on Thursday night along with his spouse, Monique, by his aspect.

One of many biggest gamers in soccer historical past and one of many recreation’s first superstars, Brown was named the NFL’s Most Worthwhile Participant in 1965 and broke the league’s file books throughout a a brief profession from 1957 to 1965.

Brown led the Cleveland Browns to their final NFL title in 1964 earlier than retiring in his prime after the 1965 season to pursue performing.

He appeared in over 30 movies, together with Any Given Sunday and The Soiled Dozen.

An unstoppable runner blessed with energy, velocity and stamina, Brown’s arrival sparked the sport’s rising reputation on tv.

When he was finished taking part in, Brown turned a distinguished chief of the Black Energy motion in the course of the civil rights struggles of the Nineteen Sixties.

He later labored to fight gang violence in Los Angeles and based Amer-I-Can – a program to assist deprived inner-city youth and ex-convicts.

On the sphere, there was nobody like Brown, who would blast would-be tacklers, refusing to let a person put him down earlier than sprinting away from linebackers and defensive backs.

He was additionally well-known for utilizing a stiff arm to take out defenders within the open area or push them again like they had been rag dolls.

“My arms had been like my protectors and my weapons,” Brown stated throughout an interview with NFL Movies.

Certainly, Brown was not like any again earlier than him, and a few imagine there has by no means been a greater one than Cleveland’s incomparable No. 32.

At 6ft 2in and 230lbs, he was dominant, relentless and ruthless, his flagship reels that includes races round and thru opponents, preventing for each yard, dragging down a number of defenders or discovering holes the place none had been. appeared to exist.

After Brown was tackled, he slowly acquired up and got here again much more slowly to the huddle – then towered over the protection when he acquired the ball once more.

Off the court docket, Brown was a controversial determine.

Whereas he had a gentle spot for these in want and his generosity modified lives, he was additionally arrested half a dozen occasions, largely for violence towards girls.

In June 1999, Brown’s spouse, Monique, known as 911, saying Brown had smashed her automobile with a shovel and threatened to kill her. Through the trial, Monique Brown recanted.

Jim Brown was acquitted of a home threatening cost however convicted of vandalism. The Los Angeles decide sentenced Brown to 6 months in jail for refusing to take home violence counseling.

He additionally feuded with Browns coach Paul Brown and later crew administration, regardless of taking part in his whole profession in Cleveland.

Amongst his movies had been 100 Rifles, Mars Assaults! Spike Lee’s He Received Recreation, Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday and the satire I am Gonna Git You Sucka, wherein he parodies the blaxploitation style.

In 2002, Brown was the topic of Lee’s HBO documentary, Jim Brown: All-American.

Brown was an eight-time All-Professional and went to the Professional Bowl in every of his 9 years within the league. When Brown left the sport at age 30, he held league information for yards (12,312) and touchdowns (126).

And regardless of his murderous model, Browns by no means missed a recreation, taking part in 118 straight.