Stanford Football mourns the loss of Stanford Athletics Hall of Famer John Brodie.
A consensus All-American in 1956, Brodie was one of the best quarterbacks in the country. He quarterbacked the Cardinal from 1954-56, setting the program record for career passing yards. He was selected in the first round of the 1956 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, the fifth player in program history to be selected in the first round.
“Our hearts are heavy after learning of the passing of John Brodie. Stanford’s rich tradition of quarterback play is synonymous with John Brodie," Stanford football general manager Andrew 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 went on to become a star in the NFL over his 17 years with the 49ers (1957-73). He led the NFL in passing yards three times and touchdown passes twice, including the 1965 season that saw him earn NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors. His career reached a summit in 1970 when Brodie was named NFL MVP, the first former Stanford player to be named the league's most valuable player.
Upon his retirement from the NFL, he ranked third in NFL history in passing yards and eighth in touchdown passes.
A member of the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame, Brodie also played on the men's golf team at Stanford and later won a title on the Senior PGA Tour in 1991. He is a member of the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame, and his No. 12 is retired by the organization. Brodie was also inducted into the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
Following his professional career, Brodie served as a football and golf analyst on NBC Sports, working Super Bowl XIII.
Our thoughts are with his family and all those impacted by his leadership and lasting legacy.