Why Jim Brown was the Best Running Back in NFL History
Jim Brown Dominated when Teams Were Geared Up to Stop Him
Jim Brown had an amazing combination of speed and power that allowed him to dominate the NFL. Playing in 12 and 14 game seasons Jim Brown ran for 12,312 yards in 9 years with the Cleveland Browns. He also added 262 receptions for 2,499 yards in a time when running backs didn't get thrown a lot of passes. Brown rushed for 106 touchdowns and added 20 touchdown receptions.
In the late 1950's and early 60's when Brown played, the game was for runners. Teams pounded the ball and tried to stop the run. The passing game was limited and the rules favored the pass defenders. Brown still dominated even when the entire defense knew he would be running the ball for the Cleveland Browns. That shows that Jim Brown was the best running back in NFL history.
When I wrote this article about the top ten running backs of all time, I didn't catch too much flack about Jim Brown being number one. Oh there were some Barry Sanders, Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith fans but most agreed that Jim Brown is the best ever.
If Jim Brown played in today's NFL he would probably gain 300 yards and rush for 5 touchdowns a season, but hell he is over 70 years old! All kidding aside Jim Brown would dominate modern football. He was too big and too fast, and with today's passing games spreading the defenses out, Brown would have a field day.
Jim Brown only played 9 seasons because he retired to pursue an acting career. If other NFL superstar running backs only played in 118 games like Jim Brown, then he would still hold the NFL career rushing yards record.
Emmitt Smith holds the career rushing record with 18,355 yards and the rushing touchdown record with 164. Jim Brown played in 118 NFL games, Emmitt Smith played in 226 games! Walter Payton rushed for 16,726 yards to break Jim Brown's record. Payton played in 190 NFL games.
Jim Brown was so great that people took it for granted. He made it look easy when he was the best running back in history. Thanks for reading this and please feel free to leave a comment below, I will be happy to reply to them.
Sources
Jim Brown's stats at profootballreference.com
Published by Randy Inman
Im 42 years old, Grew up in North Carolina, and descend from the same family as the person the Inman Character was based on in the movie/book Cold Mountain. I run Footballdogz.com and love Pro Football. Spor... View profile
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18 Comments
Post a CommentAh I got ya, thanks!
Randy Inman, NO I agree with you I was talking to Charlie Hansen. I think your article was spot on and I applaude your indepth stats and thoughts. I agree 100 percent with you. Your article was a pleasure to read.
I never said he couldn't play today so YOU are wrong. I said he is the best football player ever.
You are wrong about Jim Brown not being able to play in todays game. With the offense spread offense now days he would gain more yards. The argument about how big he was. There have always been big backs. Look at Brandon Jacobs for the Giants 270 lbs, HE surely does NOT dominate And compare him to Adrian Peterson who is the same size as Brown and he is able to dominate in todays game. So the size argument is moot. Look at his stats. They had defenses that had 3 people assigned to stop Jim Brown. Now at most you get 2 and most of the time it is only one guy to stop teh best backs. THEY did not throw the ball back then so everyone knew he was getting the ball, BROWN. Lastly he played in CLEVELAND in the cold, rain, snow and the mud and did it better than anyone and not on Astro turf were it is a track meet. He was the best there is no doubt. NOT only the best running back but the BEST FOOTBALL PLAYER EVER!
Brown was among the best ever, but you need to also consider his physical size and speed was rare in its day, but relatively common today. He ran with a modern NFL body against defensive linemen of his same size. Safeties were routinely 200 lbs or lighter in those days. While Jim was the best ever, he wouldn't be all that great/exceptoional today.
Jim Brown was a giant playing against mere mortals.
I went to Yankee Stadium once a year when the Browns came to play and Jim never let the fans down.
My favorite moment was wwhen he dragged more than half the Giant team into the end zone for a T.D.
HE WAS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Bob and I agree about juiced players.
I agree with you. Unfortunately many sportswriters and spectators do not analyze data enough or learn about some of the great former players. It makes a difference to play in 16 game seasons rather than 12 and 14. Just to use the obvious data and average it out, Jim would have totaled over 24,000 yards lifetime if playing the number of games that Emmett Smith played, all things being equal.
Jim's average yards per carry is a record that speaks for itself. What was it, 5.2 or 5.3?
People get obsessed with today's records but in the hearts of sports buffs we must consider games played, tie-breakers(college; longer seasons there too!), and steroids.
I do not respect Bobby Bonds, Roger Clemens, Brian Cushing, and others who've used steroids to enhance performance. They do not belong in the same "LEAGUE" with Jim Brown, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and others.
Agreed, I still wonder what Barry Sanders would have done with a decent cast around him.
I watched Brown play as a kid. He was a stud, no doubt.