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Joe Namath
Namath in 1999
Position(s): Quarterback	Jersey #(s): 12
Born: May 31, 1943 (1943-05-31) (age 65) Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Career Information
Year(s): 1965–1977
NFL Draft: 1965 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12
AFL Draft: 1965 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3
College: Alabama
Professional Teams
New York Jets (1965-1976) Los Angeles Rams (1977)
Career Stats
TD-INT	173-220
Yards	27,663
QB Rating	65.5
Stats at NFL.com
Career Highlights and Awards
Pro Bowl (x5) (1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972) All-Pro 1966-1969 and 1972 AFL All-Time Team 1x Super Bowl champion (III) 1969 AFL MVP 1968 AFL MVP 1969 UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year 1968 UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year 1974 NFL Comeback Player of the Year
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Joseph William Namath (born May 31, 1943, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania), also known as Broadway Joe, is a former American football quarterback. He played for the University of Alabama under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and his assistant, Howard Schnellenberger, from 1962–1964, and in the American Football League and National Football League during the 1960s and 1970s. Namath played for the New York Jets for most of his professional career, but finished his career with the Los Angeles Rams. He was later elected to the Hall of Fame. Image File history File linksMetadata Joe_Namath. ... A diagram showing typical football positions In American football, each team has 11 players on the field at one time. ... Navy quarterback Aaron Polanco sets up to throw. ... In team sports, the squad number, jersey number, sweater number, or uniform number is the number worn on a players outfit. ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Beaver Falls is a city located in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. ... In an organised sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. ... The 1965 NFL season was the 46th regular season of the National Football League. ... The 1977 NFL season was the 58th regular season of the National Football League. ... The NFL Draft (officially the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting[1]) is an annual sports draft in which National Football League (NFL) teams take turns, through seven rounds[2], selecting amateur college American football players and other first-time eligible players. ... The 1965 National Football League Draft took place on November 28, 1964. ... The American Football League (AFL, 1960 - 1969) stocked its teams in two ways: 1) Signing free agents (players whose contracts in other professional football leagues had expired, or who had no professional experience). ... This is a list of athletic conferences of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). ... Athletic teams at The University of Alabama are known as the Crimson Tide. ... City East Rutherford, New Jersey Other nicknames Gang Green, the Green and White, Jersey Jets Team colors Hunter green and white Head Coach Eric Mangini Owner Woody Johnson General manager Mike Tannenbaum League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Eastern Division (1960-1969) National Football League (1970–present) American... The St. ... Texas Longhorn quarterback Vince Young (center top of picture), now with the Tennessee Titans, rushing for a touchdown vs. ... An interception or intercept is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, and involves a pass (either by foot or hand) being cut off by an opposition player who usually gains... Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. ... In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League (NFL). ... The 1973 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on January 21, 1973 at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. ... The American Football League (AFL) All- Time Team was selected in 1970 by a panel of hall of fame selectors comprised of professional football writers from American Football League cities. ... The winning Super Bowl team receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy. ... Date January 12, 1969 Stadium Miami Orange Bowl City Miami, Florida MVP Joe Namath, Quarterback Favorite Colts by 18 National anthem Anita Bryant Coin toss Tom Bell Referee Tom Bell Halftime show America Thanks with Florida A&M University Attendance 75,389 TV in the United States Network NBC Announcers... During its ten-year existence (1960 - 1969), the American Football Leagues best player for each year was called the Most Valuable Player by some sports-news sources and the Player of the Year by others. ... During its ten-year existence (1960 - 1969), the American Football Leagues best player for each year was called the Most Valuable Player by some sports-news sources and the Player of the Year by others. ... From 1970 - 1996 The United Press International AFC Player of the Year Awards to AFL-AFC American football players. ... From 1970 - 1996 The United Press International AFC Player of the Year Awards to AFL-AFC American football players. ... The NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award has been given out after every season since 1972, except for 1985 when no winner was selected. ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Beaver Falls is a city located in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... Navy quarterback Aaron Polanco sets up to throw. ... Painting by Daniel A. Moore on a stamp honoring Bryant. ... Howard Schnellenberger (born March 16, 1934) is an American football coach at both the professional and college level. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... Note: There were three earlier and unrelated major American professional football leagues of the same name: One in 1926, one in 1936-1937 and one in 1940-1941. ... NFL redirects here. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... City East Rutherford, New Jersey Other nicknames Gang Green, the Green and White, Jersey Jets Team colors Hunter green and white Head Coach Eric Mangini Owner Woody Johnson General manager Mike Tannenbaum League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Eastern Division (1960-1969) National Football League (1970–present) American... League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1936) National Football League (1937–present) Western Division (1937-1949) National Conference (1950-1952) Western Conference (1953-1969) Coastal Division (1967-1969) National Football Conference (1970-present) NFC West (1970-present) Current uniform Team colors Millennium Blue and New Century Gold Personnel Owner Chip... The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of the National Football League (NFL). ...

Namath retired after playing in 77 wins, 108 losses and 3 ties. In his career he threw 173 touchdowns and 220 interceptions. During his thirteen years in the AFL and NFL he played for three division champions (the 1968 and 1969 AFL East Champion Jets and the 1977 NFC West Champion Rams), earned one league championship (1968 AFL Championship), and one world championship (Super Bowl III). Note: There were three earlier and unrelated major American professional football leagues of the same name: One in 1926, one in 1936-1937 and one in 1940-1941. ... NFL redirects here. ... From 1960 to 1968, the American Football League determined its champion via a single playoff game between the winners of its two divisions (although ties in the standings during the 1963 and 1968 seasons necessitated a divisional playoff game). ... Date January 12, 1969 Stadium Miami Orange Bowl City Miami, Florida MVP Joe Namath, Quarterback Favorite Colts by 18 National anthem Anita Bryant Coin toss Tom Bell Referee Tom Bell Halftime show America Thanks with Florida A&M University Attendance 75,389 TV in the United States Network NBC Announcers...

In 1999, he was ranked number 96 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. He was the only player on the list to have spent a majority of his career with the Jets. The Sporting News (TSN) is an American-based sports newspaper. ...

He is known for brashly telling the media that he guaranteed that his team would upset Don Shula's NFL Baltimore Colts in the third NFL-AFL Championship Game in 1969, and then delivering on his promise. Donald Francis Shula (born January 4, 1930 in Grand River, Ohio) is a former professional football coach for the National Football League. ... League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1953–present) Western Conference (1953-1969) Coastal Division (1967-1969) American Football Conference (1970-present) AFC East (1970-2001) AFC South (2002-present) Current uniform Team colors Royal Blue, White Mascot Blue Personnel Owner Jim Irsay General Manager Bill Polian Head Coach Tony Dungy... Date January 12, 1969 Stadium Miami Orange Bowl City Miami, Florida MVP Joe Namath, Quarterback Favorite Colts by 18 National anthem Anita Bryant Coin toss Tom Bell Referee Tom Bell Halftime show America Thanks with Florida A&M University Attendance 75,389 TV in the United States Network NBC Announcers...

Early life and family

Namath's Hungarian born grandfather, known as A.J. to his family and friends, came to Ellis Island and worked in the coal and steel industries of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. Joe referred to his own ethnicity as "Bohunk." While growing up, Joe was close to both of his parents, who were divorced. Following his parents' split, Joe lived with his mother, Rose. For the island in Australia, see Ellis Island, Queensland. ... Coal Example chemical structure of coal Coal is a fossil fuel formed in ecosystems where plant remains were saved by water and mud from oxidization and biodegradation. ... For other uses, see Steel (disambiguation). ... The Pittsburgh Metro Area is the U.S. Census defined seven county region surrounding the city of Pittsburgh in southwestern Pennsylvania, United States of America. ...

He was born and raised in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, twenty miles away from Pittsburgh, one of the many steel towns in Beaver County. He was a standout in basketball and baseball. In an age where dunks were still uncommon in high school, Namath regularly dunked in games. Upon graduation, he received offers from six Major League Baseball teams, including the Yankees, Mets, Indians, Reds, Pirates and Phillies, but football prevailed. Namath has told interviewers that he wanted to sign with the Pirates and play baseball like his idol, Roberto Clemente, but elected to play football because his mother wanted him to get a college education. Beaver Falls is a city located in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. ... Pittsburgh redirects here. ... Beaver County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ... This article is about the sport. ... This article is about the sport. ... Major Leagues redirects here. ... Roberto Clemente Walker (August 18, 1934 – December 31, 1972) was a professional baseball player and a former Major League Baseball right fielder. ...

Namath had many offers from Division I college football programs, including Penn State, Ohio State, Alabama, and Notre Dame, but initially decided upon the University of Maryland. He was rejected by Maryland because his college-board scores were just below the school's requirements; he scored in the low 730s, while Maryland required 750. After ample recruiting by the University of Alabama's head football coach, Bear Bryant, Namath accepted a full scholarship there. Bryant stated his decision to recruit Namath was "the best coaching decision I ever made."^{[citation needed]} This article covers college football played in the United States. ... The University of Maryland, College Park (also known as UM, UMD, or UMCP) is a public university located in the city of College Park, in Prince Georges County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., in the United States. ... For other uses, see SAT (disambiguation). ... The University of Alabama (also known as Alabama, UA or colloquially as Bama) is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1831, UA is the flagship school of the University of Alabama System. ... Paul William Bear Bryant (September 11, 1913–January 26, 1983) was an American college football coach. ... This article is about scholarship (noun) and scholarship as a form of financial aid. ...

College football career

At Alabama, Namath played under the legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant from 1962–64. A year after being suspended for the final two games of the season, he led the Crimson Tide to a National Championship in 1964. Alabama went 29-4 with Namath at quarterback. Bryant would one day call Namath "the greatest athlete I ever coached."^{[citation needed]} While many speculated on what was anticipated to be a stormy relationship between a freedom-loving player and an iron-fisted coach, Namath returned Bryant's praise, often referring to him as "not only the smartest coach I ever knew, but the man who taught me the meaning of integrity."^{[citation needed]} When Namath was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985, he broke down during his induction speech upon mentioning Bryant, who died from a heart attack in 1983. In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of an athletic team or of individual athletes. ... Paul William Bear Bryant (September 11, 1913–January 26, 1983) was an American college football coach. ... Athletic teams at The University of Alabama are known as the Crimson Tide. ... The NCAA Division I-A national football championship is the only Division I NCAA-sponsored sport without an organized tournament to determine its champion; in fact, while various other organizations (as described below) designate a national champion at the Division I level, the NCAA itself does not award a championship... A sportsperson (British and American English) or athlete (principally American English) is any person who participates regularly in a sport. ...

Pro football career

Despite suffering a serious knee injury in his senior year at Alabama, Namath was drafted by both the National Football League and the upstart American Football League. The two competing leagues held their respective drafts on the same day -- November 28, 1964. is the 332nd day of the year (333rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ...

The NFL's St. Louis Cardinals selected Namath 12th overall in their draft, while the Jets selected him with the AFL's first overall pick. He elected to sign with the Jets, who were under the direction of Hall of Fame owner Sonny Werblin, for a salary of more than $400,000 (a pro football record at the time) and never put on a Cardinals uniform. City Glendale, Arizona Other nicknames The Cards, The Birds, Big Red, The Buzzsaw Team colors Cardinal Red, Black, and White Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt Owner Bill Bidwill General manager Rod Graves Mascot Big Red League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1920–present) Western Division (1933-1949) American Conference (1950-1952... David A. Sonny Werblin (March 17, 1907 - November 21, 1991) was an owner of the New York Jets. ...

Namath was the American Football League Rookie of the year in 1965 and became the first professional quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards in a season (1967), a feat which remained a record for the 14-game seasons that were played during that time. ^[1] He was a four-time American Football League All-Star, in 1965, 1967, 1968, and 1969, although he was plagued with knee injuries through much of his career and underwent four pioneering knee operations by Dr. James A. Nicholas. On some occasions, Namath had to have his knee drained at halftime so that he could finish a game. Later in life, long after he left football, he had to have knee replacement surgery on both legs. In each year of its ten-year existence (1960 - 1969), numerous sports-news services named their choice for the American Football Leagues best first-year player. ... The Pro Football Hall of Fame and the NFL include American Football League All-Star Games in their statistics for Pro Bowls. From 1961 through 1969, the AFL East All-Stars played the AFL West All-Stars, with the exception of 1965, when an AFL All-Star team played the... Knee replacement, or arthroplasty of the knee, is a commonly performed operation done to relieve the pain and disability from rheumatoid arthritis or more often osteoarthritis of the knee. ...

In the 1968 AFL title game, Namath threw three touchdown passes to lead New York to a 27-23 win over the defending American Football League Champion Oakland Raiders. His performance in the 1968 season earned him the Hickok Belt as top professional athlete of the year. He was an AFC-NFC Pro Bowler in 1972. Besides having the Hall of Fame distinction, he is a member of the Jets' all-time team and the American Football League All-Time Team. Texas Longhorn quarterback Vince Young (center top of picture), now with the Tennessee Titans, rushing for a touchdown vs. ... League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960–1969) Western Division (1960–1969) National Football League (1970–present) American Football Conference (1970–present) AFC West (1970–present) Current uniform Team colors Silver and Black Personnel Owner Al Davis General Manager Al Davis Head Coach Lane Kiffin Team history Oakland Raiders (1960... The S. Ray Hickok Belt was a trophy awarded to the top professional athlete of the year. ... In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League (NFL). ... The American Football League (AFL) All- Time Team was selected in 1970 by a panel of hall of fame selectors comprised of professional football writers from American Football League cities. ...

Super Bowl III

The apex of his career was his performance in the Jets' January 1969 win over the Baltimore Colts in the AFL-NFL World Championship Game, now referred to as the Super Bowl. This win would make him the only QB to ever start and win a national championship in college and start and win the Super Bowl. The Colts were touted as "the greatest football team in history". Former NFL star and coach Norm Van Brocklin ridiculed the AFL before the game, saying "This will be Namath's first professional football game." Writers from NFL cities insisted it would take the AFL several more years to be truly competitive with the NFL. Much of the hype surrounding the game was related to how it would either prove or disprove the proposition that the AFL teams were truly worthy of being allowed to merge with the NFL; the first two such games had resulted in blowout victories for the NFL champion in the two previous years, the Green Bay Packers, and the Colts were even more favored by media figures and handicappers than the Packers had been. The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. ... Date January 12, 1969 Stadium Miami Orange Bowl City Miami, Florida MVP Joe Namath, Quarterback Favorite Colts by 18 National anthem Anita Bryant Coin toss Tom Bell Referee Tom Bell Halftime show America Thanks with Florida A&M University Attendance 75,389 TV in the United States Network NBC Announcers... The winning Super Bowl team receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy. ... Norman Mack Norm Van Brocklin (March 15, 1926 – May 2, 1983), also known as The Dutchman, was an American football player and coach. ... The AFL-NFL Merger of 1970 involved the merger of the two major professional American football leagues in the United States during the time: the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL). ... Packers redirects here. ...

Three days before the game, Namath responded to a heckler with the now-famous line: "We'll win the game. I guarantee you." His words eventually made headlines across the country, but were dismissed as mere bravado by most observers.

In the game, however, Namath backed up his boast and showed that his success against tough American Football League competition had more than prepared him to take on the NFL. The Colts' vaunted defense was unable to contain the Jets' running or passing game, while their ineffective offense gave up four interceptions to the Jets. Namath was the game's MVP, completing eight passes to George Sauer alone, for 133 yards. Namath acquired legendary status for American Football League fans as the symbol of their league's legitimacy. In Canadian or American football, an interception occurs when a quarterbacks pass is caught by a player on the opposing team. ... The Super Bowl MVP, or Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, is an award given at the conclusion of the Super Bowl, the National Football Leagues championship game, to the player deemed to have made the most significant positive impact on the outcome of the game. ... George H. Sauer(December 11, 1910 to February 5, 1994) was the head football coach at the University of Kansas from 1946 to 1947. ...

Facial hair

Not long after this, Namath grew a Full mustache, which contrasted him even more with his clean-shaven peers. Namath shaved his mustache off in a television commercial for Remington electric razors for a fee of $10,000.^{[citation needed]} The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Remington Products, commonly known as simply Remington, is a worldwide personal care corporation which manufactures razors (shavers), epilators, and haircare products for both men and women. ...

Bachelors III

After the season, Namath opened a popular Upper East Side bar called "Bachelors III", which quickly became frequented by social undesirables, with plans to open branches in Florida and Boston. To protect the league's reputation, the NFL Commissioner, Pete Rozelle, ordered Namath to divest himself of his interest in the bar. Namath reacted defiantly, retiring from football during a teary news conference. Down at the NFL offices panic ensued. His presence on Sunday afternoons meant millions of dollars in television ad revenue. Working through intermediaries, a meeting between Namath and Rozelle was arranged. It lasted well into the night, and in the end the antagonists reached a compromise. Namath would sell his share of the New York Bachelors III only. He would retain his shares of the Boston and Miami locations, as well as any that might open in the future (Tuscaloosa, Alabama). After missing most of training camp, Namath came out of retirement and reported to the Jets. The Upper East Side at Sunset The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, USA, between Central Park and the East River. ... Singles bar redirects here. ... Alvin Ray Pete Rozelle (March 1, 1926–December 6, 1996) was the commissioner of the National Football League (NFL) from January 1960 to November 1989, when he retired from office. ...

Monday Night Football's inaugural game

The head of ABC's televised sports, Roone Arledge, made sure that Monday Night Football's inaugural game would feature Namath and the New York Jets in a game against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland Municipal Stadium. A record crowd of 85,703 and a huge television audience watched the Jets set a team record for penalties and lose on a late Namath interception. The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is an American television network. ... Roone Arledge (July 8, 1931 – December 5, 2002) was an American sports broadcasting pioneer who was chairman of ABC News from 1977 until his death, and a key part of the companys rise to competition with the two other main broadcasting stations, NBC and CBS, in the 60s, 70s... MNF redirects here. ... City East Rutherford, New Jersey Other nicknames Gang Green, the Green and White, Jersey Jets Team colors Hunter green and white Head Coach Eric Mangini Owner Woody Johnson General manager Mike Tannenbaum League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Eastern Division (1960-1969) National Football League (1970–present) American... Browns redirects here. ... Cleveland Stadium (also known as Municipal Stadium, Cleveland Municipal Stadium and The Mistake on the Lake) was a baseball and American football stadium located in Cleveland, Ohio. ...

Injuries

After not missing a single game because of injury in his first five years in the league, Namath played in just 28 of a 58 possible games because of various injuries between 1970 and 1973 as the Jets struggled with records of 4-10, 6-8, 7-7, and 4-10. His most memorable moment in those four seasons came on September 24, 1972 in Baltimore, when he and boyhood idol Johnny Unitas combined for 872 passing yards. Namath bombed the Colts for 496 yards and six touchdowns in a 44-34 victory, New York's first victory over Baltimore since Super Bowl III. In that same game, Unitas threw for 376 yards and three touchdowns. This game is considered by many NFL experts to be the finest display of passing in a single game in league history.^{[citation needed]} is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... John Constantine Johnny Unitas (May 7, 1933 – September 11, 2002), nicknamed The Golden Arm, was a professional American football player in the 1950s through the 1970s. ...

Improving the Jets' level of play

When he played, Namath always managed to improve the Jets' level of play. In a 1974 game against city rival New York Giants, Namath scored a game-tying touchdown on a five-yard bootleg, and then hit Emerson Boozer with a touchdown pass in overtime to lift the Jets to a 26-20 victory (the first regular season game in NFL history to be decided in overtime), launching New York on a six-game winning streak to end the 1974 season at 7-7. The Jets were poised to make another play-off run under Namath's leadership, and "Gang Green" seemed likely to win during the 1975 pre-season, but collapsed after the short NFL strike of September as 1975 and 1976 became a series blow-outs punctuated by punishing sacks of Joe Namath. The Jets were lucky to finish 3-11 both years. This article is about the current National Football League team. ... Emerson Boozer (born July 4, 1943) was a running back in the AFL and the NFL. Other American Football League players Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Friday Nights, Emerson Boozer, and Me Categories: | | | | | | ...

Los Angeles Rams

In the twilight of his career, Namath was waived by the Jets to facilitate his move to the Los Angeles Rams when a trade couldn't be worked out. He was signed by the Rams on May 12, 1977. Namath hoped to revitalize his flagging career, but by this point his effectiveness as a quarterback was greatly reduced by his knee injuries, a bad hamstring and the general ravages of a long period of time playing professional football, as well as his "hard and fast" lifestyle. After a 2-1 start, Namath took a beating on a cold, windy and rainy Monday night game in a one point loss at the Chicago Bears and was through for the regular season. League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1936) National Football League (1937–present) Western Division (1937-1949) National Conference (1950-1952) Western Conference (1953-1969) Coastal Division (1967-1969) National Football Conference (1970-present) NFC West (1970-present) Current uniform Team colors Millennium Blue and New Century Gold Personnel Owner Chip... is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... In human anatomy, a hamstring refers to one of the tendons that makes up the borders of the space behind the knee. ... City Chicago, Illinois Other nicknames Da Bears, The Monsters of the Midway Team colors Navy Blue and Orange Head Coach Lovie Smith Owner Virginia Halas McCaskey Chairman Michael McCaskey General manager Jerry Angelo Fight song Bear Down, Chicago Bears Mascot Staley Da Bear League/Conference affiliations Independent (1919) National Football...

He did not play again, but redemption and a Hollywood ending was there for the taking. After a disastrous three quarters of turnovers and only trailing by seven points in the opening round of the play-offs, head coach Chuck Knox seemed ready to pull Pat Haden and insert Namath. Rams assistant coach Kay Stephenson said Joe looked great warming-up in the third quarter and advised Knox to put him in. The television audience was on the edge of their seats as it appeared Namath would replace Pat Haden and save the Rams' season. But Knox hesitated. Haden's problems continued and the Rams lost to the Vikings by a score of 14-7 in a sea of mud at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Namath retired from the Rams after a single season. Charles Robert Chuck Knox (born April 27, 1932 in Sewickley, Pennsylvania[1]) is a former football coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. ... Pat Haden (born January 23, 1953 in Westbury, New York) played quarterback for the National Football League Los Angeles Rams from 1976 to 1981. ... Kay Stephenson (born December 17, 1944) is a former football player and coach whose latter career has seen him work in three different professional leagues. ... For board track racing circuit, see Los Angeles Coliseum Motordome. ...

Hall of Fame legacy

Joe Namath is in the Professional Football Hall of Fame. While his career statistics are not exceptional, Namath was the first great modern era quarterback and he was the games first true media superstar. Namath was the first NFL quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards during the 14 game 1967 season. This feat was not to be achieved again until Dan Fouts topped 4,000 yards during the 1979 season in a 16 game season. Namath threw for 4,000 yards under old rules that gave much less protection to both the quarterback and receivers. Namath's play on the field in the years before his knees seriously limited his mobility helped evolve the quarterback position and the NFL style of play from a run oriented ball control game to today's more open passing style. Perhaps the accolades of experts say it best. Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh stated that Namath was "the most beautiful, accurate, stylish passer with the quickest release I've ever seen." Hall of Fame coach Don Shula stated that Namath was "one of the 3 smartest quarterbacks of all time"

Movie and television career

Namath went on to a minor career as an actor in several movies and starred in a brief 1978 television series, The Waverly Wonders. He guest-starred on everything from The Brady Bunch to The Flip Wilson Show and Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In to The Dean Martin Show and The Simpsons to The A-Team and "The John Larroquette Show." He was guest host on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson several times, as well as hosting his own show, the 1969 cult classic The Joe Namath Show (co-hosted by Dick Schaap) with its eclectic guest pairings and open-bar attitude. Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... The Brady Bunch is an American television situation comedy, based around a large blended family. ... Flip Wilson in character as Geraldine Jones, on a recently released best of DVD set. ... Rowan & Martins Laugh-In was a United States comedy television show broadcast from January 22, 1968 through 1973 over the NBC network. ... The Dean Martin Show was a TV variety-comedy series that ran from 1965 to 1974, for 245 episodes. ... Bart Star is the sixth episode of the ninth season of the animated television series The Simpsons, which originally aired November 9, 1997. ... For the United States Army military unit, see The A-Team (military). ... The John Larroquette Show is a situation comedy that ran on the NBC network from 1993 - 1996. ... The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. ... Richard J. Schaap (September 27, 1934 – December 21, 2001) was a 20th century American sportswriter, broadcaster, and the author or co-author of 33 books. ...

He was also used as a color commentator on broadcasts of NFL games for a while, including the 1985 season of Monday Night Football, but never seemed to be particularly comfortable in this role and slightly over-critical of then current players. A color commentator (colour commentator in Canada), sometimes known as a color analyst, is a member of the broadcasting team for a sporting event who assists the play-by-play announcer by filling in any time when play is not in progress. ... MNF redirects here. ...

Controversial moments

By far, his most controversial moment was the long multimedia event reported above under Pro Football Career when his words made headlines across the country and were discussed wildly on talk and sports programs preceding the January 1969 game, now called Super Bowl III. Three days before the game, Namath responded to one particularly loud heckler with the now-famous line: "We're gonna win the game, I guarantee you." which sparked the media feeding frenzy. It is noted, however, in at least one Namath biography that Namath's guarantee, while being made before the game, did not get widespread press until after the Jets won Super Bowl III. The exceptions were Howard Cosell carrying the story on what was then a local New York City radio program "Speaking of Sports" at the end of which Cosell signs off, "Joe has never disappointed me before, so I'm going with the Jets in tomorrow's game" (however he picked the Colts by a wide margin on the network Super Bowl pre-game show). The other exception was a pre-game column by Edwin Pope in the Miami Herald. Feeding frenzy is an ecological term used to describe a situation where oversaturation of a supply of food leads to rapid feeding by predatory animals. ... The winning Super Bowl team receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy. ... The Miami Herald is a daily newspaper owned by Knight Ridder. ...

Some would argue that the term 'Super Bowl' came about as he aptly made the AFL's case on the field that day. Shortly afterwards, his fame assured, Namath created new controversy by starring in a succession of commercial advertisements as something of a playboy 'sex symbol', including an outrageous commercial for pantyhose (with Namath wearing them) that for the time were viewed by many as borderline tasteless. This spawned a new era of television advertising with athlete sex-symbols that continues today. Sheer pantyhose Pantyhose (also called tights) are sheer, close fitting coverings of the body from the waist to the feet, almost exclusively worn by women. ...

On December 20, 2003, Namath gained new notoriety, apparently after partaking of too much celebratory champagne during the Jets' announcement of their all-time team. During live ESPN coverage of the Jets' game, Namath was asked about Chad Pennington and his thoughts on the struggles of that year's squad. Namath expressed confidence in Pennington, and then stated to the interviewer, Suzy Kolber, "I want to kiss you. I couldn't care less about the team strugg-a-ling." He has since apologized. Later, he publicly admitted to an alcohol problem, and entered into an outpatient alcoholism treatment program on January 12, 2004, the 35th anniversary of Super Bowl III. is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about Champagne, the alcoholic beverage. ... ESPN, formerly an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American cable television network dedicated to broadcasting and producing sports-related programming 24 hours a day. ... James Chadwick Chad Pennington [1](born June 26, 1976 in Knoxville, Tennessee) is an American football quarterback, who is currently the backup quarterback for the NFLs New York Jets. ... Suzy Kolber (born May 14, 1964 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a football sideline reporter, co-producer, and anchor for ESPN and ABC Sports. ... Alcoholism is the consumption of, or preoccupation with, alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the drinkers normal personal, family, social, or work life, and may lead to physical or mental harm. ... is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Namath was also featured on the "Master list of Nixon political opponents" where was incorrectly listed as quarterback for the New York Giants. This was particularly odd, since Namath claims to have voted for Richard Nixon in both 1968 and 1972. Bob Hope joked that Namath had been placed on the enemy's list because he had not used any of the plays sent to him by Nixon, an armchair football strategist. A master list of Nixon political opponents was compiled to supplement the original Nixons Enemies List of 20 key people considered opponents of President Richard Nixon. ... This article is about the current National Football League team. ... Nixon redirects here. ... Bob Hope, KBE (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003), born Leslie Townes Hope, was an English-Born American entertainer who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, on radio and television, in movies, and in performing tours for U.S. Military personnel, well known for his good natured humor and career longevity. ...

Currently

Namath has a new book out published by Rugged Land Books, which is currently on the New York Times extended Bestseller List (#23) and was recently interviewed for the November 19, 2006 edition of 60 Minutes on CBS network. In 2006, Namath enrolled in the University of Alabama's External Degree program (he was 15 credits shy of graduating when he left Alabama in 1965). He recently earned his B.A. degree in interdisciplinary studies on December 15, 2007 from the University of Alabama at the age of 64. His youngest daughter just gave birth. He currently lives in the ritzy village Tequesta, Florida. There is now a documentary about Namath's hometown of Beaver Falls, PA that includes a segment on Namath and why the city has not celebrated its ties to him. Namath Clips from Documentary This article is about the CBS news magazine. ... A B.A. issued from the University of Tennessee. ... Tequesta is a village located in Palm Beach County, Florida. ... Beaver Falls is a city located in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. ...

Icon and advertisements

Namath's nickname was "Broadway Joe"; he is sometimes called "Joe Willie Namath", a characterization popularized by Howard Cosell. He originated the fad of wearing a full-length fur coat on the sidelines, a habit which was adopted by many players after him. He also stood out from the rest of his Jets teammates by wearing white shoes, rather than the traditional black. He also appeared in television advertisements both during and after his playing career, most notably for shaving cream (in which he was shaved by a then-unknown Farrah Fawcett) and pantyhose; they contributed to his becoming something of a pop-culture icon. He has appeared in advertising as recently as 2003. He reportedly lived a somewhat hedonistic lifestyle and many anecdotal reports exist of women propositioning him for dates whenever he was seen in public places. Howard William Cosell, born Howard William Cohen (March 25, 1918 – April 23, 1995) was an American sports journalist on American television. ... // Advert redirects here. ... Ferrah Leni Fawcett (born February 2, 1947) is an American actress. ... Sheer pantyhose Pantyhose (also called tights) are sheer, close fitting coverings of the body from the waist to the feet, almost exclusively worn by women. ...

Namath also opened several bars using his nickname Broadway Joe's in both New York City and in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (location of the University of Alabama). These continue today with moderate success. Tuscaloosa is a city in west central Alabama in the southern United States. ... The University of Alabama (also known as Alabama, UA or colloquially as Bama) is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1831, UA is the flagship school of the University of Alabama System. ...

Namath spent many years appearing as a booster for golf tournaments and other good causes, for years for youth camps including football camps and lately for arthritis. He has served as a March of Dimes volunteer for over 40 years. Most recently he was the March of Dimes' WalkAmerica Honorary Chair from 1998-2007. He also holds a celebrity golf outing annually on Long Island to benefit the March of Dimes.

Namath had many notable lines during the NFL Films presentation of NFL 75 Seasons. Recounting his 1969 Super Bowl performance, he said "It was such a feeling of elation, joy, tickling explosions inside, the teammates we did it, we were #1". "The same three words keep coming back: 'We did it. WE DID IT.'" Namath's infectious and genuine joy at recounting this made it natural for NFL Films to feature this quote in advertisements for its historic series, somewhat ironic, since Super Bowl III was a resounding American Football League victory, and an ignominious defeat for the arrogant NFL. Note: There were three earlier and unrelated major American professional football leagues of the same name: One in 1926, one in 1936-1937 and one in 1940-1941. ...

Talking about the Raiders he said, "You were always playing a tough football team, and some of the guys cheated. Some of the guys kicked and bit and hit ya in the back, some of that kind of stuff, hit ya in the back of the head, and it's on film".

Namath is mentioned in the song "Right Here Now" by James McMurtry in the line "Joe Namath scored on a seven-yard run. His knees barely held him, but they got the job done." James McMurtry (born March 18, 1962 in Fort Worth, Texas) is an American folk music singer-songwriter and the son of novelist Larry McMurtry. ...

Talking about "The Guarantee," Namath said, "... it was not planned, it wasn't premeditated; it was just anger and frustration, and I really believed we were gonna win the game."

Namath is also mentioned in the song "Desire" by Pharoahe Monch in the line "New York City respect my game like Joe Namath". Pharoahe Monch (born Troy Donald Jamerson on October 31, 1972 in Queens, New York) is an American hip hop artist. ...

Speaking about teamwork, Namath said, "Life isn't always easy, and football isn't always easy. Football convinced me that life is a team game."

See also

• List of American Football League players
• Gunslinger

The following is a list of players that played for the 1960-1969 American Football League. ... The following terms are used in American football and Canadian football. ...

References

• Kriegel, Mark (2004). Namath: A Biography. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-670-03329-4. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Joe Namath

• ProFootballHOF.com - Hall of Fame biography page
• Pro-Football-Reference.com - NFL career statistics
• Joe Namath at the Internet Movie Database
• Clip From Documentary about his Hometown, featuring Namath