Legendary Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown has passed away at the age of 87. The sad news was confirmed by Brown’s wife, Monique Brown, in a social media post.
According to the statement released on Instagram, Brown “passed peacefully” at the couple’s LA home on Thursday.
“To the world, he was an activist, actor, and football star,” Monique Brown wrote. “To our family, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken.”
Jim Brown is widely considered one of the best football players in NFL history. He entered the league as a first-round pick by the Browns in 1957 and spent all of his nine years as a pro with the franchise.
During his time in Cleveland, Brown led the league in rushing in eight seasons and made the Pro Bowl in each of his seasons in the NFL. He also helped the Browns win the NFL championship in 1964 while being named NFL’s Most Valuable Player three times.
Brown retired after the 1965 season with 12,312 rushing yards and 106 rushing touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
After his football career ended, Brown dedicated his life to civil rights work. He also ventured into acting and served as a color commentator for boxing and UFC.
