GOLF.AI • Jan 24, 2026

NFL MVP, Golf Champ: Remembering Brodie

The sports world is remembering John Brodie, the 1970 NFL MVP for the San Francisco 49ers, who passed away at the age of 90. While a superstar on the gridiron, Brodie was also a legitimate force in the golf world, crafting an incredible career as a two-sport legend.

Brodie's talent on the links was evident from a young age. While still an amateur, his skill caught the eye of entertainer and golf icon Bing Crosby. Impressed after watching him play, Crosby famously promised the young Brodie, "If you play like that, I'll invite you to my tournament." Crosby was true to his word, inviting Brodie to compete in the prestigious Crosby Invitational at Pebble Beach, a significant milestone in his amateur career.

After a storied 17-season NFL career, Brodie retired from football in 1973 and turned his competitive focus back to golf. He joined the Senior PGA Tour (now PGA TOUR Champions) in 1985, embarking on a second professional athletic career. Over 13 seasons, he made 230 starts and recorded 12 top-10 finishes.

The crowning achievement of his golf life came in 1991 at the Security Pacific Senior Classic. At 56 years old, Brodie found himself in a sudden-death playoff against two World Golf Hall of Famers, George Archer and Chi Chi Rodriguez. On the first extra hole, Brodie calmly sank a birdie putt to claim the victory.

Brodie later reflected that the feeling of winning an individual golf tournament provided a unique satisfaction that his team-based football career couldn't quite replicate. "Emotion is something that I can't call back on and get the same feeling," he said after the win. "I feel just as good as I can possibly feel right now."