1965 Jets Quarterback Profiles

JOE NAMATH
Quarterback
1st Round
Alabama
"Among the thousands of spectators jammed into Miami's Orange Bowl last New Year's Day was Weeb Ewbank, the stocky head coach of the New York Jets. Ewbank had his eyes trained on Joe Namath as the Alabama quarterback rifled a 20-yard touchdown pass. 'Namath is fabulous,' Ewbank raved. 'Reminds me of Johnny Unitas. He could make a pro team right now.'
Playing with a tightly bandaged right knee, Namath completed 18 of 37 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns. He gave a virtuoso performance even though his team lost to Texas, 21-17. The next morning, amid fitting pomp and circumstance, the Jets signed the 6'2", 194-pound youngster to what certainly must stand as the most generous rookie contract in the history of professional sports. The Jets have never verified the terms, but informed guesses place the figure at $400,000, spread over a three-year period.
Able Jet owner Sonny Werblin believes pro football has become a great entertainment medium and that a star will attract the fans in droves. 'I believe the Jets have found that star in Namath,' he says.
Born May 31, 1943 in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, Joe was the local high school football hero.
'He was good and he knew it,' his mother recalls. 'But now he's changed. He doesn't brag so much anymore.'
During his three-year career at Alabama, the Crimson Tide lost only three regular season games and won three postseason bowl trips. Joe's college passing figures show a career total of 203 completions in 374 attempts. Last year he was in and out of the lineup due to a knee injury but he was around long enough to guide Alabama to an undefeated season. Joe underwent a knee operation last winter which is said to have corrected the trouble.
'The New York fans will go for Namath,' claims Ewbank. 'If we don't win a championship soon, it won't be his fault.'"

-Bill Wise, 1965 Official Pro Football Almanac

"Joe Namath, Alabama's quarterback, appeared in only three complete games last year due to an injured knee, but was still one of the most sought-after college football players in recent years. He's 6-2, 195 pounds."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965

"Signed for a large bundle of cash by the Jets, Joe will be testing his knee in early exhibition games and New York fans have their fingers crossed.
The quarterback from Alabama was called the greatest athlete to come out of the college ranks in 1964. Joe set a SEC pass completion mark by hitting his targets 64% of the time. He completed 18 passes for 255 yards in the 1965 Orange Bowl.
Not afraid to run with the ball when the opportunity arises, Joe carried the ball for 572 yards and 15 touchdowns during his college days!"

-1965 Topps No. 122


DICK WOOD
Quarterback
No. 19
Auburn
"You have to feel sorry for Dick Wood. He's a competent AFL quarterback, but the Jets did not show much faith in his skills when they paid $400,000 for untried Joe Namath and $200,000 for untried John Huarte.
Dick has been New York's starting quarterback for the last two years. He throws the long bomb (35 touchdown passes), but five knee operations have slowed him down. During his three-year AFL career, including a season divided between Denver and San Diego, Dick has completed 45.9 percent of his passes."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965


JOHN HUARTE
Quarterback
2nd Round
Notre Dame
"One of the game's most highly touted rookies will be coming to the Jets for the 1965 season. John was a second round draft pick of New York.
Among the 1964 honors won by the quarterback were [the Heisman Trophy], UPI's Player of the Year and Associated Press Player of the Year. John didn't get to play much college football until his senior year at Notre Dame, but last year completed 114 passes and gained 2,062 yards in the air. He completed 21 passes against Stanford last season."

-1965 Topps No. 117


MIKE TALIAFERRO
Quarterback
No. 17
Illinois
"The back-up man to the Jets' Dick Wood, Mike was given a chance to show his stuff towards the end of the 1964 season. The big quarterback can throw the long bomb and he is a good scrambler, too.
Mike is the second-leading passer in Illinois history. His strong arm led Illinois to the Big Ten Championship and a Rose Bowl victory in his Senior Year."

-1965 Topps No. 128