He’s one of four quarterbacks in the San Francisco 49ers’ Hall of Fame.

Legendary San Francisco 49ers quarterback John Brodie, who spent his entire 17-year career with the iconic franchise, has passed away.

On Friday, the 49ers announced that John Brodie had passed away at the age of 90. The cause of death was not announced.

The 1956 consensus All-American was drafted third overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 1957. Brodie helped the 49ers to three consecutive playoff appearances from 1970 to ’72, including a pair of NFC Championship Games, both losses to the Dallas Cowboys.

Dr. John York, the 49ers’ chairman, issued the following statement on Brodie’s passing:

“The 49ers family is saddened to learn of the passing of one of the franchise’s all-time great players, John Brodie. 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.”

John Brodie won MVP honors in 1970 after leading the NFL in passing yards (2,941) and touchdowns (24). He led the NFL in passing yards three times and twice in passing touchdowns.

Brodie had a massive stroke in 2000. His wife, Sue, later revealed that he was lucky to have survived. John and Sue were married in 1957 and had five children together.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Brodie’s family, friends and the 49ers organization during this difficult time.

John Brodie Put The 49ers On The Map Before Their Dynasty Began

John Brodie (Credit: Long Photography-USA TODAY Sports)
Before Brodie arrived, the 49ers had only made the postseason once in their history. Hall of Famer Y.A. Tittle led the 49ers to the playoffs in 1957, while Brodie was a rookie.

The 49ers were among the NFL’s worst franchises during the 1960s, with no playoff appearances. But things finally came together when Brodie put together an MVP-like season in 1970. Suddenly, the 49ers were on the football map.

San Francisco entered another phase of mediocrity after Brodie’s retirement. But things changed for the better when they selected Joe Montana in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft. “Joe Cool” would lead the 49ers to four Super Bowls in his Hall of Fame career.