Football player Jim Brown was one of the game’s greatest players. He ranks highly on the list of the best running backs in the league. Brown played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight years, retiring at the age of 30.
Become an insider. Subscribe to our newsletter for more top trending stories like this!
He won the NFL and multiple awards for his performance. Apart from playing, Brown was a civil rights activist and actor. In this article, we detail his achievements on and off the field.
People Also Read: 6 Weird Professional Sports Black People Can Try
Jim Brown’s Early Life
Jim Brown’s childhood wasn’t easy. His father abandoned him, and his mother moved to New York for work, leaving him with his grandmother. At the age of eight, he moved in with his mother and joined Manhasset High School, where his football career began. His performance was good enough to land a spot at Syracuse University.
People Also Read: Cam Newton Worth 2023: Salary, Endorsements, House & Cars
You can find quality footballs on Amazon.
College Career
Despite his prowess playing the game, Syracuse University almost missed out on football player Jim Brown because of racism. Nonetheless, one of the University’s players Kenneth Molloy, advocated for his inclusion.
Syracuse admitted him, and he was the only black footballer on the team. The school failed to honor its agreement for a full scholarship, so Molloy funded his education. He faced racist abuse.
For example, he couldn’t access the same accommodation as white players and during games, fans taunted him. That notwithstanding, he said that racism didn’t affect him.
Even in the face of such treatment, football player Jim Brown was one of the best players in his university team. He finished as the second rusher in the team, was a Consensus first-team All-American and had the most rushing touchdowns in a single game.
In addition to football, Jim Brown played basketball, track & field and lacrosse.
Join our Spotcovery Global Black Community Facebook Group for early access to exclusive content and to share in a lively discussion.
Become an insider. Subscribe to our newsletter for more top trending stories like this!
Get a protective football helmet on Amazon.
Professional Career
In 1957, Cleveland Brown drafted football player Jim Brown. He hit the ground running and produced a Rookie of the Season performance. The running back made 1 527 yards and 127.3 rushing yards, the most a player had made in a single season.
Brown also captured the most touchdowns in a season with 17. In the following seasons, he set the bar high for running backs with multiple records. He was:
- the NFL Rushing Yards Leader eight times.
- NFL rushing Touchdowns Leader five times.
- NFL Scoring Leader.
In 1964, football player Jim Brown led the Cleveland Browns to an NFL Championship. After a successful career, the running back unexpectedly announced his retirement from the sport in 1966.
In 1957, 1958 and 1965, Jim Brown was the league’s Most Valuable Player. Jim Brown left the league as the record holder in rushing yards (12, 312), and rushing touchdowns (106). He became an inductee into the Football Hall of Fame in 1977.
People Also Read: 10 Remarkable Black Baseball Players of All Time
Buy football equipment on Amazon.
Acting Career
Jim Brown transitioned to a film set and proved his dynamism. He appeared in several films, including:
- Rio Conchos (1964)
- The Dirty Dozen (1966)
- The Split (1968)
- 100 Rifles (1969)
- Riot (1969)
Activism
Football player Jim Brown was vocal about racial issues plaguing America. He called on other athletes to join the movement to improve the lives of African American people. Brown worked with:
- Kareem Abdul Jabbar
- Muhammad Ali
- Carl Stokes
- Bill Rusell.
He founded the Negro Industrial Economic Union, renamed to Black Economic Union, to open up financial opportunities to black people.
Jim Brown epitomized what we see in modern-day sports. He didn’t only see himself as a football player but as a changemaker. Brown used his platform to fight racial injustice and uplift the lives of African Americans. He died in May 2023 but his legacy in sport and society lives on.
Become an insider. Subscribe to our newsletter for more top trending stories like this!
Nearly 80% of consumers visit directories with reviews to find a local business. List your business for free in our exclusive Spotcovery Black-Owned Business Directory.
Spotcovery offers unique and fresh daily content on Black culture, lifestyle, and experiences. We talk about everything black, black people, black-owned and black-owned businesses. We also deliver authentic and relevant content that will inform, inspire, and empower you! The future of black media is critical to today’s black experience! Our primary audience includes African Americans, Africans, Afro-Caribbean, and people of African heritage. Black culture is for the culture!
