Bama in the NFL: With New York Jets only one word needed, "Joe"

Joe Namath's impact went way beyond Alabama and the Jets, as he forever changed the National Football League.

When it comes to the word "legacy," there aren't many players in NFL history who can claim to have a stronger tie to a specific franchise than Joe Namath. That's because the former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback wasn't just instrumental in the development of the New York Jets, but the entire American Football League.

He also did so twice. The first was when he spurned the National Football League’s St. Louis Cardinals, who had drafted him, to sign with the Jets for a then-staggering $427,000 and a Lincoln Continental. Traditionalists blasted Namath, but his addition gave the young, upstart AFL an immediate boost in legitimacy and triggered a recruiting war between the leagues. It led to both to an escalation in salaries, but also the eventual mergers, beginning with their annual champions meeting to play for one all-encompassing title. That’s how the Super Bowl came into existence.

Namath won the starting job in his third game and was named AFL Rookie of the Year in 1965 (Incidentally, one of his backups with the Jets was 1964 Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte from Notre Dame). Two years later, he became the only quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards in a 14-game season.

But Namath is best remembered for Super Bowl III, and the Jets’ stunning 16-7 victory of the Baltimore Colts. At the time, the AFL teams were still considered inferior to their NFL counterparts like the Colts, who were considered huge favorites (19 1/2 points). Three days before the game, Namath answered a heckler at the Miami Touchdown Club dinner by saying: “We’re going to win Sunday. I guarantee you.” He also repeatedly said the Jets were going to win during a now-famous poolside interview session with reporters.

Few took him seriously. They should have, because he more than back up the words. Namath led the Jets on four scoring drives, completing 17 of 28 passes for 206 yards, to help give his team a comfortable lead, and then the running game did enough in the fourth quarter to preserve the win

Despite chronic knee problems, Namath completed 1,886 passes for 27,663 yards and 173 touchdowns in 12 seasons with the Jets and a final stab with the Los Angeles Rams in 1977. The Jets have also had the likes of Marty Lyons, and now have defensive stalwarts C.J. Mosley and Quinnen Williams trying to take the franchise back to the Super Bowl. 

There's only been one Broadway Joe, not only for the Jets, but all of football.    

Bama in the NFL: New York Jets

The Franchise

American Football Conference

East Division 

Team Colors: Green and White

Founded: The Jets were founded in 1959 as the Titans of New York. In 1963, the franchise was renamed the Jets after being sold.

Stadium: MetLife Stadium (capacity 82,500)

Playing Surface: FieldTurf CORE 

Training Camp: Atlantic Health Training Center, Florham Park, NJ

All-Time Alabama Players

Includes the Titans of New York

1. Ray Abruzzese, DB, 1965 - 1966
2. James Carpenter, OG, 2015 - 2018
3. Paul Crane, LB, 1966 - 1974
4. Gantt, Greg, P, 1974 - 1975
5. Marty Lyons, DT, 1979 - 1989
6. Greg McElroy, QB, 2011
7. Dee Milliner, DB, 2013 - 2015
8. C.J. Mosley, LB, 2019 - 2022
9. Joe Namath, QB, 1965 - 1976
10. Ross Pierschbacher, C, 2021
11. Daniel Pope, P, 2001
12. ArDarius Stewart, WR, 2017
13. Ed Stinson, DE, 2017
14. Tom "Corky" Tharp, DB, 1960
15. Richard Todd, QB, 1976 - 1983
16. Quinnen Williams, DT, 2019 - 2022
17. Sid Youngelman, DT/DE, 1960 - 1961

Crimson Tide Drafted Players

Year	Player	Pos.	Round	Pick	Overall
1960-A	Chuck Allen	T	1	—	—
1964-A	Steve Wright	T	8	3	59
1965-A	Joe Namath	QB	1	1	1
1966-A	Tom Tolleson	WR	17	5	150
1969	Mike Hall	LB	10	2	260
1974	Greg Gantt	K	8	5	187
1976	Richard Todd	QB	1	6	6
1979	Marty Lyons	DE	1	14	14
2011	Greg McElroy	QB	7	5	208
2013	Dee Milliner	CB	1	9	9
2017	ArDarius Stewart	WR	3	15	79
2019	Quinnen Williams	DT	1	3	3

Super Bowl Appearances

Super Bowl III (Jan. 12, 1969)

Joe Namath, who "guaranteed" the win beforehand to reporters, competed 17 of 28 passes for 206 yards and was named Super Bowl MVP as the Jets pulled off one of the biggest upsets in sports history with 16-7 victory over the Baltimore Colts (who were favored by 19 1/2 points). Linebacker Paul Crane also had a tackle in the game. 

Sports Illustrated wrote the next week in the story "Say It's So, Joe" by Tex Maule: "Broadway Joe Namath is the folk hero of the new generation. He is long hair, a Fu Manchu mustache worth $10,000 to shave off, swinging nights in the live spots of the big city, the dream lover of the stewardi—all that spells insouciant youth in the Jet Age.

"Besides all that, Namath is a superb quarterback who in the Super Bowl last week proved that his talent is as big as his mouth—which makes it a very big talent, indeed. He went from Broadway Joe to Super Joe on a cloud-covered afternoon in Miami, whipping the Baltimore Colts, champions of the National Football League, 16-7 in the process."

New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath (12) is hit after throwing the ball by Baltimore Colts linebacker Mike Curtis (32) during Super Bowl III at the Orange Bowl.  :: Malcolm Emmons / USA Today Sports

Major Awards/Honors

All-Pro

Joe Namath (1): 1968

Quinnen Williams (1): 2022

Pro Bowl 

Joe Namath (5): 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972

Quinnen Williams (1): 2022

C.J. Mosley (1): 2022

Super Bowl MVP

Joe Namath, Super Bowl III

Pro Football Hall of Fame

Joe Namath

Retired Jersey

No. 12: Joe Namath

NFL Man of the Year 

Marty Lyons 1984

New York Jets Ring of Honor

Joe Namath
Marty Lyons

Other Joe Namath Honors

• NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1974)
• NFL passing yards leader (1972)
• NFL passing touchdowns leader (1972)
• George Halas Award (1969)
• AFL champion (1968)
• AFL Championship MVP (1968)
• AFL MVP (1968)
• AFL Rookie of the Year (1965)
• First-team All-AFL (1968)
• AFL All-Star (1965, 1967–1969)
• AFL passing yards leader (1966, 1967)
• AFL All-Time Team

Note: We would be remiss if we didn't at least mention TV Land Most Memorable Male Guest Star in a Comedy award for his appearance on the Brady Bunch.

New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (95) tackles Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) during the first half at Lambeau Field in 2022 :: Wm. Glasheen / USA Today Network

In conjunction with our revamped Bama in the NFL Database, this is the 25th story in a series examining the team-by-team history of Alabama's former players in the NFL.

AFC

• Baltimore Ravens
• Buffalo Bills
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Cleveland Browns
• Denver Broncos
• Houston Texans
• Indianapolis Colts
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Las Vegas Raiders
• Los Angeles Chargers
• Miami Dolphins
• New England Patriots

NFC

• Arizona Cardinals
• Atlanta Falcons
• Carolina Panthers
• Chicago Bears
• Dallas Cowboys
• Detroit Lions
• Green Bay Packers
• Los Angeles Rams
• Minnesota Vikings
• New Orleans Saints
• New York Giants

See Also:

Bama in the NFL: The Ultimate Crimson Tide Database
Bama in the NFL: Active Alabama Crimson Tide Players by Team