Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown died on May 18 at age 87.
The tributes poured in from prominent figures both inside and outside our great sport.
For example:
Former President Barack Obama: “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.”
Commissioner Roger Goodell: “Jim Brown was a gifted athlete—one of the most dominant players ever to step on any athletic field—but also a cultural figure who helped promote change. He inspired fellow athletes to make a difference, especially in the communities in which they lived.”
NFL Alumni CEO Brad Edwards: “An amazing multitalented athlete, actor, and civil rights activist. Jim’s advocacy for social justice and equal rights has been profound. He will be dearly missed by many.”
Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam: “Jim Brown is a true icon of not just the Cleveland Browns but the entire NFL. Jim was one of the reasons the Browns have such a tremendous fan base today. So many people grew up watching him just dominate every time he stepped onto the football field but his countless accolades on the field only tell a small part of his story.”
Former Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel: “What Jim was able to accomplish in his time was tremendous. I don’t know that anybody could do what he did, the way he did it, under the circumstances that he had to operate, and the things he had to endure.”
Jim Brown, May You Rest In Peace!
