Nagle was the 34th overall pick of the 1991 NFL Draft. Rick Stewart / Allsport / Getty Images
April 10, 2026Updated 5:07 pm EDT
Former New York Jets quarterback Browning Nagle died earlier this week after a battle with colon cancer, according to the team’s website. Nagle was 57.
Nagle was a star quarterback at the University of Louisville, winning MVP honors in a 1991 Fiesta Bowl victory over Alabama in his final game. That spring, the Jets selected him in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft. Nagle played three years in New York, one of them as a starter; in 1992, he threw for 2,280 yards, seven touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
A couple of months after Nagle was drafted by the Jets, he was selected in the 51st round of the Major League Baseball draft by the then-California Angels. He was also drafted by the Boston Red Sox out of high school.
At the time, Nagle told reporters “My life, my career is in football. I’m committed to the Jets.”
Nagle asked for and was granted his release from the Jets after the 1993 season. He went on to play for the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons, as well as a stint in the Arena Football League.
Apr 10, 2026
Connections: Sports Edition
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today’s puzzle