Remembering Jim Brown: The legend, the icon, the greatest NFL player of all-time

(Photo by Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images)

When you’re a Cleveland Browns fan you learn early on about the greatness of Jim Brown and what he not only meant to the Browns but to the NFL overall. The legend died earlier on Friday at the age of 87. The Hall of Famer, nine-time Pro-Bowler and rushing champ in every one of those years was unstoppable as a running back.

3x MVP
1964 NFL champion
9x Pro Bowler
8x first-team All-Pro
Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1971
NFL 100 All-Time Team

Jim Brown will forever be one of the greatest to play the game we love. pic.twitter.com/JXF5dBlA38

— NFL (@NFL) May 19, 2023

He was the “Iron Man” of the league from 1957 to 1965 before stunning the world by retiring from the game he loved in 1966. Before then, Brown racked up outrageous stats that will never be seen again. Back in his day, the NFL only had 12 game schedules and yet he finished with a career total of 12,312 yards on the ground, a record that will likely remain as the best in Browns history. He rushed for 106 rushing touchdowns. He finished his career with a dazzling 5.2 yards per carry average.

In 1964, Cleveland won their last NFL Championship against the Baltimore Colts 27-0 in large part thanks to Brown’s efforts. He didn’t score in that game. The Browns quarterback Frank Ryan threw three second half touchdowns to Gary Collins.

Brown though was fantastic in getting the team moving in that second half. He ran off a powerful run of 46 yards and his 27 carries for 114 yards sparked the rally in that game.

The legend only grew after football, when he shocked the world in 1966 by quitting the game and going into show business and making blockbuster movies like the “Dirty Dozen”

He also became a huge advocate for social justice and helping youth across the country as a spokesperson and activist.

For the Cleveland fans, remembering the greatness of Brown is walking down memory lane of all those fantastic teams back then when Brown was at his best, which was seemingly all the time.

Browns accomplishments and stardom had become something that this team and the town itself have always honored.

Brown was very visible in the community and with his former team.

Former Cleveland stars like Lebron James would bring up the legend and pay tribute to him on the biggest stage. When the Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA Championship, Brown was there on stage with the Cavs and James.

Now, with Brown’s passing, that legend will grow even more. How will his former team honor Brown in the coming days and how will they pay tribute to the greatest player of all-time?

For now, enjoy watching old videos and listening to and reading all the great stories of this icon.

 

Please listen here to my latest show honoring Jim Brown on our Fanatical Elfz Network

https://megaphone.link/RRTET5608024387