49ers Clubhouse - John Brodie

John Brodie retired in 1973. In his career he passed for 31,548 yards and that's how Brodie made his living really, by throwing the long ball. For 17 years he wore the red and gold uniform of the San Francisco 49ers.
During his tenure, Brodie guided the 49ers to two NFL Championship Games and one playoff appearence. He played in two Pro Bowls and was the NFL Player of the Year in 1970. But none of that seems to impress Brodie. He stressed the fun he had playing the game and the friendships he made as a member of the 49ers.
John Brodie was picked by the 49ers in the first round of the 1957 college draft. He had been an All-American at Stanford. The 49ers already had Y.A.Tittle at quarterback, so he saw little action during that first year, but in a must win game late in the season he was forced to take over in a critical situation and threw the winning touchdown, the 49ers made the playoffs.
Under Brodie's guidance the 49ers were a perennial playoff team from 1970 through 1972. But the year that stood out for him was 1965. That year he threw 30 touchdown passes, a 49er record, and completed 62 percent of his 391 passes. The 49ers averaged over 30 points a game. That year was a tourning point for him offensively. In that same year Y.A.Tittle returned to the 49ers as an assistant coach. Under his tutelage Brodie started to blossom. He learned a lot from him as coach. Brodie commanded the 49ers offense longer than anyone. He completed 2,469 of 4,491 passes and threw for 214 career touchdowns.
Brodie is not one to dwell on the past and his prior accomplishments, but the mention of Kezar Stadium is one thing that raises nostalgic feelings about his team. For Brodie it was at Kezar Stadium that the 49er spirit really begun. Those were the 49er faithful.