NFL Legend Jim Brown Dead At 87 | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the The Daily Wire. The author of this post is Daily Wire News.

    Legendary NFL running back Jim Brown, one the league's first superstars, has died. He was 87 years old.

    A spokesperson for Brown said that he passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles on Thursday night while surrounded by his family.

    "It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of my husband, Jim Brown," his wife Monique Brown said in a statement. "He passed peacefully last night at our LA home."

    "To the world he was an activist, actor, and football star," she added. "To our family, he was a loving and wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken."

    The NFL released a statement saying that it was "heartbroken by the passing of the legendary Jim Brown."

    "One of the greatest players in NFL history, a true pioneer and activist," the NFL added. "Jim Brown's legacy will live on forever."

    Brown had not been doing well and was recently visited by some of his closest friends, including Marshall Faulk, Eric Dickerson, and Flavor Flav, TMZ reported.

    Brown was selected 6th overall in the 1957 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns where he played nine seasons before retiring at age 30. During his time in the NFL, he was the league's leading rusher for all but one season. He was a three-time MVP.

    "Jim Brown Forever," the Browns said in a statement. "Legend. Leader. Activist. Visionary. It's impossible to describe the profound love and gratitude we feel for having the opportunity to be a small piece of Jim's incredible life and legacy. We mourn his passing, but celebrate the indelible light he brought to the world. Our hearts are with Jim's family, loved ones, and all those he impacted along the way."

    Brown later went on to become an actor, starring in "The Dirty Dozen" (1967), "Ice Station Zebra" (1968), "Dark of the Sun" (1968), "The Split" (1968), "100 Rifles" (1969), "Slaughter" (1972), and more.