John Brodie, who won the MVP award and was one of the NFL’s most talented passers during a 17-year career. san francisco 49ersIs dead. He was 90 years old.
According to the 49ers, Brodie’s family said he died on Friday. Brody suffered a stroke on October 24, 2000.
“The 49ers family is saddened to learn of the passing of John Brodie, one of the franchise’s all-time great players,” 49ers co-president John York said. “As a kid, I started out as a 49ers fan watching John play quarterback on television. He displayed an incredible commitment to his teammates and his support of the organization never waned after his playing days.
“John became a dear friend of mine, and he will always be remembered as an important part of 49ers history. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Sue and the entire Brody family.”
Brodie played for the 49ers from 1957 to 1973, breaking every major passing record at Stanford. He later played in what is now the PGA Tour Champions and won the 1991 Security Pacific Senior Classic.
Brodie’s 17 rushing yards are still a 49ers franchise record, and his 31,548 yards are second only to Joe Montana on San Francisco’s career passing list. When Brodie retired after the 1973 season, he was behind only Johnny Unitas and Fran Tarkenton on the NFL’s career yards passing list.
His 214 touchdown passes rank third in team history behind Montana and Steve Young.
“He was a great guy, a super competitor, I don’t care what it was: football, cards, golf,” said Jerry Mertens, who was a cornerback for the 49ers from 1958 to 1965. “He was a great player, and he enjoyed everything that was competitive.
“The guy just did it all, and he was a great leader, no question about that.”
Brodie won the NFL MVP award in 1970, when he passed for 2,941 yards and 24 touchdowns with only 10 interceptions. He led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game in 1970 and 1971. That was as close to the Super Bowl as he could get.
When Brodie left football, the 49ers retired his jersey number 12, making him the fourth San Francisco player to be so honored.
Brodie led the NFL in passing yards three times and TD passes twice, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 1970 and second-team honors in 1965.
Brodie, 6-foot-1, 200 pounds during his playing days, was born in San Francisco on Aug. 14, 1935, but attended Oakland Tech High School. He was a unanimous All-American at Stanford in 1956 and won the Kauffman Award as MVP in the East-West Game.
In college, he earned three varsity letters in football and two varsity letters in golf under coach Chuck Taylor. The 49ers selected him in the first round of the 1957 draft.
Brodie’s best year statistically was 1965, when he had a career-best 242 completions, 3,112 yards passing, 30 touchdown passes and won the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.
He surpassed the 30,000-yard milestone in the fourth game of the 1972 season.
After football, Brodie remained a top golfer. At age 56 and playing in the 1991 Security Pacific Senior Classic at Rancho Park, Los Angeles, he defeated Chi Chi Rodriguez and George Archer with birdies on the first hole of a playoff.
