Jason McCourty reveals extent of Jim Brown's off-field heroism - “He helped gangs find truces”
Jim Brown, the legendary running back for the Browns, passed away at the age of 87. Fans and former players have remembered the late running back for his work on the field. However, others are remembering the work Brown did off of it.
Former Patriots star Jason McCourty spoke on Good Morning Football about how the NFL legend was a hero to many and his work beyond the field:
"He was able in LA to bring gangs together to find a truce. Jim Brown wasn't afraid to be himself. This guy retired from the NFL to become an actor and starred in the movies 100 Rifles as a movie star and where his co-star was Raquel Welch interracial love seeing within a movie back in the day where that wasn't popular."
"So Jim Brown not only broke rushing records and ran around people and broke tackles, but he also broke down color barriers and stepped forward and was willing to speak up on behalf of other people at a time where it was not popular."
Celebrating the life of Jim Brown this morning https://t.co/nil0SaooX1
McCourty concluded:
"You grew up in hearing about how dominant he was on the field, but seeing how dominant he was off the field and you'd hear about Jim Brown not being afraid to speak up and talk about race issues that were going on in our country as a professional athlete at the time when it wasn't popular."
On June 4, 1967, Jim Brown held a summit in the city of Cleveland. It was in response to the late boxing great Muhammad Ali stating his refusal to serve in the United States Army in Vietnam.
It was the most shining example of using his platform when it came to civil rights in America. Brown is survived by his wife Monique and his eight children.
Jim Brown: One of the greatest RBs in NFL history
Brown was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 1957 NFL Draft and immediately made an impact in the NFL. The former Syracuse Orange star won the Rookie of the Year award in his first season.
Brown was the league MVP as well as, leading the NFL in both rushing yards and touchdowns that season.
He would lead the NFL in rushing yards eight times and in touchdowns five times over the course of his nine seasons in the league. Brown ended his career with 2,359 carries, 12,312 yards, and 106 touchdowns. The running back was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
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