Cleveland Browns: 5 best NFL Draft picks of all-time

facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Nov 15, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns former running back Jim Brown (L) talks with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam (R) before the Browns play the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns former running back Jim Brown (L) talks with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam (R) before the Browns play the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Jim Brown was a legendary running back. After being drafted out of Syracuse, Brown quickly became an elite player for the Cleveland Browns. When Brown retired he held the record for career rushing yards with 12,312 and the career rushing touchdowns with 106.

What was so impressive about Jim Brown was that every season he played in the NFL, he was named to the Pro Bowl roster. Additionally, while Brown was on the team, the Browns won the 1964 championship.

In addition to great skills as a running back, Brown was an above average receiver coming out of the backfield. In his career, Brown totaled 2,499 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns. Also, he occasional saw snaps as a return man and he recorded 629 return yards.

Brown’s playing career only lasted nine short seasons. It seems that after carrying the Browns franchise for almost a decade, the weight of the franchise became too much for the legendary running back.

To this day, Brown is ninth on the all-time rushing list, an impressive feat considering he retired at the age of 29. Brown was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1971.

Next: No. 1 Ozzie Newsome