Ep 8. Jim Brown

In season 7, episode 8 of A Football Life, viewers are taken on a journey through the life of Jim Brown. Brown was a legendary football player who played for the Cleveland Browns during the 1950s and 1960s. The episode covers his early years, including his childhood and high school years, and continues through his storied football career and beyond.

Viewers learn about Brown's beginnings in sports, which started in his hometown of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Early in his football career, he was coached by an influential figure in his life, his father. Brown was an exceptional athlete, and as a high school student, he excelled in multiple sports, including football, basketball, and track. The episode explores how Brown's athleticism helped him succeed in sports, but it also looks at the struggles he faced as a Black athlete.

When Jim Brown went on to play college football at Syracuse University, he was the only Black player on the team. Despite the challenges he faced as a minority, he quickly became a star player, winning the national championship with the team in 1959. Brown's successes at Syracuse would earn him a place in the College Football Hall of Fame.

The episode delves into Brown's professional football career, where he played for the Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. It was during this time that Brown became a household name. He led the league in rushing yards in eight of his nine seasons, and he was named to the Pro Bowl in each of those seasons. Brown's impressive stats and other accomplishments made him one of the greatest football players of all time.

Despite his undeniable talent, the episode also looks at the controversies surrounding Brown's career, including his frequent clashes with coach Paul Brown. In the late 1960s, Jim Brown decided to retire from football to focus on other career pursuits. He went on to become an actor and political activist.

Viewers learn about Brown's post-football endeavors, including his work in civil rights activism and his creation of the Amer-I-Can program, which helps young people avoid gang violence and drug abuse. The episode also looks at Brown's personal life, including his marriage to Sue Jones, his relationships with his children, and his struggles with legal troubles in the past.

Overall, season 7, episode 8 of A Football Life offers an in-depth look at the life and career of the legendary football player Jim Brown. Through interviews with friends, family, and football colleagues, we get a sense of Brown's impact on the sport of football as well as his influence as an activist, actor, and leader.