11/30/25

Jay C. Brandriet

This last week, we lost one of life’s shiniest stars.

Cody Briggs passed away.

He was 45.

It was like a fog of shock.

My concern turned to my sweet friend Kaysi and their two sons.

THE FIRST WORDS I ASSOSCIATE WITH CODY

I’ll never forget the first time I met him.

It was 28 years ago, and I was working at Sportsman’s Warehouse.

Cody was standing near customer service as I approached him.

I said, “any brother of Nicole’s is a brother of mine.”

I asked him if he played basketball.

He responded, “EVERYDAY YO.”

CODY THE ATHLETE

I looked at his short arm and was skeptical.

A few days later, I was a believer.

Cody was a baller!

He didn’t just play well, he played pretty.

Despite the battles his life’s journey came with, Cody was the anti-victim.

Dude excelled at things.

Softball, Football, and golf?

Ask his family what else he could do.

The harder it was, the more Briggs was locked in.

Boxing?

Yes.

One of our brilliant party ideas was to have boxing matches in the backyard.

Ropes, bell, clock, lights, cameras, and microphone (never heard anyone call a Briggs “boring”).

I was the referee and one of the three judges.

Ryan Morton versus Cody was one of the fights.

Before the first round began, Ryan was concerned about giving his all.

It was a fair hesitation.

When punching someone, the stakes go up, and margin for error gets thinner.

I pulled Ryan close and whisper yelled into his ear, “IF YOU WIN OR KNOCK CODY DOWN, HE’LL BE A LITTLE BUMMED OUT. IF HE FEELS YOU ARE GOING EVEN FIVE PERCENT EASY ON HIM, HE WILL FEEL DEGRADED.”

Ryan said, “you’re right.”

Morton won the match, and Briggs put on a competitive show.

The mere fact Cody was excited to be one of eight people getting hit in the face in front of 100 friends, says it all.

HIS PERSONALITY

Cody was tender hearted and charming.

Making others comfortable was a strength.

Whatever “accepting” is, he was one level higher than that.

He was hilarious in a way I can’t pin down with words.

It’s freaking Cody!

I can feel the ache of not being able to laugh with him.

I was always ready for a bizarre noise, some weird line only he could come up with, or for him to pinch me in uncool places.

Briggs knew how to smell the roses in life.

He had a free spirit, and he was handing out tickets to go along with him.

He had a crazy energy.

Cody also had a calm wisdom about himself.

Chris Farley mixed with Mr. Miyagi type thing.

THE EPIC BRIGGS WEDDING

Cody would always talk to me about Kaysi.

She became his dream girl.

That dream became a reality.

Kaysi and Cody were getting married.

Hours before the reception my date asked, “why are we going so early?”

I told her, “The Briggs and Smith’s families coming together is like Sportsman’s Warehouse royalty. It’s the biggest social event over the 13 years I’d worked there. So, let’s go!”

It did not disappoint.

Kaysi and Cody had a huge line of people coming to wish them well.

The guests were getting in small lines to visit other guests.

It was a social rush!

It’s ironic that I feel a little Cody in the modern, mature version of Adam Sandler.

Kaysi has always reminded me of the character Drew Barrymore played in “the Wedding Singer.”

Some things just go together.

They were “THE it” couple.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

December 22nd, 2003.

Cody and I were watching the Packers and Raiders play on Monday Night Football.

We recorded it and headed out to Christmas shop.

Christmas shopping?

That’s when you know you’re boys!

We went to the mall, Walmart and then Sears.

Cody was excited to get Kaysi this new item called a “body pillow.”

We came back to watch ball.

Brett Favre’s dad had died the night before, and he played a perfect game.

Cody noted, “his dad dying was SO heavy, the pressure of playing an NFL game was nonexistent.”

THE FIRST FACE

Cody always wanted me to get him something from his favorite player, Allen Iverson.

While that didn’t work out, Kevin Garnett hooked me up with an elbow pad after an interview.

The timing was perfect.

I needed to introduce my future wife to a bunch of my friends at John Kollman’s party that night.

I knew I could use the KG thing as an excuse to have Cody come outside before we went in.

As Emi was getting ready to meet 50 new people, I wanted him to be the first face she saw.

I wanted her to experience that level of cool, that vibe, and his natural flirty warmth.

NAMES AND SAYINGS

There was a time he would write his name as “Czody.”

I feel like I called him this for a few years (sounds like Cazody).

My favorite saying of his?

Picture him raising his short arm and yelling “LOOK AT ME!”

I make variations of how you can say it and make it sound.

I still use it.

I’ll do it more often now.

NOBODY COULD MAKE ME FEEL GUILTIER

Cody was full of love and wanted to gather with family and friends.

Sounds pretty healthy.

He had a way of making sure I was holding up my end of things socially.

This email from him is an example: 9/12/2011

“Hello newlywed, I thought at your wedding I heard you say something about having a barbecue in two weeks or so. Kaysi and I didn’t get an invitation, so we wanted to say sorry if we offended you. Anyways, Bills look real and Dallas will be okay. Hope you are doing well and hopefully we’ll see you guys soon!”

“PeAcE out Americans!”

Here is one more: 11/19/2011

“Hi dear friend. I wanted to invite you to come over to our place to watch this new game, with an oval looking ball, that eleven players from each team try to get across the other team’s goal line. It’s called football! I know this is a S-T-R-E-T-C-H but I thought I’d ask because maybe you’ll surprise me and say “yes.” Give me a shout, and not only for this but JESUS MAN, let’s hang sometime.”

“S. Cody Briggs.”

Sometimes it was a subtle nudge.

Other times, a kick in the ass.

THE LATE NIGHTS

The number of parties, places, and the people involved seems endless.

Part of a brawl in a biker bar and all being thrown out?

Just once.

Even a good Briggs house party is dust by 2:25 a.m.

Cody and I often found ourselves up until 6, 7 in the morning (allegedly).

I appreciated what a deep, interesting thinker he was.

He seemed like an old soul who actually pulled more out of life than the math says he did.

OF COURSE I CAVED FOR HIM

I am super private and weird when it comes to watching Dallas Cowboys football.

I would NEVER watch a Cowboys game with someone who was a fan of the team Dallas was playing that day.

Never!

On December 23rd 2015, Czody asked, and I said no.

Four days later, he was sitting next to me on my couch.

His Buffalo Bills won 16-6.

He nailed the role of perfect guest like always.

I could recognize it as him purely wanting to spend time with me.

It’s Cody!

TACO SOUP AND BEING A DAD

Emi and I went to the Brigg’s house for a delicious meal one afternoon.

They came to our house about 10 months later and brought the boys.

It was fun seeing Cody be a dad.

He had ideas and was living them out in real time.

THE FRESH MARKET DAYS

In about 2010, Cody worked at Fresh Market grocery store for a minute.

With his retail experience and social skills, he was dominating this job without breaking a sweat.

It was half a mile from where I lived.

I enjoyed being able to stop by and say hey.

He also came over to my place after some 11pm shifts.

WATCHING GAMES TOGETHER

Sleeping over at my mom’s in June of 1999.

The noise he made when Larry Johnson got fouled on the three point, and one make.

Game 7 of the 2005 Finals. He was more interested in praising my buddy Dave for having his first child (Cassie) the day before and enjoying the unique chance to hang with Johnnie Cole.

Game 1 of the 2004 NBA Finals. My new T.V. shows up in an R.C. Willey truck with a good scratch. They offered me $50 back. After Czody talked to them, I was getting $100.

The 2008 Super Bowl. There’s 14 people in the room. He was one of two cheering for the undefeated Patriots. Watching him have to battle us all was awesome.

2004 NBA Finals

I’m waiting for Kaysi and Cody to get home, and they were a little late. I had the 1st quarter playing on the radio in my car, so I was just fine.

As they pulled up, Kaysi apologized.

Cody goes, “You hate us now huh? Your’e gonna remember the 2004 Finals for being ruined by Kaysi forever now”?

After I tell him to quit clowning around, I end up having to beg to get out of a titty twister.

MY BRIGGS HOUSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Putting aside the Halloween picture with me in it, making the mantle for a few years (I think Kaysi did it to shut me up)……

I house sat two different summer weekends and took care of Marti and P-nut.

Years later when word hit social media one of them had slipped out of the fence, it’s amazing how fast I jumped in my car to try and help. Precious little things. Everything worked out.

Cody and his family sure love their dogs!

THE THING THAT MAKES THIS GRIEF DIFFERENT

The thoughts started with disbelief and care for him.

The beautiful connection he has with his fiercely loyal sisters, Trisha, Ashley, Paige, and Nicole.

His awesome mother Susie.

The way we view Cody, is the way he viewed Jack and Gayle Player.

His sibling like cousins that I know are key.

It was easy to think of all of Kaysi’s family.

Cody’s closest friends.

I then think about dozens of people from Sportsman’s Warehouse.

As I sorted through memories, I was thrown off by HOW MANY people I kept thinking about.

It’s because a ton of people care.

He was a centerpiece for so many of us.

I pray for Kaysi and the kids.

I can’t fathom what they are going through.

The parents and family circle that have been raising the children, are extraordinary people.

Over time, the boys are going to be embraced by an entire community their dad created.

HE WAS A LEGENDARY FATHER

I’m so grateful I saw Cody this last April at Bill Hayes celebration of life.

He looked great.

He had a well-groomed ZZ Top style beard with his shades on.

His giving me guilt meter was pretty low, but he did of course put the next plan in place.

As we were all standing around, I was looking at his sons and soaking in how they had grown.

With a slightly raised voice I said to his oldest boy Zane, “To be the son of Cody Briggs would be legendary.”

In the most still, self-assured tone he said, “It is!”

I laughed with approval, as Cody tried to hide his prideful grin.

Love you Cody!

Everyday yo!

Jay C. Brandriet