The Legacy of Jim Brown, the NFL Star, Actor, and Activist, 1936–2023

How Jim Brown went from the field to the big screen and to the activist stage.

Phot by D. Richard/AP

Jim Brown the legendary fullback NFL star heeded the calling to his Hollywood career and advocacy for civil rights. Brown is known as the greatest ever with the Cleveland Browns winning the NFL championship in 1964, before the Super Bowl era, and led the league in…