Jim Brown, byname of James Nathaniel Brown (born February 17, 1936, St. Simons, Georgia, U.S.), outstanding American professional gridiron football player who led the National Football League (NFL) in rushing for eight of his nine seasons. He was the dominant player of his era and one of the small number of running backs rated as the best of all time.
In high school and at Syracuse University in New York, Brown displayed exceptional all-around athletic ability, excelling in basketball, baseball, track, and lacrosse as well as football. In his final year at Syracuse, Brown earned All-America honours in both football and lacrosse. Many considered Brown’s best sport to be lacrosse, and he was inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the U.S. Lacrosse National Hall of Fame.
From 1957 through 1965, Brown played for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL, and he led the league in rushing yardage every year except 1962. Standing 6.2 feet (1.88 metres) and weighing 232 pounds (105 kg), Brown was a bruising runner who possessed the speed to outrun opponents as well as the strength to run over them. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in seven seasons and established NFL single-season records by rushing for 1,527 yards in 1958 (12-game schedule) and 1,863 yards in 1963 (14-game schedule), a record broken by O.J. Simpson in 1973. On November 24, 1957, he set an NFL record by rushing for 237 yards in a single game, and he equaled that total on November 19, 1961. At the close of his career, he had scored 126 touchdowns, 106 by rushing, had gained a record 12,312 yards in 2,359 rushing attempts for an average of 5.22 yards, and had a record combined yardage (rushing along with pass receptions) of 14,811 yards. Brown’s rushing and combined yardage records stood until 1984, when both were surpassed by Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears.
At 30 years of age and seemingly at the height of his athletic abilities, Brown retired from football to pursue a career in motion pictures. He appeared in many action and adventure films, among them The Dirty Dozen (1967) and 100 Rifles (1969). Brown was also active in issues facing African Americans, forming groups to assist black-owned businesses and to rehabilitate gang members.
Trivia
Was a great Lacrosse player for Syracuse University. He was also inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame, in 1983.
Played fullback for the National Football League's Cleveland Browns, 1957-1965. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame 1971.
Only man to be inducted during his lifetime into three sports Halls of Fame: Pro Football, College Football, and Lacrosse.
Considered by many to be the greatest ever to play in the history of the National Football League. One defensive lineman's response as to the best way to tackle Brown: "Grab a hold of him and wait for help."
Never missed an NFL game in his career due to injury.
Despite only playing nine seasons, he retired as the all-time NFL career rushing leader with 12,312 yards. The record stood for 19 years.
In 1984 both Walter Payton and Franco Harris stood to break his NFL record of career rushing yards. Brown vowed to come back and play after 19 years of retirement if Harris broke the record because he didn't like the fact that Harris often ran out of bounds instead of fighting for every yard he could get.
First Cleveland Browns player to rush for 1,000 yards (1,527 in 1958).
Ranks 17th on NFL All-Time Rushing Attempts List (2,359).
Ranks 8th on NFL All-Time Rushing Yardage List (12,312).
Ranks 2nd on NFL All-Time Rushing Average List (5.219).
Ranks 4th on NFL All-Time Rushing Touchdowns List (106).
Born to a devoutly Baptist family.
Inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Lacrosse Hall of Fame, making him one of the few athletes in more than one hall of fame. Brown was unanimously named the Rookie of the Year in 1957. He was recognized that season as the NFL's Most Valuable Player by many media organizations. In all, he earned league MVP honors four times (1957, 1958, 1963, and 1965).
Brown starred in 100 Rifles (1969), with Burt Reynolds which featured one of the first interracial love scenes in film (with Raquel Welch).
He was selected as All American in both Football and Lacrosse from Syracuse University.
His favorite films of his own are The Dirty Dozen, Slaughter, and Mars Attacks!.
Posed for a nude centerfold in the September 1974 issue of Playgirl Magazine.
He was a close friend of the late actor Lee Marvin.
Even though, he had retired from the NFL after the 1965 Season, he remained on the Reserve/Retired List of the Cleveland Browns until 1975.