Ten fun facts about Jim Brown

Fact 1
He is widely considered to be one of the greatest professional athletes in the history of the United States.

Fact 2
Perhaps more impressive was his success as a multi-sport athlete. In addition to his football accomplishments, he excelled in basketball, track, and especially lacrosse.

Fact 3
He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965.

Fact 4
In 2002, he was named by Sporting News as the greatest professional football player ever.

Fact 5
He was very difficult to tackle (shown by his leading 5.2 yards per carry), often requiring more than one person to bring him down.

Fact 6
Brown holds the record for total seasons leading the NFL in all-purpose yards (5: 1958–1961, 1964), and is the only rusher in NFL history to average over 100 yards per game for a career.

Fact 7
Brown retired after nine seasons as opposed to the all time rushing leader Emmit Smith's fourteen and remains the National Football league's ninth all-time leading rusher. Brown is still the Cleveland Browns all-time leading rusher.

Fact 8
Brown's 1,863 rushing yards in the 1963 season remain a Cleveland franchise record. It is currently the oldest franchise record for rushing yards out of all 32 NFL teams.

Fact 9
Brown began an acting career before the 1964 season, playing a Buffalo Soldier in a western action film called Rio Conchos.

Fact 10
Biographer Mike Freeman credits Brown with becoming “the first black action star”, thanks to roles like the Marine captain he portrayed in the hit 1968 film Ice Station Zebra.

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