Socialites, we have some unfortunate news to share. Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown sadly passed at age 87.
A spokeswoman for Brown’s family confirmed that he died peacefully in his Los Angeles home on Thursday night. His wife, Monique, was by his side. “It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of my husband, Jim Brown,” she wrote. “He passed peacefully last night in our LA home. To the world, he was an activist, actor, and football star. To our family, he was a loving and wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken…”
Brown who led the Cleveland Browns to their last NFL title in 1964 before retiring in his prime in ‘65 wasn’t just a legendary athlete, he was also an amazing actor who appeared in more than 30 films, including “Any Given Sunday” and “The Dirty Dozen.” In addition to that he was also a prominent civil rights advocate during the 1960s.
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Knowing his great power, Brown used his platform and voice to push for equality when it came to Black Americans. In 1967, he organized a meeting in Cleveland with the nation’s top Black athletes, including Bill Russell and Lew Alcindor, who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to support boxer Muhammad Ali’s fight against the war in Vietnam, ActionNews5 notes. He started an initiative to help curb gang violence in LA and later came up with Amer-I-Can, which is a program to help disadvantaged inner-city youth and ex-convicts.
While playing for the league, Brown was named a Pro Bowler every year he played. In addition to that, he was named the greatest football player ever by the Sporting News in 2002. He was even selected to the NFL 100 all-time team and was ranked as the No. 1 all-time player on the College Football 150 list in 2020.
The NFL has also released a statement on Brown’s passing. The league said, “We are heartbroken by the passing of the legendary Jim Brown. One of the greatest players in NFL history, a true pioneer and activist. Jim Brown’s legacy will live on forever.”
The Cleveland Browns also tweeted, “Jim Brown Forever 🧡🤎♾️ Legend. Leader. Activist. Visionary. It’s impossible to describe the profound love and gratitude we feel for having the opportunity to be a small piece of Jim’s incredible life and legacy. We mourn his passing, but celebrate the indelible light he brought to the world. Our hearts are with Jim’s family, loved ones, and all those he impacted along the way.”
Jim Brown will be greatly missed.
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What a great man! I didn’t know him but his accomplishments speaks for himself. So sad to see him gone! I hope his proteges will continue to be a light in darkness!