1975 Profile: Joe Namath

Quarterback
No. 12
Alabama
"Namath had an another great season in '74, particularly over the second half of the year, and escaped the injury dilemma which has confronted him throughout his career. He was elected the team's MVP for the third time in balloting by his teammates.
Joe finished up on a hot streak during the six-game win cycle, becoming what head coach Charley Winner called, ' a more efficient quarterback.' During that span Namath completed 85 of 147 passes for 1,196 yards and 11 touchdowns, and had only five interceptions. He didn't throw an interception in his last 80 passes [of 1974], covering over three and a half games. His final completion total (191) was second only to Ken Anderson in the AFC and his yardage total (2,616) was second only to Anderson in the entire NFL. His 20 touchdown total was good for a second place tie behind Ken Stabler in the NFL.
Namath had one of the most dramatic games of his career in the overtime triumph over the Giants, calling an outstanding offensive game and passing 20-31-236, two touchdowns and running for one. In overtime he hit Richard Caster for a 42-yard gain to ignite the winning drive and then five plays later tossed the winning touchdown to Emerson Boozer.
A week later a 34-yard toss to David Knight at New England provided the winning points. Keeping the dramatic string alive, he pitched 45 yards to Richard Caster with five minutes remaining to upset Miami at Shea Stadium, 17-14. The next Sunday, while preoccupied with his seriously ill father in Pennsylvania, his arm won still another game, against Buffalo, with a 36-yard strike to Jerome Barkum with four minutes to play as the Jets upset the playoff-bound Bills, 20-10.
Namath demonstrated clearly that he was fully recovered from the shoulder separation which had kayoed him in 1973 when the Colts' Stan White decked him on a blitz in the second game of the year; the separated shoulder sidelined him for seven weeks before he returned against Cincinnati. Previous injuries which have sidelined him were a broken wrist in 1970 and torn left knee ligaments in the first preseason game of 1971, but the last two injury-free seasons- 1972 & 1974- have showed that the Joe Namath magic is still there.
In '72 he passed for more yards than anyone in football and tied for the NFL lead in touchdowns with 19. He won All-Pro honors and earned his fifth selection to the Pro Bowl, though he had to decline due to ankle injuries suffered late in the season.
Joe put together some memorable days in 1972, becoming only the third quarterback in history (George Blanda and Sonny Jurgensen are the others) to have two 400-yard games in one year. The first was his best day ever, as he tore the Colts apart with six touchdown passes and 496 yards, the third best yardage total in history. He went 15-for-28 that day and the six touchdowns came off drives totalling only 15 plays, three of them on first down to Richard Caster. He teamed with Johnny Unitas that day to set an NFL record for combined passing yards- 872. Later in the year Namath tossed for 403 yards against Oakland, hitting 25 of 46.
Namath is a member of the all-time All-AFL team selected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was a combined (AFL-NFL) All-Pro following the 1968 and 1969 seasons, also earning that honor in 1972. He gained almost every possible honor after guiding the Jets to the Super Bowl win over Baltimore, being named winner of the Hickock Belt, AFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP and the George Halas Award as the Most Courageous Player. Namath was Jets MVP in '68 and '69 as well as last year in voting by his teammates, and has been captain of the offense four times- 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1972. He won the New England Writers Colclough Award as the most courageous following his return to action from knee surgery in 1971 when he came in to throw for three touchdowns against San Francisco.
He threw for three touchdowns in the AFL Championship Game (two to Don Maynard, one to Pete Lammons) and called nearly a perfect game in the Super Bowl, hitting 17 of 28 for 208 yards. Joe owns the Jet record for the longest pass- 89 yards to Richard Caster in Miami in 1974. He's also hit on an 87-yarder (to Maynard) and an 83-yarder (to Ed Bell). Joe has been over 300 yards 20 times in his career (three of those being over 400) and is the only passer in pro history to go over 4,000 yards in one season with 4,007 in 1967.
He was AFL Rookie of the Year in 1965, AFL All-Star Game MVP in 1965 and co-MVP of the All-Star Game in 1967. A fine runner during his collegiate days, Namath has carried the ball 55 times for 124 yards and seven touchdowns as a pro. His longest run was for 39 yards against Oakland in 1966.
Since he came to the Jets in 1965 he has appeared in 111 of 140 games. During that time the Jets are 68-68-4, while Namath's record as the starting or 'responsible' quarterback is 57-44-4. Prior to 1970 Namath had played in 74 consecutive games plus three postseason games. Drafted first by both the Jets and the Cardinals in 1965, Joe has had four knee operations. All the operations were performed by Jet team orthopedist Dr. James Nicholas.
Joe has made three movies: 'Norwood' with Glenn Campbell, 'C.C. and Company' with Ann-Margret and 'The Last Rebel' with Clint Eastwood. He received favorable notices for his starring role in 'C.C. and Company.' Joe has pursued acting lessons during his free moments.
He operates the 'Joe Namath Instructional Football Camp' for youngsters in Dudley, Mass. during June and July. Namath visited servicemen in the Far East following the Super Bowl.
Namath resides in New York and Florida during the off-season and made his home during the '74 season in Garden City, Long Island. His hometown is Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania."

-The New York Jets Official 1975 Yearbook