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 81) 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 at a time 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 a famous game. Before playing professionally, Boozer played college football at Maryland State College. This school is now known as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES).

Early Life and College Football

Emerson Boozer was born in Augusta, Georgia, on July 4, 1943. He went to Laney High School in Augusta. His amazing athletic skills caught the eye of football coaches there.

Even though he was a talented player, it was hard for black athletes to get football scholarships back then. Boozer still did very well in college. He was known for his speed and strength as a running back. He was 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed about 190 pounds.

Boozer played for Maryland State College from 1962 to 1965. He played as a halfback under coaches Vernon "Skip" McCain and Roosevelt "Sandy" Gilliam. He was named an All-American twice.

He set a school record by rushing for 2,537 yards and 22 touchdowns. He averaged 6.8 yards per carry! Boozer was also chosen for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) All-Conference team in 1964 and 1965. He earned a degree in industrial arts. Later, he was honored by being inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 2010. He also joined the UMES Hall of Fame in 1982.

Some of his college teammates also became famous. These included Art Shell, who later became a Pro Football Hall of Fame player and the first black head coach in modern NFL history. Another teammate was Earl Christy, who would also play for the Jets.

Professional Football Career

Emerson Boozer was a highly sought-after player. Both the NFL and AFL drafted him in 1966. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him in the NFL, but he chose to join the New York Jets in the AFL. The Jets were building a strong team with talented players like George Sauer and under coach Wilbur "Weeb" Ewbank.

The team already had a great fullback named Matt Snell. Boozer was expected to play alongside him as a halfback. In his first year, he shared playing time with Bill Mathis. Boozer worked hard and became a starter in 1967. He became known across the league for his strong blocking skills. In 1966, he was named the AFL Rookie of the Year by the Pittsburgh Courier.

In 1967, Matt Snell was injured, so the Jets relied more on Boozer for rushing. In the first half of that season, Boozer showed amazing talent. People even compared him to the legendary player Gale Sayers. He often broke away from defenders and was excellent in the open field. He scored 13 touchdowns in only about 7 or 8 games! He had 10 touchdowns by mid-season. He seemed ready 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 the season, he still led the AFL in rushing touchdowns that year.

During the 1967 training camp, the Jets faced a challenge among teammates. The team owner, Sonny Werblin, brought all the players and coaches together. He told them that teamwork was essential. After that, the team became much closer and worked well together.

Boozer's strong work ethic helped him adapt after his injury. He could no longer be a breakaway runner. Instead, he became an excellent blocker and a specialist at scoring touchdowns near the goal line. Coach Ewbank used Boozer in new ways, especially for blocking passes. Boozer's blocking helped both Matt Snell and Joe Namath. He was a key part of the Jets teams that had great seasons in 1968 and 1969.

Boozer and Winston Hill were the blockers who helped Snell make his famous touchdown run in Super Bowl III. Boozer's blocking was crucial that day. It helped Snell run effectively, which was a big reason for the Jets' legendary 16–7 victory. Several players from Maryland State College were in that Super Bowl. These included Boozer, Earl Christy on the Jets, and Charlie Stukes and Jim Duncan on the Colts.

In 1970, Namath started throwing more passes to Boozer on third downs. In 1971, when Snell was injured again, Boozer stepped up. He had a career-high number of 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. Injuries stopped him with 11 touchdowns in 11 games.

In 1973, he was again the main running back, rushing 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, who had been 1–7 before that.

Emerson Boozer was a player who made the most of every chance. When injuries kept him from being a superstar, he changed his playing style. He still had a great career and was a very important part of the famous Jets teams.

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

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 also honored him by adding him to their Ring of Honor in 2015. He was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island in 1996 for football.

NFL Career Statistics

See also

• List of American Football League players