The BIZARRE End to John Brodie's CAREER | Steelers @ 49ers (1973)

[@jordan390a]

Brodie to Gene Washington was often a thing of beauty...

[@edwardaguilar6322]

Not if you were a Ram fan, and I was

[@bryandavila3006]

The prototype Montana to Rice lol

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

This is yet another interesting video from JaguarGator9-John Brodie is the third best QB in 49ers history and he was the last 49ers QB to lead the league in passing yards.

[@davidcobb2693]

John Brodie may be the 3rd best QB in 49ers history, but he was the best golfer in team history.

[@astrostar49]

Thanks for another 49ers video so soon. Brodie was one of the lone bright spots before the glory years of Walsh. I do wonder if he'll ever get into the HOF. Strangely enough, I feel like Phillip Rivers will be in a similar fringe position when it's his time to be eligible. I'd like to see them both get in.

[@essolunapapa]

Outstanding analysis that you provided to us, and one that I was not aware of since I was fighting for my life in Cambodia during the Vietnam War. I have been a faithful 49er's fan since I was a small boy back in 1958. Of course, John Brodie was my most favorite player on the team. I was unaware of what happened to him at the end of his career so thank you! I would appreciate it very much if you could do a piece on him and his life-threatening health problems and disability that he suffered many years later, with an update on how he is doing today. Please keep up the great reporting for us all!

[@ldfreitas9437]

He was mine too, but my dad was pissed off that Tittle got traded because then Tittle was great as a New York Giants . You'd think the 49ers could have gotten Sam Huff or Rosie Grier for YA Title. No, they got Lou Cordileone, who didn't last long as a tackle. The next bad trade in SF was Sadecky for Cepeda. The last one might be Dubon for Papierski. San Francisco has that reputation of making bad trades. Having said that, I doubt Curry is going anywhere and retires a Warrior.

[@nasetvideos]

Once again, great story-telling. Your videos truly are the best on the internet. Really insightful and intelligent. Love waking up in the morning and starting my day with JG9 videos.

[@robertwomack6015]

Loved listening to he 49ers game. Brodie to Washington. I still remember those days as a kid

[@bajaborracho9139]

I grew up in the city at that time. My brother and my cousins and I all wrote letters to our favorite players. I wrote mine to John Brodie. Everybody laughed saying Brodie was the most popular player and probably never reads fan mail. But #12 sent me an 8×10 signed to Dennis, my best, John Brodie. I was the only one who got a return letter. Many years later I was finally able to meet him in person on the senior's golf tour at Silverado golf club in Napa. When I told him the story he got a huge kick out of it. Class act all the way.

[@davidjohncox7333]

Nice! I, too, was a huge Brodie fan. His pictures were plastered all over my dorm room, my freshman year! I also finally got to meet him (and get his autograph) at a PGA Seniors golf tournament in Castle Pines, CO! I wore my number 12 jersey that day and followed his group for the whole round!

[@tedkijeski339]

I remember watching that game on TV. It was a Saturday game, on NBC (because AFC Pittsburgh was the visiting team). During a lull in the action, the play-by-play announcer said, slowly, solemnly, “Nolan against Noll,” as if the alliteration in the coaches’ last names had some deep meaning that might otherwise be overlooked.

[@roryloganwhitley1867]

Nationally televised as it had appeal when the schedule first came out. Coincidence or karma, Brodie joined that same NBC a year later as color commentator.

[@tedkijeski339]

@@roryloganwhitley1867 Yes! Good memory!

[@davester1970]

@Matt Joseph - He did compete in the Senior PGA as well as serve as a golf analyst for NBC.

[@DIMP11]

Was that David Letterman ? Uma....Oprah....Uma.....Oprah

[@frankdenardo8684]

The Pittsburgh Steelers stayed in the Bay Area for the upcoming playoff game against the Oakland Raiders. They used the old Kezar Stadium to hold practice.

[@tygrkhat4087]

All the Bills were interested in in the 73 finale against the Jets was getting OJ enough yards to break 2,000.

[@mikecumbo7531]

I remember watching that game, lots of snow on the field. Nasty day. They did beat the Jets 34-14, couldn’t get those 50 extra points in the weather.

[@NosferatusCoffin]

Had the Bengals lost, the Bills would have made the playoffs. So, it was not all about OJ. Just most of it.

[@CTubeMan]

Almost reminds me of Senior Day for some college basketball teams, where they’ll start a senior who has otherwise been on the bench in his final home game, then take him out for the game first chance they get.

[@jeremydobbs9308]

Senior being the operative word here, in senior citizen

[@richdouglas2311]

Sorry, but he was, even at that advanced age, the best QB on that team. Spurrier? Take a look at his career. Meh.

[@rickjohnson1266]

These are excellent videos. You bring back some good memories.

[@robertgardner9694]

LOVE the Niners content!! Red n Gold!

[@karlcooper8460]

The "Steele curtain" was starting to take form that didn't help either.

[@markgraham2312]

That was excellent! I lived through all of that. Not only Brodie's final season in 1973, but everything since 1970, when I started watching football. Everything you reported was 100% accurate and the match visuals were great. Later that night on the 6:00 local news on KPIX, the sportscaster said in disgust: "You want to see John Brodie's last play in the NFL? Here it is," as Brodie handed off to a running back on a 3rd down play that led to a punt the next play. When Spurrier replaced Brodie on the next set of downs for the 49ers, everyone was in bewilderment, even the NBC announcers.

[@ciesaro]

This channel is SO insightful

[@willremy5142]

I was just a little guy when Brodie was playing at the end of his career, his best years. I remember my dad, uncles and grandpa talking about who was better Brodie or Daryle Lamonica, always a family argument in those days, as that was back when the Raiders won the division almost every year. I remember the early 70's NFC Championship matchups against Dallas and lost two in a row. Frustrating for 49er Fans!!! I can't tell you how many people were so happy when Dwight Clark made "The Catch" and the defense held to exorcise those losses roughly a decade later! Another fun fact, Chris Chandler, QB most notably of the Atlanta Falcons, married John Brodie's daughter.

[@mattosullivan9687]

Brodie was a class act. At the end of his career the A's were playing a World Series game and Brodie wore an A's hat on the sidelines when his defense was on. Nice

[@charleyroot9298]

Yes he is, he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame

[@CTubeMan]

Also, who else is doing a series on the 49ers like Secret Base is doing theirs on the Falcons?

[@karlcooper8460]

Peyton manning was pretty pedestrian at 38. It was Denvers defense that won him his last superbowl.

[@fredjennings5312]

Yeah because he sucked balls from the very first snap when he and all the broadcast analysts that were on his tip got embarrassed by the Seahawks in that Super Bowl.

[@ZDiddy7777]

@@fredjennings5312 He did have 5500 yards, 55 tds to 10 ints and a 115 rating that regular season for a record setting offense, I think everybody was justified in praising Manning that year

[@DownfallHitlerParody]

@@ZDiddy7777He’s talking about the 2015 season where he won a Super Bowl despite throwing for 2,249 yards, 9 TD’s and 17 INT’s you dunce. The defense carried him that year.

[@sithlordjeffbledsoe651]

Thanx for all the miners history these past weeks. Learning things of my team I never new.

[@charliewartelle6720]

I’m to the point where I watch these things until he gets to the “spike the ball into the ground every play” line and move on. For those of you who are fans, and I know you’re out there, it’s at 4:54.

[@blazer79]

If you’re looking to do a similar situation, do one on Dan Marino’s final career game VS Jacksonville.

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

I could be mistaken but he already has.

[@WaltGekko]

Interesting story on Brodie. Also intersting to see the Rams wearing what are still considered their most famous helmet-jersey combo a year earlier than originally thought (Rams had those from 1973-'99).

[@williamford9564]

I loved those old jerseys.

[@marksieber4626]

Helluva good golfer too.

[@lsmftymf]

"Spiking the ball into the ground" is actually a redundancy.

[@mr.venturi1800]

Hey JaguarGator... you seem to like doing 49er pieces... Do one about CLEVELAND ELAM! There's a guy who came into the NFL and started super-fast, only to be done just 4 years later.

[@davidcobb2693]

Cleveland Elam made the Pro Bowl in his second and third seasons and he was named a First-Team All-Pro in his third season, injuries cut his career short, he played for the 49ers for 4 seasons, 1975-78 and he finished his playing career in Detroit in 1979. He passed away in 2012 at 60 years old.

[@Rantman9]

It used to be common place in the preseason for a player to announce they'd retire when the season was over, sometimes, players changed their minds and played the following season (s)

[@davester1970]

John Brodie after he retired found second careers as an NFL, PGA analyst and competed in the senior tour.

[@fredjennings5312]

Seeing some footage from the old Kesar stadium (before they played at Candlestick) made me feel real old. Much better era than the Santa Clara 40 Whiners of the modern era.

[@NillyNilly546]

Is John Brodie Hall Of Fame worthy? The dude put up great starts considering the time frame he was in and won some awards to show for it.

[@DJ-xs7ln]

49ers fan back then as a kid. Some exciting games to watch in the 60's.

[@mikekenney1947]

Had a chance to talk with John Brodie at a golf tournament. He said there were times he could actually see the play unfold as he approached the LOS, not imagine it, actually see it unfold. He said he didn’t like to talk about it much, but other QBs had told him they had the same thing happen to them. In the zone, maybe. One thing sure as hell, Gene Washington was right there with him

[@jonnythegreek1]

Excellent story! I was at Brodie's last game that day at Candlestick and recall seeing a sign, "John, say it ain't so!"

[@armandorodriguez6447]

No Hall of Fame is a Shame. Some believe that it’s better to retire on top to secure the a spot but who knows. I think he was good enough

[@tomdipasquale9633]

Do you have video of the press conference that you mentioned Brodie & the coach at odds??

[@frankjohnson5936]

John was a great QB it was the organization that wasnt great an he didnt get alot of support, he never had a team around him like Bradshaw or Montana,even so JOHN WAS GREAT!!

[@graygrumbler4253]

Such a sad year for the 49ers and Brodie. The rest of the 70s followed suit.

[@bobsnow6242]

Brodie went on to become a fairly decent pro golfer after retiring from football and willed himself back to health after suffering a debilitating stroke in 2000. 21 years on and he's still going strong. Class act all the way.

[@CZECHMATE650]

The Steelers had a young Steel Curtain in '73

[@kaybevang536]

Bizzare that Candlestick Played In Astro Turf

[@16ktsgamma]

More stories about Dick Nolan.

[@RikuEmpu]

I was at that game. I remember that if nothing else Brodie got decent pass protection. When Spurrier came in for him it was as if he offensive line took the rest of the day off.

[@rwbbpaok]

The following week the Steelers returned to the Bay Area and were throttled in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs by the Raiders, 33-14

[@mcleanblades9234]

This was when Candlestick Park was considered a nice stadium.

[@vpolite1]

Candlestick was never considered a nice stadium.

[@misterresister8271]

Love WR Frank Lewis (better known as a Buffalo Bill) wearing #43

[@OBESPRING1982]

At 4:57, Hunter spikes the ball into the ground.

[@Casey4765]

Ist game my Pops took me too. Go Niners. Great video.

[@brianbachmeier34]

Great video. How about a James Brooks and Pete Johnson trade in 1984?

[@josephhhickman7085]

Met him at a 19th hole bar...good fellow. My father was an old school Kezar and Candelstick regular stands fan...said Brodie if then had a decent o line there would not have been a relatively long gap between superbowls until Montana and company showed up

[@linkboy321]

Brodie was a hell of a QB who gets overshadowed by Montana and Young (for obvious reasons, and especially by some fans who grew up in the 80s/90s and didn't get to see him play) . I'm 39 (born in 82), so I didn't get to see him play, but as a 49ers fan, I appreciate what he and the players from before the Super Bowl years were able to accomplish. Guys like Gene Washington, Bob St. Clair, Leo Nomellini, Hugh McElhenny Joe Perry, John Henry Johnson, Y. A. Title, Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wilcox. I really do think that if the 49ers had won a Super Bowl (either in 70 or 71) or even made it, Brodie's probably in the Hall of Fame.

[@linkboy321]

@If 6 Was9 I agree 100%. I just think that's the biggest thing keeping him out.

[@davidcobb2693]

@If 6 Was9 And who was on top of those garbage teams, guiding them to the incinerator? HIS teams were under 500 for his entire 17 49ers seasons, 158 starts at QB, 74-76-8, his body of work isn't HOF caliber!

[@prime8nate]

Brodie's son showed up at my high school for one year. I sat next to him in Math (he must have been two years older than me) and that guy did not pay attention to anything a teacher said to him. Seemed pretty good natured otherwise and spoke with a southern accent even though this was suburbia a little south of SF. Chewed tobacco in class, copied on tests from everyone around him and frequently cut class to play golf. Drove a really nice convertible. Apparently John Brodie was a Scientologist so who knows how that effected his son. He was gone the next year, I don't think he passed any classes.

[@krusty6246]

What high school did he attend? Just curious. Also what year? I went to high school in the peninsula.

[@prime8nate]

@@krusty6246 one year at Mtn View High in the early 80s

[@Kamalathot-ski-rz5ox]

In 1972 wrote John Brodie a letter because we had to write our hero for school. He sent me back a little letter and an autograph photo. I was at he last game too, we didn't care about the results, just that we got to say goodbye. I was also at OJ's last game - Bill Walsh stuck him in for a play or two and that was it. If you were a niner's fan back then, did you get your Joe Reed & the niner nuggets album?

[@davidjohncox7333]

That was a shame to have No. 12’s exception career end on such a sour note. And it’s a sham that he isn’t in the HOF! I’ve been a huge Brodie fan since the late 60s. Finally got to meet him and get his autograph at a PGA Seniors Golf tournament that he was competing in!

[@BMR54]

My dad had 49ers season tickets that year and I attended this game with him. I was a teenager at the time. If I recall correctly, the only two Niner scores were a blocked punt recovered in the end zone and a punt return touchdown. Very disappointing end to John Brodie‘s career.

[@protochris]

I was at that game. I remember our car getting towed away, and actually slipping in the game with an eagles vs niners ticket.

[@misterresister8271]

Poor John Brodie got to end his NFL career against a pass defense which allowed a record-low 33.4 passer rating for opposing QBs. I know it was 1973, the doldrums of NFL passing, but damn!

[@44mtus]

My best John Brodie memory was the 1972 Vikings game, last of the regular season. Two 4th quarterTD passes, the last with 25 seconds left to Dick Witcher to clinch the NFC West. I don't care about the 49ers record through his years. John Brodie in the final game of the season in 70, 71 and 72 led his team to victory to clinch division titles. That's cluch quarterback play, worthy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And if you want to talk numbers, why is that blowhard and self promoter Joe Namath in the HoF. He has absolutely the worst quarterback numbers in the hall. He lives off of one season and one game where he wasn't anywhere near his team's best player. Brodie belongs there, put him in there while he is still here.

[@davidjohncox7333]

I remember the Sports Illustrated article title after the 49ers beat the Vikings in the game that you referenced: “Brodie Went Witcher Way”!

[@jasonpdsi]

We were SO BAD between 73-80. And 2003-2010. And 2014-the eleven games of 2017.

[@NillyNilly546]

Always sucks to see a legendary career end so damn poorly.

[@teto85]

In the 1970s John Brodie was Scientology's big celebrity. I know this is basically about his last game, but Brodie was part of a group of QBs who were targets of contract poaching by the AFL before the merger. Brodie was able to get almost $20 Million over the last 7 or 8 years of his career paid for by the other teams the league to keep him in the NFL.

[@deansch6089]

Why do I hear faint high-pitched music in the background?

[@timtebowsleftarm5368]

What I want to know is whether Nolan told Brodie directly before announcing the plan, or if Brodie found out through the media. That would really rankle me.

[@jenniferrowe2593]

Any chance that you do a review of the final game of Terry Bradshaw’s career? I find the circumstances and the events that lead up to that start against the jets fascinating!

[@davester1970]

I remember watching Bradshaw's last game against the Jets. He looked real sharp throwing 2 touchdown passes until he blew out his elbow.

[@misterresister8271]

@@davester1970 Especially considering how terrible Cliff Stoudt and the Steelers' passing attack was in 1983

[@davester1970]

@@misterresister8271 - What's funny about Cliff Stoudt is that he was the highest rated passer in the USFL for the Birmingham Stallions. He just couldn't translate that success to the NFL.

[@misterresister8271]

@@davester1970 I was more of a Tampa Bay Bandits fan myself, speaking of NFL QBs who found a second life (albeit a brief one) in the USFL

[@rnklv8281]

A star QB with Stanford and the 49ers made him a quite the Bay Area fan favorite (along with QB Jim Plunkett (Stanford/Raiders)). I think Brodie was also a accomplished golfer, he may have even played in Senior Golf tournaments after his gridiron days.

[@thomasryan9639]

Couldn't be worse than Y.A. Tittle's last game. The back page of the newspaper had a photo of him kneeling on the ground with his helmet nextt to him and his head bleeding. Still got into the HOF!

[@matt75hooper]

QB's were pounded to dust back then. 200+ TDs and 30K Yards back then were huge. Those QB's never ever played healthy. Always nicked up. And they played in all kinds of weather. Brodie should be in the NFL Hall of Fame.

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

Brodie was also the last QB to be sacked fewer than 10 times in a season-being dropped for a loss on a pass attempt just EIGHT times in 1970 (for comparison, Donovan McNabb suffered 12 sacks in ONE game in 2007). That allowed him to lead the league in pass rating as well as the categories mentioned in the clip.

[@markbrian7179]

What about Joe Reed and Steve Spurrier? They were worse than Brodie in this game. Reed went 6 of 12 and threw for thirty less yards than Brodie and also threw two interceptions. Spurrier went 1 of 9 for THREE yards and was sacked three times.

[@davester1970]

What's funny is that when Brodie retired, the 49ers went into the crapper for the rest of the decade until Bill Walsh and Joe Montana came to town.

[@misterresister8271]

@@davester1970 I always thought Jim Plunkett's two years as 49ers starter were kind of underrated

[@davester1970]

@@misterresister8271 - The 49ers were idiots for giving up 1st and 2nd round picks in 1976 and 1976 plus Tom Owen to get him.

[@misterresister8271]

@@davester1970 The 49ers gave up TWO 1st and TWO 2nds? Yikes. The 70s were full of ridiculously dumb trades. The Giants trading their very high first round pick for 31-year old Craig Morton comes to mind. A lot of teams just didn't value draft picks like today. Besides, Plunkett did have very solid seasons in 71, 73 and 74.

[@davester1970]

@@misterresister8271 - If you thought that trade was bad, how about the 1978 trade for a busted up end of his career OJ Simpson from the Bills in exchange for the 49ers 1978 2nd & 3rd round picks, their 1979 1st and 4th round picks and their 1980 2nd round pick? Ed Debartolo would have been justified for setting Joe Thomas on fire for that trade.

[@jmlapedis49]

Is it 49ers week?

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

I'll start attending my AA meetings since I've been drinking the spike. John Brodie didn't do that well that week since he had word from his wife, his mistress and his daughter that they were all late, and his dog bit him.

[@tedkijeski339]

I feel a "Drink the Spike" coffee mug coming on.

[@joeallenboxing]

Can you do a video on my hero Bert Jones?

[@jbratt]

Holy Smokes! Brodie is not in the Hall of Fame? I remember when my Cowboys would play the 49ers in the early 70s I would worry when He was the QB. The guy definitely is a HOFer

[@kaybevang536]

He’s Overshadowed by Joe Montana And Steve Young

[@chadwickwhite6107]

In the FINAL season of John Brodie's career he should have SPIKED the football into the ground on EVERY single OFFENSIVE play. He would have been BETTER off. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@CZECHMATE650]

Where have I heard that one before!??? Lol!

[@areguapiri]

The coach should never have played Brodie. He was terrible at that point in his career.

[@robertmcevoy24]

Man those were the days at Keazar stadium ..Brodie should be in the Hall

[@chrisrobinson8339]

That drop off was sudden. Maybe that injury hurt him.

[@scottaznavourian3720]

I liked when Elway retired he said 'if I had one wish I'd be 28. Cause then this would just be starting' When brady retires he might say 'If I had one wish I'd be 48....cause this would just be starting'

[@garrison6863]

Brodie is underrated. He was a really good starting QB who was really accurate on the long pass.

[@brucedavis3816]

A good video would be about the time in 81 when the lions had 12 men on the field when they kicked a game winner!!!!

[@NosferatusCoffin]

Against Dallas. 27-24 Lions for once, caught a break.

[@lewislast8501]

Gotta make a shirt that's just the words worst than then a picture of a ball being spiked into the ground

[@karlcooper8460]

He looked a little like Roger Staubach with the double bar helmet and that number12.

[@McKinleyDave]

You mean Roger looked like Brodie…

[@karlcooper8460]

@@McKinleyDave Yea whatever is clever.

[@Davepool-hs7vr]

Do a video on Terrel Owens breaking the reception record

[@sammyvh11]

Great golfer too

[@astephens1963]

Why would any general manager draft Steve Spurrier with a big number 1 pick when you already had Brodie unless you were incompetent?

[@ARIZJOE]

An excellent quarterback, with several strange angles. He was on the Senior PGA Tour. A lot of great athlete golfers, like Michael Jordan and Hawk Harrelson wanted to do that, but were not good enough. Brodie did it. I saw him in a tournament paired with Billy Casper. John smoked a cigarette at every tee box. A strong endorser of Scientology, you'd think Brodie would eschew smoking. He was a very good TV analyst. Brodie is now purportedly in very bad health.

[@davidabney7700]

John Brodie was one great touchdown throwing QB. If he could have played behind the line that Joe Montana had, under old school rules, no telling what sort of win/loss record the 49ers would have had. Before Brodie, the Bald Eagle YA Title, was the QB. These two QB's were passing legends, playing under old school rules and still amazing yardage from passing, not counting the touchdown throws each gifted QB had. YA was traded off to New York where he led them to playoff city. Brodie was behind Title at the time of trade.

[@ldfreitas9437]

Hated Candlestick with artificial turf. Loved it with real grass. Too bad the last few seasons Brodie had to play on that crap.

[@jerrydunn3260]

I don't think that last game really mattered to his legacy. I wonder why he isn't in the Hall of Fame?

[@scottconner7930]

48 Years Ago

[@iamhungey12345]

According to TPS' QB Mount Rushmore for each team, this guy and Tittle doesn't exist.

[@patrickramirez3101]

That new head coach for the. Rams is. Chuck. Knox. I believe he does have a name.

[@tommclain8893]

joe Greene must have had rare respect for the old qb, he did not bury him as the lead block on the int return.

[@richardadams4928]

Gotta disagree that he had a right to be pissed at Nolan's original plan. Based on performance that season, he had NO reasonable expectation to get that last start. Nolan was TRYING to respect his overall career. If he didn't like it, he should have played better and made it a non-decision. And he SHOULD be in the HOF.

[@billknudson2236]

My mom had season tickets at Candlestick for years and I was a big Raiders fan. Never had confidence in the 49'ers in the late 60's and throughout the 70's. Seemed like the 49ers had good individual players but not a functioning and reliable team. Nolan's kid, Mike Nolan turned out to be disaster. Do a film on him and how each team he coached or was an assistant coach totally tanked. 4 years with the 49ers as head coach he was 0.327%----BEYOND HORRIBLE. Mike's way or the highway. He had NFL players leave during training camp and never return--Mike was THAT BAD.

[@alvanwalls8371]

Brodie into the HOF ..from a Rams fan

[@dondajulah4168]

LOL, what I thought most people knew John Brodie for was being one of the original celebrity Scientologists. I'm guessing that a good portion of those "angry fans" calling the front office were part of the cult.

[@Rantman9]

Despite a great career as a QB, currently, he's better known for his golf accomplishments

[@darryljorden9177]

He was in broadcasting for awhile, too, which is why it's surprising he's not in the Hall of Fame (see Dan Fouts).

[@091053JG]

Would he have preferred to play and get a devastating injury in his last game which was a meaningless one?

[@g.shumway5925]

one of my go-to trivia questions is “Name the three 49ers to win the league mvp award?” People always correctly get Montana and Young but then incorrectly guess Rice (though I think he should have gotten it in ‘87 over Elway when he scored 23 touchdowns in 12 games). The third of course is Brodie.

[@bugsyproductions3140]

Brodie had no business playing that entire game.

[@Boomhower89]

Spurrier sucked he never learned to read a defense. College or pro.