Joe Namath facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Joe Namath

Namath as a rookie with the Jets in 1965
No. 12
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1943-05-31) May 31, 1943 (age 82) Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
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
Career history
New York Jets (1965–1976) Los Angeles Rams (1977)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (III) AFL champion (1968) Super Bowl MVP (III) AFL Championship MVP (1968) AFL Most Valuable Player (1968) NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1974) AFL Rookie of the Year (1965) First-team All-AFL (1968) Second-team All-Pro (1972) 3× Second-team All-AFL (1966, 1967, 1969) Pro Bowl (1972) 4× AFL All-Star (1965, 1967–1969) NFL passing yards leader (1972) 2× AFL passing yards leader (1966, 1967) NFL passing touchdowns leader (1972) George Halas Award (1969) AFL All-Time Team New York Jets Ring of Honor New York Jets No. 12 retired National champion (1964) First-team All-SEC (1964) 2× Second-team All-SEC (1962, 1963)
Career AFL/NFL statistics
Passing attempts: 3,762 Passing completions: 1,886 Completion percentage: 50.1% TD–INT: 173–220 Passing yards: 27,663 Passer rating: 65.5
Player stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Joseph William Namath (born May 31, 1943), known as "Broadway Joe", is a famous American former professional football quarterback. He played for 13 seasons in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). Most of his career was with the New York Jets.

Namath played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He helped them win a national championship in his senior year. The Jets then picked him first in the 1965 AFL draft.

During his five years in the AFL, Namath was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) twice. He also led the league in passing yards two times. He won one AFL championship and one Super Bowl. These are still the only championships the Jets have ever won.

After the AFL and NFL merged in 1970, he continued with the Jets in the NFL. In 1972, he led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns. He played seven more seasons in New York. His final year was with the Los Angeles Rams.

Namath became a legend in 1969. He famously promised that his team, the Jets, would win Super Bowl III. This was a huge surprise because the Jets were not expected to win. They beat the NFL's Baltimore Colts in one of the biggest upsets in sports history. This Super Bowl win was the first for an AFL team. It showed that AFL teams were just as good as NFL teams before the merger. Namath was named Super Bowl MVP. He was also the first quarterback to win both a college national championship and a major professional championship. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

Early Life and High School Sports

Joe Namath was born and grew up in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. His parents were Rose and János "John Andrew" Namath. Joe was the youngest of four sons.

He was excellent at all sports in Beaver Falls High School. He was a star quarterback in football. He also played guard in basketball and outfielder in baseball. In high school basketball, Namath was known for regularly making dunks. His football team, coached by Larry Bruno, won the WPIAL Class AA championship in 1960.

After high school in 1961, Namath received offers from several Major League Baseball teams. These included the Yankees and Pirates. However, he chose to play football. He wanted to get a college education, as his mother wished. Years later, in 2007, he earned his college degree at age 64.

Many top college football programs wanted Namath. These included Penn State and Ohio State. He chose to attend the University of Alabama on a full scholarship. Coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant, who recruited Namath, called it "the best coaching decision I ever made."

College Football Career at Alabama

From 1962 to 1964, Namath played quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He played under Coach Bryant.

In 1964, Namath led the team to a national championship. During his three seasons at Alabama, the team had a great record of 29 wins and only 4 losses.

Coach Bryant said Namath was "the greatest athlete I ever coached." When Namath was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985, he spoke fondly of Bryant.

College Statistics

Professional Football Career

In 1964, Namath hurt his knee during his senior year at Alabama. This injury meant he could not join the military during the Vietnam War.

In 1964, both the NFL and the new AFL wanted Namath. Both leagues held their drafts on the same day. The St. Louis Cardinals picked him 12th in the 1965 NFL draft. The Jets picked him first overall in the AFL draft.

Namath decided to sign with the Jets. He received a record-setting salary of $427,000 over three years. His teammate, Sherman Plunkett, gave him the famous nickname "Broadway Joe." This happened after Namath appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1965.

New York Jets Highlights

In Namath's first season in 1965, the Jets started slowly. But with Namath as the full-time starter, they won five of their last eight games. Namath was named the AFL Rookie of the Year.

In 1967, he became the first professional quarterback to throw for over 4,000 yards in a season. He threw for 4,007 yards in 14 games. This was a record until 1979. Namath had many knee injuries throughout his career. He had four knee operations. Sometimes, he even had his knee drained at halftime to finish a game. Later in life, he had both knees replaced.

Namath was an AFL All-Star in 1965, 1967, 1968, and 1969. In the 1968 AFL title game, Namath threw three touchdown passes. He led New York to a 27–23 win over the Oakland Raiders. His great performance in the 1968 season earned him the Hickok Belt as the top professional athlete. He was also an AFC–NFC Pro Bowler in 1972. He is part of the Jets' and the American Football League's All-Time Team. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1985.

Super Bowl III Victory

Namath running a play for the New York Jets in Super Bowl III in 1969

The most famous moment of Namath's career was in Super Bowl III in January 1969. The Jets won 16–7 against the Baltimore Colts. Before this game, NFL teams had easily won the first two Super Bowls. Many sports writers thought the AFL teams were not as good. The 1968 Colts were considered one of the best teams ever.

Three days before the game, Namath made a bold promise. He told a heckler at a banquet, "We're going to win the game. I guarantee it." This promise became legendary.

Namath delivered on his promise. The Colts' strong defense could not stop the Jets' running or passing game. The Colts' offense also threw four interceptions. Namath was the Super Bowl MVP. He completed eight passes for 133 yards to George Sauer Jr.. This win made him the first quarterback to win a college national championship, a major professional league championship, and a Super Bowl.

The Jets' victory gave the AFL instant respect. It showed that AFL teams were ready to compete equally with NFL teams.

Later Years with the Jets

After playing every game for his first five years, Namath faced many injuries. From 1970 to 1973, he played in only 28 out of 58 games. The Jets struggled during these years.

A memorable game was on September 24, 1972. Namath and his childhood hero Johnny Unitas combined for 872 passing yards. Namath threw for 496 yards and six touchdowns. Unitas threw for 376 yards and three touchdowns. The Jets won 44–34 against the Colts. Many experts consider this one of the best passing games in league history.

In 1970, Namath was featured in the first Monday Night Football game. The Jets played the Cleveland Browns. It was a huge event with many fans and TV viewers.

Los Angeles Rams

After twelve years with the Jets, Namath moved to the Los Angeles Rams in 1977. He hoped to restart his career. However, his knee injuries and other problems from 13 years of professional football had taken a toll.

He played well at first, but then had a tough game against the Chicago Bears. He threw four interceptions. He was then benched for the rest of the season. Namath retired from football at the end of that year.

Career Statistics

Acting and Media Career

Flip Wilson and Namath on The Flip Wilson Show in 1972

Gwynne Gilford and Namath on The Waverly Wonders in 1978

After his football career, Namath started acting. He appeared in movies like C.C. and Company (1970). He also starred in a short TV series called The Waverly Wonders (1978).

Namath was a guest on many TV shows. He often played himself. Some shows include The Love Boat, Married... with Children, and The Brady Bunch. He also hosted The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson several times.

He worked as a color commentator for NFL broadcasts. This included the 1985 season of Monday Night Football. In 2012, a double-decker tour bus in New York City was dedicated to him. He also appeared in the sports film Underdogs (2013) and the comedy film The Wedding Ringer (2015).

Filmography

Personal Life

Joe Theismann (L) and Namath (R) at the NFL Kickoff Live concert in 2003

Joe Namath was the only athlete on a special list of people connected to the Watergate investigation in 1973. This was likely a mistake.

In 1984, Namath married Deborah Mays. They had two daughters, Jessica (born 1986) and Olivia (born 1991). They divorced in 2000. Their children lived with their father in Florida. Olivia later had a daughter, Natalia. Namath also has three other grandchildren: John, Emerson, and Jemma. They live near him with their mother, Jessica.

Namath practices transcendental meditation. He also adopted a dog named Zoie from a rescue shelter. He is a co-owner of a restaurant called Lucky Shuck.

In July 2015, Namath helped search for two boys who went missing during a fishing trip in Florida. He offered a $100,000 reward for their safe return.

On June 6, 2018, Namath threw out the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs baseball game. The Cubs manager, Joe Maddon, caught the pitch. Maddon had looked up to Namath when he was a child.

Bachelors III Nightclub

After winning the Super Bowl in 1969, Namath opened a popular nightclub called Bachelors III. This club attracted many famous people. However, the NFL Commissioner, Pete Rozelle, ordered Namath to sell his share of the club. This was to protect the league's image.

Namath first refused and said he would retire from football. But he eventually agreed to sell the club. He then returned to the Jets for the 1969–70 season.

Legacy and Pop Culture

Namath's signed New York Jets #12 jersey on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton

Joe Namath was a great player and also a fashion and media icon. He was one of the first sports stars to be popular with everyone. He had many product endorsements. His nickname "Broadway Joe" came from a Jets teammate.

On the field, Namath stood out by wearing low-cut white shoes. Other players wore traditional black high-tops. He also started the trend of wearing a full-length fur coat on the sidelines. The NFL later banned this.

Namath appeared in many TV commercials. He promoted products like Ovaltine and Noxzema shaving cream. These commercials helped make him a pop-culture icon.

Namath still acts as a spokesperson for the Jets. In 2011, he promoted a "Super Bowl Legends" contest. For Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, he and his daughter Jessica wore fur coats for the coin toss. This brought back some of his famous style.

On June 2, 2013, Namath spoke at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He helped announce plans for a $27 million expansion of the museum. Since 2018, Namath has been a spokesperson for Medicare Coverage Helpline.

Biographies and Documentaries

In 2006, a book about Namath called Namath: A Biography was published. It became a bestseller. Namath was also interviewed for the TV show 60 Minutes.

A documentary about his hometown, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, includes a section on Namath. In 2009, 40 years after his Super Bowl win, he presented the Vince Lombardi Trophy to the Pittsburgh Steelers. NFL Productions also made a two-hour TV biography about him in their A Football Life series.

See also

In Spanish: Joe Namath para niños

• List of American Football League players
• Namath: From Beaver Falls to Broadway