Joe Namath New York Jets & Los Angeles Rams

"I’m convinced I’m better than anybody else. I’ve been convinced of that for quite a while. I haven’t seen anything out there that I couldn’t do and do well…I get annoyed with myself for doing something wrong…I tell myself, 'you’re the best, damn it, do it right.’”

Joe Namath is best remembered for his performance in the New York Jets' stunning 16-7 upset of the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. However, during his 13-year tenure from 1965 through 1977 he was one of the game's most exciting, proficient and publicized quarterbacks.

Namath's place in history was assured with his first pro football act, the signing of a reported $400,000 contract early in 1965 that gave the American Football League its biggest victory in the costly inter-league war of the 1960s. The National Football League’s St. Louis Cardinals had also drafted Namath. “Broadway Joe,” as he quickly became known, won a starting job in his third game on his way to AFL Rookie of the Year acclaim in 1965.

In 1967, he became the first quarterback to pass for more than 4,000 yards in one season. In 1968, he capped off AFL Player of the Year and unanimous All-Pro selection with MVP honors in Super Bowl III. Namath's pre-game "guarantee" of victory backed up by his 206-yard passing production was a major factor in assuring the competitive viability of the AFL-NFL Super Bowl series.

Namath was plagued with knee injuries through much of his career. Still he completed 1,886 passes for 27,663 yards and 173 touchdowns in 12 seasons with the Jets and a final try with the Los Angeles Rams in 1977. He enjoyed many exceptional days, one of which came in the 1968 AFL title game. He threw three touchdown passes to lead New York to a 27-23 win over the Oakland Raiders that set up the dramatic Super Bowl III confrontation.

Namath earned all-league accolades four times in his career (1967, 1968, 1969, and 1972) and was named to the all-time AFL honor team in 1969. He was also elected to four AFL all-star games and one AFC-NFC Pro Bowl.

Joe Namath's Stats

Joe Namath's Championship Games

Championship Games

1968 AFL – New York Jets 27, Oakland Raiders 23
Namath started at quarterback. He completed 19 of 49 passes for 266 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also had one rush for 14 yards.

Super Bowls

Super Bowl III – New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7
Namath started at quarterback. He completed 17 of 28 passes for 206 yards. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Joe Namath's Career Highlights

All-Pro: 1968 (PFWA), 1969 (NEA)

All-AFL: 1967 (NEA, NY), 1968 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY, SN, PW), 1969 (NEA, NY)

All-AFL Second Team: 1966 (NEA), 1967 (AP, UPI, SN), 1969 (AP, UPI, SN)

All-NFL: 1972 (PFWA, NEA, PW)

All-NFL Second Team: 1972 (AP)

All-AFC: 1972 (UPI, SN)

(5) – 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970*, 1973*

* Did not play

(at time of his retirement following 1977 season)
 

• [1st] Most Yards Passing, Season – 4,007 (1967)
• [2nd] Most Pass Attempts, Game – 62 (vs. Baltimore, Oct. 18, 1970)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most 3,000 or More Yards Passing, Season – 3 (1966-68)
• [3rd] Most Pass Attempts, Season – 491 (1967)
• [3rd] Most Yards Passing, Game – 496 (vs. Baltimore, Sept. 24, 1972)
• [3rd] Most Games, 300 or More Yards Passing, Career – 21
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Pass Attempts, Game – 60 (vs. Denver, Dec. 3, 1967)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Pass Completions, Game – 34 (vs. Baltimore, Oct. 18, 1970)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Pass Consecutive Completions, Game – 15 (vs. Miami (12) Oct. 12; vs. Boston (3) Oct. 29, 1967)

Super Bowl Records

• [1st] Fewest Interceptions, Game – 0 (Super Bowl III)

AFL/AFC Championship Game Records

• [1st] Most Pass Attempts, Game – 49 (vs. Oakland, Dec. 28, 1968)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Touchdown Passes, Game – 3 (vs. Oakland, Dec. 28, 1968)

Jets’ records held by Namath
(Records through the 1976 season, Namath’s final season with New York)

• [1st] Most Passes Attempts, Game - 62 (vs. Baltimore, Oct. 18, 1970)
• [1st] Most Pass Attempts, Season – 491 (1967)
• [1st] Most Pass Attempts, Career – 3,655
• [1st] Most Pass Completions, Game – 34 (vs. Baltimore, Oct. 18, 1970)
• [1st] Most Pass Completions, Season – 258 (1967)
• [1st] Most Pass Completions, Career – 1,836
• [1st] Most Yards Passing, Game – 496 (vs. Baltimore, Sept. 24, 1972)
• [1st] Most Yards Passing, Season – 4,007 (1967)
• [1st] Most Yards Passing, Career – 27,057
• [1st] Most Touchdown Passes, Game – 6 (at Baltimore, Sept. 24, 1972)
• [1st] Most Touchdown Passes, Career – 170
• [1st] Most Pass Interceptions, Game – 6 (vs. Houston, Oct. 15, 1967; vs. Baltimore, Oct. 18, 1970; vs. Miami, Oct. 19, 1975)
• [1st] Most Pass Interceptions, Career – 215
• [Tied for 1st] Most Touchdown Passes, Season – 26 (1967)
• [2nd] Most Pass Attempts, Game – 60 (vs. Denver, Dec. 3, 1967)
• [2nd] Most Pass Attempts, Season – 471 (1966)
• [2nd] Most Pass Completions, Season – 232 (1966)
• [2nd] Most Yards Passing, Game – 415 (vs. Miami, Oct. 1, 1967)
• [2nd] Most Yards Passing, Season – 3,379 (1966)
• [2nd] Most Touchdown Passes, Season – 20 (1974)
• [2nd] Most Pass Interceptions, Game – 5 (five times)
• [2nd] Most Pass Interceptions, Season – 28 (1967, 1975)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Pass Completions, Game – 29 (at San Diego, Sept. 28, 1969)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdown Passes, Game – 5 (vs. Houston, Sept. 18, 1966)
• [3rd] Most Pass Attempts, Game – 56 (at Boston, Oct. 2, 1966)
• [3rd] Most Yards Passing, Game – 403 (at Oakland, Dec. 11, 1972)
• [3rd] Most Yards Passing, Season – 3,147 (1968)
• [3rd] Most Pass Interceptions, Season – 27 (1966)

AFC Statistical Championships
Passing Touchdown Leader: 1972

Team Statistical Championships
Passing Titles: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976

• All-Time AFL Team
• Super Bowl III MVP
• 1965 AFL Rookie of the Year (UPI, SN)
• 1968 AFL Player of the Year (UPI, SN, PW)
• 1969 AFL Player of the Year (AP)
• 1974 Comeback Player of the Year (PFWA)

Joe Namath's Career Capsule

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

Joe Namath Enshrinement speech