San Francisco 49ers great and former PGA Tour Champions pro John Brodie has passed away. On Friday, January 24, the 1970 NFL MVP died at the age of ninety in Solana Beach, California.
Brodie had a legendary career in two different sports, which is rare for any athlete. Born on August 14, 1935 in Menlo Park, California, Brodie played both golf and collegiate football for Stanford before getting selected in the 1957 NFL Draft by the 49ers. He played seventeen seasons for the team before retiring in 1973.
Following his impactful football career, Brodie switched to golf and joined the PGA Tour Champions. He played professional golf on the Senior Tour from 1985 to 1998 and made 230 starts. He also registered 12 top-ten finishes and also claimed a win at the 1991 Security Pacific Senior Classic.
The Californian native also had the longest gap between two US Open starts. He played the 1959 and 1971 edition but unfortunately failed to make the cut in both of those major championships.
San Francisco 49ers pens heartfelt tribute to John Brodie
Following John Brodie’s demise, San Francisco’s 49ers co-chairman Dr. John York issued a tribute to their legend.
“The 49ers family is saddened to learn of the passing of one of the franchise’s all-time great players, John Brodie,” the statement read. “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. We express our deepest condolences to his wife, Sue, and the entire Brodie family.”
At the time of retirement, Brodie was ranked third in career passing yards and eighth in touchdown passes. He also won the Most Valuable Player award in 1970. His impact was so significant on the team that the 49ers decided to retire the No. 12 jersey.
Besides playing two sports, he also did broadcasting for NBC Sports and was also considered their No. 1 NFL analyst.
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