Jim Brown

Brown was born on St. Simons Island, Georgia, to Swinton Brown, a professional boxer, and his wife, Theresa, a homemaker.{{cite news |last1=Valentine |first1=Natalie |title=Jim Brown |url=https://surface.syr.edu/sumagazine/vol12/iss3/5/ |access-date=March 28, 2023 |work=Syracuse University Magazine |date=April 1, 1996 |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013223717/https://surface.syr.edu/sumagazine/vol12/iss3/5/ |url-status=live }} He attended Manhasset Secondary School in Manhasset, New York. Brown earned 13 letters playing football, lacrosse, baseball, basketball, and running track.{{cite news|last=Holden|first=Stephen|date=March 22, 2002|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A04E1D71138F931A15750C0A9649C8B63|url-status=live|title=Film Review; Jim Brown as Football Legend, Sex Symbol and Husband|work=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823174814/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A04E1D71138F931A15750C0A9649C8B63|archive-date=August 23, 2013|access-date=October 15, 2007}}

{{blockquote|Mr. Brown credits his self-reliance to having grown up on Saint Simons Island, a community off the coast of Georgia where he was raised by his grandmother and where racism did not affect him directly. At the age of eight, he moved to Manhasset, New York, on Long Island, where his mother worked as a domestic. It was at Manhasset High School that he became a football star and athletic legend.|The New York Times – film review, 2002.}}

In football, he led Nassau County in scoring twice—in 1951 and 1952—and matched that feat in basketball, topping the county in scoring in both 1952 and 1953. His 38.1 points per game average in 1953 is still a Nassau County record.

His athletic prowess was such that he was even scouted by the New York Yankees and offered a minor league contract.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-04 |title=What the Data Say: Jim Brown – athletic marvel |url=https://theroanoketribune.org/what-the-data-say-jim-brown-athletic-marvel/ |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=The ROANOKE TRIBUNE |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Carlson |first=Chris |date=2023-05-20 |title=Jim Brown, a flawed hero, made his case as the greatest athlete who ever lived while at Syracuse |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2023/05/jim-brown-a-flawed-hero-made-his-case-as-the-greatest-athlete-who-ever-lived-while-at-syracuse.html?outputType=amp |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=syracuse |language=en}} Curious to test his abilities further, he prioritized baseball that spring and found some success pitching and playing first base, but decided his skills wouldn’t get him to the major leagues and ultimately sent his regrets to then-Yankees manager Casey Stengel.{{Cite web |title=Jim Brown, Football Player, Actor, Activist |url=https://aaregistry.org/story/jim-brown-athlete-actor-activist/#:~:text=Brown%20attended%20Plandome%20Road%20Junior,him%20a%20minor-league%20contract. |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=African American Registry |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Fanatics Collect {{!}} Trading Cards, Memorabilia & More |url=https://www.fanaticscollect.com/definitive-guides/a-guide-to-jim-browns-football-cards?srsltid=AfmBOopxYhMW3C3-YBgLsrccEL23lsNJ-MUVNHkFokYQZCcPjhqEB9d8 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=www.fanaticscollect.com |language=en}}

File:Jim Brown in 1953 yearbook.jpg in New York]]

Lawyer and Syracuse University lacrosse star Kenneth Molloy, who was involved with the lacrosse program at Manhasset, was a benefactor of Brown and persuaded his alma mater to admit him, which was difficult because according to Molloy, "[Syracuse] did not want black athletes."{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Robert |title=SPORTS WORLD SPECIALS; The Greatest Ever |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/06/06/sports/sports-world-specials-the-greatest-ever.html |access-date=May 20, 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=June 6, 1983 |archive-date=May 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520045657/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/06/06/sports/sports-world-specials-the-greatest-ever.html |url-status=live }} Brown was the only African-American player on the football team as a freshman in 1953, and promises of a full scholarship in the second half of the year were not honored; Molloy personally financed and fundraised for Brown's first year at the school. He endured racist taunts while he was at Syracuse. He was treated differently from teammates: he was housed in a non-athlete dormitory, warned against dating Caucasian women, and the coaching staff attempted to put him at other positions, including punter, lineman, and wide receiver.{{cite news |last1=Croyle |first1=Jonathan |title=Jim Brown in 1989: Former Syracuse great looks down on life from lofty perch |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2023/05/jim-brown-in-1989-former-syracuse-great-looks-down-on-life-from-lofty-perch-from-the-archives.html |access-date=May 20, 2023 |work=Syracuse.com |date=May 19, 2023 |archive-date=May 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519220623/https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2023/05/jim-brown-in-1989-former-syracuse-great-looks-down-on-life-from-lofty-perch-from-the-archives.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Carlson |first1=Chris |title=Brown, a flawed hero, made his case as the greatest athlete who ever lived while at SU |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2023/05/jim-brown-a-flawed-hero-made-his-case-as-the-greatest-athlete-who-ever-lived-while-at-syracuse.html |access-date=May 22, 2023 |work=Syracuse Post-Standard |date=May 20, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=May 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522034540/https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2023/05/jim-brown-a-flawed-hero-made-his-case-as-the-greatest-athlete-who-ever-lived-while-at-syracuse.html |url-status=live }}

As a sophomore at Syracuse, Brown was the second-leading rusher on the team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jim-brown-1.html|title=Jim Brown College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits|website=Sports Reference|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519222638/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jim-brown-1.html|url-status=live}} As a junior, he rushed for 676 yards (5.2 per carry). In his senior year in 1956, Brown was a consensus first-team All-American. He finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting and set school records for highest season rush average (6.2) and most rushing touchdowns in a single game (6).{{Cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/heisman-1956.html|title=1956 Heisman Trophy Voting|website=Sports Reference|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=December 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212171107/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/heisman-1956.html|url-status=live}} He ran for 986 yards—third-most in the country despite Syracuse playing only eight games—and scored 14 touchdowns. In the regular-season finale, a 61–7 rout of Colgate, he rushed for 197 yards, scored six touchdowns, and kicked seven extra points for a then-NCAA-record 43 points.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-16 |title=Today in Sports - Syracuse fullback Jim Brown scores an NCAA Football record 43 points |url=https://apnews.com/sports/syracuse-orange-new-york-knicks-college-sports-jim-brown-72d5e3d77600ae9896b338f3abfd8253 |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=AP News |language=en}} Then in the Cotton Bowl, he rushed for 132 yards, scored three touchdowns, and kicked three extra points, but a blocked extra point after Syracuse's third touchdown was the difference as TCU won 28–27.{{cite web |url=http://www.mmbolding.com/bowls/Cotton_1957.htm |title=The Cotton Bowl 1957 |publisher=Mmbolding.com |access-date=December 18, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608131328/http://www.mmbolding.com/bowls/Cotton_1957.htm |archive-date=June 8, 2011 }}

In addition to his football accomplishments, he excelled in basketball, track, and especially lacrosse.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2020/08/jim-brown-dominated-in-two-sports|title=Jim Brown Dominated in Two Sports | Pro Football Hall of Fame|website=pfhof|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519222638/https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2020/08/jim-brown-dominated-in-two-sports/|url-status=live}} As a sophomore, he was the second-leading scorer for the basketball team (15 ppg), and earned a letter on the track team. In 1955, he finished in fifth place in the decathlon at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.{{cite web |url=https://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=30 |title=T&FN – Past Results |access-date=May 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055946/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=30 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }} His junior year, he averaged 11.3 points in basketball, and was named a second-team All-American in lacrosse. His senior year, he was named a first-team All-American in lacrosse with 43 goals in 10 games, tying for first in national scoring with Jack Daut, and was the first African-American to play in the North–South All Star Game.{{Cite web |title=Brown, Jim |url=https://oxfordaasc.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780195301731.001.0001/acref-9780195301731-e-34266 |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Oxford African American Studies Center |language=en |doi=10.1093/acref/9780195301731.001.0001/acref-9780195301731-e-34266}} Brown was so dominant in the game, that lacrosse rules were changed requiring a lacrosse player to keep their stick in constant motion when carrying the ball (instead of holding it close to his body).{{cite news |last1=Vecsey |first1=George |title=Some Rules Changes Are Actually Good |url=https://nationalsportsmedia.org/news/some-rules-changes-are-actually-good |access-date=March 3, 2021 |work=National Sports Media Association |date=February 24, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112035702/https://nationalsportsmedia.org/news/some-rules-changes-are-actually-good |url-status=live }} There is currently no rule in lacrosse that requires a player to keep their stick in motion. He is in the Lacrosse Hall of Fame.{{cite news |last1=Mann |first1=Ronald L. |title=Bouncing Back: How to Recover When Life Knocks You Down |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J8FP7673vRoC&pg=PA19 |access-date=May 22, 2023 |publisher=Morgan James Publishing / Wordclay |date=July 1, 2010 |language=en |page=19 |isbn=9781600373831 |archive-date=October 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151028164639/https://books.google.com/books?id=J8FP7673vRoC&pg=PA19&dq=%22Jim+Brown%22+lacrosse+43+goals+in+10+games+to+rank+second+in+scoring+nationally&hl=en&ei=I3EiTuabDoy00AHXvYnbAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAA |url-status=dead }}. The JMA Wireless Dome has an 800 square-foot tapestry depicting Brown in football and lacrosse uniforms with the words "Greatest Player Ever".{{Cite magazine |last=McPhee |first=John |author-link=John McPhee |date=March 22, 2010 |title=Pioneer |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/03/22/pioneer-10 |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=October 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022214514/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/03/22/pioneer-10 |url-status=live }}

While in college, Brown participated in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.{{cite news |last=News staff |date=June 10, 2016 |title=Jim Brown '57, Maj. Gen. Peggy Combs '85 Inducted into US Army ROTC Hall of Fame |url=https://news.syr.edu/blog/2016/06/10/jim-brown-57-maj-gen-peggy-combs-85-inducted-into-us-army-rotc-hall-of-fame-69408/ |work=Syracuse University News |location=Syracuse, NY |access-date=July 1, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182400/https://news.syr.edu/blog/2016/06/10/jim-brown-57-maj-gen-peggy-combs-85-inducted-into-us-army-rotc-hall-of-fame-69408/ |url-status=live }} After graduating he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. During his time in the NFL, Brown continued his military commitment as a member of the United States Army Reserve. He served for four years and was discharged with the rank of captain.

File:Jim brown topps 1960.jpg collectible card]]

In addition to being taken in the first round of the 1957 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns with the sixth overall selection, Brown was selected in the ninth round of the 1957 NBA draft by the Syracuse Nationals with the 68th overall selection.{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/BrowJi00.htm |title=Jim Brown NFL & AFL Football Statistics |website=Pro Football Reference |date=February 17, 1936 |access-date=December 18, 2010 |archive-date=December 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203225634/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/BrowJi00.htm |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Draft History {{!}} Stats {{!}} NBA.com |url=https://www.nba.com/stats/draft/history?Season=1957 |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=NBA |language=en}}

In the ninth game of his rookie season, against the Los Angeles Rams he rushed for 237 yards,{{cite news|last1=Zeitlan|first1=Arnold|title=Four TDs For Brown, Cleveland Wins, 45–31|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8673488/alton_evening_telegraph/|access-date=January 31, 2017|work=Alton Evening Telegraph|agency=Associated Press|date=November 25, 1957|page=10|archive-date=February 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214202345/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8673488/four-tds-for-brown-cleveland-wins/|url-status=live}} setting an NFL single-game record that stood unsurpassed for 14 years{{efn|Brown later matched his own record with 237 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1961.{{cite news|last1=Exner|first1=Rich|title=This Day in Browns History: Jim Brown ties NFL record with 237 yards rushing |url=http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/index.ssf/2009/11/this_day_in_browns_history_jim_1.html |access-date=January 31, 2017|work=The Plain Dealer|date=November 19, 2009|archive-date=May 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527031800/http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/index.ssf/2009/11/this_day_in_browns_history_jim_1.html |url-status=live}}}} and a rookie record that remained for 40 years until Corey Dillon of the Cincinnati Bengals rushed for 246 yards in a Week 15 game against the Tennessee Oilers.{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=December 5, 1997 |title=FOOTBALL: N.F.L.; Dillon Runs Over Oilers |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/05/sports/football-nfl-dillon-runs-over-oilers.html |access-date=May 24, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524202801/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/05/sports/football-nfl-dillon-runs-over-oilers.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Tennessee Oilers at Cincinnati Bengals - December 4th, 1997 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199712040cin.htm |access-date=May 24, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=May 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524202801/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199712040cin.htm |url-status=live }}

Brown broke the single-season rushing record in 1958, gaining 1,527 yards in the 12-game season, shattering the previous NFL mark of 1,146 yards set by Steve Van Buren in 1949, as well as most rushing yards per game in a season, with 127.3."1958 Official National Football Statistics", Pro All Stars 1959 Pro Football. New York: Maco Publishing, 1959; pp. 90–91.{{Cite web |title=NFL Rushing Yards per Game Single-Season Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_yds_per_g_single_season.htm |access-date=May 24, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=June 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611171411/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_yds_per_g_single_season.htm |url-status=live }} In this MVP season, Brown led all players with a staggering 17 touchdowns scored, beating his nearest rival, Baltimore Colts wide receiver Raymond Berry, by 8.

After nine years in the NFL, he departed as the league's record holder for both single-season (1,863 in 1963) and career rushing (12,312 yards), as well as the all-time leader in rushing touchdowns (106), total touchdowns (126), and all-purpose yards (15,549).{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/browns/2023/05/19/jim-brown-nfl-legend-cleveland-browns-dies/70237329007/|title=Jim Brown, NFL legend and Hall of Famer, dies at 87|website=USA Today|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519222923/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/browns/2023/05/19/jim-brown-nfl-legend-cleveland-browns-dies/70237329007/|url-status=live}} He was the first player to reach the 100-rushing-touchdowns milestone, and only a few others have done so since, despite the league's expansion to a 16-game season in 1978 and 17-game season in 2021 (Brown's first four seasons were only 12 games, and his last five were 14 games).{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrowJi00.htm|title=Jim Brown Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=March 31, 2018|archive-date=June 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629040442/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrowJi00.htm|url-status=live}}

Brown's record of scoring 100 touchdowns in only 93 games stood until LaDainian Tomlinson did it in 89 games during the {{nfly|2006}} season. Brown holds the record for total seasons leading the NFL in all-purpose yards (five: 1958–1961, 1964), and is the only rusher in NFL history to average over 100 yards per game for a career. In addition to his rushing, Brown was a superb receiver out of the backfield, catching 262 passes for 2,499 yards and 20 touchdowns, while also adding another 628 yards returning kickoffs. In every season he played, Brown was voted into the Pro Bowl, and he left the league in style by scoring three touchdowns in his final Pro Bowl game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/jim-brown-hall-of-fame-rb-browns-legend-and-civil-rights-icon-dies-at-87|title=Jim Brown dies at 87: Browns Hall of Famer, movie star and civil rights icon lived extraordinary life|publisher=National Football League|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519234257/https://www.nfl.com/news/jim-brown-hall-of-fame-rb-browns-legend-and-civil-rights-icon-dies-at-87|url-status=live}}

File:Jim Brown Cleveland.jpeg

{{blockquote|He told me, "Make sure when anyone tackles you he remembers how much it hurts." He lived by that philosophy and I always followed that advice.|John Mackey, 1999{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/time-nfl-great-running-back-social-activist-jim-99465562|publisher=ABC News|title=Jim Brown, all-time NFL great and social activist, dead at 87|author=Withers, Tom|date=May 19, 2023|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519224822/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/time-nfl-great-running-back-social-activist-jim-99465562|url-status=live}}}}

Brown was cognizant of the physical toll exacted by carrying the ball as a lead running back and began foreshadowing an early retirement as early as 1960, when the 24-year old Brown told a journalist, "I've carried the ball 749 times in three years with the Browns. I get the same question everywhere I go — will so much ball-carrying and the tackling that results shorten my career? Will I end up my career groggy or, even worse, punchy as a punch-drunk prizefighter? ... I hope I'm smart enough to quit the game before somebody has to tell me I'm finished. I want to leave feeling I can still do the job. That's the way the great quarterback Otto Graham finished with the Browns. He most likely had several good seasons left... But Otto quit while he was on top. I hope I have the good sense to follow the example."Jimmy Brown with Chuck Heaton, "I'll Never Get Punchy," in Pro Football Stars, Greenwich, CT: Whitestone Publications, 1960; p. 11.

Brown's 1,863 rushing yards in the 1963 season remains a Cleveland franchise record. It is currently the oldest franchise record for rushing yards out of all 32 NFL teams.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2020/06/07/nfl-rushing-yards-leaders-all-32-teams/3131973001/|title=NFL's all-time statistical leaders: Team-by-team top performers for rushing yardage|website=USA Today|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519223332/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2020/06/07/nfl-rushing-yards-leaders-all-32-teams/3131973001/|url-status=live}} His average of 133 yards per game that season is exceeded only by O. J. Simpson's 1973 season. Brown led the league in rushing a record eight times. He was also the first NFL player to rush for over 10,000 yards.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/11/02/archives/jim-brown-sets-rushing-record-fullback-gains-149-yards-to-become.html|title=JIM BROWN SETS RUSHING RECORD; Fullback Gains 149 Yards to Become First N.F.L. Star to Break 10,000 Barrier|work=The New York Times|date=November 2, 1964|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519215400/https://www.nytimes.com/1964/11/02/archives/jim-brown-sets-rushing-record-fullback-gains-149-yards-to-become.html|url-status=live}} He was very difficult to tackle (shown by his all-time record of 5.22 yards per carry), often requiring more than one defender to bring him down.Schwartz, Larry. [https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/Brown_Jim.html "Jim Brown Was Hard To Bring Down"], ESPN. [https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/Brown_Jim.html]. Retrieved July 17, 2011. Brown was famous for his stiff arm and combined speed, power and relentless endurance as a rusher.{{cite news |last1=Withers |first1=Tom |title=All-time NFL great running back, social activist Jim Brown dead at 87 |url=https://apnews.com/article/nfl-jim-brown-03d88c7da08840a0921ae8d8dd0a6aaa |work=Associated Press News |date=May 19, 2023 |access-date=May 19, 2023 |archive-date=May 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519192615/https://apnews.com/article/nfl-jim-brown-03d88c7da08840a0921ae8d8dd0a6aaa |url-status=live }}

After winning his third league MVP award in 1965, Brown retired in July 1966 at age 30 while still in top form. He was in England for the shooting of the movie The Dirty Dozen. He had expected to return to the Browns afterwards, but retired when team owner Art Modell threatened him with fines for missing training camp.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LQJJAAAAIBAJ&pg=493%2C4145279 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |location=Ohio |agency=Associated Press |title=Jim Brown announces retirement; Collier plans to readjust offense |date=July 14, 1966 |page=31 |access-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-date=February 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203180223/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LQJJAAAAIBAJ&pg=493%2C4145279 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EflNAAAAIBAJ&pg=927%2C8234115 |newspaper=Free Lance-Star |location=Fredericksburg, Virginia |agency=Associated Press |title=Jim Brown retires from pro football |date=July 14, 1966 |page=16 |access-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214202324/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EflNAAAAIBAJ&pg=927%2C8234115 |url-status=live }} Brown held the NFL career rushing record of 12,312 yards until it was broken by Walter Payton on October 7, 1984, during Payton's 10th NFL season. Brown is still the Browns' all-time leading rusher.{{cite web|url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/smith-s-firm-hold-on-coveted-record1/|title=Smith's firm hold on coveted record | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site|website=profootballhof.com|access-date=March 1, 2021|archive-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121181929/https://www.profootballhof.com/news/smith-s-firm-hold-on-coveted-record1/|url-status=live}} As of 2018, he ranked 11th on the all-time rushing list.[https://www.espn.com/nfl/history/leaders/_/stat/rushlead "NFL History – Rushing Leaders"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008214224/https://www.espn.com/nfl/history/leaders/_/stat/rushlead |date=October 8, 2018 }}, ESPN, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018. Brown's NFL touchdown record would stand until 1994 when Jerry Rice surpassed him with his 127th touchdown.

During Brown's career, Cleveland won the NFL championship in 1964 and were runners-up in 1957 and 1965, his rookie and final season, respectively. In the 1964 championship game, Brown rushed 27 times for 114 yards and caught 3 passes for 37.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196412270cle.htm | title=Championship – Baltimore Colts at Cleveland Browns – December 27th, 1964 | publisher=Pro-Football-Reference.com | access-date=August 22, 2022 | archive-date=April 16, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416035751/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196412270cle.htm | url-status=live }}

Brown never missed a game in his entire career.{{Cite web |last=euiH82H5jD |date=2021-07-21 |title=Jim Brown - Today In Georgia History |url=https://www.todayingeorgiahistory.org/tih-georgia-day/jim-brown/#:~:text=The%20NFL's%20Cleveland%20Browns%20drafted,or%20ran%20over%20his%20opponents. |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Today In Georgia History - Just another WordPress site}} Interestingly, he refused to drink water during games, believing it would make him feel satisfied and diminish his drive.{{Cite web |title=Tales From the Vault: Jim Brown (1999) Part One - NFL Films: Tales From The Vault |url=https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1157-nfl-films-tales-from-the-89073120/episode/tales-from-the-vault-jim-brown-92055091/ |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=iHeart |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Pompei |first=Dan |date=2023-07-17 |title=NFL 100: At No. 2, unstoppable force Jim Brown was ‘fast as the fastest, hard as the hardest’ |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2796576/2021/09/07/nfl-100-at-no-2-unstoppable-force-jim-brown-was-fast-as-the-fastest-hard-as-the-hardest/#:~:text=Brown%20refused%20to%20drink%20water,Brown%20in%20the%20training%20room. |access-date=2025-04-24 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

Brown appeared in many movies and was at times described as a black Superman or a black John Wayne.{{cite web|title=Jim Brown: Legendary NFL running back dead at 87|date=May 19, 2023|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65654333|access-date=May 20, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519215043/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65654333|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|title=Football Heroes Invade Hollywood|date=October 1969|volume=XXIV|issue=12|pages=195–202|magazine=Ebony|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=09oDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA195|issn=0012-9011|access-date=May 20, 2023}} While not considered a gifted actor, he helped to expand the range of roles available to black actors.{{cite magazine|first=Tim|last=Layden|title=Jim Brown Lived a Remarkable Life Like Few Other Athletes|date=May 19, 2023|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/05/19/browns-legend-jim-brown-dies-lived-remarkable-life|access-date=May 20, 2023|archive-date=May 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520172310/https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/05/19/browns-legend-jim-brown-dies-lived-remarkable-life|url-status=live}}

Brown began his acting career before the 1964 season, playing a buffalo soldier in a Western action film called Rio Conchos.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=179}} The film premiered at Cleveland's Hippodrome theater on October 23, with Brown and many of his teammates in attendance. The reaction was lukewarm. Brown, one reviewer said, was a serviceable actor, but the movie's overcooked plotting and implausibility amounted to "a vigorous melodrama for the unsqueamish."{{cite news |last=Batdorff |first=Emerson |title=Brown Does OK in 'Conchos'|newspaper=Cleveland Plain Dealer|date=October 24, 1964|page=17}}

In early 1966, Brown was shooting his second film in London.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|pp=176–178}} MGM's The Dirty Dozen cast Brown as Robert Jefferson, one of 12 convicts sent to France during World War II to assassinate German officers meeting at a castle near Rennes in Brittany before the D-Day invasion. Production delays due to bad weather meant he missed at least the first part of training camp on the campus of Hiram College, which annoyed Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell, who threatened to fine Brown $1,500 ({{Inflation|US|1500|1966|fmt=eq|r=-2}}) for every week of camp he missed.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|pp=178–179}} Brown, who had previously said that 1966 would be his last season, the final year of a three-year contract,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7cNOAAAAIBAJ&pg=3841%2C1351783 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |title=Brown backs off |date=January 3, 1966 |page=14 |access-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126032450/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7cNOAAAAIBAJ&pg=3841%2C1351783 |url-status=live }} announced his retirement, instead.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=179}}

File:...tick...tick...tick... (1970) 1.jpg in Tick, Tick, Tick (1970)]]

MGM cast Brown in his first lead role in The Split (1968), based on a Parker novel by Donald E. Westlake. He was paid $125,000 for the role.{{cite news|title=Jim Brown's End Run Around Race Prejudice|last=Tusher|first=William|work=Los Angeles Times|date=January 28, 1968|at=Calendar, p.11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/125668272/|access-date=June 1, 2023|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=June 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601060749/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/125668272/|url-status=live}} Brown followed it with Riot (1969), a prison film for MGM. Both it and The Split were solid hits at the box office. Biographer Mike Freeman credits Brown with becoming "the first black action star", due to roles such as the Marine captain he portrayed in the hit 1968 film Ice Station Zebra.Freeman, Mike. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Iks00GgKFp8C&q=Monique&pg=PA271 Jim Brown: The Fierce Life of an American Hero] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110164246/https://books.google.com/books?id=Iks00GgKFp8C&pg=PA271&dq=%22Jim+Brown%22+monique+daughters&hl=en&ei=0vMZTsnYB4eDgAfZ2MEe&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Monique&f=false |date=November 10, 2015 }}, page 17 (HarperCollins 2007).

Brown went to 20th Century Fox for 100 Rifles (1969). Brown was billed over co stars Raquel Welch and Burt Reynolds and had a love scene with Welch, one of the first interracial love scenes and the first in a major Hollywood movie.{{cite news|author=Hollie I. West|date=March 26, 1969|title=Jim Brown: Crisp and Direct as a Fullback|work=The Washington Post and Times-Herald|page=B1}} Raquel Welch reflected on the scene in Spike Lee's Jim Brown: All-American.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2008/scene/columns/1968-welch-gets-cozy-with-co-star-1117992047/|title=1968: Welch gets cozy with co-star|first=Army|last=Archerd|date=September 11, 2008|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=December 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210231709/http://variety.com/2008/scene/columns/1968-welch-gets-cozy-with-co-star-1117992047/|url-status=live}} For this role, Brown was paid $200,000 and received five percent of the film's box office, becoming one of the highest paid black actors.

Brown starred with fellow NFL star Fred Williamson and Jim Kelly in Three the Hard Way which was released in 1974.Eshe Magazine, September 23, 2020 - [https://eshemagazine.com/2020/09/living-legend-jim-brown-speaks-about-how-he-and-fred-williamson-changed-hollywood/ Living Legend Jim Brown Speaks About How He And Fred Williamson Changed Hollywood By David Jordan Jr] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324115423/https://eshemagazine.com/2020/09/living-legend-jim-brown-speaks-about-how-he-and-fred-williamson-changed-hollywood/ |date=March 24, 2023 }}National Football League, Feb 17, 2016 - [https://www.nfl.com/news/top-5-jim-brown-movie-performances-0ap3000000636679 Top 5 Jim Brown movie performances, 3) Three the Hard Way (1974)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818035429/https://www.nfl.com/news/top-5-jim-brown-movie-performances-0ap3000000636679 |date=August 18, 2022 }} He would later star with Williamson, Kelly again with Lee Van Cleef in Take a Hard Ride, a western which was released the following year.Rotten Tomatoes - [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kid_vengeance TAKE A HARD RIDE, CAST & CREW] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127112247/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kid_vengeance |date=November 27, 2022 }} The Williamson, Brown and Kelly trio would again appear together with Richard Roundtree in One Down, Two to Go, a 1982 actioner.Film Affinity - [https://www.filmaffinity.com/en/film148736.html One Down, Two to Go, Cast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322131714/https://www.filmaffinity.com/en/film148736.html |date=March 22, 2024 }}

His 1980s appearances were mostly on television. Brown appeared in some TV shows including Knight Rider in the season-three premiere episode "Knight of the Drones". Brown appeared alongside fellow former football player Joe Namath on The A-Team episode "Quarterback Sneak".[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0504191/ "Quarterback Sneak"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208215104/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0504191/ |date=February 8, 2017 }} (episode of The A-Team) at the Internet Movie Database Brown also appeared on CHiPs, episodes one and two, in season three, as a pickpocket on roller skates.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/chips/s06/e13|title=CHiPs: Season 6, Episode 13|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519215252/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/chips/s06/e13|url-status=live}}

He appeared opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987's The Running Man, an adaptation of a Stephen King novel, as Fireball,{{Cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-running-man-1987|title=The Running Man movie review & film summary (1987) | Roger Ebert|first=Roger|last=Ebert|website=RogerEbert.com|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=April 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414231809/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-running-man-1987|url-status=live}} and had a cameo in the spoof I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988).{{Cite web|url=https://mubi.com/films/im-gonna-git-you-sucka/cast|title=I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) – Cast & Crew on MUBI|website=mubi.com|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519215250/https://mubi.com/films/im-gonna-git-you-sucka/cast|url-status=live}}

Brown appeared in Original Gangstas (1996){{Cite web|url=https://mubi.com/en/ca/films/original-gangstas|title=Original Gangstas (1996) | MUBI }} and Mars Attacks! (1996){{Cite web|url=https://mubi.com/films/mars-attacks/cast|title=Mars Attacks! (1996) – Cast & Crew on MUBI|website=mubi.com|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519215251/https://mubi.com/films/mars-attacks/cast|url-status=live}} and Sucker Free City (2004){{Cite web|url=https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/showtime/releases/?view=148|title=Paramount Press Express | SHOWTIME PRESENTS SUCKER FREE CITY, AN ORIGINAL FILM DIRECTED BY SPIKE LEE, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 12th|date=January 26, 2005|website=paramountpressexpress.com|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519215250/https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/showtime/releases/?view=148|url-status=live}} and played a defensive coach, Montezuma Monroe, in Any Given Sunday (1999).{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jim-brown-nfl-running-back-200307134.html|title=Jim Brown, NFL Running Back Royalty, Star of Hollywood Films 'Any Given Sunday' and 'Dirty Dozen,' Dies at 87|date=May 19, 2023|website=Yahoo Entertainment|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519215249/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jim-brown-nfl-running-back-200307134.html|url-status=live}}

Brown was one of the few athletes to speak out on racial issues in the 1950s as the civil rights movement was growing. He was one of the most prominent African American athletes to engage in civil rights activism, and he called on other African American athletes to become involved in similar initiatives off the field.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/may/19/jim-brown-dead-nfl-star-civil-rights-activist|title=Jim Brown, all-time NFL great running back and social activist, dies aged 87|agency=Associated Press|date=May 19, 2023|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519222322/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/may/19/jim-brown-dead-nfl-star-civil-rights-activist|url-status=live}} In 1967, Brown, alongside Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Carl Stokes, were all members of the Cleveland Summit, a meeting with Muhammad Ali held with the intention of convincing the four to rally behind and recruit others to help Ali's cause of civil rights in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/jim-brown-legendary-nfl-hall-famer-civil-rights-activist-dies-87-rcna85359|title=Jim Brown, legendary NFL Hall of Famer and civil rights activist, dies at 87|date=May 19, 2023|publisher=NBC News|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519221900/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/jim-brown-legendary-nfl-hall-famer-civil-rights-activist-dies-87-rcna85359|url-status=live}} Because Ali was a "pariah" in American society at the time because of his opposition to the Vietnam War and refusal to enter the draft, his boxing license had been revoked, and he faced up to five years in prison. For Brown and the other participants to stand with Ali in support of him and his position consequently put "their reputations and their careers" at risk.{{cite web |last1=Draves |first1=Zachary |title=One Day in Cleveland: The Impact of the Ali Summit – Nuts and Bolts Sports |url=https://nutsandboltssports.com/one-day-in-cleveland-the-impact-of-the-ali-summit/ |website=Nuts & Bolts Sports |access-date=June 18, 2022 |date=June 4, 2022 |archive-date=June 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605025135/https://nutsandboltssports.com/one-day-in-cleveland-the-impact-of-the-ali-summit/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Bona |first1=Marc |title=Marker commemorating historic 1967 Cleveland Summit is unveiled |url=https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2022/06/marker-commemorating-historic-1967-cleveland-summit-is-unveiled.html |access-date=June 18, 2022 |work=The Plain Dealer (cleveland.com) |date=June 17, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=June 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617183809/https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2022/06/marker-commemorating-historic-1967-cleveland-summit-is-unveiled.html |url-status=live }} The Cleveland Summit was later called "a significant turning point for the role of the athlete in society" and "one of the most important civil rights acts in sports history", as well as a predecessor of the 21st century protest movement initiated by Colin Kaepernick.

In 1966, Brown founded the Negro Industrial Economic Union, later known as the Black Economic Union (BEU), to help promote economic opportunities for minority owned businesses.{{cite web | title=NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown Dead at 87 | website=Chicago Defender | date=May 19, 2023 | url=https://chicagodefender.com/nfl-hall-of-famer-jim-brown-dead-at-87/ | access-date=May 19, 2023 | archive-date=May 19, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519224806/https://chicagodefender.com/nfl-hall-of-famer-jim-brown-dead-at-87/ | url-status=live }} Brown later stated in a 1968 Ebony interview, "We've got to stop wasting all our energy and money marching and picketing and going things like camping-down in Washington on a Poor People's Campaign...We've got to get off the emotional stuff and do something that will bring about real change. We've got to have industries and commercial enterprises and build our own sustaining economic base. Then we can face white folks man-to-man and we can deal."{{cite book |last1=Freeman |first1=Michael |title=Jim Brown The Fierce Life of an American Hero |date=October 31, 2006 |publisher=HarperCollins |pages=15–16}} The BEU secured loans and grants, including from the Ford Foundation, to support community initiatives related to food, medicines and farm and economic ventures in specific counties, starting with Marshall County, Mississippi. Because of Brown's economic advocacy for the African American community, Richard Nixon expressed support for black capitalism in his campaign in the 1968 United States presidential election and received an endorsement from Brown. In 1988, Brown founded the Amer-I-Can Foundation, an organization that sought to divert gang members and prisoners from violence by teaching them life skills.{{cite web | first=Richard | last=Goldstein | title=Jim Brown, Football Great and Civil Rights Champion, Dies at 87 | website=The New York Times | date=May 19, 2023 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/19/sports/football/jim-brown-dead.html | access-date=May 19, 2023 | archive-date=May 19, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519200242/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/19/sports/football/jim-brown-dead.html | url-status=live }}{{cite web | last=Goldman | first=Tom | title=Jim Brown, all-time great social activist and NFL star, has died at age 87 | website=OPB | date=May 19, 2023 | url=https://www.opb.org/article/2023/05/19/jim-brown-one-of-the-nfl-s-all-time-great-running-backs-has-died-at-age-87/ | access-date=May 19, 2023 | archive-date=May 19, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519224803/https://www.opb.org/article/2023/05/19/jim-brown-one-of-the-nfl-s-all-time-great-running-backs-has-died-at-age-87/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web|title=About|publisher=Amer-I-Can|url=https://amer-i-cancommunity.partners/about-amer-i-can/|access-date=May 20, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519234505/https://amer-i-cancommunity.partners/about-amer-i-can/|url-status=live}} Through the foundation, Brown helped establish the Watts truce between rival street gangs in Los Angeles.{{cite web | last=Stoltze | first=Frank | title=Forget the LA Riots – historic 1992 Watts gang truce was the big news | website=LAist – NPR News for Southern California – 89.3 FM | date=April 28, 2012 | url=https://www.kpcc.org/2012-04-28/forget-la-riots-1992-gang-truce-was-big-news | access-date=May 20, 2023 | archive-date=May 20, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520145117/https://www.kpcc.org/2012-04-28/forget-la-riots-1992-gang-truce-was-big-news | url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://theathletic.com/4535728/2023/05/19/jim-brown-legacy-trotter-column/ |title=Trotter: Was Jim Brown a great man? To me, yes. Was he a flawed man? Without question |website=The Athletic |access-date=May 20, 2023 |archive-date=May 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520101512/https://theathletic.com/4535728/2023/05/19/jim-brown-legacy-trotter-column/ |url-status=live |last1=Trotter |first1=Jim }}

Perceiving Brown and other outspoken African-American athletes as a threat, the Federal Bureau of Investigation monitored Brown and his organizations. Files declassified in 2003 showed that the FBI, the United States Secret Service, and several police departments had monitored Brown and the Black Economic Union, attempting to smear the group as a source of Communist and radical Muslim extremism and collecting information to damage Brown's reputation.{{cite book |last1=Dorinson |first1=Joseph |title=The Black Athlete as Hero American Barrier Breakers from Nine Sports |date=November 9, 2022 |publisher=McFarland, Inc. |isbn=9781476645964 |pages=81–82}}{{cite book |last1=Freeman |first1=Michael |title=Jim Brown The Fierce Life of an American Hero |date=October 31, 2006 |publisher=HarperCollins |pages=8–9}}

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Brown posed in the nude for the September 1974 issue of Playgirl magazine, and was one of the rare celebrities to allow full-frontal nude pictures to be used.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/celebrities-in-playgirl|title=Celebrities in Playgirl|first=Amy|last=Harrington|date=March 26, 2015|publisher=Fox News|access-date=May 4, 2020|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804082011/https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/celebrities-in-playgirl|url-status=live}}

Brown also worked as a color analyst on NFL telecasts for CBS in 1978, teaming with Vin Scully and George Allen.{{cite news|title=CBS goes to the 3-man lineup for NFL football games|last=Langdon|first=Jerry|newspaper=Poughkeepsie Journal|agency=Gannett News Service|date=September 24, 1978|page=10D}}

In 1983, 17 years after retiring from professional football, Brown mused about coming out of retirement to play for the Los Angeles Raiders when it appeared that Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris would break Brown's all-time rushing record.{{cite news|first=Dave|last=Anderson|date=November 21, 1983|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/21/sports/jim-brown-s-bad-dream.html|title=JIM BROWN"S BAD DREAM|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 12, 2016|archive-date=December 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214163450/http://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/21/sports/jim-brown-s-bad-dream.html|url-status=live}} Brown disliked Harris' style of running, criticizing the Steelers' running back's tendency to run out of bounds, a marked contrast to Brown's approach of fighting for every yard and taking on the approaching tackler.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/all-time-nfl-great-running-back-social-activist-jim-brown-dies-at-87|title=All-time NFL great running back, social activist Jim Brown dies at 87|date=May 19, 2023|website=PBS NewsHour|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519214355/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/all-time-nfl-great-running-back-social-activist-jim-brown-dies-at-87|url-status=live}} Eventually, Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears broke the record on October 7, 1984, with Brown having ended thoughts of a comeback. Harris, who retired after the 1984 season after playing eight games with the Seattle Seahawks, fell short of Brown's mark. Following Harris's last season, in that January, a challenge between Brown and Harris in a 40-yard dash was nationally televised. Brown, at 48 years old, was certain he could beat Harris, though Harris was only 34 years old and just ending his elite career. Harris clocked in at 5.16 seconds, and Brown in at 5.72 seconds, pulling up in towards the end of the race clutching his hamstring.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-01-19-sp-8178-story.html|title=Harris Beats Brown at 40 Yards, Wins 2-Day Competition|work=Los Angeles Times|date=January 19, 1985 |access-date=December 12, 2016|archive-date=December 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221053642/http://articles.latimes.com/1985-01-19/sports/sp-8178_1_franco-harris|url-status=live}}

In 1965, Brown was the first black televised boxing announcer when he announced a televised boxing match in the United States, for the Terrell–Chuvalo fight,{{cite news |title=Jimmy Brown A Mike Man |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65639388/ |access-date=December 20, 2020 |work=Press and Sun-Bulletin |date=October 14, 1965 |location=New York |page=19 |via=Newspapers.com {{open access}} |archive-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214202346/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65639388/syracuse-orange-football-ben/ |url-status=live }}[https://books.google.com/books?id=w9PgTKiU4boC&pg=PT145 Hauser, Thomas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804032918/https://books.google.com/books?id=w9PgTKiU4boC&pg=PT145 |date=August 4, 2020 }} Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times, Open Road Media, 2012, page 145. Retrieved August 19, 2018. and is also credited with then first suggesting a career in boxing promotion to Bob Arum.[https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/boxing/how-nfl-legend-jim-brown-pushed-bob-arum-into-promoting-boxing-212122791-boxing.html Iole, Kevin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820234816/https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/boxing/how-nfl-legend-jim-brown-pushed-bob-arum-into-promoting-boxing-212122791-boxing.html |date=August 20, 2018 }} "How NFL legend Jim Brown pushed Bob Arum into boxing promotion", Yahoo! Sports, March 28, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2018.

File:Jim Brown at LBJ Foundation 2014 (cropped).jpg in 2014]]

Brown's autobiography, published in 1989 by Zebra Books, was titled Out of Bounds and was co-written with Steve Delsohn.{{cite web|work=Los Angeles Times|title=Jim Brown's Tale of Sex, Football, Sex, Life and Sex|date=September 15, 1989|first=Mergan|last=Rosenfeld|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-15-vw-270-story.html|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=January 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111125513/http://articles.latimes.com/1989-09-15/news/vw-270_1_jim-brown|url-status=live}} He was a subject of the 1971 book Jim: The Author's Self-Centered Memoir of the Great Jim Brown written by James Toback.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/05/16/archives/jim-the-authors-selfcentered-memoir-on-the-great-jim-brown-by-james.html|title=Great on the gridiron, in the movies and in life|first=Calvin C.|last=Hernton|work=The New York Times|date=May 16, 1971|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=March 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302015153/https://www.nytimes.com/1971/05/16/archives/jim-the-authors-selfcentered-memoir-on-the-great-jim-brown-by-james.html|url-status=live}}

In 1993, Brown was hired as a color commentator for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a role he occupied for the first six pay-per-view events.{{Cite web|url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/jim-brown-life-timeline|title=The Ultimate Brown: A timeline of Jim Brown's life|website=clevelandbrowns.com|access-date=May 19, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519214627/https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/jim-brown-life-timeline|url-status=live}} In 2008, Brown initiated a lawsuit against Sony and EA Sports for using his likeness in the Madden NFL video game series. He claimed that he "never signed away any rights that would allow his likeness to be used".{{cite web|url=http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/football-great-jim-brown-suing-ea-sony/1234058 |title=Football great Jim Brown suing EA, Sony |publisher=Yahoo! Video Games |access-date=August 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080810124036/http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/football-great-jim-brown-suing-ea-sony/1234058 |archive-date=August 10, 2008 }} From 2008 until his death, Brown served as an executive advisor to the Browns. In that capacity he helped to build relationships with the team's players and to further enhance the NFL's wide range of sponsored programs through the team's player programs department.{{cite web | url=http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/frontoffice_detail.php?id=245 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223184036/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/frontoffice_detail.php?id=245 | archive-date=December 23, 2008 | title=Cleveland Browns Front Office | access-date=November 22, 2008}} On May 29, 2013, Brown was named a special advisor to the Browns.{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/jim-brown-rejoins-cleveland-browns-as-special-advisor-0ap1000000207562|title=Jim Brown rejoins Cleveland Browns as special adviser|publisher=National Football League|access-date=December 12, 2016|archive-date=December 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214195706/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000207562/article/jim-brown-rejoins-cleveland-browns-as-special-advisor|url-status=live}} Brown became a part-owner of the New York Lizards of Major League Lacrosse, joining a group of investors in the purchase of the team in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.majorleaguelacrosse.com/press-release/5369/investors-purchase-lizards-jim-brown-among-owners|title=Investors Purchase Lizards; Jim Brown Among Owners|access-date=December 12, 2016|archive-date=February 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204152638/http://www.majorleaguelacrosse.com/press-release/5369/investors-purchase-lizards-jim-brown-among-owners|url-status=live}}

On October 11, 2018, Brown along with Kanye West met with President Donald Trump to discuss the state of America, among other topics.{{cite web|first=Ben|last=Shreckinger|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/11/trump-kanye-white-house-meeting-895342|title=Donald Trump and Kanye West remix the government|website=Politico|date=October 11, 2018|access-date=October 10, 2018|archive-date=October 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012011933/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/11/trump-kanye-white-house-meeting-895342|url-status=live}} Criticized by the black community for the meeting, Brown said that Trump was the sitting president and "we can't ignore that seat and just call names of the person that's sitting in it". Brown called him "accessible", and said that the president was not a racist.{{cite web|first=Jesse|last=Washington|title=In or out of the Oval Office, Jim Brown hasn't changed|date=May 20, 2023|work=Andscape|url=https://andscape.com/features/with-trump-kanye-or-not-jim-brown-hasnt-changed/|access-date=May 20, 2023|archive-date=May 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520012826/https://andscape.com/features/with-trump-kanye-or-not-jim-brown-hasnt-changed/|url-status=live}}

Brown was arrested at least seven times for assault, mainly against women.{{cite news|first=Kent|last=Babb|title=Jim Brown, Hall of Fame running back and actor, dies at 87|date=May 19, 2023|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2023/05/19/jim-brown-nfl-dead/|access-date=May 19, 2023}} During the era when the incidents occurred, prominent men were usually not scrutinized for reported offenses against women. He was never found guilty of a major crime; in most of the cases, the women refused to press charges after calling the police.{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Zirin|title=Toxic: Jim Brown, Manhood and Violence Against Women|date=May 2, 2018|work=Cleveland Scene|url=https://www.clevescene.com/news/last-man-standing-17947926|access-date=May 20, 2023|archive-date=May 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521020418/https://www.clevescene.com/news/last-man-standing-17947926|url-status=live}} In 1965, Brown was arrested in his hotel room for assault and battery against 18-year-old Brenda Ayres; he was later acquitted of those charges. A year later, he fought paternity allegations that he fathered her child.{{Cite journal|date=February 17, 1966|title=Paternity Rap 'Ridiculous' Claims Jim Brown|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fLkDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+brenda+ayres&pg=PA57|journal=Jet|page=57|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=February 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214202319/https://books.google.com/books?id=fLkDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+brenda+ayres&pg=PA57|url-status=live}}

In 1968, Brown was charged with assault with intent to commit murder after model Eva Bohn-Chin was found beneath the balcony of Brown's second-floor apartment.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-15-vw-270-story.html|title=Jim Brown's Tale of Sex, Football, Sex, Life and Sex|last=Rosenfeld|first=Megan|date=September 15, 1989|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=November 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115200836/http://articles.latimes.com/1989-09-15/news/vw-270_1_jim-brown/2|url-status=live}} The charges were later dismissed after Bohn-Chin refused to cooperate with the prosecutor's office. Brown was also ordered to pay a $300 fine for striking a deputy sheriff involved in the investigation during the incident. In Brown's autobiography, he stated that Bohn-Chin was angry and jealous over an affair he had been having with Gloria Steinem, and this argument is what led to the "misunderstanding with the police".{{cite web|url=http://thebiglead.com/2016/02/17/jim-brown-had-more-than-a-few-issues-off-the-field-with-both-women-and-men/|title=Jim Brown Had More Than a Few Issues Off the Field With Both Women and Men|date=February 17, 2016|website=The Big Lead|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=December 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214003317/http://thebiglead.com/2016/02/17/jim-brown-had-more-than-a-few-issues-off-the-field-with-both-women-and-men/|url-status=live}}

In 1970, Brown was found not guilty of assault and battery, the charges stemming from a road-rage incident that had occurred in 1969.{{cite web|url=https://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/last-man-standing/Content?oid=17947926|title=Toxic: Jim Brown, Manhood and Violence Against Women|last=Zirin|first=Dave|website=Cleveland Scene|language=en|access-date=February 8, 2020|archive-date=August 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802150937/https://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/last-man-standing/Content?oid=17947926|url-status=live}} In 1975, Brown was convicted of misdemeanor battery for beating and choking his golfing partner, Frank Snow. He was sentenced to one day in jail, two years' probation, and a fine of $500.{{cite web|title=Headliners: Joan Little, Black Panthers, Jim Brown|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2211&dat=19780520&id=wSEmAAAAIBAJ&pg=4997,2062796&hl=en|work=The Afro American|via=Google News Archive Search|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=February 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214202325/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2211&dat=19780520&id=wSEmAAAAIBAJ&pg=4997%2C2062796&hl=en|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Bolch |first1=Ben |title=Pioneering Black California golfer Frank Snow, a mentor of Tiger Woods, dies at 78 |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-09-04/frank-snow-golf-instructor-tiger-woods-dies |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=February 24, 2021 |date=September 4, 2020 |archive-date=October 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002031601/https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-09-04/frank-snow-golf-instructor-tiger-woods-dies |url-status=live }} In 1985, Brown was charged with raping a 33-year-old woman.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-03-19-me-31733-story.html|title=Jim Brown Will Be Charged With Rape|last=STEWART|first=ROBERT W.|date=March 19, 1985|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=February 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223132322/http://articles.latimes.com/1985-03-19/local/me-31733_1_jim-brown|url-status=live}} The charges were later dismissed.{{Cite news|url=http://thestacks.deadspin.com/whats-the-matter-with-jim-brown-1636247285|title=What's The Matter With Jim Brown?|last=Shah|first=Diane K.|newspaper=The Stacks|language=en-US|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220215019/http://thestacks.deadspin.com/whats-the-matter-with-jim-brown-1636247285|url-status=live}} In 1986, he was arrested for assaulting his fiancée Debra Clark.{{Cite journal|date=September 8, 1986|title=Jim Brown Arrested For Battering His Fiancee|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pLMDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+divorce&pg=PA60|journal=Jet|page=60|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=February 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214202354/https://books.google.com/books?id=pLMDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+divorce&pg=PA60|url-status=live}} Clark refused to press charges, and he was released.{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/08/23/jim-brown-faces-battery-charge/|title=Jim Brown Faces Battery Charge|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220110832/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-08-23/sports/8603030213_1_debra-clark-assault-charges-sign-free-agents|url-status=live}}

According to several victims and witnesses, who were interviewed for the 2022 documentary series Secrets of Playboy, Brown brutally raped and assaulted numerous women at the Playboy Mansion.{{Cite web|last=Bansinath|first=Bindu|date=2022-04-06|title=The Most Disturbing Allegations in the New Playboy Docuseries|url=https://www.thecut.com/article/secrets-of-playboy-docuseries-hugh-hefner-allegations.html|access-date=2024-01-02|website=The Cut|language=en|archive-date=June 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601160344/https://www.thecut.com/article/secrets-of-playboy-docuseries-hugh-hefner-allegations.html|url-status=live}}[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61829113 "Bill Cosby assaulted teen at Playboy Mansion, jury finds"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601160344/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61829113 |date=June 1, 2023 }}, BBC News, June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2023. These alleged incidents occurred from the late 1970s into the 1990s.Beard, Lanford, "[https://people.com/crime/secrets-of-playboy-episode-8-hugh-hefner-predators-ball-bill-cosby-roman-polanski-jim-brown/ Secrets of Playboy' Recounts Horrific Stories About Hugh Hefner's Alleged A-List 'Power Predators'Women have stepped forward in A&E's docuseries to share hideous allegations of sexual assault by Hugh Hefner's famous friends Bill Cosby, Roman Polanski, NFL player Jim Brown and more] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601160344/https://people.com/crime/secrets-of-playboy-episode-8-hugh-hefner-predators-ball-bill-cosby-roman-polanski-jim-brown/ |date=June 1, 2023 }}," People magazine, March 7, 2022 According to the documentary, as well as other sources and numerous interviews,M. Roque,The Nation, February 29, 2022, "Downfall of a 'Hero'? Or will it forgotten: Jim Brown, Hero-Worship, and Toxic Masculinity," other perpetrators of rape and assault at the Playboy Mansion included Roman Polanski and Bill Cosby.June, Sophia, "The Most Disturbing Secrets We Learned from the Playboy Documentary," February 2, 2022: https://www.nylon.com/life/the-most-disturbing-secrets-we-learned-from-the-playboy-documentary {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601161903/https://www.nylon.com/life/the-most-disturbing-secrets-we-learned-from-the-playboy-documentary |date=June 1, 2023 }}

In 1999, Brown was arrested and charged with making terroristic threats toward his wife Monique. According to Brown, "The only time [we] ever have an argument is during [her menstrual period]". Later that year, he was found guilty of vandalism for smashing her car with a shovel.{{cite web|first=Jon|last=Saraceno|date=April 9, 2022|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/comment/saraceno/2002-04-10-saraceno.htm|title=USATODAY.com – True manhood and perspective elude Brown|website=USA Today|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=November 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118021124/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/comment/saraceno/2002-04-10-saraceno.htm|url-status=live}} He was sentenced to three years' probation, one year of domestic violence counseling, and 400 hours of community service or 40 hours on a work crew along with a $1,800 fine.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-28-me-4466-story.html|title=Spousal Abuse Trial of Jim Brown Opens|last=Mitchell|first=John L.|date=August 28, 1999|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=December 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221090917/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/aug/28/local/me-4466|url-status=live}} Brown ignored the terms of his sentence and in 2000 was sentenced to six months in jail, which he began serving in 2002 after refusing the court-ordered counseling and community service.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-mar-14-me-brown14-story.html|title=Jim Brown Rejects Judge's Offer, Is Jailed in Domestic Violence Case|last=Reich|first=Kenneth|date=March 14, 2002|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=December 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221090857/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/mar/14/local/me-brown14|url-status=live}} He was released after three months.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/stories/2002-07-03-brown.htm|title=Brown completes jail term|newspaper=USA Today|agency=Associated Press|date=July 4, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214202353/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/stories/2002-07-03-brown.htm |archive-date=February 14, 2022 }}{{cite book|first=Mike|last=Freeman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Iks00GgKFp8C&q=Monique&pg=PA271|title=Jim Brown: The Fierce Life of an American Hero|publisher=HarperCollins|location=New York City|date=2006|page=12|isbn=9780061745942|access-date=October 21, 2022|archive-date=March 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322131820/https://books.google.com/books?id=Iks00GgKFp8C&q=Monique&pg=PA271#v=snippet&q=Monique&f=false|url-status=live}}

"There is no excuse for violence," said Brown in 2015. "There is never a justification for anyone to impose themselves on someone else. And it will always be incorrect when it comes to a man and a woman, regardless of what might have happened. You need to be man enough to take the blow. That is always the best way. Do not put your hands on a woman."

File:Jim Brown 2000.jpg

Brown married his first wife Sue Brown (née Jones) in September 1959.{{Cite journal|date=August 5, 1965|title=The Spicy Trial of Jim Brown" Grid star Denies Sex Acts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ucEDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+brenda+ayres&pg=PA16|journal=Jet|page=16|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=February 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203180223/https://books.google.com/books?id=ucEDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+brenda+ayres&pg=PA16|url-status=live}} She sued for divorce in 1968, charging him with "gross neglect". Together, they had three children, twins born 1960, and a son born 1962.{{Cite journal|date=September 12, 1968|title=Jim Brown's Wife Sues For Divorce, Charges Neglect|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8zcDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+married+sue+1959&pg=PA47|journal=Jet|page=47|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=February 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214202336/https://books.google.com/books?id=8zcDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+married+sue+1959&pg=PA47|url-status=live}} Their divorce was finalized in 1972.{{Cite journal|date=January 20, 1972|title=Jim Brown's Wife Gets Divorce; Says Brown's 'A Millionaire'|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w1sDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+divorce&pg=PA54|journal=Jet|page=54|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=February 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214202321/https://books.google.com/books?id=w1sDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+divorce&pg=PA54|url-status=live}} Brown was ordered to pay $2,500 per month in alimony and $100 per week for child support.{{Cite journal|date=June 29, 1972|title=Jim Brown Ordered To Pay $2,500 A Month Alimony|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FlsDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+divorce&pg=PA13|journal=Jet|page=13|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=February 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214202339/https://books.google.com/books?id=FlsDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+divorce&pg=PA13|url-status=live}}

In December 1973, Brown proposed to 18-year-old Diane Stanley, a Clark College student he met in Acapulco, Mexico, in April of that year.{{Cite journal|last=Mitchell|first=Grayson|date=February 14, 1974|title=Jim Brown Talks About The Girl He Will Marry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_KUDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+diane+stanley&pg=PA19|journal=Jet|pages=19–23|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=February 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214202353/https://books.google.com/books?id=_KUDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+diane+stanley&pg=PA19|url-status=live}}{{Cite journal|date=April 4, 1974|title=Jim Brown's Wedding Date Set For August 3 In Philly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VJADAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+married+sue+1959&pg=PA46|journal=Jet|page=46|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=February 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214202353/https://books.google.com/books?id=VJADAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+married+sue+1959&pg=PA46|url-status=live}} They broke off their engagement in 1974.{{Cite journal|date=September 19, 1974|title=Jim Brown's Fiancee Breaks Off Engagement And Returns His Ring|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xcoDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+diane+stanley+clark+university&pg=PA9|journal=Jet|page=9|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=February 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214202353/https://books.google.com/books?id=xcoDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+brown+diane+stanley+clark+university&pg=PA9|url-status=live}}

Brown married his second wife, Monique, in 1997; they had two children.{{Cite book|last=Gitlin|first=Marty|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pr9xAgAAQBAJ&q=jim+brown+married+Monique+1997&pg=PA83|title=Jim Brown: Football Great & Actor|date=2014|publisher=ABDO Publishing Company|location=North Mankato, Minnesota|isbn=978-1-62968-144-3|page=83|language=en|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=February 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214202341/https://books.google.com/books?id=pr9xAgAAQBAJ&q=jim+brown+married+Monique+1997&pg=PA83|url-status=live}}

Brown died of natural causes at the age of 87 on May 18, 2023, at his home in Los Angeles. He died with his wife by his side.{{cite news | last=Babb | first=Kent | title=Jim Brown, Hall of Fame running back and actor, dies at 87 | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=May 19, 2023 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2023/05/19/jim-brown-nfl-dead/ | access-date=May 20, 2023}}

Tributes from the sports world and beyond soon poured in, with former NFL running back Barry Sanders posting on Twitter that "You can't underestimate the impact Jim Brown had on the NFL." Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time leader in rushing yards, wrote "He is and was a true legend in sports and in the community using his platform to help others." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said "Jim Brown was a gifted athlete — one of the most dominant players to ever step on any athletic field — but also a cultural figure who helped promote change." LeBron James, an NBA star, wrote in tribute that "We lost a hero today. Rest in Paradise to the legend Jim Brown. I hope every black athlete takes the time to educate themselves about this incredible man and what he did to change all of our lives. We all stand on your shoulders Jim Brown." Barack Obama, the 44th president and the first black president of the United States, wrote, "I was too young to remember Jim Brown's playing days, but I knew his legacy. One of the greatest football players ever, he was also an actor and activist – speaking out on civil rights, and pushing other black athletes to do the same."{{cite web | last1=Wagoner | first1=Nick | last2=Getzenberg | first2=Alaina | last3=Keim | first3=John | last4=Pryor | first4=Brooke | last5=Thiry | first5=Lindsey | title=Jim Brown, football great and activist, dies at 87 | publisher=ESPN | date=May 19, 2023 | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/37685864/all-great-running-back-jim-brown-dies-87 | access-date=May 20, 2023 | archive-date=May 20, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520002937/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/37685864/all-great-running-back-jim-brown-dies-87 | url-status=live }}

Darrin Dewitt Henson played Brown in the 2008 sports drama The Express: The Ernie Davis Story. Brown was portrayed by David Ajala in the London cast of the 2013 play One Night in Miami{{Cite news |last=Clapp |first=Susannah |date=October 16, 2016 |title=One Night in Miami review – a crucible moment for black America |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/oct/16/one-night-miami-review-cassius-clay-malcolm-x-jim-brown-sam-cooke-donmar-kemp-powers |access-date=June 5, 2023 |issn=0029-7712 |archive-date=October 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018154611/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/oct/16/one-night-miami-review-cassius-clay-malcolm-x-jim-brown-sam-cooke-donmar-kemp-powers |url-status=live }} and by Aldis Hodge in the subsequent 2021 film adaptation of the same name.{{Cite web |last=Abele |first=Robert |date=January 19, 2021 |title=A rare portrait of Black men: Aldis Hodge knows the impact of 'One Night in Miami' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2021-01-19/aldis-hodge-plays-jim-brown-one-night-in-miami |access-date=June 5, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605164334/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2021-01-19/aldis-hodge-plays-jim-brown-one-night-in-miami |url-status=live }} According to Hodge, he heard "through the grapevine" that Brown - the only subject of the film alive at the film's release - liked the film and approved of Hodge's portrayal of him.{{Cite web |title='One Night In Miami's' Aldis Hodge Heard Jim Brown Approves [Interview] |url=https://theplaylist.net/one-night-in-miami-aldis-hodge-jim-brown-20210119/ |access-date=June 5, 2023 |website=theplaylist.net |date=January 19, 2021 |archive-date=April 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409182928/https://theplaylist.net/one-night-in-miami-aldis-hodge-jim-brown-20210119/ |url-status=live }}

Brown's memorable professional career led to his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971. His football accomplishments at Syracuse garnered him a berth in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/520658415/?terms=%22jim%20brown%22%20%22college%20football%20hall%20of%20fame%22&match=1|title=Bursting With Pride|work=The South Bend Tribune|page=1|date=August 26, 1995|access-date=May 19, 2023|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519203531/https://www.newspapers.com/image/520658415/?terms=%22jim%20brown%22%20%22college%20football%20hall%20of%20fame%22&match=1|url-status=live}} Brown was inducted in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1983.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-brown-moran-to-e/124981195/|title=Brown, Moran to enter Lacrosse Hall of Fame|newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle|agency=Associated Press|page=4D|date=December 2, 1983|access-date=May 19, 2023|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519211316/https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-brown-moran-to-e/124981195/|url-status=live}}

File:1964 Cleveland Brown helmet.jpg

Brown is still the only player in history to win the NFL Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in the same year.{{Cite web |last=read |first=Frank SchwabSenior writer·3 min |date=2024-10-07 |title=Rookie QB Jayden Daniels isn't the NFL MVP favorite yet, but he's getting closer |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/rookie-qb-jayden-daniels-isnt-the-nfl-mvp-favorite-yet-but-hes-getting-closer-135315921.html |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}} In addition to winning the NFL MVP in 1957, 1958, and 1965, Brown was named league MVP by the Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, Maxwell Football Club, and DC Touchdown Club in 1963. Brown is the only NFL player to average 100 rushing yards per game for their career.{{cite web|first=Beau|last=Troutman|title=Jim Brown has complicated, but important legacy|date=July 18, 2020|work=Holland Sentinel|url=https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/sports/2020/07/18/jim-brown-has-complicated-but-important-legacy/42794065/|access-date=May 20, 2023|archive-date=May 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520091724/https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/sports/2020/07/18/jim-brown-has-complicated-but-important-legacy/42794065/|url-status=live}} In 118 career games, he averaged 104.3 yards per game and 5.2 yards per carry; only Barry Sanders (99.8 yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry){{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_yds_per_g_career.htm |title=NFL Rushing Yards per Game Career Leaders |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=November 22, 2017 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201133952/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_yds_per_g_career.htm |url-status=live }} comes close to these totals. For example, Hall of Famer Walter Payton averaged 88 yards per game during his career with a 4.4 yards-per-carry average. Emmitt Smith averaged 81.2 yards per game with a 4.2 yards-per-carry average.{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_yds_career.htm |title=NFL Career Rushing Yards Leaders |website=Pro Football Reference |access-date=December 18, 2010 |archive-date=April 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402081552/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_yds_career.htm |url-status=live }} Brown has held the yards-per-game and yards-per-carry (minimum 1,500 carries) records by a running back since his retirement in 1965.

ESPN's SportsCentury in 1999 ranked Brown fourth among their 50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century, trailing only Muhammed Ali, Babe Ruth, and Michael Jordan. That same year, The Sporting News selected him as the greatest football player of all time, as did the New York Daily News in 2014.{{cite news|last1=Myers|first1=Gary|title=NFL Top 50: Jim Brown is best player in league history, edges Giants' Lawrence Taylor in Daily News' rankings (Nos. 1–10)|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/nfl-top-50-nos-1-10-jim-brown-greatest-time-article-1.2031278|access-date=July 13, 2017|work=Daily News|location=New York|date=December 3, 2014|archive-date=July 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709104050/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/nfl-top-50-nos-1-10-jim-brown-greatest-time-article-1.2031278|url-status=live}} On November 4, 2010, Brown was chosen by NFL Network's NFL Films production The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players as the second-greatest player in NFL history, behind only Jerry Rice. In November 2019, he was one of two running backs, along with Walter Payton, to be unanimously selected to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001079486/article/nfl-100-alltime-team-running-backs-revealed |title=NFL 100 All-Time Team running backs revealed |publisher=National Football League |access-date=November 27, 2019 |archive-date=November 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127214932/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001079486/article/nfl-100-alltime-team-running-backs-revealed |url-status=dead }}

On January 13, 2020, Brown was named the greatest college football player of all time by ESPN, during a ceremony at the College Football Playoff National Championship Game celebrating the 150th anniversary of college football.{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/37685864/all-great-running-back-jim-brown-dies-87 | title=All-time great running back Jim Brown dies at 87 | date=May 19, 2023 | access-date=May 19, 2023 | archive-date=May 19, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519194945/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/37685864/all-great-running-back-jim-brown-dies-87 | url-status=live }}

File:1961 Kahn's Wieners Jim Brown (cropped).jpg

* Based on evidence presented from play-by-play reports of five disputed games from that season, the argument is made that Brown did in fact break the 1,000-yard barrier in 1962.{{Cite web |title=THE COFFIN CORNER - 2013 - PFRA {{!}} PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL RESEARCHERS ASSOCIATION |url=https://profootballresearchers.com/coffin-corner-2013.html |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=profootballresearchers.com}}

File:Jim Brown Statue (29198484594).jpg]]

• NFL champion (1964)
• 3× NFL Most Valuable Player (1957, 1958, 1965)
• 3× Sporting News NFL MVP (1957, 1958, 1965)
• 3× Jim Thorpe Trophy (1958, 1963, 1965)
• 3× UPI NFL MVP (1958, 1963, 1965)
• 2× Joe F. Carr Trophy (1958, 1965)
• 2× DC Touchdown Club NFL MVP (1958, 1963)
• Bert Bell Award (1963)
• NFL Rookie of the Year (1957)
• 8× First-team All-Pro (1957–1961, 1963–1965)
• Second-team All-Pro (1962)
• 9× Sporting News first-team All-Pro (1957–1965){{Cite web |title=1965 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1965/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• 8× NEA first-team All-Pro (1957–1961, 1963–1965){{Cite web |title=1964 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1964/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• 8× UPI first-team All-Pro (1957–1961, 1963–1965){{Cite web |title=1963 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1963/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• UPI second-team All-Pro (1962){{Cite web |title=1962 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1962/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• 8× New York Daily News first-team All-Pro (1957–1961, 1963–1965){{Cite web |title=1961 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1961/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• 3× Pro Bowl Game Co-MVP (1962, 1963, 1966){{Cite web |date=2012-05-01 |title=The 1962 Pro Bowl |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501163634/http://www.mmbolding.com/BSR/The_1962_Pro_Bowl.htm |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=web.archive.org}}
• 9× Pro Bowl (1957–1965)
• 8× NFL rushing yards leader (1957–1961, 1963–1965)
• 6× NFL yards from scrimmage leader (1958, 1959, 1961, 1963–1965){{Cite web |title=NFL Yards From Scrimmage Year-by-Year Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/yds_from_scrimmage_year_by_year.htm |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• 6× NFL rushing attempts leader (1958, 1959, 1961, 1963–1965){{Cite web |title=NFL Rushing Attempts Year-by-Year Leaders (since 1933) |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_att_year_by_year.htm |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• 5× NFL rushing touchdowns leader (1957–1959, 1963, 1965)
• 5× NFL all-purpose yards leader (1958–1961, 1964){{Cite web |title=NFL All-Purpose Yards Year-by-Year Leaders (since 1945) |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/all_purpose_yds_year_by_year.htm |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• 5× NFL approximate value leader (1960, 1961, 1963–1965){{efn|Leaders have been tracked since the 1960 season; The only two players to have a higher value than Brown in 1961, were George Blanda and Charlie Hennigan of the AFL.}}{{Cite web |title=NFL Approximate Value Year-by-Year Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/av_year_by_year.htm |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• 3× NFL total touchdowns leader (1958, 1959, 1963){{Cite web |title=NFL Touchdowns Year-by-Year Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/all_td_year_by_year.htm |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• 2× NFL yards per rushing attempt leader (1963, 1964){{Cite web |title=NFL Yards per Rushing Attempt Year-by-Year Leaders (since 1933) |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_yds_per_att_year_by_year.htm |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• NFL scoring leader ({{NFL Year|1958}})
• NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
• NFL 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
• NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
• NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team (first member & unanimous selection){{Cite web |title=Jim Brown first player named to NFL All-Time Team |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/jim-brown-first-player-named-to-nfl-all-time-team-0ap3000001079312 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}
• AFL-NFL 1960–1984 All-Star Team{{efn|Chosen by the Hall of Fame Selection Committee in 1985.}}{{Cite web |last=Press |first=The Associated |date=2023-05-19 |title=Jim Brown's Records |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jim-browns-records-mcay0fzn |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Newsday |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2019 Official NFL 100th Season Record & Fact Book |url=https://operations.nfl.com/media/3823/2019-nfl-record-and-fact-book.pdf |access-date=April 23, 2025 |website=NFL Operations}}
• NFL All-Time Team{{efn|Chosen by members of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee in 2000 for the book NFL's Greatest.}}{{Cite web |title=Unitas selected to lead All-Time team |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2000/08/02/unitas-selected-to-lead-all-time-team/ |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}
• Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor
• Cleveland Browns Legends{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/history/legends |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.clevelandbrowns.com |language=en-US}}
• Cleveland Browns No. 32 retired
• Statue in front of Huntington Bank Field (2016){{Cite web |title=Jim Brown |url=https://www.sculpturecenter.org/oosi/items/show/1317 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Ohio Outdoor Sculpture |language=en-US}}
• To honor him, the Cleveland Browns named their Inspire Change Changemaker Award after him (2022){{Cite web |title=Browns name ‘Inspire Change Changemaker Award’ after Jim Brown, honor 2022 recipients during Week 15 vs. Ravens |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-name-inspire-change-changemaker-award-after-jim-brown-honor-2022-recipien |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=www.clevelandbrowns.com |language=en-US}}
• To permanently honor the impact of Jim Brown in the NFL, the player with the most rushing yards each season will be presented with the Jim Brown Award (2022){{Cite web |title=Jim Brown dies at 87: NFL recently created annual rushing award in Cleveland Browns legend's honor |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/jim-brown-dies-at-87-nfl-recently-created-annual-rushing-award-in-cleveland-browns-legends-honor/amp/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=www.cbssports.com}}
• In partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Browns held a "[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OcnhPMBkqXY&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD Celebration of Life]" tribute in his memory, following his passing (2023){{Cite web |date=2023-08-03 |title=Browns, HOF honor late Jim Brown in ceremony |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38128663/browns-pro-football-hall-fame-commemorate-jim-brown |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

Lacrosse

• To honor Brown's ever-lasting influence on lacrosse, the Premier Lacrosse League named its Most Valuable Player award after him (2019){{Cite web |last=PLL |date=2019-04-06 |title=PREMIER LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH LACROSSE LEGEND & NFL HALL OF FAMER JIM BROWN |url=https://premierlacrosseleague.com/articles/jimbrown#:~:text=(May%2016,%202019)%20-,after%20the%20former%20Syracuse%20star. |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Premier Lacrosse League |language=en-US}}
• Brown joined the Premier Lacrosse League as both an advisor and a champion of the PLL Assists program (2019){{Cite web |last=PLL |date=2023-05-19 |title=Premier Lacrosse League, Paul Rabil Statements on the Passing of Jim Brown |url=https://premierlacrosseleague.com/articles/premier-lacrosse-league-paul-rabil-statements-on-the-passing-of-jim-brown |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Premier Lacrosse League |language=en-US}}

NCAA

• Silver Anniversary Award (1982){{Cite web |title=All-Time Honors Award Winners |url=https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2018/2/5/all-time-honors-award-winners.aspx |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=NCAA.org |language=en}}

Syracuse

• 10× letterman in four sports (football, basketball, lacrosse, and track){{Cite web |title=Jim Brown: Powerful and Prolific, and Not Just on the Gridiron |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/Black-History-Month/2020/01/31/jim-brown-black-history-month |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=spectrumlocalnews.com |language=en}}
• Syracuse Athlete of the Year (1956–1957){{Cite web |title=Jim Brown, Lacrosse, 1955-57 |url=https://cuse.com/sports/2006/9/26/brownlaxbio |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Syracuse University Athletics |language=en}}
• Syracuse Orange Ring of Honor (2020){{Cite web |title=Orange Ring of Honor |url=https://cuse.com/news/2022/2/7/general-orange-ring-of-honor |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Syracuse University Athletics |language=en}}
• Arents Award for excellence in athletics and social activism (2016){{Cite web |title=Jim Brown Named 2016 Arents Award Recipient |url=https://cuse.com/news/2016/8/17/football-jim-brown-named-2016-arents-award-recipient |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Syracuse University Athletics |language=en}}
• Statue at [https://cuse.com/news/2015/5/19/FB_0519150447 Plaza 44] outside the Ensley Athletic Center{{Cite web |title=Legends Honored at Plaza 44 |url=https://cuse.com/news/2015/11/14/FB_1114150948 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Syracuse University Athletics |language=en}}

Football

• Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy (1956){{Cite web |date=2024-10-18 |title=ORANGE WATCH: Syracuse football in the hunt for a revived Lambert Trophy |url=https://n.rivals.com/news/orange-watch-syracuse-football-in-the-hunt-for-a-revived-lambert-trophy |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=syracuse.rivals.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2016-03-12 |title=New York, NY- Syracuse All-American Jimmy Brown and university... |url=https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/new-york-ny-syracuse-all-american-jimmy-brown-and-news-photo/515449864 |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Getty Images |language=en-us}}
• Cotton Bowl Co-MVP (1957){{Cite web |title=Jim Brown, Football, 1954-56 |url=https://cuse.com/sports/2005/11/8/jimbrown44bio |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Syracuse University Athletics |language=en}}
• College All-Star Game Team (1957){{Cite web |title=Orange in All-Star Games |url=https://cuse.com/sports/2008/1/25/orangeinallstargames |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Syracuse University Athletics |language=en}}
• Unanimous All-American (1956)
• AP first-team All-American (1956)
• AFCA All-American (1956)
• FWAA All-American (1956)
• NEA first-team All-American (1956)
• UPI first-team All-American (1956)
• INS first-team All-American (1956)
• Collier's first-team All-American (1956)
• CPA first-team All-American (1956)
• WC All-American (1956)
• INS second-team All-American (1955)
• AP third-team All-American (1955)
• NEA third-team All-American (1955)
• 2× Unanimous first-team All-Eastern (1955, 1956)
• 2× AP first-team All-Eastern (1955, 1956)
• 2× UPI first-team All-Eastern (1955, 1956)
• 2× INS First-team All-Eastern (1955, 1956)
• NCAA rushing touchdowns co-leader (1956){{Cite web |title=Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown dead at 87 {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2023/pro-football-hall-of-famer-jim-brown,-football-s-greatest-player,-dies/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=pfhof |language=en}}
• NCAA average kickoff return yards leader (1955)
• Walter Camp All-Century Team{{Cite web |title=All Century Team – Walter Camp Football Foundation |url=https://waltercamp.org/awards/all-century-team/ |access-date=2025-04-23 |language=en}}
• Syracuse All-Century Team
• Syracuse Orange No. 44 retired
• To honor Jim Brown, the Touchdown Club of Columbus awards the NCAA's top running back with the Jim Brown Trophy (1991){{Cite web |title=Touchdown Club of Columbus |url=http://www.tdccolumbus.com/#awards |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=www.tdccolumbus.com}}

Lacrosse

• Coaches Poll National Champion (1957) (undefeated perfect 10-0 season){{Cite web |title=Syracuse's Championship History Honored With Bobblehead |url=https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/syracuse-s-championship-history-honored-with-bobblehead/50640 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=www.insidelacrosse.com}}
• First-team All-American ([https://static.usila.org/custompages/AllAmericanPDFs/1957_AA.pdf 1957]){{Cite web |title=Men's Lacrosse All Americans (by year) |url=https://cuse.com/sports/2008/6/9/mlaxallamericans |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Syracuse University Athletics |language=en}}
• Second-team All-American ([https://static.usila.org/custompages/AllAmericanPDFs/1956_AA.pdf 1956])
• North–South All-Star Game Champion ([https://static.usila.org/custompages/North_South_Reviews/1957-all.pdf 1957])
• NCAA goalscoring co-leader with 43 goals (1957){{Cite web |date=2023-05-20 |title=Hall of Famer Jim Brown Passes Away |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/draft-news/news/hall-of-famer-jim-brown-passes-away |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=NFL Draft On SI |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Hall of Fame |url=https://scarletknights.com/sports/2017/6/11/trads-hall-of-fame-alpha-html.aspx |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Rutgers University Athletics |language=en}}

Track and field

• Fifth place at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Decathlon (1955){{Cite web |title=History of US Nationals Results: Decathlon - Men |url=https://trackandfieldnews.com/history-of-us-nationals-results-decathlon-men/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Track & Field News |language=en-US}}
• First place – Discus throw ({{convert|143|ft|4.5|in|m|abbr=on}}){{Cite web |date=2023-05-23 |title=Once Upon a Time in the Vest: V 13 N. 52 That 1955 National AAU Decathlon |url=https://onceuponatimeinthevest.blogspot.com/2023/05/v-13-n-52-that-1955-national-aau.html?m=1 |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Once Upon a Time in the Vest}}
• Dual Meet Champion vs Colgate (May 18, 1957){{Cite web |title=Daily Illini 21 May 1957 — Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections |url=https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=DIL19570521.1.14&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN---------- |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=idnc.library.illinois.edu}}
• High jump champion
• Discus throw champion

Manhasset High School

• 13× letterman in five sports (football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, and track){{Cite news |last=Vecsey |first=George |date=1984-03-19 |title=Jim Brown's Best Sport |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/19/sports/jim-brown-s-best-sport.html |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
• [https://www.profootballhof.com/connect/hometown-hall-of-famers-program/ Hometown Hall of Famers] Plaque (2013){{Cite web |title=“Hometown Hall of Famers™” Plaque Honors Jim Brown in Manhasset, N.Y. {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2013/05/news-hometown-hall-of-famers-plaque-honors-jim-brown-in-manhasset-n-y/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=pfhof |language=en}}

Track and field

• Nassau County high jump champion (1952){{Cite web |title=Legend Jim Brown '57 Passes Away |url=https://cuse.com/news/2023/5/19/football-legend-jim-brown-57-passes-away |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Syracuse University Athletics |language=en}}
• Dual-meet champion vs Sea Cliff High School (May 21, 1952)
• High jump champion{{Cite web |title=Sea Cliff Bows To Manhasset |url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ndrs19520522-01.1.11&srpos=64&e=-------en-20-ndrs-61--txt-txIN-Jim+brown+Nassau+county+high+jump--------- |access-date=April 21, 2025 |website=NYS Historic Newspapers}}
• Discus throw champion
• Dual-Meet Event vs East Rockaway High School (June 4, 1951){{Cite web |title=Rocks Down Indians, 60-44 |url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ndrs19510605-01.1.13&srpos=48&e=-------en-20-ndrs-41--txt-txIN-Jim+brown+manhasset+track+and+field--------- |access-date=April 21, 2025 |website=NYS Historic Newspapers}}
• Discus throw champion
• Dual-meet event vs Hicksville High School (May 23, 1951)
• 880 yard relay champion{{Cite web |title=Comets Score In Track Test With Indians |url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ndrs19510524-01.1.13&srpos=60&e=-------en-20-ndrs-41--txt-txIN-Jim+brown+Nassau+county+high+jump--------- |access-date=April 21, 2025 |website=NYS Historic Newspapers}}
• Tri-Meet Event vs Great Neck High School and Roslyn High School (May 9, 1951){{Cite web |title=Great Neck Wins On Track |url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ndrs19510510-01.1.13&srpos=40&e=-------en-20-ndrs-21--txt-txIN-Jim+brown+manhasset+track+and+field--------- |access-date=April 21, 2025 |website=NYS Historic Newspapers}}
• High jump champion

Lacrosse

• 4× Woodstick Classic Champion (1950–1953){{Cite web |title=A Rivalry on Pause: No Woodstick Classic for First Time Since 1935 |url=https://www.usalacrosse.com/magazine/rivalry-pause-no-woodstick-classic-first-time-1935 |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=USA Lacrosse |language=en}}
• [https://blaxeight.net/tournaments/county_champs.php#notes Long Island-Metropolitan Lacrosse Conference]
• Syracuse University Trophy (MVP) (1952){{Cite web |title=Manhasset's Jim Brown Picked Most Valuable |url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ndrs19520529-01.1.14&srpos=284&e=-------en-20-ndrs-281--txt-txIN-Jim+brown+all+scholastic--------- |access-date=April 21, 2025 |website=NYS Historic Newspapers}}
• 3× First-team All-Conference All-Star (1951–1953){{Cite web |title=Devils Travel To Manhasset |url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ndrs19520402-01.1.16&srpos=90&e=-------en-20-ndrs-81--txt-txIN-Jim+brown+all+scholastic--------- |access-date=April 21, 2025 |website=NYS Historic Newspapers}}{{Cite web |title=Jim Brown Lacrosse |url=https://www.lacrosse-information.com/jim-brown-lacrosse.html |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=www.lacrosse-information.com}}

Baseball

• Threw two no-hitters{{Cite web |title=Jim Brown |url=http://www.orangehoops.org/jbrown.htm |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=www.orangehoops.org}}

Football

• Double A Conference Co-Champion (1952) (undefeated){{Cite web |title=Mepham, Oyster Bay Dominated Nassau High School Sports |url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ndrs19521231-01.1.12&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN---------- |access-date=April 20, 2025 |website=NYS Historic Newspapers}}{{Cite web |title=Brown 'Held' To 24 Points |url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ndrs19521110-01.1.20&srpos=50&e=-------en-20-ndrs-41--txt-txIN-Jim+brown+manhasset+track+and+field--------- |access-date=April 21, 2025 |website=NYS Historic Newspapers}}
• Tom Thorp Memorial Award (MVP)(1952){{Cite web |title=Jim Brown inducted into NYSPHAA Hall of Fame |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/jim-brown-inducted-into-nysphaa-hall-of-fame-17363959 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=www.clevelandbrowns.com |language=en-US}}
• 2× Nassau first-team All-Scholastic (1951, 1952){{Cite web |title=1951 All-Scholastic |url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ndrs19511129-01.1.10&srpos=13&e=-------en-20-ndrs-1--txt-txIN-1951+conference+all%252Dstar--------- |access-date=April 21, 2025 |website=NYS Historic Newspapers}}{{Cite web |title=1952 Nassau All-Scholastic |url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ndrs19521128-01.1.13&srpos=9&e=-------en-20-ndrs-1--txt-txIN-Jim+brown+manhasset+scholastic--------- |access-date=April 21, 2025 |website=NYS Historic Newspapers}}
• 2× Nassau County football scoring leader (1951, 1952){{Cite web |title=Walsh Fears Injury Jinx |url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ndrs19520916-01.1.15&srpos=10&e=-------en-20-ndrs-1--txt-txIN-Jim+brown+Nassau+county+high+jump--------- |access-date=April 21, 2025 |website=NYS Historic Newspapers}}

Basketball

• 2× First-team All-Nassau (1952, 1953){{Cite web |title=History of All-Nassau basketball teams |url=https://lihistory.nyhighschoolbasketball.com/linked/all_li_teams.htm |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=lihistory.nyhighschoolbasketball.com}}
• All-Nassau Team Honorable Mention (1951) {{Cite web |title=Alcock Sparks Hicksville To 73-53 Victory |url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ndrs19511205-01.1.16&srpos=92&e=-------en-20-ndrs-81--txt-txIN-Jim+brown+all+scholastic--------- |access-date=April 21, 2025 |website=NYS Historic Newspapers}}
• 2× Nassau County scoring leader (1952, 1953){{Cite web |title=Nassau County single season scoring leaders |url=https://lihistory.nyhighschoolbasketball.com/linked/scoring.htm |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=lihistory.nyhighschoolbasketball.com}}
• Newsday's Long Island 1950s All-Decade Team{{Cite web |title=Long Island's All-Decade Boys Basketball Team of the 1950s |url=https://www.footboom1.com/en/news/basketball/2406419-long-island-s-all-decade-boys-basketball-team-of-the-1950s |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=www.footboom1.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sarra |first=Gregg |date=2025-02-28 |title=Newsday's Long Island All-Decade boys basketball players: The 1950s |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/boys-basketball/1950s-long-island-best-basketball-players-rn3y1nun |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Newsday |language=en}}
• Nassau County single season record 38.1 ppg scoring average (1953){{Cite web |title=Mangano: Nassau County High School Athletics Hall Of Fame To Be Established |url=https://www.longisland.com/news/06-24-15/nassau-county-hs-athletics-hof.html |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=LongIsland.com}}{{Cite web |title=Nassau County single season scoring leaders |url=https://lihistory.nyhighschoolbasketball.com/linked/30_ppg._scoring_avg..htm |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=lihistory.nyhighschoolbasketball.com}}
• Only player in Nassau County history to score 50+ points in consecutive games (1952){{Cite web |title=Brown Shatters Record Again With 55 Tallies |url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ndrs19521211-01.1.16&srpos=10&e=-------en-20-ndrs-1--txt-txIN-Jim+Brown+Manhasset+All%252DStar--------- |access-date=April 21, 2025 |website=NYS Historic Newspapers}}

• Pro Football Hall of Fame – Class of 1971{{Cite web |title=Jim Brown {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/jim-brown/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=pfhof |language=en}}
• College Football Hall of Fame – Class of 1995{{Cite news |title=Inductee {{!}} James Nathaniel Brown 1995 |url=https://www.cfbhall.com/inductees/jim-brown-1995/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250124190453/https://www.cfbhall.com/inductees/jim-brown-1995/ |archive-date=2025-01-24 |access-date=2025-04-20 |language=en-US}}
• National Lacrosse Hall of Fame – Class of 1983{{Cite web |title=National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Member Jim Brown Dies |url=https://www.usalacrosse.com/magazine/misc/national-lacrosse-hall-fame-member-jim-brown-dies |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=USA Lacrosse |language=en}}
• Helms Athletic Foundation Pro Football Hall of Fame – Class of 1967
• [https://nysphsaa.org/hof.aspx NYSPHSAA Hall of Fame] – Class of 2016{{Cite web |title=Jim Brown to be Inducted into NYSPHSAA Hall of Fame |url=https://cuse.com/news/2016/6/30/football-jim-brown-to-be-inducted-into-nysphsaa-hall-of-fame |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Syracuse University Athletics |language=en}}
• [https://www.cottonbowl.com/sports/2019/9/3/hall-of-fame-landing-page.aspx Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame] – Class of 1998{{Cite web |date=2023-10-13 |title=Remembering Cotton Bowl Classic Hall of Famer Jim Brown |url=https://www.cottonbowl.com/news/2023/5/20/cotton-bowl-classic-memorials-remembering-cotton-bowl-classic-hall-of-famer-jim-brown |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic |language=en}}
• [https://armyrotc.army.mil/hall-of-fame/ U.S. Army ROTC Hall of Fame] – Class of 2016{{Cite web |title=Jim Brown Inducted into U.S. Army ROTC Hall of Fame |url=https://cuse.com/news/2016/6/10/football-jim-brown-inducted-into-us-army-rotc-hall-of-fame.aspx |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Syracuse University Athletics |language=en}}
• [https://nhsfootballhof.com/ National High School Football Hall of Fame] – Inaugural Class of 2023{{Cite web |last=Weaver |first=Tim |title=22 named to inaugural class of the National High School Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.usatodayhss.com/story/sports/high-school/2023/05/24/22-named-to-inaugural-class-of-the-national-high-school-football-hall-of-fame/76235136007/ |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=USA TODAY High School Sports |language=en-US}}
• [https://secviii.org/hall-of-fame/ Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame] – Inaugural Class of 2015{{Cite web |last=Bellissimo |first=Tony |date=2015-07-21 |title=Nassau County sports HOF established |url=https://liherald.com/stories/nassau-county-sports-hof-established,69567 |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Herald Community Newspapers |language=en}}
• [https://limetrolax.org/hall-of-fame/?amp Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Hall of Fame] – Class of 1987{{Cite web |date=2014-10-02 |title=Hall of Famers |url=https://limetrolax.org/hall-of-fame/hall-of-famers/?amp |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=LONG ISLAND METRO LACROSSE FOUNDATION |language=en-US}}
• Long Island Sports Hall of Fame – Inaugural Class of 1984{{Cite web |title=Sports Briefs - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/09/21/Sports-Briefs/6117464587200/#google_vignette |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=UPI |language=en}}
• [http://www.manhassetlacrossehof.com/ Manhasset Lacrosse Hall of Fame] – Inaugural Class of [http://www.manhassetlacrossehof.com/pdf/20th_Annual_HOF_Induction_Dinner_Biographies.pdf 1989]{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Manhasset |date=2018-04-25 |title=Manhasset Lacrosse Hall Of Fame |url=https://www.longislandpress.com/2018/04/25/manhasset-lacrosse-hall-of-fame/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=www.longislandpress.com |language=en-US}}
• [https://ohshof.com/ Ohio Sports Hall of Fame] – Inaugural Class of 2024{{Cite web |last=Fame |first=Ohio Sports Hall of |title=Ohio Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://ohshof.com/class-of-2024 |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Ohio Sports Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}

• Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Athlete of the Year (1958){{Cite web |date=2018-12-21 |title=PSWA History |url=https://phillysportswriters.com/pswa-history/ |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=The Philadelphia Sports Writers Association |language=en-US}}
• 2× ESPN American Athlete of the Year (1958, 1959){{Cite web |date=2016-08-16 |title=The Best American Athlete Championship Belt |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/17303175/best-american-athlete-championship-belt-best-athlete-sports-history-michael-jordan-michael-phelps-babe-ruth-tiger-woods-united-states |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
• Hickok Belt (1964)
• National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award (1982){{Cite web |date=2012-05-15 |title=George Bodenheimer to Receive NFF Distinguished American Award |url=https://footballfoundation.org/news/2012/5/15/_51549.aspx |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=National Football Foundation |language=en}}
• NAACP Image Awards – Jackie Robinson Sports Award (1997)
• TDC Lifetime Achievement Award (1997)
• NFL Alumni Order of the Leather Helmet (1998)
• Ranked #4 on ESPN SportsCentury: Top 50 North American Athletes of the 20th Century (1999){{Cite web |title=ESPN.com: Top N. American athletes of the century |url=https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/athletes.html |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=www.espn.com}}
• Associated Press' Greatest Football Player of the 20th Century (1999)
• Sporting News' Greatest Football Player of All Time (1999){{Cite web |date=2023-05-20 |title=Jim Brown in 1999 on The Sporting News ranking him 'Football's Greatest Player': 'I think about attitude' {{!}} Sporting News |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/jim-brown-ranking-sporting-news-football-100-greatest-players/dibxaqf9n8yfb9fozrtgidz8 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=www.sportingnews.com |language=en-us}}
• [https://www.clevelandsports.org/ Greater Cleveland Sports Commission] – Lifetime Achievement Award (2002) (inaugural recipient){{Cite web |title=25th Greater Cleveland Sports Awards {{!}} Greater Cleveland Sports Commission {{!}} Cleveland, OH |url=https://www.clevelandsports.org/events/2025/02/06/25th-greater-cleveland-sports-awards/lifetime-achievement-award |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=www.clevelandsports.org |language=en}}
• Sports Illustrated's Greatest College Athlete of All Time (2006){{Cite web |date=2006-07-03 |title=Top 15 Greatest College Athletes |url=https://www.si.com/uncategorized/2006/07/03/03top-15-greatest-college-athletes |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=SI |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2006-07-10 |title=Monday’s Chalktalk - July 10 |url=https://footballfoundation.org/news/2006/7/10/_51020.aspx |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=National Football Foundation |language=en}}
• MaxPreps' Greatest New York Male High School Athlete (2009){{Cite web |title=New York: Manhasset's Jim Brown Leads Fab Four |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/m/news/pGbHYX47Ed6OEwAcxJTdpg/new-york-manhassets-jim-brown-leads-fab-four.htm |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=www.maxpreps.com}}
• Ranked #2 on NFL Network The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players of All Time (2010){{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=orZGS36ntzs |title=The Top 100 NFLs Greatest Players: #2 Jim Brown |date=2022-02-17 |last=MoeDee's Basketball |access-date=2025-04-20 |via=YouTube}}
• Tewaaraton Legend Award (2011) (inaugural recipient){{Cite web |title=Jim Brown Named First Tewaaraton Legend |url=https://cuse.com/news/2011/6/1/MLAX_0601110029 |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Syracuse University Athletics |language=en}}
• [https://www.smu.edu/doakwalkeraward/legendsaward PwC Doak Walker Legends Award] (2012){{Cite web |title=Jim Brown Honored with Doak Walker Legends Award |url=https://cuse.com/news/2012/11/2/FB_1102122310 |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Syracuse University Athletics |language=en}}
• Martin Luther King Jr. Sports Legacy Award (2013){{Cite web |title=Grizzlies to honor Patrick Ewing, Elgin Baylor and Jim Brown as part of the 11th Annual MLK, Jr. Day Celebration {{!}} Memphis Grizzlies |url=https://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/11th-annual-mlk-jr-celebration-game-130107 |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}}
• MLB Beacon of Hope Award (2014){{Cite web |date=2014-01-20 |title=Angelou, Gordy, Jim Brown to receive MLB honors |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story?id=10321340&src=desktop |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
• [https://haroldpumpfoundation.com/ Harold & Carole Pump Foundation] – Lifetime Achievement Award (2014){{Cite web |title=Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees |url=https://haroldpumpfoundation.com/index.php/events/lifetime-achievement-award-honorees |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Harold & Carole Pump Foundation |language=en-gb}}
• Muhammad Ali Lifetime Humanitarian Achievement Award (2014){{Cite web |date=2014-09-28 |title=NFL great Brown given Ali humanitarian award |url=https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/11602533/jim-brown-receives-muhammad-ali-humanitarian-award |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
• New York Daily News' Greatest Football Player of All Time (2014){{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Gary |date=2014-12-03 |title=NFL Top 50: Jim Brown is best player in league history, edges Giants’ Lawrence Taylor in Daily News’ rankings (Nos. 1-10) |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2014/12/03/nfl-top-50-jim-brown-is-best-player-in-league-history-edges-giants-lawrence-taylor-in-daily-news-rankings-nos-1-10/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US}}
• Sports Illustrated's Muhammad Ali Legacy Award (2016){{Cite web |title=Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jim Brown and Bill Russell to Receive the Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award {{!}} Los Angeles Lakers |url=https://www.nba.com/lakers/releases/161130-kareem-si-legacy-award |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}}
• [https://www.harlemlacrosse.org/ Harlem Lacrosse] – Trailblazer Award (2017) (inaugural recipient){{Cite web |title=Harlem Lacrosse to Honor Jim Brown at Annual Benefit |url=https://www.usalacrosse.com/magazine/harlem-lacrosse-honor-jim-brown-annual-benefit |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=USA Lacrosse |language=en}}
• Bleacher Report's Greatest Athlete of All Time (2018){{Cite web |last=Farrand |first=Greg |title=The Top Ten Athletes Of All Time |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/53310-the-top-ten-athletes-of-all-time |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=bleacherreport.com |language=en}}
• Bleacher Report's NFL All-Time Team (2018){{Cite web |last=Lufrano |first=Adam |title=Looking Back on Football's Greatest Players: The All-Time NFL Offense |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1045465-looking-back-on-footballs-greatest-players-the-all-time-nfl-offense |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=bleacherreport.com |language=en}}
• MaxPreps' Greatest All-Around High School Athlete of All Time (2019){{Cite web |title=Top 50 greatest high school all-around athletes of all-time |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/m/news/wJbJkwQyzEy1QDjEZOCzLQ/top-50-greatest-high-school-all-around-athletes-of-all-time.htm |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.maxpreps.com}}
• Named The Greatest College Football Player of All Time by ESPN (2020){{Cite web |date=2020-01-14 |title=The 150 greatest players in college football history: Jim Brown is No. 1 |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/page/cfb150players/the-150-greatest-players-college-football-150-year-history |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
• ESPN's Greatest Running Back of All Time (2023){{Cite web |date=2023-05-19 |title=The NFL's GOAT at every offensive position: Why a panel of experts judged Jim Brown the best running back ever |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34302023/greatest-nfl-players-ever-every-offensive-position-picking-goat-quarterback-running-back-receiver-offensive-tackle |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

• NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture – El Condor (1970){{Cite web |title=Image Awards (NAACP) (1970) |url=https://m.imdb.com/event/ev0000345/1970/1/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}

Nominations

• Laurel Awards
• Male New Face (1968){{Cite web |title=Laurel Awards (1968) |url=https://m.imdb.com/event/ev0000394/1968/1/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}
• Male Supporting Performance – The Dirty Dozen (1968)
• MTV Movie & TV Awards
• Best Fight: Jim Brown vs. Alien – Mars Attacks! (1997){{Cite web |title=MTV Movie + TV Awards (1997) |url=https://m.imdb.com/event/ev0000453/1997/1/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}

For details regarding NFL and Cleveland Browns team records at the time of his retirement, please refer to the ‘Career Highlights’ tab on his page at the Pro Football Hall of Fame website, available [https://www.profootballhof.com/players/jim-brown/ here]

• First player in history with 300 rush attempts in a season: 305 (1961)
• First player in history to rush for 1,500 yards in a season: 1,527 (1958)
• First player in history with 2,000 yards from scrimmage in a season: 2,131 (1963)
• First player in history to reach 100 career rushing touchdowns (1965){{Cite web |title=Jim Brown, Syracuse football and lacrosse star turned NFL legend, passes away {{!}} NCAA.com |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2023-05-19/jim-brown-syracuse-football-and-lacrosse-star-turned-nfl-legend-passes-away?amp |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=www.ncaa.com |language=en}}
• First player in history to reach 10,000 career rushing yards (1964){{Cite web |title=Derrick Henry reaches 10,000 career rushing yards; will Ravens RB be last NFL player to hit milestone? |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/derrick-henry-reaches-10000-career-rushing-yards-will-ravens-rb-be-last-nfl-player-to-hit-milestone/amp/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=www.cbssports.com}}
• Fewest games to reach 12,000 career rushing yards: 115{{Cite web |last=Milestones |first=Bleacher Report |title=Adrian Peterson Aiming to Become 4th-Quickest to 12,000 Career Rushing Yards |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2739835-adrian-peterson-aiming-to-become-4th-quickest-to-12000-career-rushing-yards |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}
• Career rushing yards per game: 104.3{{Cite web |title=NFL Rushing Yards per Game Career Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_yds_per_g_career.htm |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
• Career yards per rushing attempt by a running back (minimum 1,500 carries): 5.22{{Cite web |title=Which Rb With At Least 1500 Career Carries Has The Highest Average Per Carry |url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/which-rb-with-at-least-1500-career-carries-has-the-highest-average-per-carry |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=StatMuse |language=en}}
• Yards per rushing attempt in a season (minimum 200 attempts): 6.4 (1963){{Cite web |title=Most Yards Per Carry By Running Back Single Season Minimum 200 Attempts |url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/most-yards-per-carry-by-running-back-single-season-minimum-200-attempts |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=StatMuse |language=en}}
• Most seasons leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns: 5 (1957–1959, 1963, 1965){{Cite web |title=NFL Rushing Touchdowns Year-by-Year Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_td_year_by_year.htm |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
• Most seasons leading the NFL in rushing yards: 8 (1957–1961, 1963–1965){{Cite web |title=NFL Yearly Rushing Yards Leaders {{!}} The Football Database |url=https://www.footballdb.com/leaders/yearly-rushing-yards |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=FootballDB.com |language=en}}
• Most consecutive seasons leading the NFL in rushing yards: 5 (1957–1961){{Cite web |date=2023-05-19 |title=Jim Brown's Records |url=https://apnews.com/article/sports-jim-brown-d4076095fc8492fbe3867ed8804ef62a |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=AP News |language=en}}
• Most seasons leading the NFL in all-purpose yards: 5 (1958–1961, 1964)
• Most consecutive seasons leading the NFL in all-purpose yards: 4 (1958–1961)
• Most seasons leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage: 6 (1958, 1959, 1961, 1963–1965)
• Most seasons leading the NFL in rushing attempts: 6 (1958, 1959, 1961, 1963–1965){{Cite web |title=NFL Yearly Rushing Attempts Leaders {{!}} The Football Database |url=https://www.footballdb.com/leaders/yearly-rushing-attempts |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=FootballDB.com |language=en}}
• Career average approximate value per season: 20.33{{efn|Stat has only been tracked for the last six seasons of his career.}}{{Cite web |title=NFL Approximate Value Career Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/av_career.htm |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• Most seasons leading the NFL in approximate value: 5 (1960, 1961, 1963–1965)
• Most consecutive seasons leading the NFL in approximate value: 3 (1963–1965) (tied with Alan Page and Steve Young)
• Most seasons averaging 100+ yards per game: 7 (1958–1961, 1963–1965){{Cite web |title=Most Seasons Averaging 100 Rushing Yards Per Game |url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/most-seasons-averaging-100-rushing-yards-per-game |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=StatMuse |language=en}}
• Most consecutive seasons averaging 100 yards per game: 4 (1958–1961){{Cite web |title=NFL Rushing Yards per Game Year-by-Year Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_yds_per_g_year_by_year.htm |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• Most games with 4+ touchdowns: 6{{Cite web |title=Jim Brown - Greatest running back in football history |url=https://cleveland101.com/cleveland-101-sports/jim-brown-greatest-running-back-football-history/ |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Cleveland 101 |language=en-US}}
• Most rushing touchdowns in a single half: 4 (November 18, 1962) (tied with Roland Hooks, Chuck Muncie, Eric Dickerson, Shaun Alexander, Priest Holmes, and Doug Martin){{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Mike |date=2024-07-17 |title=10 NFL Rookies With the Most Rushing Yards in a Game |url=https://www.givemesport.com/most-rushing-yards-game-nfl-rookie/#:~:text=On%20November%204,%202012,%20Doug,his%20team's%2042-32%20victory. |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=GiveMeSport |language=en}}

• Points scored in a season: 126 (1965){{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns Single-Season Scoring Summary Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/single-season-scoring.htm |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
• Career total touchdowns: 126
• Most seasons leading the team in total touchdowns: 7 (1957–1959, 1961, 1963–1965){{efn|Co-led the team with Bobby Mitchell in 1961.}}{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns Yearly Scoring Leaders {{!}} The Football Database |url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/cleveland-browns/leaders/yearly-scoring-touchdowns |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=FootballDB.com |language=en}}
• Total touchdowns in a season: 21 (1965){{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns Single Season Scoring Leaders {{!}} The Football Database |url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/cleveland-browns/leaders/season-scoring-touchdowns |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=FootballDB.com |language=en}}
• Career rushing touchdowns: 106{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns Career Rushing Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/career-rushing.htm |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
• Most seasons leading the team in rushing touchdowns: 9 (1957–1965){{Cite web |title=1959 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1959.htm |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns Yearly Rushing Leaders – Yearly Rushing Touchdowns {{!}} The Football Database |url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/cleveland-browns/leaders/yearly-rushing-touchdowns |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=FootballDB.com |language=en}}
• Most consecutive seasons leading the team in rushing touchdowns: 9 (1957–1965){{Cite web |title=1960 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1960.htm |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• Rushing touchdowns in a season: 17 (1958, 1965)
• Rushing touchdowns in a game: 5 (November 1, 1959){{Cite web |title=NFL Rushing Touchdowns Single Game Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_td_single_game.htm |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• Career rushing yards: 12,312
• Most seasons leading the team in rushing yards: 9 (1957–1965){{Cite web |title=1961 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1961.htm |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns Yearly Rushing Leaders – Yearly Rushing Yards {{!}} The Football Database |url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/cleveland-browns/leaders/yearly-rushing-yards |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=FootballDB.com |language=en}}
• Most consecutive seasons leading the team in rushing yards: 9 (1957–1965){{Cite web |title=1962 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1962.htm |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• Rushing yards in a season: 1,863 (1963){{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns Single-Season Rushing Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/single-season-rushing.htm |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
• Career all-purpose yards: 15,459{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/front-office-roster/jim-brown#:~:text=Brown%20owns%20team%20records%20for,1,000%20yard%20seasons%20(seven). |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=www.clevelandbrowns.com |language=en-US}}
• Most seasons leading the team in all-purpose yards: 9 (1957–1965){{Cite web |title=1963 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1963.htm |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• Most consecutive seasons leading the team in all-purpose yards: 9 (1957–1965){{Cite web |title=1964 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1964.htm |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• Career yards from scrimmage: 14,811
• Most seasons leading the team in yards from scrimmage: 9 (1957–1965){{Cite web |title=1965 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1965.htm |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• Most consecutive seasons leading the team in yards from scrimmage: 9 (1957–1965)
• Yards from scrimmage in a season: 2,131 (1963){{Cite web |title=1963 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1963.htm |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• Career rush attempts: 2,359{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns Career Rushing Leaders {{!}} The Football Database |url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/cleveland-browns/leaders/career-rushing-attempts |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=FootballDB.com |language=en}}
• Career rushing yards per attempt: 5.22{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns Career Rushing Leaders – Rushing Average {{!}} The Football Database |url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/cleveland-browns/leaders/career-rushing-average |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=FootballDB.com |language=en}}
• Most seasons leading the team in yards per rush attempt: 7 (1957, 1958, 1960, 1962–1965){{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns Yearly Rushing Leaders – Yearly Rush Attempts {{!}} The Football Database |url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/cleveland-browns/leaders/yearly-rushing-average |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=FootballDB.com |language=en}}
• Yards per rush attempt in a season: 6.4 (1963){{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns Single Season Rushing Leaders {{!}} The Football Database |url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/cleveland-browns/leaders/season-rushing-average |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=FootballDB.com |language=en}}
• Most seasons with at least 1,000 all-purpose yards: 9 (1957–1965)
• Most consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 all-purpose yards: 9 (1957–1965){{Cite web |title=Jim Brown Football Statistics {{!}} The Football Database |url=https://www.footballdb.com/players/jim-brown-brownji03 |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=FootballDB.com |language=en}}
• Most seasons with at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage: 9 (1957–1965)
• Most consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage: 9 (1957–1965)
• Most seasons with at least 12 rushing touchdowns: 5 (1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965)
• Most seasons with at least 1,000 rushing yards: 7{{efn|Based on evidence presented from play-by-play reports of five disputed games from that season, the argument is made that Brown did in fact break the 1,000-yard barrier in 1962, making it 8 consecutive 1,000 yard rushing seasons from 1958–1965.}} (1958–1961, 1963–1965)
• Most seasons with at least 1,500 rushing yards: 3 (1958, 1963, 1965)
• Most consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 rushing yards: 4 (1958–1961) (tied with Nick Chubb)
• Most seasons with at least 200 rush attempts: 9 (1957–1965)
• Most consecutive seasons with at least 200 rush attempts: 9 (1957–1965)
• Career games with at least 100 rushing yards: 58{{Cite web |title=Jim Brown 100-Yard Rushing Games {{!}} The Football Database |url=https://www.footballdb.com/players/jim-brown-brownji03/100-yard-rushing-games |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=FootballDB.com |language=en}}
• Consecutive games scoring a touchdown: 10 (1965){{Cite web |title=Jim Brown 1965 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrowJi00/gamelog/1965/ |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

• Career rushing yards: 233
• Rushing yards in a championship game: 114 (1964)
• Yards from scrimmage in a championship game: 151 (1964)
• Career rush attempts: 59
• Rush attempts in a championship game: 27 (1964)

• Most consecutive starts by a fullback
• List of National Football League rushing yards leaders
• List of National Football League rushing champions
• List of NCAA major college yearly punt and kickoff return leaders

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{Cite book |author=Jim Brown |title=Off My Chest |author2=Myron Cope |author2-link=Myron Cope |year=1964 |publisher=Doubleday }} (autobiography)
• {{Cite book |author=Jim Brown |title=Out of Bounds |author2=Steve Delsohn |year=1989 |publisher=Zebra Books |page=380}} (autobiography)
• {{Cite book |last=Freeman| first=Mike |title=Jim Brown: The Fierce Life of an American Hero |year=2006 |publisher=Harper Collins World }}
• {{Cite book |last=Toback| first=James |author-link=James Toback|title=Jim: The Author's Self-Centered Memoir on the Great Jim Brown |orig-year=1971|year=2009 |publisher=Doubleday and Company, Inc. (1971) & Rat Press (March 3, 2009)}}
• {{Cite book |last=Pluto|first=Terry|author-link=Terry Pluto|year=1997|title=Browns Town 1964: Cleveland Browns and the 1964 Championship|publisher=Gray & Company|location=Cleveland|isbn=978-1-886228-72-6}}

{{Wikiquote}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Profootballhof|id=33}}
• {{cfbhof|id=1816}}

{{Footballstats |nfl=Jim-Brown

|espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=BrowJi00 |dbf=BROWNJIM01 }}

• {{IMDb name|0000987}}
• {{discogs artist|Jim Brown (10)}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100524004333/http://apps.uslacrosse.org/museum/halloffame/view_profile.php?prof_id=35 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame profile]
• [https://amer-i-cancommunity.partners/ Amer-I-Can Program]

{{Navboxes

| title = Jim Brown—awards, championships, and honors

| list =

{{1956 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}

{{1957 NFL Draft}}

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{{AP NFL MVPs}}

{{Bert Bell Award}}

{{1964 Cleveland Browns}}

{{NFL rushing touchdowns leaders}}

{{NFL rushing yards leaders}}

{{NFL scoring leaders}}

{{10,000 rushing yards club}}

{{NFL1960s}}

{{NFL50}}

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{{Browns retired numbers}}

{{Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor}}

{{Cleveland Browns Legends}}

{{1971 Football HOF}}

{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}

{{National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award}}

{{National Football Foundation Gold Medal Winners}}

{{Hickok Belt}}

{{NAACP Image Award – Jackie Robinson Sports Award}}

{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture}}

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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Jim}}

Category:1936 births

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Category:Syracuse Orange football players

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Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players