NFL Network launched its NFL 100 Greatest Plays series this week as part of its season-long celebration of the league's 100th season. It would make sense, then, for one of the greatest players in the history of the Cleveland Browns and arguably the greatest running back in NFL history to be included in these plays.
Jim Brown landed on the list twice, first at No. 97 with a play that didn't finish in the end zone — or even finish 10 yards from the line of scrimmage — but did come to a conclusion with plenty of opposing Dallas Cowboys defenders on the ground bemoaning their missed chance to bring down the great.
Legendary broadcaster John Facenda's narration summed it up best.
"In 1965, there are defensive men in the league who have dedicated themselves, their souls and their bodies to a holy war against Jimmy Brown," Facenda said during the NFL Films clip. "None of them has yet won the crusade."
It is remarkable that Brown, who retired near the peak of his powers after the 1965 season decades before Barry Sanders did the same just after the turn of the century, landed on the list with such a play in his final season. It's especially amazing when considering the many other highlight runs Brown produced during his incredible, Hall of Fame career.
That career also spawned another top 100 play, this time at No. 47.
Milt Plum sprinted frantically away from a Chicago Bears rush that originated at the 22-yard line and nearly reached him inside Cleveland's own 5 before desperately tossing the ball to Brown, who was standing near the 10. Brown then proceeded to make five Bears miss and sprinted the rest of the length of the field for a touchdown, a play much more remarkable to watch than to read about.
Comedian and Cleveland native Steve Harvey provided the breakdown for NFL Films.
"Oh he's big, he stumbles but he stays up," Harvey detailed. "He don't go out of bounds, he steps on people! There's four of y'all. That ain't nothing!
"I'm still here! I'm still here."
Brown is indeed still here, and he'll remain here forever in the NFL's 100 Greatest Plays.
