Legendary San Francisco 49ers quarterback John Brodie died at the age of 90 on Friday, the team announced.
Brodie is a 49ers Hall of Famer and one of the most revered players in team history after spending his entire 17-year NFL career with the team. He won the NFL MVP in 1970, made two Pro Bowls, earned Comeback Player of the Year honors in 1965 and led the league in passing touchdowns for three separate seasons.
“The 49ers family is saddened to learn of the passing of one of the franchise’s all-time great players, John Brodie,” 49ers owner 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. We express our deepest condolences to his wife, Sue, and the entire Brodie family.”
Brodie was drafted third overall out of Stanford in 1957, where he was a consensus All-American in 1956. Splitting time with Y.A. Tittle for the first four seasons of his career, Brodie became the full-time starter when Tittle was traded to the New York Giants.
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He played until 1973. but didn’t experience the same team success as other legendary 49ers QBs like Joe Montana and Steve Young, as the 49ers didn’t win their first Super Bowl title until 1982.
However, Brodie is held in high regard among fans because of his longevity, productivity and the fact that he was born and raised in the Bay Area. The team retired his jersey No. 12 in 1973. In addition to being part of the 49ers Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 2009, Brodie was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.
Brodie finished his career with 31,548 passing yards, 214 touchdowns and 224 interceptions. He’s second in franchise passing yardage behind only Montana.