John Brodie, the former Stanford quarterback and dual-sport standout who went on to become an NFL MVP and professional golfer, passed away last Friday at the age of 90 in Solana Beach, Calif. Brodie leaves behind a legacy that stretches across decades and sports - a rare athlete whose competitive fire burned just as brightly on the gridiron as it did on the golf course.
At Stanford, Brodie wasn’t just a football star - he was a true two-sport force. He walked on to the football team rather than accept an athletic scholarship, a calculated move that allowed him to also compete with the Stanford golf team during the spring.
That decision paid off in a big way. As a senior, Brodie led the nation in passing and total offense, earned consensus All-American honors, and finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting in 1956.
He was also named first-team All-Conference in the Pacific Coast Conference - all while continuing to shine on the golf course.
Brodie’s numbers at Stanford were ahead of their time. He threw for 3,594 career yards - a school record at the time - and led the Cardinal in total offense for three straight seasons.
He didn’t just sling the ball either; he handled kicking duties in 1955 and 1956, showing the kind of versatility that defined his career. On the golf side, he competed in two NCAA Championships, skipping spring football to focus on his game - and still managed to be one of the top quarterbacks in the country.
The San Francisco 49ers made Brodie the third overall pick in the 1957 NFL Draft, and he stayed in the Bay Area for all 17 seasons of his pro football career. Early on, he split time under center with Y.A.
Tittle, but by 1961, the job was his. That season, Brodie threw for 2,588 yards and 14 touchdowns, leading the league with an eye-popping 9.1 yards per attempt.
The 49ers finished 7-6-1, and Brodie’s deep-ball efficiency became a hallmark of his game.
By the time he retired, Brodie had racked up 31,458 passing yards and 214 touchdowns - totals that ranked third all-time when he walked away from the game. He was named NFL MVP in 1970, made two Pro Bowls (1966, 1971), and earned All-Pro honors twice, including a First-Team nod in that MVP season. The 49ers retired his No. 12 jersey in 1973, and in 2009, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the 49ers Hall of Fame.
But Brodie wasn’t done competing. After stepping away from football, he joined NBC Sports as a football and golf analyst, serving as the network’s lead voice alongside Curt Gowdy in 1977 and 1978. Then, in a move that surprised many but made perfect sense for him, Brodie pivoted back to golf - this time as a professional on the Senior PGA Tour.
He played 13 seasons on the senior circuit, notching one win and 12 top-10 finishes. His golf career included appearances in the U.S.
Open in both 1959 and 1981, though he missed the cut each time. Still, the fact that he qualified for the national championship in two different decades - while also having a full NFL career and broadcasting stint in between - says everything about his athletic pedigree.
Even a stroke in 2000 couldn’t keep Brodie away from the game. Though it left his speech impaired, he was back on the course within a year, playing leisurely rounds and continuing to enjoy the sport that had been part of his life for so long.
John Brodie is remembered not just for the numbers - though they were impressive - but for the way he played and lived. He was a pioneer in the passing game, a leader in the locker room, and a competitor in every sense of the word. He was inducted into the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986, and his name still echoes through the Cardinal record books.
From the huddle to the tee box, Brodie’s legacy is one of excellence, resilience, and a relentless drive to compete. He didn’t just play sports - he elevated them.