Brad Van Pelt

Last week former Giants player Brad Van Pelt passed away due to a heart attack. He was 57. He was drafted by the Giants in 1973 as a standout linebacker. He and Lawrence Taylor, Brian Kelly, and Harry Carsons made up the "Crunch Bunch." Van Pelt was elected to the Pro Bowl 5 times.

A few interesting facts, Van Pelt wore the number 10 despite the rule that linebackers had to choose from a number in the 50s or 90s, due to the new numbering system the NFL instituted. He chose the number 10 because that was his number for all sports in high school and college. The reasoning behind giving him the number 10 was he would be an alternate kicker who would play as a linebacker sometimes. The Giants stuck with the latter. The number 10 is what got him noticed as it was a weird sight to see it on a defensive line. After college he was fortunate enough to either play in the NFL or in MLB. He had the choice to be drafter by the St Louis Cardinals( baseball) or the New York Giants (football).

Van Pelt had the distinct pleasure of having played in four differnt home stadiums as a Gaint, Yankee Stadium, the Yale Bowl, Shea Stadium, and Giants Stadium. He left the Giants in 1983 a full 3 years before their first Super Bowl victory season. In 2005 he was nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Below is a picture of the Crunch Bunch, an essential poster for any Giants fan growing up in the 70s and early 80s. Rest in Peace Brad you will be missed. Photos are taken from Giants.com, I hope they don't mind.