An unstoppable runner with power, speed and endurance, Brown's arrival sparked the game's burgeoning popularity on television. When he finished playing, Brown became a prominent leader in the Black power movement during the civil rights struggles of the 1960s.in 2021. He was physically imposing and ground down his opponent's will through the course of each game. The Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee went to nine Pro Bowls and helped bring a championship to Cleveland.
In later years, he worked to curb gang violence in LA and founded Amer-I-Can, a program to help disadvantaged inner-city youth and ex-convicts. On the field, there was no one like Brown, who would blast through would-be tacklers, refusing to let one man take him down before sprinting away from linebackers and defensive backs. He was also famous for using a stiff arm to shed defenders in the open field or push them away like they were rag dolls.Indeed, Brown was unlike any back before him, and some feel there has never been anyone better than Cleveland's incomparable No. 32.
After Brown was tackled, he'd slowly rise and walk even more slowly back to the huddle - then dominate the defense when he got the ball again.First published on May 19, 2023 / 3:40 PM © 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.Please enter email address to continue