44. John Brodie

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When you think of great San Francisco quarterbacks, you automatically think of Joe Montana and Steve Young. Before them, there was a very good one named John Brodie who put up great numbers without the supporting cast that Montana and Young had.

John Brodie was one of the game's early gunslingers, and most of the time he had to be. The 49ers of the 1960s were not a great team, and Brodie was often the main reason his team was competitive. By the time the 1970s rolled around, Brodie had a better team around him, and though he was finally playoff-bound, the Niners could not get past the Cowboys for three years in a row. Still, Brodie won the 1970 MVP and was given more respect around the league.

Because he had to take a lot of chances, John Brodie’s interception rate was fairly high, and he finished his career with more picks than touchdown passes. This could be why he has never been a semi-finalist for the Hall, and with the San Francisco 49ers reaching great heights in the 1980s, virtually every Niners star before them has been forgotten. John Brodie deserves better than that.

Should John Brodie be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 79.3%

Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 11.9%

Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 5.7%

No opinion. - 0.4%

No way! - 2.7%

The Bullet Points

Country of Origin: San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
Eligible Since: Monday, 01 January 1979
Position: Quarterback
Games Played: 201
Notable Statistics: 2,469 Pass Completions
4,491 Pass Attempts
55.0 Pass Completion Percentage
31,548 Passing Yards
214 Touchdown Passes
224 Interceptions
72.3 Passer Rating
235 Rushing Attempts
1,167 Rushing Yards
22 Rushing Touchdowns
129 Approximate Value*

5 Playoff Games
71 Pass Completions
143 Pass Attempts
49.7 Pass Completion Percentage
973 Passing Yards
4 Touchdown Passes
7 Interceptions
60.7 Passer Rating
2 Rushing Attempts
4 Rushing Yards
1 Rushing Touchdown

*Approximate Value was calculated by Pro Football Reference as of the 1960.
Played For: San Francisco 49ers
College: Stanford
Drafted: 1st Round, 3rd Overall in 1957
Major Accolades and Awards: AP MVP (1) (1970)
NEA MVP (1) (1970)
The Sporting News Player of the Year (1) (1970)
First Team All-Pro (1) (1970)
Second Team All-Pro (1) (1965)
Pro Bowl (2) (1965 & 1970)
AP Comeback Player of the Year (1) (1965)
Most Pass Completions (3) (1965, 1968 & 1970)
Most Pass Attempts (2) (1965 & 1968)
Most Passing Yards (3) (1965, 1968 & 1970)
Most Passing Touchdowns (2) (1965 & 1970)
Most Passing Yards per Game (3) (1965, 1968 & 1970)
Most Passing Yards per Attempt (1) (1961)
Most Passing Yards per Completion (1) (1961)
Highest Passer Rating (1) (1970)
Highest Pass Completion Percentage (3) (1974, 1982 & 1983)
Other Points of Note: Other Top Ten MVP Finsishes (Won the 1979 MVP)
9th in 1971
Top Ten Finishes: Approximate Value (2) (1965 & 1970)
Top Ten Finishes: Pass Completions (12) (1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 & 1971)
Top Ten Finishes: Pass Attempts (11) (1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 & 1971)
Top Ten Finishes: Passing Yards (10) (1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 & 1971)
Top Ten Finishes: Passing Touchdowns (10) (1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 & 1971)
Top Ten Finishes: Passer Rating (10) (1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 & 1970)
Top Ten Finishes: Passing Yards per Game (9) (1961, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 & 1971)
Top Ten Finishes: Passing Yards per Attempt (8) (1958, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 & 1970)
Top Ten Finishes: Passing Yards per Completion (3) (1961, 1968 & 1969)
Top Ten Finishes: Pass Completion Percentage (11) (1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970 & 1971)
Notable All Time Rankings: 41. Touchdown Passes: 214
46. Pass Attempts: 4,491
50. Passing Yards: 31,548
51. Yards per Pass Completion: 12.8
54. Pass Completions: 2,469
100. Yards per Pass Attempt: 7.0
Years Nominated for the Hall of Fame: None.