NFL Hall of Fame - Joe Namath

New York Jets Quarterback

If ever there was a player who could be considered a true superstar in the history of the New York Jets, it has to be Joe Namath. For sure there has been no other player more identified with the team, no other football player has ever been linked with New York and the Jets like "Willy Joe".

In his 13-year tenure from 1965 through 1977 there no one can debate the fact that this quarterback was one of the game's most exciting, proficient and publicized sports figure. Who can forget his winning performance in the New York Jets' stunning 16-7 upset of the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

The Guarantee

The Confidence of a New York Jets Quarterback

If I had to choose one word to describe what Joe Namath brought to the game, that word would be confidence. His guarantee backs that up as no one said it better

"I guarantee we will beat the Colts."

This was not a cocky or brass statement. The Jets were a 17-point underdog but again, when Joe said we could win, his teammates believed they could win. And win they did. Read on and you will understand why Joe Namath will forever be remembered as one of the greatest in the world of sports.

Full Name: Joe William Namath

Birthdate: May 31, 1943

Birthplace: Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania

High School: Beaver Falls (PA)

Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 19, 1985

Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: August 3, 1985

Presenter: Larry Bruno, Namath's coach at Beaver Falls High School

Other Members of Class of 1985: Frank Gatski, Pete Rozelle, O.J. Simpson, Roger Staubach

Pro Career: 13 Seasons, 140 games

Drafted: 1st round in 1965 AFL Draft by New York Jets. Also selected in 1st round (12th player overall) in 1965 NFL Draft by St. Louis Cardinals.

Transactions: May 12, 1977 – Namath signed as free agent with Los Angeles Rams.

Uniform Number: 12

An Impact Player in the NFL

Joe Namath had a huge impact int the sports world, he changed many aspects of the game of football. His career stats were quite mediocre, he had gimpy knees and many many surgeries, and so when you match his stats up to the great NFL Hall of fame quarterbacks many may ask why did he get in. And all anyone can say is that Joe was an Icon, a playboy, he was the first true celebrity to come from any gridiron players, just as Mohammad Ali was the first true celebrity from the boxing world. And he always played like a Jet.

It was a special time in the history of Football. He unified a sport, he unified a city, Joe Willy and the Jets owned New York and the NFL.

New York Jets Best Season:

Joe Namath's best season came in 1967 when he completed 258 passes for 4,007 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Motivational Sports Quote From Joe:

"To be a leader, you have to make people want to follow you, and nobody wants to follow someone who doesn't know where he is going."

College Highlights:

• Won Two Associated Press National Championships (1964,65)

NFL Career Totals:

• Passing - 1,886 Completions on 3,762 Attempts for 27,663 Yards and 173 Touchdowns
• Rushing - 71 Carries for 140 Yards and 7 Touchdowns

AFL Highlights:

• Named American Football League Rookie of the Year (1965)
• First professional quarterback to pass for more than 4,000 yards in a season (1967)
• Named the AFL's Most Valuable Player (1968)
• Elected to Four AFL All-Star Games
• Selected to One AFC-NFC Pro Bowl
• Named MVP of Super Bowl III
• Led the NFL in Passing Three Times
• Received the Hickock Belt for Professional Athlete of the Year
• Received the George Halas Award for Most Courageous Athlete
• Named Dodge Man of the Year
• Served as an analyst for NBC Sports and ABC's Monday Night Football.
• Named to AFL All-Time Team
• Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1985)

Hottest NFL Quarterback Ever

Before Joe got to the pros and became a New York Jet this quarterback already had a reputation. At Alabama he had been suspended as a junior when coach Bear Bryant kicked him off the team for drinking and messing around before the last two games of the season.

A very good looking guy, in today's world we would label him a definite hunk, worthy heading the list of the Sexiest Butts in the NFL. There was that certain star quality about him that is recognized by others. When Jets owner and former Hollywood executive Sonny Werblin signed the 22 year-old University of Albama star he said: “When Joe Namath walks into a room, you know he’s there."

NFL Football Timeline

1962-1964- Namath played for the Alabama Crimson Tide where he was coached Paul "Bear" Bryant. In 1964, Namath led 'Bama to the 1964 NCAA national football title.

• Nov.1964 The St. Louis Cardinals. After Joe Namath finished his collegiate career, he was an extremely touted young quarterback. The St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL drafted Namath in the first round, but Namath opted to sign with the AFL's New York Jets. In 1965, Namath was named the AFL Rookie of the Year.
• Dec.1964 - Alabama quarterback Joe Namath receives an offer for a 389.000 the New York Jets of the American Football League. Announcement is made after the Orange Bowl game Friday night between Texas and Alabama.

Jan.1965, Alabama quarterback Joe Namath signed a three-year, $400,000 contract with the New York Jets of the American Football League, most of which came in the form of a guaranteed bonus.

Dec 1968– New York Jet quarterback Joe Namath is kidded by teammates Don Maynard and Jim Turner after he shaved off his Fu Manch mustache. Namath and some of the other Jets wore extravagant beards, mustaches and sideburns this season refusing to shave until they won the Afl eastern championship title.

• 1968 -“Mantle Men & Namath Girls” opens. It was a short-lived temp agency that Mickey Mantle and Joe Namath opened together. Don Shula called Joe Namath “One of the five smartest football players I've ever seen.”.

Jan. 12, 1969 -Super Bowl III - The underdog NY football team wins at the big dance. The score was JETS 16, Colts 7. And as history has proven, Joe Namath backed up his "guarantee" of a victory over the Colts. He completed 17 of 28 pass attempts for 206 yards. His receiving targets were George Sauer with 8 catches for 133 yards, Matt Snell went 4-40, Bill Mathis had 3-20, and Pete Lammons had 2-13.

Post Super Bowl Era

1969 - After the New York Jets' Super Bowl III victory, Joe Namath decided to open a Manhattan bar called "Bachelors III". It was a popular spot on the Upper East Side, but perhaps too popular. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle became concerned over the bar's alleged ties to big-time gamblers and other "unsavory" individuals. Rozelle ordered Namath to sell his interest in the bar, but Namath refused at first. In fact, Joe Willie threatened to retire rather than divest himself of ownership. In the end, a compromise agreement was worked out, and Namath sold his shares in Bachelors III.

1977- Los Angeles Rams. Joe Namath signed with the Los Angeles Rams in May 1977. He played in only four games in his final season, throwing three touchdown passes and five interceptions. For his career, Namath tossed 173 touchdown passes and gained over 27,000 passing yards.

1985 - Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Introduced by Beaver Falls High School Coach, Larry Bruno.

Former teammate John Dockery about Joe Namath on ESPN Classic's SportsCentury series.

"He was a guy that came along and broke a lot of the conventions. He was like a rebel with a cause. It was like traveling with a rock star. He just was a magnet. He's attracting people. And mostly young people. And talk about excitement and energy. Wow!"