NFL: 30 of the biggest what-ifs in NFL history

NFL: 30 of the biggest what-ifs in NFL history: 26. Jim Brown puts his movie career on hold

It was a shame how Jim Brown’s career played out. From the moment he stepped onto the field in 1957 donning a Cleveland Browns uniform, he was simply a great player. Every single year Brown was named to the Pro Bowl team and outside of one off year, he was an All-Pro.

Yet, for as great as he was, Brown didn’t last long in the league, retiring when he was 29 years old. Even with a relatively transient career, Brown still ranks near the top in just about every category for a running back. His 106 rushing touchdowns currently rank sixth all-time and his 12,132 yards on the ground place him 11th. But where would his name fit amongst the all-time greats if he hadn’t hung up the cleats so early? Considering Brown’s budding acting career, there was simply no way he was going to stay in the league for a long time.

Still, even with Hollywood awaiting him, Brown could have and possibly would have stayed longer if the addition of Ernie Davis worked out. After becoming the first black player in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy in 1961, the Browns took the impressive running back with the number one overall pick in the 1962 NFL Draft. The goal was simple, with Brown already in the backfield, Davis would add to their running back firepower and the two would lead the Browns to prosperity.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, that would never happen as Davis was diagnosed with Leukemia and passed away soon after.

Brown would carry the burden for several years all by his lonesome and although he appeared just fine doing so, the added pressure of carrying the load by himself may have sped up his retirement clock. If Davis were healthy, there’s a chance Brown would stick around in the league for a number of years and if he did, just about every running back record would belong to him.