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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Joseph Salvador

Longtime NFL Scout Who Urged Jets to Draft Tom Brady Dies at 79

Longtime NFL scout Jesse Kaye, who worked for for the Jets and Packers, died at 79 years old on Saturday. He had been in failing health since he suffered a stroke in 2016, according to Packers historian Cliff Christl. 

Kaye’s career spanned 30 years, but he’s perhaps best remembered for his assessment of one undervalued quarterback in the 2000 NFL draft: Tom Brady. Kaye is one of the few scouts to have seen the potential in the Michigan signal-caller and urged the Jets to take him him despite already having selected Chad Pennington with the No. 18 pick that same draft.

At the time, Brady’s stock was also hurt because he shared playing time under center with heralded prospect Drew Henson. 

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