15 throwback photos of Jim Brown on the legend's 80th birthday

Published Feb. 17, 2016 1:00 p.m. ET

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“I could have played longer," Brown said of his abrupt retirement in 1966. “Too many players stay too long. Too many players rely on the game. I retired at the peak of my career. I didn’t retire because I was broken down and slow. I retired because it was time to retire and do other things.”

So one of the world's greatest athletes hung up his cleats and became an actor (he was filming "The Dirty Dozen" in London when he announced his retirement) and an activist. Among other social justice initiatives, Brown founded the Black Economic Union in 1968, promoting economic equality for blacks, and the Amer-I-Can program in 1988 benefiting at-risk youth, former gang members and ex-convicts.

Now on Brown's 80th birthday, Feb. 17, 2016, let's check out Brown in his early days:

1. A student of the game --at Syracuse circa 1955.

2. Brown played for Syracuse's basketball team his sophomore and junior years, averaging 13.1 points per game.

3. He was even better at lacrosse.

4. With Browns backfield mates Chet "The Jet" Hanulak (44) and Lew Carpenter (30) in his rookie season in 1957.

5. Shaking one tackle, about to break another against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1958.

6. Brown with a knit cap on at practice in the early 1960s.

7. Dec. 1960 in a game at Yankee Stadium against the New York Giants. Good luck tackling him in the open field.

8. Another battle against the Giants.

9. Arm tackles won't suffice, multiple defenders required.

10. He amassed 151 totals yards (rushing and receiving) in the 1964 NFL Championship -- a 27-0 shutout over the Johnny Unitas-led Baltimore Colts, the Browns' last football championship.

11. Brown fights for a 3-yard touchdown run in Dec. 1965 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

12. Brown attempting to catch a pass in the 1965 NFL Championship (on Jan. 2, 1966) with famous Packers linebacker Ray Nitschke (66) defending. The Packers won 23-12 in what proved to be the final game of Brown's career.

13. With Playboy bunny Dolly Read and actor Clint Walker at Elstree Studios during the filming of "The Dirty Dozen" in England on May 10, 1966.

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