Jim Brown: Cleveland Browns sports legend

Cleveland Browns legend Jim Brown will have a chance to advise Hue Jackson.

(Josh Gunter/cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns coach Hue Jackson plans to rely on the insight of Hall of Famer Jim Brown, who rejoined the club as a special advisor in 2013.

"I'm looking forward to finding out as many things as Jim Brown knows that can help our football team be the best that it can be," Jackson told cleveland.com that the Super Bowl. "We're talking about a guy that did it as well as anybody ever, so it would be really smart on my part to sit and talk to him and have him tell me the things that he sees and that he's felt.''

Jackson already had a good relationship with Brown -- who turns 80 on Wednesday -- before he got the job Jan. 13, and is looking forward to working with him.

"I think I'll get to know him even better as I go through this process of being the head coach in Cleveland," said Jackson. "Obviously he's a sensational person, humanitarian, and football player. There are so many things to describe to Jim Brown."

Jackson spent time with Brown at a Fritz Pollard Alliance event at the Super Bowl, where Brown was honored.

"It was a big event for him because his birthday's coming up and I got to be a part of that with him,'' said Jackson. "Again, this guy loves the Cleveland Browns, loves the organization, loves the fans and wants a winner in Cleveland like we all do, so it's been very great to have an opportunity to talk to him a little bit. I'm looking forward to talking to him a lot more."

Brown serves the club in a variety of capacities, including public appearances on behalf of the team. He's also developed a close relationship with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and advises him on players and other matters.

Brown was a fan of Johnny Manziel's, and before Manziel's latest argument with Colleen Crowley in Texas for which he's under investigation for possible domestic violence, the Hall of Famer was hoping they wouldn't trade him.

Brown was not a fan of running back Trent Richardson before the 2012 draft, calling him "ordinary." The Browns ultimately traded him to the Colts for a first-round pick and he hasn't lived up to his draft status.

The NFL Network will celebrate the life and career of Brown Wednesday at 8 p.m. with a one-hour special called Jim Brown: 80 Years and Running. The show will feature a roundtable discussion with Brown and fellow Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Curtis Martin, Marcus Allen, Franco Harris and Eric Dickerson.

The panelists will share their most memorable moments with Brown and the impact he's had their lives and careers.

It will re-air Wednesday at midnight and Sunday at 11:30 p.m.