Ex-EvCC football player dead at 83

One of the greatest players in the history of the Everett Community College football program died last week.

Pat Brady, a punter who led EvCC to an unbeaten record in 1947 and went on to become an NFL All-Pro, passed away after a lengthy battle with lymphoma, according to an Associated Press report. Brady, who was 83, passed away in Reno, Nev.

Several of Brady’s former EvCC teammates called him the best athlete on that Trojans team. He went on to play at the University of Nevada, where Brady once punted the ball an NCAA record 99 yards. He transferred to Bradley University before spending three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1981, Brady was named to the Steelers’ 50th Anniversary team.

Brady was a Seattle native who attended O’Dea High School. After serving in World War II, he returned to the States and enrolled at what was then known as Everett Junior College. Playing on a team made up mostly of WWII veterans, Brady helped lead the Trojans to a 10-0 record that year.

“He was an outstanding punter,” said Maurice Edlund, an 85-year-old Stanwood resident who was captain of the 1947 Everett JC team. “He pulled us out of many jams with his ability to kick the ball 55, 60 yards in the air.”

Told on Monday about Brady’s passing, Edlund said: “I’m very sorry to hear it, naturally, being one of his teammates. I’m sorry for his family. Death, anytime, is a very unpleasant thing.”