Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown, the unstoppable running back who retired at the height of his career to become an actor and prominent civil rights advocate in the 1960s, has died. He was 87.
A spokesman for Brown's family said he died peacefully Thursday night at his Los Angeles home with his wife, Monique. To the world he was an activist, actor and football star," Monique Brown wrote in an Instagram post on Friday. "To our family he was a loving husband, father and grandfather. Our hearts are broken."
One of football's first superstars, Brown was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1965 and shattered the league's record books during the short 1957-65 season.
Brown led the Cleveland Browns to their last NFL championship in 1964 before retiring at age 65 after one season to become an actor. He has appeared in more than 30 films, including "But on a Given Sunday" and "The Dirty Dozen."
The arrival of Brown, a powerful runner with speed and endurance, led to the growing popularity of the game on television.
As black Americans fought for equality, Brown used his looks and voice to advance his cause.
"I hope every black athlete takes the time to educate themselves about this incredible man and what he did to change all of our lives," NBA star LeBron James said. "We all stand on your shoulders, Jim Brown."
In June 1967, Brown organized a Cleveland summit that brought together the nation's best black athletes, including Bill Russell and Lew Alcindor, who would later become Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to support boxer Muhammad Ali's fight against serving in Vietnam.
In later years, he worked to curb gang violence in LA and in 1988 founded Amer-I-Can, a program that helps disadvantaged urban youth and ex-convicts. Some say there has never been anyone better on the field than Cleveland's incomparable #32. At 189cm (189cm) and 230lb (104kg), he was relentless, fighting for every yard and dragging multiple defenders with him. or finding holes where there didn't seem to be any.
Brown was an eight-time All-Pro and went to the Pro Bowl in each of his nine years in the league. When Brown left the game at age 30, he held the league records for passing yards (12,312) and touchdowns (126).
And despite his bruising style, the Browns never trailed, going 118 straight. Jim Brown is a true icon not only for the Cleveland Browns, but for the entire NFL," said Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. "He was definitely the best Browns uniform ever worn and probably one of the best players in the NFL - history Jim was one of the reasons the Browns have such a large fan base today. "So many people grew up watching him dominate every time he stepped on the football field, but his countless accolades on the field tell only a small part of his story." His commitment to making a positive impact on all of humanity off the field is what he should also be known for.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell offered his condolences on behalf of the league.
"Jim Brown was a gifted athlete — one of the most dominant players to ever step onto a sports field — as well as a cultural figure who helped lead change," Goodell said.
Brown, on the other hand, was a controversial figure outside the court and was arrested half a dozen times, mostly on charges of hitting on women.
Source: Aljazeera
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