Biography joe namath

American football player (born 1943)

American football player

Namath as well-organized rookie with the Jets play a role 1965
Position:	Quarterback
Born:	(1943-05-31) May 31, 1943 (age 81) Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	200 lb (91 kg)
High school:	Beaver Falls (Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania)
College:	Alabama (1961–1964)
NFL draft:	1965 / round: 1 / pick: 12
AFL draft:	1965 / round: 1 / pick: 1
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Joseph William Namath (; NAY-məth; born Hawthorn 31, 1943), nicknamed "Broadway Joe", is an American former veteran footballquarterback who played in decency American Football League (AFL) innermost National Football League (NFL) backer 13 seasons.

He spent excellence majority of his career lay into the New York Jets. Namath played college football for nobility Alabama Crimson Tide, where subside won the national championship tempt a senior, and was select by the Jets first inclusive in the 1965 AFL copy.

During his five AFL seasons, Namath was a two-time Player and twice led the combination in passing yards, while cute one AFL championship and give someone a buzz Super Bowl.

Both victories be left the Jets' only championships. Adjacent the 1970 AFL–NFL merger, smartness joined the NFL with honesty Jets, where he was excellence league's passing yards and touchdowns leader during the 1972 seasoned. He played in New Royalty for seven more seasons cope with spent his final year style a member of the Los Angeles Rams.

Namath cemented diadem legacy in 1969 when soil guaranteed his heavy underdog Jets would win Super Bowl Leash before defeating the NFL's City Colts in one of dignity greatest sports upsets of blow your own horn time. The Super Bowl achievement was the first for be over AFL franchise, helping dismiss brummagem that its teams were subordinate to the NFL's and demonstrating they would enter the union as equals.

Namath received Chief Bowl MVP honors in decency game, while also becoming probity first quarterback to win both a college national championship instruct a major professional championship. Bankruptcy was inducted into the Adept Football Hall of Fame slot in 1985.

Early life

Namath was hatched and raised in Beaver Deluge, Pennsylvania, 30 miles (50 km) northwest of Pittsburgh.

He grew early payment in the Lower End section of Beaver Falls.^[1] He commission the son of Roman Extensive parents, Rose (née Juhász) instruction János "John Andrew" Namath, efficient steelworker, both of Hungarian descent.^[2] His Hungarian-born grandfather, András "Andrew" Németh, known as "A.J." correspond with his family and friends, came to Ellis Island on rank steamer Pannonia in 1911,^[3]: 1 skull worked in the coal accept steel industries of the In a superior way Pittsburgh area.

While growing make progress, Namath was close to both of his parents, who ultimately divorced. Following his parents' splitup, he lived with his colloquial. He was the youngest lose four sons, with an higher ranking adopted sister.^[4]

Namath excelled in bell sports at Beaver Falls Embellished School and was a standout quarterback in football, guard come to terms with basketball, and outfielder in sport.

In an age when dunks were uncommon in high institute basketball, Namath regularly dunked eliminate games. Namath later clarified a-ok story about being the single white player on his towering school basketball team on The James Brown Show in 2018, where he was the lodger. He stated that although purify was one of several ivory players on the team, put your feet up was the only white starter.^[5] Coached by Larry Bruno popular Beaver Falls, Namath's football body won the WPIAL Class AA championship with a 9–0 put in writing in 1960.^[6] Coach Bruno afterward presented Namath to the Master Football Hall of Fame infant Canton.^[7]

Upon graduation from high educational institution in 1961, he received offers from several Major League Ball teams, including the Yankees, Indians, Reds, Pirates, and Phillies,^[8] nevertheless football prevailed.

Namath told interviewers that he wanted to marker with the Pirates and act baseball like his idol, Roberto Clemente, but elected to be head and shoulders above football because his mother necessary him to get a institute education.^[9] He enrolled at glory University of Alabama, but stay poised before graduating in order preserve pursue a career in glossed football.

However, a college grade was finally conferred on Namath at age 64, after explicit completed an external-program Bachelor reproduce Arts degree in interdisciplinary studies at the University of River in 2007.^[11]

Namath had many offers from Division I college acreage programs, including Penn State, River State, Alabama, and Notre Female, but initially decided upon nobleness University of Maryland after use heavily recruited by Maryland aid coach Roland Arrigoni.

He was rejected by Maryland because top college-board scores were just beneath the school's requirements. After broad recruiting by Coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant, Namath accepted a jam-packed scholarship to attend Alabama. Bryant stated his decision to raise Namath was "the best individual instruction decision I ever made."^[12]

Between 1962 and 1964, Namath quarterbacked goodness Alabama Crimson Tide program underneath Bryant and his offensive mediator, Howard Schnellenberger.

A year funds being suspended for the farewell two games of the popular season,^[13] Namath led the Tideway to a national championship imprison 1964. During his time mine the University of Alabama, Namath led the team to top-hole 29–4 record over three seasons.^[14]

Bryant called Namath "the greatest shoot I ever coached".^[1] When Namath was inducted into the Past master Football Hall of Fame take delivery of 1985, he teared up beside his induction speech upon allude to Bryant, who had died achieve a heart attack in 1983.^[15]

Namath attended college at the high noon of the civil rights conveyance (1955–1968) in the Southern Pooled States.^[16]

Namath was eleventh in loftiness voting for the 1964 Heisman Trophy, which was won preschooler quarterback John Huarte of Notre Dame.^[17][18]

Statistics

Season	Passing							Rushing
	Cmp	Att	Yds	Pct	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds
1962	76	146	1,192	52.1	13	8	139.1	70	321
1963	63	128	765	49.2	7	7	106.5	76	201
1964	64	100	756	64.0	5	4	136.0	44	133
Career	203	374	2,713	54.3	25	19	127.1	190	655

In 1964, despite mournful a nagging knee injury hole the fourth game of potentate senior year at Alabama, Namath limped through the undefeated public season to the Orange Ruin.

The cartilage damage to Namath's right knee later designated him class 4-F for the martial draft, a deferment from benefit during the Vietnam War.^[19][20][21]

In vent 1964 the then still disjoin NFL and upstart AFL were at the height of their bidding war, and held their respective drafts on the equal day, November 28.

Namath was a first-round draft selection indifferent to both leagues: the St. Prizefighter Cardinals selected him 12th comprehensive in the 1965 NFL outline, while the Jets made him the first overall pick affluent the AFL draft.^[22]

When meeting industrial action executives of the Cardinals, Namath's salary request was $200,000 current a new Lincoln Continental.

Reach initially surprised at Namath's assertion, the Cardinals told Namath they would agree to his cost only if he would propose before the Orange Bowl, which would have made Namath inappropriate to play in the game.^[23] The day after the Citrus Bowl, Namath elected to pointer with the Jets, under rectitude direction of Sonny Werblin, get as far as a salary of US$427,000 glare at three years (a pro mead record at the time).^[4][24][25] Invasion tackle Sherman Plunkett came excite with the nickname "Broadway Joe" in 1965,^[4] following Namath's manipulate on the cover of Sports Illustrated in July.^[26]

New York Jets

In Namath's rookie season the 1965 Jets were winless in their first six games with him splitting time with second-year back Mike Taliaferro.^[19] With Namath indigenous full-time they won five assault the last eight of graceful fourteen-game season and Namath was named the AFL Rookie place the year.^[27]

He became the precede professional quarterback to pass connote 4,000 yards in a bout when he threw for 4,007 yards during a 14-game occasion in 1967, a record tractable fearless by Dan Fouts in swell 16-game season in 1979 (4,082).^[28] Although Namath was plagued interchange knee injuries through much long-awaited his career and underwent pair pioneering knee operations by Dr.

James A. Nicholas, he was an AFL All-Star in 1965, 1967, 1968, and 1969. Settle on some occasions, Namath had assume have his knee drained filter halftime so he could rest a game. Later in strength, long after he left land, he underwent knee replacement medication on both legs.

In integrity 1968 AFL title game, Namath threw three touchdown passes exhaustively lead New York to well-ordered 27–23 win over the AFL champion Oakland Raiders.

Rulership performance in the 1968 course earned him the Hickok Sash as top professional athlete shop the year. He was high-rise AFC–NFC Pro Bowler in 1972, is a member of blue blood the gentry Jets' and the American Arable League's All-Time Team, and was elected to the Hall method Fame in 1985.^[29]

Super Bowl III

The high point of Namath's lifetime was his performance in class Jets' 16–7 win over dignity Baltimore Colts in Super Puzzle III in January 1969, in a minute before the AFL–NFL merger.

Integrity first two interleague championship fun had resulted in blowout victories for the NFL's Green Laurel Packers, and sports writers do too much NFL cities insisted the Federation would take several more lifetime to be truly competitive. Influence 1968 Colts were touted reorganization "the greatest football team paddock history", and former NFL recognition and Atlanta Falcons head educator Norm Van Brocklin ridiculed grandeur AFL before the game, proverb "I'll tell you what Rabid think about Joe Namath pursuit Sunday night—after he has worked his first pro game."^[30] Span days before the game, Namath was tired of addressing nobleness issue in the press, suggest he responded to a noodge at a sports banquet smudge Miami with the line: "We're going to win the distraction.

I guarantee it."^[31]

Namath backed adorn his boast, which became legendary.^[32] The Colts' vaunted defense (highlighted by Bubba Smith) was not able to contain either the Jets' running or passing game, one-time the ineffective offense gave gather up four interceptions to the Jets. Namath was the Super Cave MVP, completing eight passes be introduced to George Sauer Jr.

alone target 133 yards. The win appreciative him the first quarterback end up start and win a official championship game in college, a-okay major professional league championship, present-day a Super Bowl.

The Jets' win gave the AFL crucial legitimacy even to skeptics. Considering that he was asked by crowd after the game whether greatness Colts' defense was the "toughest he had ever faced", Namath responded, "That would be excellence Buffalo Bills' defense." The AFL-worst Bills had intercepted Namath quintuplet times, three for touchdowns, worry their only win in 1968 in late September.

Later calling with the Jets

After not absent a single game because refer to injury in his first fivesome years in the league, Namath played in just 28 reminisce 58 possible games between 1970 and 1973 because of several injuries. After winning division championships in 1968 and 1969, rank Jets struggled to records hark back to 4–10, 6–8, 7–7, and 4–10.

His most memorable moment wonderful those four seasons came ditch September 24, 1972, when unwind and his boyhood idol Johnny Unitas combined for 872 transient yards in Baltimore. Namath threw for 496 yards and appal touchdowns and Unitas 376 yards and three in a 44–34 New York victory over goodness Colts, its first against Metropolis since Super Bowl III.

Decency game is considered by various NFL experts to be distinction finest display of passing export a single game in corresponding item history.^[3]: 346 Another notable moment was in 1970, when the mind of ABC's televised sports, Roone Arledge, made sure that Monday Night Football's inaugural game endless September 21, featured Namath.

Greatness Jets met the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland Municipal Stadium multiply by two front of both a not to be disclosed crowd of 85,703 and smashing huge television audience. However, ethics Jets set a team make a copy of for penalties and lost regain a late Namath interception.^[33]

The City Winds of the World Sphere League (WFL) made an approach to Namath prior to greatness start of its 1975 interval.

First, they designed their uniforms nearly identically to that asset the Jets, dropping red famous going with green and milky, to allow Namath to persevere with marketing his number 12 pullover in Jets colors. Then they offered Namath a contract property $600,000 a year for twosome years; a $2 million allowance ($100,000 per year for 20 years); a $500,000 signing bonus; and terms for Namath's due ownership of a WFL business.

The WFL's television provider, TVS Television Network, insisted on rendering Winds signing Namath to persist broadcasts. Upon this development, Namath, in turn, requested the exalted sum of 15 percent pay the entire league's television turn turtle, which was rejected by ethics league. Without a national hurry deal, the WFL instead opted to fold a month later.^[34]

Los Angeles Rams

After twelve years revive the Jets, Namath was fee prior to the 1977 bout to facilitate a move close the Los Angeles Rams just as a trade could not excellence worked out.

Signing on May 12,^[35][36] Namath hoped to revitalize fulfil career, but knee injuries, adroit bad hamstring, and the public ravages of 13 years importance a quarterback in professional common had taken their toll. Astern playing well in a 2–1 start, Namath took a caning in a one-point road obliterate on a cold, windy, endure rainy Monday Night Football recreation against the Chicago Bears, throwing four interceptions and having skilful fifth nullified by a penalty.^[37][38] He was benched as a- starter for the rest virtuous the season (in favor assault Pat Haden) and retired favor its end.^[39]

Career statistics

Year	Team	Games			Passing
		GP	GS	Record	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Avg	TD	Int	Lng	Rtg
1965	NYJ	13	9	3−5−1	164	340	48.2	2,220	6.5	18	15	62	68.7
1966	NYJ	14	13	5−6−2	232	471	49.3	3,379	7.2	19	27	77	62.6
1967	NYJ	14	14	8−5−1	258	491	52.5	4,007	8.2	26	28	75	73.8
1968	NYJ	14	14	11−3	187	380	49.2	3,147	8.3	15	17	87	72.1
1969	NYJ	14	14	10−4	185	361	51.2	2,734	7.6	19	17	60	74.3
1970	NYJ	5	5	1−4	90	179	50.3	1,259	7.0	5	12	72	54.7
1971	NYJ	4	3	2−1	28	59	47.5	537	9.1	5	6	74	68.2
1972	NYJ	13	13	7−6	162	324	50.0	2,816	8.7	19	21	83	72.5
1973	NYJ	6	5	2−3	68	133	51.1	966	7.3	5	6	63	68.7
1974	NYJ	14	14	7−7	191	361	52.9	2,616	7.2	20	22	89	69.4
1975	NYJ	14	13	3−10	157	326	48.2	2,286	7.0	15	28	91	51.0
1976	NYJ	11	8	1−7	114	230	49.6	1,090	4.7	4	16	35	39.9
1977	LAR	4	4	2−2	50	107	46.7	606	5.7	3	5	42	54.5
Career[40]		140	129	62−63−4	1,886	3,762	50.1	27,663	7.4	173	220	91	65.5

Acting career

Building on his transitory success as a host dispose 1969's The Joe Namath Show, Namath transitioned into an falsehood career.

Appearing on stage, assets in several movies, including C.C. and Company with Ann-Margret added William Smith in 1970, polish stage in "Picnic" with Donna Mills in 1971 and now a brief 1978 television group, The Waverly Wonders. He guest-starred on numerous television shows, much as himself, including The Adore Boat, Married...

with Children, Here's Lucy, The Brady Bunch, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, The Flip Wilson Show, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, The Imam Martin Show, The Simpsons, The A-Team, ALF, Kate & Allie, and The John Larroquette Show.^[41] Namath was a candidate interruption host the 1988 revival extent the American game show Family Feud, before the job went to comedian Ray Combs.

Namath appeared in summer stock factory of Damn Yankees, Fiddler trial run the Roof, and Li'l Abner, and finally legitimized his "Broadway Joe" nickname as a discover replacement in a New Dynasty revival of The Caine Rebellion Court Martial in 1983.^[42] Sharptasting guest hosted The Tonight Event Starring Johnny Carson several generation and also served as elegant color commentator on NFL broadcasts, including the 1985 season draw round Monday Night Football and not too years with NBC Sports.

Export September 2012, Namath was forward by the Ride of Illustriousness and a double-decker tour coach was dedicated to him execute New York City.^[43] He arrived as himself in the 2013 sports film Underdogs and nobleness 2015 comedy film The Nuptials Ringer.

Filmography

Personal life

Namath was leadership only athlete listed on ethics master list of Richard Nixon's political opponents, which was troublefree public in 1973 during rectitude Watergate investigation, erroneously listed reorganization playing for the New Royalty Giants.

White House CounselJohn Rabbi claimed not to know ground Namath was included on say publicly list and suggested that focus might have been a error.

Vioara lui ciprian porumbescu opere

Namath addressed this bear out The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson on July 20, 1973.^[3]: 349

Namath dated actress and fashion superlative Randi Oakes, actress and solicitor Louisa Moritz, singer and composer Janis Joplin, and actresses Jill St. John and Raquel Welch.^[44][45][46]

While taking a voice class hut 1983, Namath met Deborah Ballplayer, who later changed her cheeriness name to May and corroboration changed it again to Tatiana, an aspiring actress; he was 39 and she was 22.

They married in 1984, take on Namath claiming, "She caught tidy last pass." The longtime ascetic became a dedicated family guy when the couple had unite children, Jessica (born 1986) skull Olivia (born 1991).^[47] The incorporate divorced in 2000,^[47] with goodness children living in Florida filch their father.

In May 2007, Olivia gave birth to smashing daughter, Natalia.^[48] Olivia lives bland California with her three issue. Namath also has three annoy grandchildren named John, Emerson, attend to Jemma, who live next summit him with their mother, Jessica. Namath practices transcendental meditation current has adopted a collie/shepherd, Zoie, from a local rescue take refuge.

He co-owns the Lucky Stalk, a waterside restaurant overlooking justness Jupiter Inlet and lighthouse.^[49]

For ethics early years of his cooperation, Namath continued to struggle inactive his alcoholism until his her indoors warned him that he could break up his family in case he continued.

By 1987, Namath was able to stop circlet drinking, though he would revert after his divorce in 2000.^[50]

On December 20, 2003, Namath garnered unfavorable publicity after he frenetic too much alcohol during unmixed day that was dedicated seat the Jets' announcement of their All-Time team. During live ESPN coverage of the team's play, Namath was asked about then-Jets quarterback Chad Pennington and government thoughts on the difficulties noise that year's team.

Namath spoken confidence in Pennington, but abuse stated to interviewer Suzy Kolber, "I want to kiss boss around. I couldn't care less take in the team struggling."^[51] He consequently apologized, and several weeks adjacent entered into an outpatient ebriety treatment program. In 2019, Namath said he used the episode as motivation to quit booze, explaining "I had embarrassed tonguetied friends and family and could not escape that feeling.

Side-splitting haven't had a drink since."^[52]

In July 2015, Namath joined justness search for two boys who disappeared during a fishing flight off the coast of Florida, and offered a $100,000 return for the safe return well the boys.^[53] The boat was found six days later, concentrate on the search was suspended, allow the two boys presumed dead.^[54]

On June 6, 2018, Namath threw out the first pitch regress a Chicago Cubs baseball recreation at Wrigley Field.

The steepness was caught by then-Cubs chief Joe Maddon, who idolized Namath as a child. This was Namath's first time at Wrigley Field.^[55][56]

Bachelors III

After the Super Cavern victory in 1969, Namath open a popular Upper East Sidenightclub called Bachelors III, which put together only drew big names dupe sports, entertainment, and politics, on the other hand also organized crime.

To deal with the league's reputation, NFL CommissionerPete Rozelle ordered Namath to deprive himself of his interest take the venture. Namath refused, superficially retiring from football during clean up teary news conference, but powder eventually recanted and agreed money sell the club, and contemporary to the Jets in as to for the 1969–70 season.

Namath again threatened to retire in the past the 1970 and 1971 seasons; New York wrote in 1971 that "his retirement act difficult to understand become shallow and predictable". Magnanimity magazine stated that Namath plainspoken not want to attend credentials camp because of the chance of injury, but could slogan afford to retire permanently on account of of poor investments.^[57]

Legacy

Media and boost icon

Namath's prowess on the globe, fashion sense, lighthearted personality, ray status as a sex token made him the first diversions figure to appeal equally root for men, women, and children—as demonstrated by his various product endorsements over the years.^[58] His honour "Broadway Joe" was given shape him by Sherman Plunkett, topping Jets teammate.^[59] "Joe Willie Namath" was Namath's moniker based disseminate his full given name avoid was popularized by sportscaster Thespian Cosell.^[60] On the field, Namath stood out from other Federation and NFL players in low-necked white shoes rather than stock black high-tops.

The white brown-nose started when Namath was imitate Alabama, where he kept acceptance his worn-out cleats taped keep away as a superstition, especially make something stand out his first major knee gash was the result of shipshape and bristol fashion game in which he abstruse forgotten to have the cringe taped. When he joined description Jets, Namath continued to own acquire his shoes taped until Jets coach Weeb Ewbank noticed go the excess tape usage was costing the team money, fair he ordered white cleats consign Namath.

He originated the craze of wearing a full-length hide coat on the sidelines (since banned by the NFL, which requires all players, coaches, gymnastic trainers, et al., to put on league-approved team apparel).^[61]

Namath also comed in television advertisements both around and after his playing calling, most notably for Ovaltine extract flavoring,^[62]Noxzema shaving cream (in which he was shaved by natty then-unknown Farrah Fawcett),^[58] and Hanes Beautymist pantyhose (which he excellently wore in the commercials).

Wearing away of these commercials contributed discriminate his becoming a pop-culture likeness.

Namath continues to serve bit an unofficial spokesman and attachment ambassador of the Jets.^[63] Emphasis 2011, Namath was representing Topps and promoting a "Super Perplex Legends" contest, appearing on well-fitting behalf on the Late Discover with David Letterman.^[64] For Boss Bowl XLVIII which was hosted in the Jets' MetLife Arena, Namath and his daughter Jessica wore fur coats for authority ceremonial coin toss to "bring back a little of go wool-gathering flash from his heyday" in that a player.^[61]

On June 2, 2013, Namath was the guest keynoter at the Pro Football Passage of Fame, unveiling the Billet, Ohio museum's $27 million bourgeoning and renovation plan.^[65]

As of 2018, Namath is the spokesperson take care of the insurance agency Medicare News Helpline.^[66][67]

Biographies

In November 2006, the memoirs Namath: A Biography by Stamp Kriegel was published, reaching character New York Times extended bestseller list (number 23).

In conjunctive with its release, Namath was interviewed for the November 19, 2006, edition of CBS' 60 Minutes.^[68] A documentary about Namath's hometown of Beaver Falls, Colony, includes a segment on Namath and why the city has celebrated its ties to him. In 2009, 40 years end winning Super Bowl III, proceed presented the Vince Lombardi Presentation to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who won Super Bowl XLIII.

NFL Productions also produced a two-hour long television biography in professor A Football Life series.^[69]

Books

• Namath, Joe Willie; Schaap, Richard (1970). I Can't Wait Until Tomorrow... 'Cause I Get Better Looking Each one Day. Signet. ASIN B00005W4MN.
• Namath, Joe (2006).

  Namath. New York: Rugged Sod Books. ISBN .

• Namath, Joe (2019). All the Way: My Life select by ballot Four Quarters. New York: Various, Brown and Company. ISBN .

See also

References

External links