LOS ANGELES, CA (SNN-TV) – Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown has died at age 87.
One of the greatest players in pro football history, Brown was chosen the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1965 and shattered the league’s record books in a short career from 1957 to 1965. Brown’s family said he passed away peacefully in his Los Angeles home last night with his wife, Monique, by his side.
Brown had a nearly immaculate NFL career. He played nine seasons for the Cleveland Browns and led the league in rushing eight times. He was a Pro Bowler all nine seasons and a first-team All-Pro eight times. Before he abruptly retired in 1966, he had the most rushing yards and touchdowns in NFL history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971. He also appeared in more than 30 films, including “Any Given Sunday” and “The Dirty Dozen.”
An unstoppable runner with power, speed and endurance, Brown was also a prominent leader in the Black community during the civil rights movement in the 1960s. He dedicated much of his life after retirement to numerous social causes.