Announcing the death, San Francisco 49ers co-chairman Dr John York said, “The 49ers family is sad to hear about John Brodie… He became a dear friend and will always be remembered as an important part of 49ers history. Our deepest condolences to his wife, Sue, and the Brodie family.”
However, the exact cause of death is not yet known. Officials are expected to announce it soon.
What Made John Brodie A Great Quarterback?
Brodie was the no. 3 pick in the 1957 NFL Draft from Stanford. He played 201 games, second-most in 49ers history after Jerry Rice. He is also second in all-time 49ers passing yards with 31,548, behind Joe Montana. Only Brodie, Montana, and Steve Young have more than 200 passing touchdowns in 49ers history.
Brodie could throw long passes with power and also shorter passes with perfect touch. He led the NFL in touchdown passes three times and was chosen for the Pro Bowl twice. He helped the 49ers reach the playoffs in 1970, 1971, and 1972.
The 49ers retired his no. 12 jersey in 1973. He never won a league championship, but he helped the team grow. Legendary coach Bill Walsh said Brodie taught him about quarterback mechanics, which later helped Walsh coach stars like Joe Montana and Steve Young.
After football, Brodie worked as an NFL analyst for NBC for 11 years. He also played on the Senior PGA Tour, getting 12 top-10 finishes and one win in 14 years.
In 2000, Brodie had a massive stroke while watching a football game. His wife, Sue, said it was very serious, but he survived and lived 25 more years, inspiring people with his strength and talent.