- Byname of:
- James Nathaniel Brown
- Born:
- February 17, 1936, St. Simons, Georgia, U.S.
- Died:
- May 18, 2023, Los Angeles, California (aged 87)
- Awards And Honors:
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (1971)
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (inducted 1971)
- 1 NFL championship
- 3 NFL Most Valuable Player awards
- 8 All-Pro selections
- 9 Pro Bowl selections
- 1963 Bert Bell Award (Player of the Year)
- Education:
- Syracuse University
- Height/Weight:
- 6 ft 2 inches, 232 lb (1.88 m, 105 kg)
- Position:
- fullback
- Jersey Number:
- 32 (Cleveland Browns, 1957–1965)
- Draft:
- Drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first round (sixth overall) of the 1957 NFL draft.
- Games Played:
- 118
- Rushing Attempts:
- 2359
- Touchdowns:
- 106
- Yards Gained By Passing:
- 12312
- Yards Per Attempt:
- 5.2
Jim Brown
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Who was Jim Brown?
Jim Brown (1936–2023) was a celebrated American professional football player and actor. Brown played for the Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965 and led the NFL in rushing for eight of those seasons. Standing at 6.2 feet (1.88 meters) tall, he was known for his speed and strength as a runner.
Before his NFL career, Brown excelled in multiple sports at Syracuse University, earning All-America honors in football and lacrosse. After retiring from football at age 30, Brown pursued acting, appearing in films such as The Dirty Dozen and Mars Attacks! He was also involved in African American issues, forming groups to support Black-owned businesses and rehabilitate gang members.
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What sport did Jim Brown play professionally?
Jim Brown played American gridiron football professionally for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 to 1965. During that time, he led the league in rushing for eight seasons. Brown was a dominant player, considered one of the best running backs of all time. In his final year at Syracuse, Brown earned All-America honors 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. At 30 years old, Brown retired from football to pursue an acting career.
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Which team did Jim Brown play for in the NFL?
Jim Brown played for the Cleveland Browns in the NFL from 1957 to 1965. As a fullback, he wore jersey number 32. During his nine seasons, Brown led the league in rushing for eight. He gained 12,312 yards in 2,359 rushing attempts, averaging 5.22 yards per attempt. Brown also scored 106 touchdowns by rushing. He was drafted by the Browns in the first round (sixth overall) of the 1957 NFL draft.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What made Jim Brown stand out as a football player?
Jim Brown stood out as a dominant football player due to his exceptional all-around athletic ability, excelling in football, basketball, baseball, track, and lacrosse. From 1957 through 1965, he played for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL, leading the league in rushing yardage for eight of his nine seasons.
Standing 6.2 feet (1.88 meters) tall 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 set NFL single-season records by rushing for 1,527 yards in 1958 and 1,863 yards in 1963. At the close of his career, he had scored 126 touchdowns, 106 by rushing, and had gained a record 12,312 yards in 2,359 rushing attempts for an average of 5.22 yards.
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How did Jim Brown transition from football to acting?
Jim Brown, born February 17, 1936, was an exceptional American football player who dominated the NFL as a running back for eight of his nine seasons. In 1966, at 30 years old and at the height of his athletic prowess, he retired from football to pursue a career in acting. Brown transitioned into acting and appeared in action and adventure films such as The Dirty Dozen (1967) and 100 Rifles (1969), as well as blaxploitation movies like Slaughter (1972) and Three the Hard Way (1974). He also took roles in comedies such as Mars Attacks! (1996) and She Hate Me (2004), and made frequent television appearances.
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What are some of Jim Brown's most significant achievements in sports and film?
Jim Brown excelled in football, lacrosse, basketball, baseball, and track at Syracuse University, earning All-America honors in both football and lacrosse. From 1957 to 1965, he played for the Cleveland Browns, leading the NFL in rushing for eight seasons. Brown set records, including 1,863 rushing yards in 1963, and scored 126 touchdowns. His achievements include three NFL MVP awards, one NFL championship, and multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections.
At 30, Brown retired to pursue acting, appearing in The Dirty Dozen (1967), 100 Rifles (1969), Mars Attacks! (1996), and more.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Jim Brown (born February 17, 1936, St. Simons, Georgia, U.S.—died May 18, 2023, Los Angeles, California) was an 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 is considered one of the best running backs of all time. He later found success as an actor.
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) tall 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 an acting career. He appeared in many action and adventure films, among them The Dirty Dozen (1967) and 100 Rifles (1969) as well as the blaxploitation movies Slaughter (1972) and Three the Hard Way (1974). In addition, he was cast in such comedies as Mars Attacks! (1996) and She Hate Me (2004) and made frequent television appearances. Brown was also active in issues facing African Americans, forming groups to assist Black-owned businesses and to rehabilitate gang members.
Throughout his career, Brown had various run-ins with the law, many of which involved allegations of domestic violence. In 1999 he was found guilty of vandalizing his wife’s car. Although offered probation if he followed the court’s requirements, which included counseling, Brown refused and instead served nearly four months in prison in 2002. That year Jim Brown: All American, a documentary directed by Spike Lee, was released. The autobiography Out of Bounds (written with Steve Delsohn) was published in 1989.