CLEVELAND, Ohio –Legendary Cleveland Browns running-back Jim Brown died at his Los Angeles home on Thursday with his wife Monique by his side, a family spokesperson told the Associated Press. He was 87.

The  Cleveland Browns also confirmed the news on Twitter, a tweet that quickly drew more than five million views in a matter of hours.

An NFL great turned Hollywood actor and a recognized Civil Rights advocate, Brown leaves a legacy as one of the greatest players in NFL history. He survived allegations of violence against women and spousal abuse. Married twice, he also leaves behind five grown children.

He played for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 through 1965. Considered to be one of the greatest running backs of all time, Brown was a Pro Bowl invitee every season he was in the league, was recognized as the AP NFL Most Valuable Player three times, and won an NFL championship with the Browns in 1964. He led the league in rushing yards in eight out of his nine seasons, and by the time he retired, he held most major rushing records. In 2002, he was named by The Sporting News as the greatest professional football player ever.

The popular Brown earned unanimous All-America honors playing college football at Syracuse University, where he was an all-around player for the Syracuse Orangemen football team. The team later retired his number 44 jersey, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995.

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