Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns Running Back and Hall of Famer, Dead at 87
abandoned him two weeks after his birth. Brown's mother abandoned him when he was only 2 years old to take a job (they reconnected six years later), and he was raised by his great-grandmother while living with their grandmother, who was an alcoholic.Drafted as the sixth overall pick in the 1957 NFL Draft, Brown led the Browns to an appearance in the NFL championship game in his rookie season, losing to the Detroit Lions, 59-14. He'd lead the Browns to an NFL championship in 1964, when they routed the Baltimore Colts, 27-0.