NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown has died at the age of 87.
On Friday, May 19, the sports world lost a legend as Brown peacefully passed away in his Los Angeles home. Throughout his football career, the University of Syracuse alum was a 3x NFL MVP, 9x pro bowler, 8x season rushing yard leader, and more. The disappointing announcement was made by Jim’s wife on Instagram:
“It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of my husband, Jim Brown. He passes peacefully last night at 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… – Monique Brown”
Between 1954 and 1956, Brown made a name for himself at the University of Syracuse, leading to his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. In 1957, he entered the NFL draft, and the Cleveland Browns used their sixth pick in the first round to select him. The Georgia native quickly validated Cleveland’s pick by becoming the NFL Rookie of the Year.
Throughout his nine-year career, Brown solidified himself as one of the greatest running backs of all time. In 1964, he achieved the ultimate team goal by winning the Super Bowl with the Cleveland Browns. One year later, the Syracuse alum retired from football after the 1965 season, ending his career with 12,313 rushing yards and 106 rushing touchdowns.
UFC honors the passing of Jim Brown
The first UFC event took place on November 12, 1993, in Denver, Colorado. Alongside Bill Wallace and Kathy Long, Jim Brown was one of the featured color commentators, which showcased his respect for martial arts. Brown commentated on the first six UFC events before parting ways with the promotion,
Once the tragic news began spreading, the UFC honored Brown on social media by saying:
“In memory of Jim Brown.”
On May 20, the UFC returns to the APEX center for UFC Vegas 73. It’ll be intriguing to see if the promotion honors Jim Brown during the broadcast. Although his contribution to the UFC was not substantial, he was supporting martial arts at a time when people were unwilling to accept the sport. May the NFL legend rest in peace.
In memory of Jim Brown. pic.twitter.com/dr7gKKBHx7
— UFC (@ufc) May 19, 2023
