01-24-2026, 12:43 PM
I was lucky enough to see John Brodie in action, once, on December 26, 1971. It was the divisional playoff game vs. the Washington Redskins in Candlestick on that old artificial turf. (As an aside, it was the day after the Dolphins and Chiefs met on Christmas day and played the longest game ever in NFL history. The league great criticism for this and vowed never to play on Christmas day again. Until the TV $$ spoke louder)
That was my first NFL game ever. I was 14 and my dad had a coworker who was a Niner STH. He couldn't go, and asked if my dad wanted them. AYKM? My brother and I went and couldn't have had more fun. The big play of the game was in the third quarter, when Brodie noted Gene Washington had single coverage and hit him with a 78 yard TD pass on a fly pattern. Later in the quarter, the crowd was roaring with the Niners on offense. Brodie waved his arms over his head and the crowd immediately went silent. That was incredible to witness.
A long time ago. May memories of John Brodie never die.
That was my first NFL game ever. I was 14 and my dad had a coworker who was a Niner STH. He couldn't go, and asked if my dad wanted them. AYKM? My brother and I went and couldn't have had more fun. The big play of the game was in the third quarter, when Brodie noted Gene Washington had single coverage and hit him with a 78 yard TD pass on a fly pattern. Later in the quarter, the crowd was roaring with the Niners on offense. Brodie waved his arms over his head and the crowd immediately went silent. That was incredible to witness.
A long time ago. May memories of John Brodie never die.