The former Louisville quarterback spent time with the Jets, Colts and Falcons
Credit: George Gojkovich/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Browning Nagle, who died at 57, was a standout quarterback at Louisville, earning MVP honors in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl
- He was drafted by the Jets in 1991 and later played for the Colts and Falcons
- Nagle transitioned to a career in medical sales and was remembered fondly by teammates and coaches
Former New York Jets quarterback Browning Nagle has died. The athlete, who had colon cancer, was 57.
Louisville Football announced the news on Friday, April 10, writing in a social media post that Nagle's "leadership on the field and passion for the game left a lasting mark on our program."
"We are saddened by the passing of Browning Nagle, former Fiesta Bowl MVP quarterback and Louisville great," Louisville Football wrote in a statement on X. "…Our thoughts are with his loved ones and teammates during this difficult time."
Born in Philadelphia, Nagle built a career in medical sales outside of football and raised a family with his wife in Louisville, Ky., after the end of his pro football career.
Credit: Owen C. Shaw/Getty
During his time with the Louisville Cardinals, he threw for 4,653 yards and 32 touchdowns over two seasons as a starter, per ESPN. During the Cardinals' 1991 win over Alabama at the Fiesta Bowl, he posted a school-record 451 yards and three touchdowns and received Offensive Player of the Game honors. He was also the game's MVP.
Later that year, the Jets drafted Nagle with the No. 34 pick, just one slot behind future Hall of Famer Brett Favre in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft.
During his first Jets start in 1992, Nagle threw for 366 yards and had two touchdowns in an eventual loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He was released before the 1994 season, finishing his tenure with the Jets with 2,361 passing yards, eight touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
Nagle joined the Indianapolis Colts in 1994, starting one game with the team before playing five games with the Atlanta Falcons in 1996, per Yahoo Sports.
In 1999, he signed with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League, throwing 74 touchdown passes against 18 interceptions with the team before moving back to Louisville, per local outlet WDRB.
Credit: George Gojkovich/Getty
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Current Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm, who served as Nagle's backup for the Cardinals, honored his former teammate with a social media post, writing that his "thoughts and prayers are with #7 Browning Nagle, his wife Michelle, and his entire family today."
"A true Cardinal great!" Brohm wrote. "We will all miss him very much. Love you buddy!"
"Browning was a great guy," former Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason said Friday of his 1993 teammate, per a press release from the Jets.
"He had an infectious laugh and was so much fun to be around. We often competed against each other while also showing respect for one another," Esiason said. "I will always remember the laughter and infectious spirit Browning had and how much he enjoyed out-driving me on the golf course. May he rest in peace knowing he lived an impactful life."
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