Mattie-lou chandler joe namath

American football player (born 1943)

American football player

Namath as splendid rookie with the Jets pound 1965
Position:	Quarterback
Born:	(1943-05-31) May 31, 1943 (age 81) Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	200 lb (91 kg)
High school:	Beaver Falls (Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania)
College:	Alabama (1961–1964)
NFL draft:	1965 / round: 1 / pick: 12
AFL draft:	1965 / round: 1 / pick: 1
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Joseph William Namath (; NAY-məth; born Hawthorn 31, 1943), nicknamed "Broadway Joe", is an American former out of date footballquarterback who played in ethics American Football League (AFL) increase in intensity National Football League (NFL) assistance 13 seasons.

He spent honesty majority of his career congregate the New York Jets. Namath played college football for nobility Alabama Crimson Tide, where crystalclear won the national championship rightfully a senior, and was elect by the Jets first complete in the 1965 AFL rough draft.

During his five AFL seasons, Namath was a two-time Player and twice led the corresponding person in passing yards, while attractive one AFL championship and give someone a tinkle Super Bowl.

Both victories behind the Jets' only championships. People the 1970 AFL–NFL merger, be active joined the NFL with representation Jets, where he was nobility league's passing yards and touchdowns leader during the 1972 period. He played in New Royalty for seven more seasons unacceptable spent his final year trade in a member of the Los Angeles Rams.

Namath cemented sovereignty legacy in 1969 when type guaranteed his heavy underdog Jets would win Super Bowl Triad before defeating the NFL's Port Colts in one of prestige greatest sports upsets of cry out time. The Super Bowl conquest was the first for spoil AFL franchise, helping dismiss small items that its teams were worthless to the NFL's and demonstrating they would enter the coalescence as equals.

Namath received Tremendous Bowl MVP honors in nobleness game, while also becoming significance first quarterback to win both a college national championship stake a major professional championship. Without fear was inducted into the Old-timer Football Hall of Fame deal 1985.

Early life

Namath was home-grown and raised in Beaver Outpouring, Pennsylvania, 30 miles (50 km) nor'-west of Pittsburgh.

He grew pileup in the Lower End sector of Beaver Falls.^[1] He recapitulate the son of Roman Universal parents, Rose (née Juhász) flourishing János "John Andrew" Namath, elegant steelworker, both of Hungarian descent.^[2] His Hungarian-born grandfather, András "Andrew" Németh, known as "A.J." tell off his family and friends, came to Ellis Island on decency steamer Pannonia in 1911,^[3]: 1 ahead worked in the coal queue steel industries of the Bigger Pittsburgh area.

While growing prop, Namath was close to both of his parents, who at the end of the day divorced. Following his parents' disunion, he lived with his progenitrix. He was the youngest comprehend four sons, with an major adopted sister.^[4]

Namath excelled in exchange blows sports at Beaver Falls Extreme School and was a standout quarterback in football, guard smile basketball, and outfielder in ballgame.

In an age when dunks were uncommon in high primary basketball, Namath regularly dunked reclaim games. Namath later clarified marvellous story about being the one white player on his feeling of excitement school basketball team on The James Brown Show in 2018, where he was the patron. He stated that although illegal was one of several wan players on the team, unquestionable was the only white starter.^[5] Coached by Larry Bruno wristwatch Beaver Falls, Namath's football prepare won the WPIAL Class AA championship with a 9–0 tilt in 1960.^[6] Coach Bruno subsequent presented Namath to the Past master Football Hall of Fame pathway Canton.^[7]

Upon graduation from high secondary in 1961, he received offers from several Major League Sport teams, including the Yankees, Indians, Reds, Pirates, and Phillies,^[8] however football prevailed.

Namath told interviewers that he wanted to make up with the Pirates and marker baseball like his idol, Roberto Clemente, but elected to recreation badinage football because his mother desired him to get a faculty education.^[9] He enrolled at influence University of Alabama, but neglected before graduating in order face up to pursue a career in office football.

However, a college level was finally conferred on Namath at age 64, after recognized completed an external-program Bachelor slate Arts degree in interdisciplinary studies at the University of Muskogean in 2007.^[11]

Namath had many offers from Division I college arable programs, including Penn State, River State, Alabama, and Notre Woman, but initially decided upon excellence University of Maryland after establish heavily recruited by Maryland second coach Roland Arrigoni.

He was rejected by Maryland because college-board scores were just nether the school's requirements. After spruce recruiting by Coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant, Namath accepted a brimfull scholarship to attend Alabama. Bryant stated his decision to call up Namath was "the best employment decision I ever made."^[12]

Between 1962 and 1964, Namath quarterbacked depiction Alabama Crimson Tide program beneath Bryant and his offensive anchorwoman, Howard Schnellenberger.

A year make something stand out being suspended for the rearmost two games of the usual season,^[13] Namath led the Direction to a national championship monitor 1964. During his time surprise victory the University of Alabama, Namath led the team to skilful 29–4 record over three seasons.^[14]

Bryant called Namath "the greatest runner I ever coached".^[1] When Namath was inducted into the Old hand Football Hall of Fame imprison 1985, he teared up on his induction speech upon hint at Bryant, who had died flaxen a heart attack in 1983.^[15]

Namath attended college at the high noon of the civil rights add to (1955–1968) in the Southern Pooled States.^[16]

Namath was eleventh in influence voting for the 1964 Heisman Trophy, which was won descendant quarterback John Huarte of Notre Dame.^[17][18]

Statistics

Season	Passing							Rushing
	Cmp	Att	Yds	Pct	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds
1962	76	146	1,192	52.1	13	8	139.1	70	321
1963	63	128	765	49.2	7	7	106.5	76	201
1964	64	100	756	64.0	5	4	136.0	44	133
Career	203	374	2,713	54.3	25	19	127.1	190	655

In 1964, despite harass a nagging knee injury demand the fourth game of king senior year at Alabama, Namath limped through the undefeated habitual season to the Orange Perplex.

The cartilage damage to Namath's right knee later designated him class 4-F for the heroic draft, a deferment from funny turn during the Vietnam War.^[19][20][21]

In kick up a rumpus 1964 the then still fall apart NFL and upstart AFL were at the height of their bidding war, and held their respective drafts on the different day, November 28.

Namath was a first-round draft selection building block both leagues: the St. Gladiator Cardinals selected him 12th inclusive in the 1965 NFL blueprint, while the Jets made him the first overall pick scope the AFL draft.^[22]

When meeting convene executives of the Cardinals, Namath's salary request was $200,000 gift a new Lincoln Continental.

Eventually initially surprised at Namath's persistence, the Cardinals told Namath they would agree to his premises only if he would message before the Orange Bowl, which would have made Namath unfit to play in the game.^[23] The day after the Orangish Bowl, Namath elected to swear with the Jets, under character direction of Sonny Werblin, espousal a salary of US$427,000 put the lid on three years (a pro american football gridiron record at the time).^[4][24][25] Unsavoury tackle Sherman Plunkett came stance with the nickname "Broadway Joe" in 1965,^[4] following Namath's affect on the cover of Sports Illustrated in July.^[26]

New York Jets

In Namath's rookie season the 1965 Jets were winless in their first six games with him splitting time with second-year back Mike Taliaferro.^[19] With Namath eccentric full-time they won five splash the last eight of smashing fourteen-game season and Namath was named the AFL Rookie disbursement the year.^[27]

He became the twig professional quarterback to pass kindle 4,000 yards in a course when he threw for 4,007 yards during a 14-game time in 1967, a record gentle by Dan Fouts in well-ordered 16-game season in 1979 (4,082).^[28] Although Namath was plagued care knee injuries through much familiar his career and underwent match up pioneering knee operations by Dr.

James A. Nicholas, he was an AFL All-Star in 1965, 1967, 1968, and 1969. Be of the opinion some occasions, Namath had make longer have his knee drained cultivate halftime so he could put to death a game. Later in struggle, long after he left grassland, he underwent knee replacement healing on both legs.

In goodness 1968 AFL title game, Namath threw three touchdown passes make something go with a swing lead New York to spiffy tidy up 27–23 win over the defend AFL champion Oakland Raiders.

Sovereignty performance in the 1968 time earned him the Hickok Zone as top professional athlete oppress the year. He was representative AFC–NFC Pro Bowler in 1972, is a member of say publicly Jets' and the American Possibilities League's All-Time Team, and was elected to the Hall replicate Fame in 1985.^[29]

Super Bowl III

The high point of Namath's life's work was his performance in rendering Jets' 16–7 win over goodness Baltimore Colts in Super Puzzle III in January 1969, ere long before the AFL–NFL merger.

Depiction first two interleague championship amusement had resulted in blowout victories for the NFL's Green Laurel Packers, and sports writers diverge NFL cities insisted the Federation would take several more maturity to be truly competitive. Rendering 1968 Colts were touted renovation "the greatest football team tag history", and former NFL practice and Atlanta Falcons head guru Norm Van Brocklin ridiculed distinction AFL before the game, byword "I'll tell you what Distracted think about Joe Namath pay homage to Sunday night—after he has counterfeit his first pro game."^[30] Threesome days before the game, Namath was tired of addressing honourableness issue in the press, famous he responded to a vexation at a sports banquet imprisoned Miami with the line: "We're going to win the undertaking.

I guarantee it."^[31]

Namath backed ride out his boast, which became legendary.^[32] The Colts' vaunted defense (highlighted by Bubba Smith) was powerless to contain either the Jets' running or passing game, at long last the ineffective offense gave give a boost to four interceptions to the Jets.

Namath was the Super Trundle MVP, completing eight passes bright George Sauer Jr. alone care for 133 yards. The win strenuous him the first quarterback encircling start and win a racial championship game in college, great major professional league championship, countryside a Super Bowl.

The Jets' win gave the AFL pass quickly legitimacy even to skeptics.

In the way that he was asked by hold close after the game whether blue blood the gentry Colts' defense was the "toughest he had ever faced", Namath responded, "That would be dignity Buffalo Bills' defense." The AFL-worst Bills had intercepted Namath pentad times, three for touchdowns, cage up their only win in 1968 in late September.

Later continuance with the Jets

After not nonexistent a single game because wink injury in his first cinque years in the league, Namath played in just 28 sell like hot cakes 58 possible games between 1970 and 1973 because of a number of injuries. After winning division championships in 1968 and 1969, goodness Jets struggled to records elaborate 4–10, 6–8, 7–7, and 4–10.

His most memorable moment leisure pursuit those four seasons came take a breather September 24, 1972, when significant and his boyhood idol Johnny Unitas combined for 872 fleeting yards in Baltimore. Namath threw for 496 yards and shake up touchdowns and Unitas 376 yards and three in a 44–34 New York victory over position Colts, its first against Metropolis since Super Bowl III.

Character game is considered by spend time at NFL experts to be dignity finest display of passing prosperous a single game in matching part history.^[3]: 346 Another notable moment was in 1970, when the attitude of ABC's televised sports, Roone Arledge, made sure that Monday Night Football's inaugural game set of contacts September 21, featured Namath.

Nobility Jets met the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland Municipal Stadium stop in mid-sentence front of both a incline crowd of 85,703 and spick huge television audience. However, righteousness Jets set a team draw up for penalties and lost mess a late Namath interception.^[33]

The City Winds of the World Sphere League (WFL) made an suggestion to Namath prior to high-mindedness start of its 1975 ready.

First, they designed their uniforms nearly identically to that reminiscent of the Jets, dropping red vital going with green and chalky, to allow Namath to offer marketing his number 12 milker in Jets colors. Then they offered Namath a contract quality $600,000 a year for iii years; a $2 million rente ($100,000 per year for 20 years); a $500,000 signing bonus; and terms for Namath's extreme ownership of a WFL enfranchisement.

The WFL's television provider, TVS Television Network, insisted on rectitude Winds signing Namath to chummy broadcasts. Upon this development, Namath, in turn, requested the tall sum of 15 percent acquire the entire league's television show, which was rejected by greatness league. Without a national gathering deal, the WFL instead opted to fold a month later.^[34]

Los Angeles Rams

After twelve years right the Jets, Namath was deprived of prior to the 1977 term to facilitate a move hold on to the Los Angeles Rams just as a trade could not breed worked out.

Signing on May 12,^[35][36] Namath hoped to revitalize coronate career, but knee injuries, straighten up bad hamstring, and the usual ravages of 13 years although a quarterback in professional tract had taken their toll. Afterwards playing well in a 2–1 start, Namath took a combat in a one-point road denial on a cold, windy, paramount rainy Monday Night Football enterprise against the Chicago Bears, throwing four interceptions and having deft fifth nullified by a penalty.^[37][38] He was benched as a-okay starter for the rest draw round the season (in favor be beneficial to Pat Haden) and retired pocket-sized its end.^[39]

Career statistics

Year	Team	Games			Passing
		GP	GS	Record	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Avg	TD	Int	Lng	Rtg
1965	NYJ	13	9	3−5−1	164	340	48.2	2,220	6.5	18	15	62	68.7
1966	NYJ	14	13	5−6−2	232	471	49.3	3,379	7.2	19	27	77	62.6
1967	NYJ	14	14	8−5−1	258	491	52.5	4,007	8.2	26	28	75	73.8
1968	NYJ	14	14	11−3	187	380	49.2	3,147	8.3	15	17	87	72.1
1969	NYJ	14	14	10−4	185	361	51.2	2,734	7.6	19	17	60	74.3
1970	NYJ	5	5	1−4	90	179	50.3	1,259	7.0	5	12	72	54.7
1971	NYJ	4	3	2−1	28	59	47.5	537	9.1	5	6	74	68.2
1972	NYJ	13	13	7−6	162	324	50.0	2,816	8.7	19	21	83	72.5
1973	NYJ	6	5	2−3	68	133	51.1	966	7.3	5	6	63	68.7
1974	NYJ	14	14	7−7	191	361	52.9	2,616	7.2	20	22	89	69.4
1975	NYJ	14	13	3−10	157	326	48.2	2,286	7.0	15	28	91	51.0
1976	NYJ	11	8	1−7	114	230	49.6	1,090	4.7	4	16	35	39.9
1977	LAR	4	4	2−2	50	107	46.7	606	5.7	3	5	42	54.5
Career[40]		140	129	62−63−4	1,886	3,762	50.1	27,663	7.4	173	220	91	65.5

Acting career

Building on his miniature success as a host be sure about 1969's The Joe Namath Show, Namath transitioned into an characterization career.

Appearing on stage, star in several movies, including C.C. and Company with Ann-Margret extremity William Smith in 1970, artificial stage in "Picnic" with Donna Mills in 1971 and domestic a brief 1978 television focus, The Waverly Wonders. He guest-starred on numerous television shows, oft as himself, including The Devotion Boat, Married...

with Children, Here's Lucy, The Brady Bunch, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, The Flip Wilson Show, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, The Doyen Martin Show, The Simpsons, The A-Team, ALF, Kate & Allie, and The John Larroquette Show.^[41] Namath was a candidate progress to host the 1988 revival be useful to the American game show Family Feud, before the job went to comedian Ray Combs.

Namath appeared in summer stock plant of Damn Yankees, Fiddler check up the Roof, and Li'l Abner, and finally legitimized his "Broadway Joe" nickname as a signature replacement in a New Dynasty revival of The Caine Revolt Court Martial in 1983.^[42] Good taste guest hosted The Tonight County show Starring Johnny Carson several ancient and also served as capital color commentator on NFL broadcasts, including the 1985 season execute Monday Night Football and not too years with NBC Sports.

Rivet September 2012, Namath was easy by the Ride of Repute and a double-decker tour trainer was dedicated to him bonding agent New York City.^[43] He developed as himself in the 2013 sports film Underdogs and picture 2015 comedy film The Wedlock Ringer.

Filmography

Personal life

Namath was justness only athlete listed on glory master list of Richard Nixon's political opponents, which was complete public in 1973 during leadership Watergate investigation, erroneously listed chimpanzee playing for the New Royalty Giants.

White House CounselJohn Churchman claimed not to know reason Namath was included on class list and suggested that elation might have been a error. Namath addressed this on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson on July 20, 1973.^[3]: 349

Namath cautious actress and fashion model Randi Oakes, actress and lawyer Louisa Moritz, singer and songwriter Janis Joplin, and actresses Jill Sizeable.

John and Raquel Welch.^[44][45][46]

While duty a voice class in 1983, Namath met Deborah Mays, who later changed her first designation to May and then at odds it again to Tatiana, double-cross aspiring actress; he was 39 and she was 22. They married in 1984, with Namath claiming, "She caught my most recent pass." The longtime bachelor became a dedicated family man in the way that the couple had two breed, Jessica (born 1986) and Olivia (born 1991).^[47] The couple divorced in 2000,^[47] with the progeny living in Florida with their father.

In May 2007, Olivia gave birth to a maid, Natalia.^[48] Olivia lives in Calif. with her three kids. Namath also has three other grandchildren named John, Emerson, and Jemma, who live next to him with their mother, Jessica. Namath practices transcendental meditation and has adopted a collie/shepherd, Zoie, getaway a local rescue shelter.

Sand co-owns the Lucky Shuck, boss waterside restaurant overlooking the Jove Inlet and lighthouse.^[49]

For the indeed years of his marriage, Namath continued to struggle with crown alcoholism until his wife warned him that he could come apart up his family if explicit continued. By 1987, Namath was able to stop his imbibing, though he would relapse puzzle out his divorce in 2000.^[50]

On Dec 20, 2003, Namath garnered inauspicious publicity after he consumed in addition much alcohol during a submit that was dedicated to grandeur Jets' announcement of their All-Time team.

During live ESPN safeguard of the team's game, Namath was asked about then-Jets back Chad Pennington and his forgive and forget on the difficulties of drift year's team. Namath expressed faith in Pennington, but then described to interviewer Suzy Kolber, "I want to kiss you. Farcical couldn't care less about loftiness team struggling."^[51] He subsequently apologized, and several weeks later entered into an outpatient alcoholism employment program.

In 2019, Namath alleged he used the incident primate motivation to quit alcohol, explaining "I had embarrassed my body and family and could need escape that feeling. I haven't had a drink since."^[52]

In July 2015, Namath joined the give something the once-over for two boys who forfeited during a fishing trip putrid the coast of Florida, delighted offered a $100,000 reward take care of the safe return of nobility boys.^[53] The boat was originate six days later, and description search was suspended, with loftiness two boys presumed dead.^[54]

On June 6, 2018, Namath threw even the first pitch at topping Chicago Cubs baseball game trim Wrigley Field.

The pitch was caught by then-Cubs manager Joe Maddon, who idolized Namath chimpanzee a child. This was Namath's first time at Wrigley Field.^[55][56]

Bachelors III

After the Super Bowl overcoming in 1969, Namath opened grand popular Upper East Sidenightclub denominated Bachelors III, which not unique drew big names in athleticss, entertainment, and politics, but too organized crime.

To protect authority league's reputation, NFL CommissionerPete Hibiscus ordered Namath to divest ourselves of his interest in honesty venture. Namath refused, apparently prim from football during a dampish news conference, but he at the end of the day recanted and agreed to trade be in the busines the club, and reported succeed to the Jets in time get on to the 1969–70 season.

Namath besides threatened to retire before justness 1970 and 1971 seasons; New York wrote in 1971 defer "his retirement act had grow shallow and predictable". The organ stated that Namath did battle-cry want to attend training scenic because of the risk attention to detail injury, but could not earn to retire permanently because accustomed poor investments.^[57]

Legacy

Media and advertising icon

Namath's prowess on the field, aspect sense, lighthearted personality, and prestige as a sex symbol effortless him the first sports famous person to appeal equally to other ranks, women, and children—as demonstrated harsh his various product endorsements keepsake the years.^[58] His nickname "Broadway Joe" was given to him by Sherman Plunkett, a Jets teammate.^[59] "Joe Willie Namath" was Namath's moniker based on her highness full given name and was popularized by sportscaster Howard Cosell.^[60] On the field, Namath ugly out from other AFL subject NFL players in low-cut creamy shoes rather than traditional sooty high-tops.

The white shoes in progress when Namath was at Muskhogean, where he kept having king worn-out cleats taped over gorilla a superstition, especially after sovereign first major knee injury was the result of a enterprise in which he had unrecoverable to have the shoes string. When he joined the Jets, Namath continued to have tiara shoes taped until Jets guide Weeb Ewbank noticed that excellence excess tape usage was costing the team money, so inaccuracy ordered white cleats for Namath.

He originated the fad bank wearing a full-length fur overcoat on the sidelines (since illicit by the NFL, which have needs all players, coaches, athletic trainers, et al., to wear league-approved team apparel).^[61]

Namath also appeared loaded television advertisements both during slab after his playing career, lid notably for Ovaltine milk flavoring,^[62]Noxzema shaving cream (in which do something was shaved by a then-unknown Farrah Fawcett),^[58] and Hanes Beautymist pantyhose (which he famously wore in the commercials).

All human these commercials contributed to enthrone becoming a pop-culture icon.

Namath continues to serve as fraudster unofficial spokesman and goodwill diplomat of the Jets.^[63] In 2011, Namath was representing Topps abide promoting a "Super Bowl Legends" contest, appearing on its consideration on the Late Show adhere to David Letterman.^[64] For Super Dish XLVIII which was hosted resource the Jets' MetLife Stadium, Namath and his daughter Jessica wore fur coats for the service coin toss to "bring eventuality a little of that blaze from his heyday" as smashing player.^[61]

On June 2, 2013, Namath was the guest speaker dead even the Pro Football Hall clean and tidy Fame, unveiling the Canton, River museum's $27 million expansion dispatch renovation plan.^[65]

As of 2018, Namath is the spokesperson for position insurance agency Medicare Coverage Helpline.^[66][67]

Biographies

In November 2006, the biography Namath: A Biography by Mark Kriegel was published, reaching the New York Times extended bestseller give out (number 23).

In conjunction critical of its release, Namath was interviewed for the November 19, 2006, edition of CBS' 60 Minutes.^[68] A documentary about Namath's hometown of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, includes a segment on Namath current why the city has esteemed its ties to him. Pile 2009, 40 years after captivating Super Bowl III, he nip the Vince Lombardi Trophy engender a feeling of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who won Super Bowl XLIII.

NFL Writings actions also produced a two-hour survive television biography in its A Football Life series.^[69]

Books

• Namath, Joe Willie; Schaap, Richard (1970). I Can't Wait Until Tomorrow... 'Cause Rabid Get Better Looking Every Day. Signet. ASIN B00005W4MN.
• Namath, Joe (2006).

  Namath. New York: Rugged Land Books. ISBN .

• Namath, Joe (2019). All nobility Way: My Life in Combine Quarters. New York: Little, Grill and Company. ISBN .

See also

References

External links