ChiefsPlanet - Football RIP Brad Van Pelt

He wasn't a Chief, but Brad Van Pelt was a very good linebacker for the Giants in the 70s. He was overshadowed when Lawrence Taylor arrived, but I always liked him as a player - tough and hard-nosed, but clean.

I'm always kind of intrigued by these guys who are very good multi-sport athletes, too. In those cases, you have to think there's simply a lot of natural talent present, as opposed to practice making perfect.

http://www.freep.com/article/2009021...rtan+and+Giant

Humble, talented Spartan and Giant
BY KRISTA JAHNKE • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • February 19, 2009

Brad Van Pelt -- "an All-American boy, on the field and off" -- died unexpectedly Tuesday evening of an apparent heart attack at his home in Harrison, Mich. He was 57.

The news was met Wednesday in the Michigan State community with shock and grief. Former MSU football coach George Perles, who coached Van Pelt as an assistant under Duffy Daugherty, put it succinctly: "It is sad, sad, sad."

Those who knew Van Pelt -- a legendary three-sport athlete at MSU who had a decorated NFL career -- described him as humble, happy-go-lucky and tremendously gifted.

"He was just down-to-earth, a very caring and kind person, and a fun person to be around," said good friend and former MSU football teammate John Shinsky. "He cared about people. But probably the most significant thing about him is he was a humble person. Even with all his stardom with the (New York) Giants, you'd never know it."

Said Perles: "He was an All-American boy, on the field and off. He was Duffy's favorite. That was his boy."

Van Pelt arrived at MSU from Owosso, a farming community about 35 miles from Lansing, in 1970. He went on to earn seven varsity letters, playing football, baseball and basketball, and is regarded as the university's last major three-sport athlete.

Former MSU basketball coach Gus Ganakas said he "helped the position of power forward." As a pitcher at MSU, Van Pelt had a 2.10 ERA and won a Big Ten title.

But football was his first love. He was a two-time All-America and the first defensive back to win the Maxwell Award as the national player of the year in 1972.

"He was a man playing with little boys," said Spartan teammate and former NFL player Joe DeLamielleure. "Defensive backs then were 5-10, 190. Here's our defensive back, and he's 6-5, 236. Back then, he was a giant to play that position. But I always thought he had an offensive (player's) personality. He was gentler, kinder."

But he was dangerous, too. He had 14 interceptions at MSU, two he returned for touchdowns. In 2001, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Perles remembers Van Pelt this way: "He was the biggest defensive back. He played as a safety, but he could play any position. He was a quarterback in high school. Duffy had him ranked No. 1, and he certainly lived up to it.

"Brad was as good off the field as he was on it. There was just something about him. His personality was something that really attracted Duffy. Brad could do no wrong."

His teammates felt that way, too, it seems.

"I think more than anything Brad enjoyed the camaraderie of the players," DeLamielleure said. "He loved hanging around, joking around. He poked fun at himself. But Brad always had all the girls. He was good-looking, he drove a convertible. He was a typical college hero."

After college, Van Pelt spent most of his 14-year NFL career with the Giants, where he earned fame as one of the feared linebackers in the Crunch Bunch. During 11 seasons in New York (1973-83) he played in five Pro Bowls (1976-80). The Giants named him their player of the decade for the 1970s. He also played for the Raiders and Browns.

In recent years, Van Pelt kept busy with various fund-raising projects. He loved to golf, said Shinsky, and the two played together frequently. Van Pelt excelled on the fairways, too.

"All I know is this: My handicap is a lot bigger than his," Shinsky said. "He was a much better golfer than me. Brad was just a tremendous natural athlete."

Van Pelt didn't have any known health problems and was in fairly good shape, Shinsky said.

"It's shocking," DeLamielleure said. "He looked like Tarzan."

Van Pelt was twice divorced and was engaged at the time of his death. He had four sons, one who preceded him in death. Another, Bradlee, played quarterback at MSU before transferring to Colorado State and has played in the NFL with Denver and Houston.

Funeral arrangements are pending.