Joe Namath – NFL Past Players

Broadway Joe

In the 1960s, Joe Namath was more than just a football player—he was considered by many to be a cultural phenomenon. Known affectionately as “Broadway Joe,” Namath brought a charismatic swagger to professional football that transcended the sport and made him a true American celebrity.

Drafted by the New York Jets in 1965 out of Alabama, Namath started 13 games for the Jets his rookie season and soon began to be known for his bold almost flamboyant personality. Though that didn’t immediately transcend into success on the field he began to establish himself as a solid leader. By 1966, his second year, he was leading the AFL in passing attempts, completions and yards. In 1967 he became the first pro quarterback to pass for over 4,000 yards with 4,007 yards through the air.

Namath’s defining moment came in the wake of Super Bowl III, when he made one of the most famous guarantees in sports history. In the days leading up to the game he boldly predicted that the Jets would defeat the heavily favored NFL’s Baltimore Colts – he guaranteed it. The AFL had yet to win a Super Bowl and the powerhouse Colts had lost just 1 game all season so almost everyone considered his guarantee audacious and nearly impossible. Yet, Namath backed up his words, led the Jets to a stunning 16-7 victory and was named the MVP of Super Bowl III. The victory was a pivotal moment that helped legitimize the AFL and paved the way for the eventual merger between the two leagues.

Throughout his 13-year career, primarily with the Jets, Namath was selected as an AFL All Star (equivalent to the NFL’s Pro Bowl selection) 4 times. In 1968 he was named AFL MVP while making the AFL All League team. In 1972 he made the NFL’s Pro Bowl after leading the NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns. He spent his last season, 1977, with the Los Angeles Rams.

He was inducted into the Professional Football Players Hall of Fame in 1985.

Image Gallery of Joe Namath, Quarterback 1965-1977

Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Bell breaks through to bring down Jets quarterback Joe Namath during a classic AFL-era matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets. Bell was one of the fastest and most versatile defensive players of his era, helping lead Kansas City to championships with his aggressive pass rush and sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability.

From a 1969 Sports publication. Not sure why they chose this image - Joe Namath getting sacked by Mike Stratton - but it was the highlight image for the section previewing the Super Bowl III Champ Jets upcoming 1969 season. #52 is Jets center John Schmitt from Hofstra.

Super Bowl III action as Big Bubba Smith breaks through to put some heat on Jet's quarterback Joe Namath. The Colts defense did manage a couple of sacks on Namath. Smith had 1 of them. That's Matt Snell in the background.

3 of the top quarterbacks in Pro Football going into the 1968 NFL season - Joe Namath, Len Dawson and Johnny Unitas. Namath had just been the first QB to pass for over 4,000 yards in 1967.

Two of the stars of the Jets of the Late 60s - Hall of Famers Joe Namath and Don Maynard.

Joe Namath shows off his athleticism against the Dolphins in some AFL gameplay. Dolphin #80 is long-time vet Ed Cooke. Cooke, an AFL All-Star in 1966, spent the final 2 seasons of a 10-year Pro Career in Miami.

The Jets Joe Namath gets his knee brace attended to during the latter part of his time with New York. Namath began his NFL career with a Knee operation in January of 1965 before he ever played down for the Jets. He had a total of 4 knee surgeries, 2 on each knee in his 13-year career.

A Younger and more athletic Joe Namath does the jump-pass thing against [who appears to be] the Houston Oilers defense in the late 1960s.

An Atlanta defender gives Joe Namath a little "brush". By the mid-1970s injuries were beginning to take their toll on the Jets former All Star quarterback. I think this picture may be from the 1972 Pre-season. let me know if I'm correct.

Rookie Jets quarterback Joe Namath on the sideline with Head Coach Weeb Ewbank. Ewbank predicted great things for Namath and in 1968 Namath would lead the Jets to a historical upset of the NFL Champ Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

Jets quarterback Joe Namath is slow to get up following a play.

Joe Namath suffered a shoulder injury in week 2 of the 1973 season that sidelined him for 7 games.

Jets Tight End Rich Caster and Quarterback Joe Namath share the bench on the Jets sidelines during an early 1970s game.

New York Jets offense in the early 1970s - quarterback Joe Namath turns to give to runner Emmerson Boozer.

Jets quarterback Joe Namath handing off to fullback Emerson Boozer, probably from Super Bowl III. In the background you can see Jet's lineman Randy Rasmussen who played 15 seasons in the New York.

Hall of Fame Class of 1985.

Joe Namath gets the pass away but not before he gets a little whack from Colts linebacker Mike Curtis in Super Bowl III. #81 to the right is longtime Colts veteran lineman Ordell Braase who played 12 seasons with the Colts.

From an AFL/NFL exhibition game in 1968 - Lions defenders Alex Karras (#71) & Joe Robb (#84) close in on Jets quarterback Joe Namath. The Jets would come out on top in the end 9-6.

Redskin lineman Verlon Biggs gets a handful of Joe Namath's facemask in this Redskins-Jets clash in 1972. Biggs, a former Jet during their Super Bowl Run scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery in the 35-17 Washington win.

Jets running back Matt Snell looks like he's ready to throw down as exhibits some determined pass blocking for QB Joe Namath.

Bubba Smith gets to Joe Namath and hits his passing arm before he can follow through. Also applying pressure in Namath's face is Billy Ray Smith as well.

Patriots lineman Juluis Adams (#85) puts the heat on Jets QB Joe Namath. Adams played his entire 16-year NFL career in New England. Made the Pro Bowl as a back-up in 1980. Credited with 80½ sacks "unofficially". That would put him at #2 on the Patriots All Time Sack Leader List.

Much was expected from Jets 1st-round pick Joe Namath when he arrived to New York in 1965.

While it was Namath that was awarded the MVP for Super Bowl III, Jet running back Matt Snell had a pretty productive day himself. 121 yards on 30 carries and a touchdown. He also caught 4 passes too.

Another picture from the Jets-Colts clash in Super Bowl III. Bubba Smith again in Joe Namath's face.

Super Bowl III - Jets QB Joe Namath gets a pass off under some heavy pressure from the Colts Bubba Smith.

Two icons of New York Jets History - Matt Snell (#41) and Joe Namath (#12)

Jets Head Coach Weeb Ewbank on the sidelines with his quarterback Joe Namath. Ewbank was a head coach for 20 years in the NFL. And despite winning just barely more than half his games (he had 130 victories to 129 losses) he coached 3 league championship teams - 2 in Baltimore and 1 in New York.

New York Jets Offensive Backfield of the late 1960s & early 1970s - Quarterback Joe Namath (#12) with running backs Emerson Boozer (#32) & Matt Snell (#41).

As the showdown between the NFL and AFL was approaching the brash and outspoken quarterback of the Jets was featured on the cove of the December 9, 1968 issue of Sports Illustrated.

Named to the AFL All-Star team as a rookie in 1965. Started 9 games for the Jets passing for 2220 yards and 18 touchdowns.

From the Heidi Game of 1968 - Winston Hill barely manages to keep Oakland Raiders defensive end Ben Davidson off of Jets quarterback Joe Namath.

The face of the New York Jets and the American Football league in the late 1960s. He is famously known for his bold prediction of an upset of the NFL powerhouse Baltimore Coltsc in Super Bowl III.

Here he puts pressure on Jets Great Joe Namath. He was awarded the game ball for his performance against Namath and the Jets in the 1969 upset of the eventual World Champions. He had 2 sacks that game.

Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Namath under heavy pressure from the Bills Ron McDole.

As a Jet, played 12 seasons passing for 27,057 yards and 170 touchdowns.

Named to the All-Time AFL team he was the first quarterback to pass for over 4,000 yards in a season. In 1967 he passed for 4007.

Super Bowl III - Joe Namath hands off to Matt Snell

5-Time Pro Bowler Joe Namath played for the Jets from 1965 to 1976.

By 1967 Joe Namath of the New York Jets was the hot topic of Professional Football. Here Broadway Joe graces the cover of the 1967 Jets - Patriots game cover.

Lions Linebacker Mike Lucci closes in on Joe Namath and John Riggins of the Jets

Longtime QB Joe Namath spent his last season in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams

The Hall of Fame Quarterback was twice named AFL Player of the Year (1968 & 1969) as well as Super Bowl III MVP. Passed for 27663 yards and 173 touchdowns in his 11 seasons with the Jets.

Super Bowl III action as Jets quarterback Joe Namth sets up to pass against the Baltimore Colts defense. #41 is Matt Snell

The Hall of Fame Quarterback was twice named AFL Player of the Year (1968 & 1969) as well as Super Bowl III MVP. Passed for 27663 yards and 173 touchdowns in his 11 seasons with the Jets.

His last season in football as a Ram in 1977

His 13th and final season.

The Hall of Fame Quarterback was twice named AFL Player of the Year (1968 & 1969) as well as Super Bowl III MVP. Passed for 27663 yards and 173 touchdowns in his 11 seasons with the Jets.

Joe Namath drops back against the Raiders

Joe Namath Football Cards

The Jets Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Namath featured on this 2019 Panini Card. the back reads: Already a Star when he was drafted by the Jets in the First round of the 1965 draft, Namth continued uopn making it to New York with a winning smile, plenty of charisma and the talent to match it all, the Quarterback developed into one of the biggest celebrities in the U.S.

Joe Namath All-Time Career Statistics

Regular Season Passing Totals
Year	Age	Team	#	Games	QBrec	Att	Comp	Cmp%	Yards	Long	Y/A	TD	Int	Rate	Sacked	Yds Lost	4QC	GWD
1965*	22	NYJ	12	13	3-5-1	340	164	48.2	2220	62	6.5	18	15	68.7	13	130
1966	23	NYJ	12	14	5-6-2	471♦	232♦	49.3	3379♦	77	7.2	19	27♦	62.6	7	66	4♦	2♦
1967*	24	NYJ	12	14	8-5-1	491♦	258♦	52.5	4007♦♠	75	8.2♦	26	28♦	73.8	26	261	1	2
1968*+	25	NYJ♚	12	14	11-3-0	380	187	49.2	3147	87	8.3	15	17	72.1	15	112	3♦	3♦
1969*	26	NYJ	12	14	10-4-0	361	185	51.2	2734	60	7.6	19	17	74.3	13	117	2	3♦
1970	27	NYJ	12	5	1-4-0	179	90	50.3	1259	72	7.0	5	12	54.7	6	63
1971	28	NYJ	12	4	2-1-0	59	28	47.5	537	74	9.1	5	6	68.2	0	0
1972*	29	NYJ	12	13	7-6-0	324	162	50.0	2816♦	83	8.7♦	19♦	21	72.5	11	101	2	2
1973	30	NYJ	12	6	2-3-0	133	68	51.1	966	63	7.3	5	6	68.7	10	97
1974	31	NYJ	12	14	7-7-0	361	191	52.9	2616	89♦	7.2	20	22♦	69.4	19	195	3♦	3♦
1975	32	NYJ	12	14	3-10-0	326	157	48.2	2286	91	7.0	15	28♦	51.0	27	253
1976	33	NYJ	12	11	1-7-0	230	114	49.6	1090	35	4.7	4	16	39.9	16	150
1977	34	RAM	12	4	2-2-0	107	50	46.7	606	42	5.7	3	5	54.5	7	76
12 seasons Jets				136	60-61-4	3655	1836	50.2	27057	91	7.4	170	215	65.8	163	1545	15	15
1 season Rams				4	2-2-0	107	50	46.7	606	42	5.7	3	5	54.5	7	76
13-Year AFL/NFL Career				140	62-63-4	3762	1886	50.1	27663	91	7.4	173	220	65.5	170	1621	15	15