Before there was Joe Montana and Steve Young, the San Francisco 49ers had an elite quarterback named John Brodie.
Brodie, who played with the 49ers from 1957-1973, passed away on Friday at 90 years old. Brodie is the longest tenured player in franchise history.
49ers Co-Chairman John York Reacts To The Passing Of John Brodie
“The 49ers family is saddened to learn of the passing of one of the franchise’s all-time great players, John Brodie,” 49ers co-chairman John York said in a statement. “As a kid, my 49ers fandom began by watching John play quarterback on television. He displayed an incredible commitment towards his teammates and his support of the organization never wavered after his playing days. John became a dear friend of mine, and he will always be remembered as an important part of 49ers history.”
49ers’ John Brodie Stats And Accolades
- Brodie, who spent his entire career with the 49ers, threw for 31,548 yards and 214 touchdowns, ranking No. 2 and No. 3 in franchise history in those categories.
- Brodie was named AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 1965, throwing for 3,112 yards with 30 touchdown passes.
- Brodie was named NFL MVP in 1970 after tallying 2,941 passing yards and 24 touchdowns.
- Brodie led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game in 1970 and 1971.
- When Brodie retired in 1973, he trailed only Johnny Unitas and Fran Tarkenton in career passing yards. Unitas and Tarkenton are both in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, however, Brodie is not.
Andrew Luck Reacts To The Passing Of John Brodie
Stanford Cardinal football general manager Andrew Luck, who played quarterback at Stanford and then the Indianapolis Colts, released a statement honoring Brodie. Brodie played at Stanford from 1953-1956 before being selected by the 49ers with the third-overall pick in the 1957 NFL Draft.
“Our hearts are heavy after learning of the passing of John Brodie. Stanford’s rich tradition of quarterback play is synonymous with John Brodie,” Luck said. “He was one of the standard-bearers for elite quarterback play. His No. 12 is among the most famous numbers in Bay Area sports, and is why I proudly have his Stanford jersey on display in my office. Our thoughts are with his family and the Bay Area sports community.”
Brodie earned consensus All-American honors in 1956 and led the nation in completion percentage (57.9%), passing yards (1,633) and passing touchdowns (12).
John Brodie’s Success Beyond Football
Brodie was a man of many hats, excelling as a golfer and television analyst.
Brodie played on the Senior PGA Tour and had 12 top 10 finishes, including a win at the 1991 Security Pacific Senior Classic. Brodie earned $735,473 during his time on the tour and made the cut in 227 of 230 events.
Brodie was also an NFL and golf analyst for NBC Sports. Brodie, along with play-by-play man Curt Gowdy, called Super Bowl XIII in January 1979, a 35-31 Pittsburgh Steelers win over the Dallas Cowboys.