Brad Van Pelt dies

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Feb 18, 2009 1:30 PM EST in New York Giants News

Brad Van Pelt, always a forgotten name in the long list of great Giant linebackers, has died at the age of 57. Van Pelt played during what George refers to as "The Wilderness Years", and its often overlooked just how good Van Pelt was.

Here is the story from nj.com.

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Bummer

Van Pelt was always one of my favorite players. Always felt we never really knew how good he was because the Giants stunk during his career.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 18, 2009 1:50 PM EST reply actions

He was one of my favorites as well, Ed

Easily, one of the top four Giants LBs. It’s a shame he isn’t in the HOF. He belongs there. He could hit and he was perhaps the best coverage LB of all time.

by blue gonz on Feb 18, 2009 3:02 PM EST up reply actions

He sure did break up a lot of passes...

If only he had been born a few years later. He could have had a Super Bowl ring. He made so many great third down defensive plays too…what a shame that the team wasn’t good enough to take advantage of them.

by giant fan since 57 on Feb 18, 2009 3:13 PM EST up reply actions

He made a lot of interceptions, too

an extraordinary # for an LB (over 20 in his career as a recall.)

by blue gonz on Feb 18, 2009 9:42 PM EST up reply actions

20 interceptions...and 14 fumble recoveries!

by giant fan since 57 on Feb 18, 2009 10:11 PM EST up reply actions

ditto

I became a Giants fan in 67 – right in the heart of the wilderness years. Van Pelt was one of the few really good players of that era

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by NYERinSF on Feb 18, 2009 11:47 PM EST up reply actions

Great LB and a great Giant

by potroast on Feb 18, 2009 1:59 PM EST reply actions

Parcells said in his book

cutting Van Pelt was one of the hardest things he had to do as a coach

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Feb 18, 2009 2:07 PM EST reply actions

Van Pelt was

the first football player that I followed when I became interested in sports as a kid. He could always be counted on to play at high level even during the bleak years that were the 70’s. He was the guy I felt the worse for when “the fumble” happened. His best games were against the Cowboys chasing Danny White. I feel old.

When its 3rd and long, throw the ball past the marker.

by Fester McDougal on Feb 18, 2009 4:17 PM EST reply actions

Van Pelt

I was born after Van Pelt’s time, so I never really knew much about him until the Eagles game last season (the 13 sack game) when they introduced a few great Giant LB’s (LT, Carson, I don’t remember if Banks was there or not) and they introduced Van Pelt. I read up on him a little after the game, and was surprised at how good he was. Sad to hear he passed away.

by cjmulrain on Feb 18, 2009 4:53 PM EST reply actions

Van Pelt

was an elite player who doesn’t get enough credit for what they did because they were either overshadowed or on stacked teams.. in Van Pelt’s case overshadowed by LT and Harry Carson. Banks and Reasons are the same way.

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

http://novafacts.blogspot.com/

by Hoyadestroya85 on Feb 18, 2009 5:03 PM EST reply actions

Van Pelt

What I remember most about Brad were the shoe string tackles he made with one hand. A lot of running backs would’ve made some big runs against the Giants had he and his athleticism not been there. With him, Harry Carson, and Brian Kelly, the Giants began to build the defense that later won them Super Bowls. I remember in the late 70s how a lot of the announcers thought the Giants had the best linebacking crew in the league, and that was when Pittsburgh had its Steel Curtain. It’s a shame Brad never won a Super Bowl ring.

by slovakman on Feb 18, 2009 7:31 PM EST reply actions

Brad Van Pelt

He was a very famous man in his little hometown of owosso mi. I grew up hearing all about you in school. I’m so sad and shocked when I read todays paper and you passed away . YOU WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST TROJANS EVER. You still are in high school a whole wall is dedicated to you and you playing carreer. You was the BEST!!!!!!!!!.

by OWOSSO MI on Feb 18, 2009 7:36 PM EST reply actions

HOW in the WORLD...

Do you make the pro-bowl 5 years in a row when your team wins 3,5,6,6 and 4 games over that same 5 year period???

TRULY AMAZING!!!! What a shame!!!

by NY17NE14 on Feb 18, 2009 8:21 PM EST reply actions

You want to know how good he really was?

Now before you look at these links, please understand that I am not saying Van Pelt was as good as LT. But take a look at their career stats. They both played the same number of games.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/V/VanPBr01.htm

Notice the 20 interceptions. That’s more than one every ten games. As George mentioned in his post his pass coverage was terrific. Also 14 fumble recoveries.

Here are LT’s stats for comparison.

http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=taylolaw01

No player in the league has ever had the impact the game like LT and stats don’t begin to tell the whole story. But I’m convinced that Brad missed out on a lot of recognition because he played in the “lost years.”

by giant fan since 57 on Feb 18, 2009 10:09 PM EST reply actions