Former Jets quarterback and Louisville standout Browning Nagle dead at 57 due to colon cancer

Former Jets quarterback and Louisville standout Browning Nagle dead at 57 due to colon cancer

Former New York Jets quarterback and Louisville standout Browning Nagle died, Louisville football announced Friday. He was 57.

In a statement Friday, Louisville Football praised Nagle for his “leadership on the field and passion for the game.”

After two solid seasons at Louisville, Nagle etched his name in the record books during the Fiesta Bowl in 1991. Despite entering the contest vs. Alabama as massive underdogs, Louisville jumped out to a 25-0 lead in the first quarter, eventually winning the contest 34-7.

Nagle turned in a star-making performance that day, throwing for a record 451 yards. He added three touchdowns in the victory. He was named the offensive player of the game for that performance.

The Jets must have come away from that Fiesta Bowl impressed, as the team then selected Nagle in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft.

Nagle didn’t see much time as a rookie, playing in just one game with the Jets. Instead, he watched as the team’s starter, Ken O’Brien tossed 10 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, making his second career Pro Bowl.

O’Brien held out during training camp the following year, missing over a month while negotiating a new contract with the Jets. That allowed Nagle to receive starting reps in camp. He impressed enough to win the starting job. Nagle threw for 366 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions during his NFL debut, but the Jets lost the game.

That proved to be the highest point in Nagle’s NFL career. He finished the year with seven touchdowns against 17 interceptions over 14 starts. It was a rocky transition into the starting role, as then-Jets head coach Bruce Coslet appeared to flip-flop between Nagle and O’Brien at times during the season.

Nagle remained with the Jets the following season, but did not start a single game. He joined the Indianapolis Colts in 1994, starting one game with the team. He then played in five games with the Atlanta Falcons in 1996.

Following his NFL career, Nagle spent two seasons in the Arena Football League, tossing 74 touchdowns against 18 interceptions.