Emerson Boozer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Emerson Boozer

Boozer in 1974
No. 32
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1943-07-04) July 4, 1943 (age 82) Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:	Laney (Augusta)
College:	Maryland State
NFL Draft:	1966 / Round: 7 / Pick: 98 (By the Pittsburgh Steelers)
AFL draft:	1966 / Round: 6 / Pick: 46
Career history
New York Jets (1966–1975)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (III) AFL champion (1968) All-AFL (1967) 2× AFL All-Star (1966, 1968) AFL rushing touchdowns leader (1967) New York Jets Ring of Honor 2× First-team All-American (1964, 1965)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards: 5,135 Rushing average: 4.0 Rushing touchdowns: 52
College Football Hall of Fame

Emerson Boozer (born July 4, 1943) is a former American professional football player. He played his entire career as a running back for the New York Jets. This was in both the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL).

Boozer joined the Jets when the AFL and NFL had separate drafts. He chose the Jets over an NFL team. He was a key part of the Jets team that won Super Bowl III. They beat the NFL's champion Baltimore Colts 16–7 in that famous game. Before playing professionally, Boozer was a college football star. He played for Maryland State College, which is now the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES).

Early Life and College Football

Growing Up in Georgia

Emerson Boozer was born in Augusta, Georgia, on July 4, 1943. He went to Lucy Craft Laney High School in Augusta. During one football season at Laney, he scored 25 touchdowns. He also gained 1,400 rushing yards.

Boozer's amazing athletic skills caught the eye of his high school football coaches. Even with his clear talent, it was not common for black athletes to get many football scholarships back then.

College Star at Maryland State

Boozer played for Maryland State College from 1962 to 1965. He was a halfback. He played under coaches Vernon "Skip" McCain and Roosevelt "Sandy" Gilliam.

Boozer was named an All-American twice. He set a school record with 2,537 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. He averaged 6.8 yards per rush. He led his team in rushing and scoring every year he played. During his four years, he had many long touchdown runs. Some were 96, 80, 77, 75, 70, and 51 yards long.

He was chosen for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) All-Conference team in 1964 and 1965. He earned a degree in industrial arts. Boozer was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 2010. He also joined the UMES Hall of Fame in 1982.

His college teammates included Art Shell, who later became a Pro Football Hall of Fame player. Shell was also the first black head coach in modern NFL history. Another teammate was Earl Christy, who later played with Boozer on the Jets.

Professional Football Career

Joining the New York Jets

In 1966, both the NFL and AFL held separate drafts. Boozer was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL draft. He was also drafted by the Jets in the AFL draft. He decided to join the Jets.

The Jets were building a strong team with talented players. They had George Sauer and coach Wilbur "Weeb" Ewbank. The team already had fullback Matt Snell. Boozer was expected to play alongside him as a halfback.

As a rookie, Boozer shared playing time with Bill Mathis. He worked hard and became a starter in 1967. He became known across the league for his strong blocking skills. In 1966, Boozer was named the Pittsburgh Courier AFL Rookie of the Year.

Overcoming Injuries and Super Bowl III

In 1967, Matt Snell was injured, so the Jets relied more on Boozer for rushing. In the first half of that season, Boozer showed incredible talent. He often broke away from defenders and was excellent in the open field. He scored 13 touchdowns in just 7 or 8 games. He had 10 touchdowns by mid-season. He seemed set to break the league record.

However, he suffered a serious knee injury against the Kansas City Chiefs. This injury changed his career path. Even though he played only half that year, he still led the AFL in rushing touchdowns for the season.

During the 1967 training camp, the Jets faced some challenges with team unity. The owner, Sonny Werblin, brought all the players and coaches together. He stressed that teamwork was essential for success. After that, the team grew closer and worked better together.

Boozer's strong work ethic became even clearer over the next two seasons. He could no longer be a breakaway runner. So, he changed his playing style. He became an excellent blocker and a great player for scoring touchdowns near the goal line. Coach Ewbank used Boozer in new ways for pass blocking.

Boozer's blocking helped both Snell and Joe Namath. He was a key part of two great Jets teams. These teams lost only three games in 1968 and had a 10–4 record in 1969.

A Key Player for the Jets

Boozer and Winston Hill were the blockers during Snell's famous touchdown run. This happened against the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. Boozer's blocking helped Snell run effectively that day. This was crucial to the Jets' legendary 16–7 victory.

In 1970, Namath started to use Boozer more as a pass catcher on third downs. In 1971, when Snell was injured again, Boozer stepped up. He had his career-high in carries that year.

In 1972, with Joe Namath back from his own injuries, the Jets had one of the best offenses in football. Boozer's ability to block and score near the goal line impressed many. He led the NFL in rushing touchdowns for most of the year. He scored 11 touchdowns in 11 games before injuries stopped him again.

In 1973, he was again the main running back. He rushed for 831 yards. In 1974, he played alongside John Riggins. Boozer scored the first regular-season overtime touchdown in NFL history. It was a short pass from Joe Namath in 1974. This win against the New York Giants started an amazing six-game winning streak for the Jets. They had been 1–7 before that.

Boozer was a player who made the most of every chance. When injuries took away his chance at being a superstar runner, he changed his game. He still had a remarkable career. He was a very important player for the famous Jets teams.

Retirement and Honors

Boozer retired in 1975 after a 10-year career with the Jets. At that time, he was the team's all-time leader in rushing yards with 5,135.

Boozer is a member of The Pigskin Club Of Washington, D.C. National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor Roll. In 2010, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The Jets added him to their Ring of Honor in 2015. He was also inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island in 1996.

Career Statistics

See also

• List of American Football League players