John Brodie’s Incredible Second Act: NFL MVP Who Beat Golf Legends at 56 | RIP Sports Icon

John Brodie’s Incredible Second Act: NFL MVP Who Beat Golf Legends at 56 | RIP Sports Icon

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On an October afternoon in 1991, a 56-year-old former NFL MVP drained a playoff birdie putt to defeat two World Golf Hall of Fame legends — and most fans today have no idea it ever happened. ⛳🏈

That man was John Brodie.

Brodie, who passed away at age 90, lived two complete sporting lives. First, as the face of the San Francisco 49ers for 17 seasons — all with one franchise — where he threw for 31,548 yards, 214 touchdowns, and won the 1970 NFL MVP Award. His iconic No. 12 jersey was retired, cementing him as one of the greatest quarterbacks in 49ers history.

But football was only Act One.

After retiring from the NFL, Brodie didn’t fade into nostalgia. Instead, he quietly reinvented himself — joining the PGA TOUR Champions and competing seriously for more than a decade. In 1991, he delivered one of the most improbable wins in professional sports history, defeating Masters champion George Archer and golf icon Chi Chi Rodriguez in a sudden-death playoff to claim the Security Pacific Senior Classic.

🎯 No teammates.
🎯 No protection.
🎯 Just pressure — and a putter.

Modern stars like Tony Romo and Steph Curry have tried to cross the sports divide. None have won a professional tournament. John Brodie did.

Beyond the field and the fairway, Brodie also became a respected NBC Sports broadcaster, calling Super Bowl XIII and major golf events — seamlessly bridging football and golf in a way few ever have.

As tributes pour in from both sports worlds, one truth stands clear:
John Brodie wasn’t just great — he was rare.

📌 Watch to rediscover the story of a man who refused to be defined by one game — and mastered two.

👇 Comment below: Did you know John Brodie won on the PGA TOUR Champions?


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