Quarterback
No. 12
Alabama
"He's long been thought to be the best 'pure' thrower in football. But one critic, ex-Jet coach Ken Shipp, thinks Joe puts too much puts too much confidence in his arm. 'He thinks you can come from three touchdowns behind by throwing long,' Shipp says. 'You can't. Not with the zone defenses the teams are playing today. You have to throw short. But when the Jets are losing, Joe throws long, causes a turnover and the Jets are further behind."
-John Devaney, Schenley Pro Football Guide 1976
"The undisputed leader of the Jets offense, Namath is coming off a somewhat disappointing but productive year. He completed 157 of 326 passing attempts for 2,286 yards, 15 touchdowns and a completion percentage of 48.2, but suffered 28 interceptions, the most in his career. The Jets quarterback situation depends on his health- a healthy Joe and a return to form could brighten the offensive picture greatly.
The overall Jets passing attack slipped to ninth in the AFC in 1975. Joe started 13 of 14 regular season games, missing his San Diego start on national TV because of a curfew violation. He had reported to camp on July 30 and signed a two-year contract after rejecting a multi-million dollar bid from the WFL. Joe missed three preseason games because of a rib injury.
Joe put together back-to-back 'control' games in wins over the Chiefs and Patriots. His best game in 1975 came against the Colts at home, completing 19 of 28 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns. He drilled four touchdown passes in an early season win over New England, yet suffered six interceptions in his home appearance against Miami.
Namath is the 12th ranked quarterback of all-time in career passes attempted (3,425) behind Bobby Layne (3,700). He also stands 14th in completions (1,722) behind Charley Johnson (1,737) and 18th in touchdown passes (166) behind Johnson (170) and 12th in yards passing (25,967) behind Layne (26,768).
Namath had an outstanding year in 1974, particularly in the second half of the year while escaping the injury dilemma. He was elected team MVP for the third time by his teammates. Joe finished on a hot streak during the six-game winning streak, completing 85 of 147 passes for 1,196 yards and 11 touchdowns, and suffered only five interceptions. He didn't throw an interception in his last 80 passes of '74, covering three and one-quarter games.
His final completion total was 191 (of 361), second only to Cincinnati's Ken Anderson in the entire NFL. 20 touchdowns was good enough to tie [Oakland's] Ken Stabler for second place in the NFL.
Joe had one of the most dramatic games of his career in the overtime triumph over the Giants, completing 20 of 31 passes for 236 yards with two touchdowns and running for one. In overtime he hit Richard Caster for a 42-yard gain to ignite the winning drive and five plays later, tossed to Emerson Boozer for the winning score. A week later, a 34-yard toss to David Knight at New England provided the winning points.
He kept the win streak alive by pitching a 45-yard touchdown pass to Richard Caster with five minutes remaining in the 17-14 upset Miami. The next Sunday while preoccupied with his seriously ill father, his arm won still another game 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 his full recovery from the 1973 shoulder injury [caused] when Colts middle linebacker Stan White decked him on a blitz in the second game of the year. Previous injuries which have sidelined him include a broken wrist in 1970 and torn left knee ligaments in the first preseason game of 1971.
In 1972 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 late in the season. Joe put together some memorable days in 1972, becoming only the third quarterback in history (George Blanda and Sonny Jurgensen) to have two 400-yard games in one year.
Joe enjoyed his best day ever [September 24, 1972] as he tore the Colts apart with six touchdown passes and 496 yards, the third best [yardage] in football history. He completed 15 of 28 that day and the six touchdowns came off drives totalling only 15 plays, three of them on first down passes 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, [completing] 26 of 46.
Though famed for his passing performances, he is master of calling the running game. When the defensive situation dictates, Namath isn't afraid to call the running play as witnessed in the Jets' 333-yard ground effort at New England in 1972 and in their rushing dominance at Kansas City in 1975.
Namath is a member of the all-time All-AFL team selected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A combined (AFL-NFL) All-Pro following the 1968 and 1969 seasons, he also earned that honor in 1972. He gained almost every possible honor after guiding the Jets to the Super Bowl win over Baltimore; he was named winner of the Hickock Belt, AFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP and George Halas Award as the Most Courageous Player. Namath was Jets MVP in 1968, 1969 and 1974 and has captained the Jets four times- 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1972. He won the New England Writers Colclough Award as the most courageous following his return to action after knee surgery in 1971 when he came in to throw for three touchdowns against San Francisco.
During the Super Bowl drive, he played six consecutive games without a touchdown pass, but the Jets won five of those games. 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, completing 17 of 28 passes for 208 yards.
Joe owns the Jet record for the longest pass- 91 yards to Richard Caster against Baltimore in 1975 and owns the [Jet] record for longest touchdown pass- 89 yards to Caster at Miami in 1974. He also hit on an 87-yarder to Maynard and an 83-yarder to Ed Bell.
Namath has been over 300 yards [in a game] a total of 21 times in his career (three of those being over 400). He shared the NFL record for consecutive completions (15) until Bert Jones hit 17 straight against him in a game. Namath is the only passer to go over 4,000 yards in a season with 4,007 in 1967.
He holds the Jets records for most passes attempted in a game (62 against Baltimore, October 18, 1970), in a season (491 in 1967) and in a career (3,425); most passes completed in a game (34 against Baltimore, 10-18-70), in a season (258 in 1967) and in a career (1,722); most yards passing in a game (496 at Baltimore, September 24, 1972), in a season (4,007 in '67) and in a career (25,937); most touchdown passes completed in a game (six at Baltimore, 9-24-72), in a season (26 in '67, tied with Al Dorrow in 1960) and in a career (166); and most passes intercepted in a game (six, three times) and in a career (199).
Since coming to the Jets in 1965, he has appeared in 125 of 154 regular season games, 39 of 60 preseason games and three of three postseason games. During that time, the Jets are 71-79-0 while Namath's record as a starting or 'resposible' quarterback is 59-55-0. Prior to 1970, Namath had played in 74 consecutive regular games plus three postseason games.
He was AFL Rookie of the Year in 1965, AFL All-Star Game MVP in 1965 and [All-Star Game] co-MVP in 1967. A fine runner during his collegiate days, Namath has carried the ball 65 times for 130 yards and seven touchdowns as a pro. His longest run was 39 yards against Oakland in 1966.
Drafted first by both the Jets and the Cardinals in 1965, Joe has had four knee operations. His right knee was operated for removal or cartilage and repair of ligaments on January 25, 1965, 23 days after signing his first contract. He had cartilage removed and a tendon transfer in a major operation on his right knee on December 28, 1966, his left knee was operated on for repair of a small tendon tear on March 20, 1968, and a 'five-in-one' operation on his left knee on August 8, 1971 for ligament and cartilage damage and a tendon transfer after suffering an injury against Detroit when hit by Paul Naumoff while trying to tackle Mike Lucci who had recovered a fumble. All the operations were performed by Jet team orthopedist Dr. James Nicholas.
'The greatest athlete I've ever coached,' said Paul (Bear) Bryant. During Namath's three years, the Tide lost only three regular season games and made three bowl appearances- 1963 Orange, 1964 Sugar and 1965 Orange. He was the outstanding offensive player in the 1963 Orange Bowl and MVP of the 1965 Orange Bowl on the eve of signing with the Jets.
Joe completed 64 percent of his passes as a senior. His career stats: 230 of 428, 54 percent, for 3,055 yards and 29 touchdowns. He rushed 213 times for 597 yards and 15 touchdowns.
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.' He has pursued acting lessons during his free moments. Joe has his own syndicated TV show, has made numerous guest appearances on TV shows and has hosted the Tonight Show many times.
He operates the 'Joe Namath Instructional Football Camp' for youngsters in Dudley, Mass. during June and July. He owns a Joe Namath restaurant in Tuscaloosa.
Namath resides in New York and Florida during the off-season. His hometown is Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania."
-1976 New York Jets Media Guide
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