Randy Beverly facts for kids

Randy Beverly, born on April 3, 1944, is a former American football player. He played as a cornerback in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Colorado State Rams. Beverly played in the AFL for the New York Jets. He is famous for making two interceptions in their big win at Super Bowl III in 1969.

Early Football Journey

Randy Beverly grew up in Wildwood, New Jersey. He went to Wildwood High School. There, he was a champion in the state long jump competition. After high school, he attended a junior college in Trinidad, Colorado. He was named an All-American player there.

Later, he went to Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. He continued to play football for the Colorado State Rams. During his time there, he made an amazing 99-yard kick-off return.

Joining the Pros

Many people thought Randy was too small to play professional football. Because of this, he was not chosen in the 1967 NFL/AFL draft. However, he still got a chance to play. He signed with the New York Jets as a rookie free agent in the fall of 1967.

In 1968, Beverly became a starting cornerback for the Jets. The team had a great season, winning 11 games and losing only 3. They won the American Football League East division. The Jets then beat the Oakland Raiders in the AFL Championship game. This win meant they would play against the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

Super Bowl III Performance

The Jets had a strong defense during the 1968 season. However, many experts did not think their passing defense was very good. Going into Super Bowl III, the Jets were expected to lose by a lot. They were considered 18-point underdogs.

The Colts' quarterback, Earl Morrall, often targeted Beverly because of his smaller size. But Randy Beverly played an amazing game. He became the first player ever to get two interceptions in a Super Bowl.

Key Interceptions

In the first part of the game, the Colts were moving the ball well. They reached the Jets' 10-yard line. Morrall threw a pass into the end zone. The ball bounced off a Jets lineman and then hit a Colts player. Beverly quickly saw the ball and caught it in the end zone. This play stopped the Colts from scoring on their first drive.

The Jets' defense kept stopping the Colts for the rest of the first half. The Colts could not score any points. Because of this, the Colts brought in their famous quarterback, Johnny Unitas. Unitas led the Colts down the field, trying to score their first touchdown. He threw a pass to one of his wide receivers in the end zone. But Beverly stepped in front and caught the ball. He downed it for a touchback, preventing another score.

The Jets won the game 16–7. This victory is still seen as one of the biggest upsets in sports history.

Later Career and Life

Randy Beverly played one more season with the Jets in 1969. In 1970, the Jets traded him to the San Diego Chargers. He later signed with the Boston Patriots. He played on special teams for them.

Even though his two interceptions in the Super Bowl were very important, he only had four more interceptions in his NFL career. After the NFL, he played in the World Football League for the New York Stars. Some of his former Jets teammates also played on that team.

Today, Randy Beverly lives in Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey. He often goes to New York Jets home games. He attends these games with other former Jets players. He is a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. One of his sons, Randy Beverly Jr., has been a head coach for American football teams in Sweden and Italy.

See also

• List of American Football League players