Browning Nagle, Former Jets QB and Fiesta Bowl Legend, Dies at 57

The football world lost a piece of early 90s NFL history this week. Browning Nagle, the strong-armed quarterback who lit up the 1991 Fiesta Bowl for Louisville and was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round that same year, died after battling colon cancer. He was 57.

The Fiesta Bowl Performance That Changed Everything

Nagle's name is forever linked to one of the greatest upsets in college football history. In Louisville's stunning Fiesta Bowl victory over Alabama, Nagle put on a clinic: 451 yards and three touchdowns. He was named the game's MVP. Here's the wild part, the guy was so talented that he actually performed the national anthem before the game. Not many quarterbacks can sing the Star-Spangled Banner and then go out and dominate on the biggest stage.

Playing under coach Howard Schnellenberger, Nagle threw for 4,653 yards and 32 touchdowns over two seasons as a starter. The Jets thought they had found their guy. The problem? They didn't.

A Brief, Turbulent Run in New York

After spending his rookie year on the bench, Nagle got his shot as the Jets starter in 1992. It didn't go the way anyone hoped. He finished 3-10 with 17 interceptions and only seven touchdown passes. By 1993, Boomer Esiason had taken over the job, and Nagle's time in New York was winding down. He was released in 1994.

Here's the kicker: the Jets had actually tried to trade up to draft Brett Favre in 1991, but settled on Nagle when Favre went to the Falcons one pick ahead of them at 33rd overall. The what-ifs still sting for Jets fans decades later.

Life After the NFL

Nagle finished his professional career with stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons. Later, he moved to the Arena League, playing for the Orlando Predators in 1999 and the Buffalo Destroyers in 2000, throwing 74 touchdowns over two seasons in that league.

After hanging up his cleats, Nagle went into medical sales. He was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Tampa, Florida, where he attended Pinellas Park High in Largo before heading to West Virginia for two years before transferring to Louisville.

Louisville football released a statement Friday: "We are saddened by the passing of Browning Nagle, former Fiesta Bowl MVP quarterback and Louisville great. His leadership on the field and passion for the game left a lasting mark on our program. Our thoughts are with his loved ones and teammates during this difficult time."

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