10 Things NFL Fans Should Know About Jim Brown
Football fans are never shy about showing their love for their favorite players, or their hate for their least favorite. While many people are aware of who Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns is, a lot of modern NFL fans haven’t heard much of this bonafide legend. He may have only won a single championship throughout his career, but that doesn’t make him any less legendary than some of the all-time greats.
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He won Rookie Of The Year, was a multi-time MVP, and was named to the Pro Bowl countless times over his career. Jim Brown’s legendary status is one that most people should be made aware of since there is so much to know about the incredible athlete.
10 He Is Often Regarded As The Greatest Player Of All Time
Those who don’t know of Jim Brown may be surprised that many hold him in incredibly high regard. While he doesn’t get mentioned as often as some, it’s usually because he didn’t spend his career playing as a quarterback.
Instead, Brown played as a fullback, and as a result, became one of the greatest running backs to ever play. He demolished various NFL records during his time in the league and set an entirely new standard for what being great in the NFL truly meant.
9 He Didn’t Play In The NFL For All That Long
When most people think of the greatest players in NFL history, those with lengthy careers in the sport often come to mind. Someone like Tom Brady has been in the NFL since the year 2000, but Jim Brown only spent nine years in the NFL.
It’s a testament to just how good Brown was that he is seen in such high regard despite significantly less play than many famed players. It didn’t take him long to make his mark, setting an incredible record just nine games into his career.
8 He Was Invited To The Pro Bowl Every Year Of His Career
Most football fans are well aware of the fact that being named to the Pro Bowl is a significant honor. Plenty of players have managed to make it to the game over the years, but few have managed to be invited every single year of their career.
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With nine seasons in the NFL, Brown was invited to the Pro Bowl each and every time thanks to his explosive play. If he hadn’t wound up injured, he likely could have solidified himself as the greatest player in the sport’s history.
7 He Was A Multi-Sport Phenom
Most athletes that compete at a high level are likely to have more than a few skills that can transfer from sport to sport. Luckily for Brown, his skills helped him thrive in a handful of other sports throughout his life.
While the sport is focused on much less than others, Brown is considered to be one of the greatest Lacrosse players to ever pick up the game as well. Other sports he was said to have excelled in were basketball, baseball, and a whole host of track and field events.
6 He Had An Incredible Acting Career
Since Brown’s NFL career didn’t last all that long, it only made sense that he would use his fam to transition into another field. While he likely could have done anything he set his mind to, Brown wound up deciding to go into acting.
Brown wasn’t just the average actor either, taking bit parts and cameo roles in whatever he could, he became a leading man in Hollywood. His incredible career saw him rack up more than fifty different acting credits, something that most people only dream of.
5 He Was In The Military While Playing Football
While he wasn’t on active duty during his time in the US military, Brown did actually play in the NFL while acting as a member of the army reserve. Most people probably wouldn’t do anything like that these days, but Brown was capable of just about anything.
He served out four years in the reserves before finally being discharged from his service. He would leave the military with the rank of Captain, only to go on to cement himself as one of the most prolific NFL players of all time.
4 He Has Had A Lot Of Legal Issues
Jim Brown may have managed to show the world just how great he could be on the field, but it’s also worth mentioning that he has had his fair share of rather serious legal issues over the years.
Brown has been arrested for and accused of more than a few serious crimes over the years. While many cases wound up dismissed after some time, he did also spend some time in jail on two separate instances, even if those instances were relatively short. It just goes to show that even those on top of the world can have dark personal lives.
3 He Set A Major Record In His Rookie Year
Every NFL player hopes to set records each time they get on the field, but that can’t happen for just any player. Jim Brown was far from the average player, so he set a significant record just nine games into his NFL career.
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Brown managed to rush for 237 yards, a record that would go unchallenged for 14 years. Even more impressive, a rookie wouldn’t be able to topple that record for another 40 years. The accolade was just another that helped Brown stand out from all the other players of that era.
2 He Broke Ground As An Announcer And Commentator
While acting seemed to be the pursuit that Brown most followed through with for much of his career, he did also spend some time as both an announcer and commentator. He actually broke ground in two separate sports.
Brown was one of the men responsible for helping the UFC get started as he worked as a commentator during the company's early events. He was also the first black man to be televised as a boxing announcer. His contribution to various sports is something that should never go unnoticed.
1 He Has Advised The Cleveland Browns
With all the talent in the world and plenty of knowledge to offer to the next generation of players, Brown began to serve as an executive advisor for the Cleveland Browns in 2008. Unfortunately, seeing how the Browns haven’t been doing great for quite a while, his advice doesn’t seem to have helped.
Later in 2013, Brown was then named as a special advisor to Cleveland, but just how different that role was from his previous role is anyone’s guess. Regardless of the outcomes, it’s good that Brown was willing to bestow his knowledge on a team that definitely needed it.
