The entire NFL is in mourning after it was announced that Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown had passed away at the age of 87.
He was arguably the greatest running back ever and not just one of the greatest players in league history, but one of the greatest athletes ever in any sport.
Everyone around the league is paying their respects to the legend, including the New England Patriots, who tweeted this message to honor his memory.
A legend and a leader.
We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of @NFL great Jim Brown. pic.twitter.com/lHizxBzDw9
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) May 19, 2023
Brown’s legend began at Syracuse University, where he was not only a standout running back, but also a standout in other sports.
He was a solid basketball player, ran track and was also a dominant lacrosse player, so much so that the sport of lacrosse ended up enacting a rule change to try to neutralize his prowess.
Once he entered the NFL in 1957, he became unstoppable, and in his nine seasons, he ran for less than 1,000 yards only twice.
In fact, he surpassed 1,500 yards three times and 1,250 yards seven times, a feat that is even more impressive when one considers that an NFL season lasted just 12 games in his first four years and was then extended to 14 games (it wasn’t expanded to 16 games until 1978).
Brown played in every single game throughout his career, and he is still the only man to average at least 100 rushing yards a game for his entire NFL tenure.
Along the way, he led the Cleveland Browns, the only team he ever played for, to their last championship in 1964.
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