Joe Namath

With Joe Namath, it’s not all about stats.

Oh, “Broadway Joe” had stats, too. But it was more about his presence and larger-than-life façade.

Joe Namath was drafted with the 12th overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, but elected to sign with the AFL’s New York Jets, who chose him with the third overall pick in the first round of the 1965 AFL Draft. Joe Namath played in New York for almost his entire career from 1965 to 1976, then capped off his career with the Los Angeles Rams in 1977.

For his career, Joe Namath finished with 173 touchdowns and threw for 27,663 yards. While his QB Rating was only a 65.5, Joe Namath was nominated to five Pro Bowls and was a five-time All-Pro Selection. He was also a two-time AFL MVP in 1968 and 1969.

As previously noted, however, stats weren’t Joe Namath’s claim to fame.

The year was 1969 and the NFL was regarded as the more superior league to the AFL. Led by All-Pro quarterback Johnny Unitas, the Baltimore Colts were favored by three touchdowns and expected to steamroll the New York Jets in the AFL-NFL World Championship Game, now referred to as the Super Bowl.

Three days before the game, Joe Namath responded to a heckler at the Miami touchdown Club with the now famous, “We’ll win the game. I guarantee you.” It was the first time a professional athlete guaranteed a win and the quote sent shockwaves through the country.

Who was this brash player?

Joe Namath proved that he wasn’t all talk, competing 17 of 28 passes for 206 yards and earning the game’s Most Valuable Player Award in the New York Jets’ stunning 16-7 victory. It’s still one of the greatest upsets in football and sports history.

The win made Joe Namath a star and his career made him a Hall of Famer. But the guarantee made Joe Namath a legend. While he was the first NFL quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in 1967, he was also the game’s first marketable media personality. Joe Namath was a true media superstar and before his knees ruined his mobility, one of top quarterbacks to play the game.