- Born
- Birth nameJoseph William Namath
- Nicknames
- Broadway Joe
- The Hungarian Howitzer
- Joe Willie
- Height6′ 2″ (1.88 m)
- The son of a steel worker from Beaver Falls, Pa., Joseph William Namath (Joe Willie) came from the rich football tradition that is in Pennsylvania. After starring for Paul 'Bear' Bryant's Alabama Crimson Tide teams in the 1960s, Namath was drafted by both the National Football League's (NFL) St. Louis Cardinals and the rival American Football League's (AFL) New York Jets in 1965. Namath, known as a brash performer in college, signed with the Jets for a then-record $450,000 and gave the upstart, struggling AFL instant credibility in its war with the NFL. Although he didn't turn the Jets into instant winners, he did improve their fortunes his first three years in the league. Namath delivered on his promise as one of the most exciting players in the AFL, by becoming the first quarterback in history to pass for more than 4,000 yards. Namath was also popular off the field, especially with the ladies (which he indulged in, happily) and was known for his love of the New York nightlife. Because of this, he was dubbed "Broadway Joe" by the New York press. Namath gained his legend with not only his performance, but his mouth. After leading the Jets to the AFL championship over the Oakland Raiders, Namath, weary of all the press knocking him and his team and openly favoring the NFL champion Baltimore Colts, boldly lashed out and predicted victory for him and the Jets. He also showed his poise by talking his way out of a potentially explosive situation with Colts' Defensive Tackle, Lou Michaels. Namath and a teammate were in a restaurant talking about how the Jets were a better team than the Colts, when Michaels (who was in earshot) challenged Namath. The cocky QB, instead, bought Michaels dinner, drinks and gave him a ride home. In the game that many felt made the Super Bowl the spectacle it is today, Namath and the Jets were nearly flawless in beating the 17-point favorite Colts, 16-7. Namath became a household name and gave the Jets and the AFL the respectability they were so desperate to have. Namath continued his all-star performances in New York, although he never again played in the Super Bowl. For several years, he was the entertainer of the NFL (the AFL merged with the NFL in 1970) and even dabbled in movies and television (including a memorable performance in pantyhose for a commercial). He was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 1977, but his failing knees finally gave out and he retired at the end of the season. Namath was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985 and, for a few years, was a member of ABC's NFL Monday Night Football (1970) crew. Namath now lives in Florida.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Ken Severson
- Joe Namath is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) during the 1960s and 1970s.. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide under coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant from 1962 to 1964. Namath was an AFL icon and played for that league's New York Jets for most of his professional football career. He finished his career with The Los Angeles Rams. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985. He retired after playing 143 games over 13 years in the AFL and NFL, including playoffs. His teams had an overall record of 68 wins, 71 losses, and four ties, 64-64-4 in 132 starts, and 4-7 in relief. He completed 1,886 passes for 27,663 yards, threw 173 touchdowns, and had 220 interceptions, for a career passer rating of 65.5. He played for three division champions (the 1968 and 1969 AFL East Champion Jets and the 1977 NFC West Champion Rams), earned one league championship (1968 AFL Championship), and one Super Bowl victory (Super Bowl III).
In 1999, he was ranked number 96 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players, the only player on the list to have spent a majority of his career with the Jets. In his 1975 autobiography, Bryant called Namath the most natural athlete he had ever coached.
He remained a highly recognizable figure in the media and sports worlds half a century after his brashness cemented his identity in the public mind. In 2019, a survey conducted by the Associated Press of 60 football historians and media regularly covering the NFL voted Namath the league's greatest character, beating out former Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis and fellow Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Tango Papa
- SpouseDeborah Mays(November 7, 1984 - June 28, 1999) (divorced, 2 children)
- ParentsJanos Namath
- White shoes
- The #12 in a New York Jets uniform
- Was the first quarterback in pro football history to pass for 4,000 yards in a season(4,007 in 1967). Still a New York Jets record.
- While still a football player he opened up a bar in New York called Bachelors III, but was soon ordered by the NFL to either shut it down or give up ownership because of complaints about "undesirable characters" hanging out there. He refused, and in the ensuing spat with the NFL he retired from football. However, he came back the next year, after having given up the bar.
- On Dec. 17, 1967 in a game against The Oakland Raiders, Joe was victimized by " unnecessary roughness" by an Oakland lineman, and suffered a fractured jaw. To his credit he stayed in the game and threw a touchdown. As a aftermath of this incident, a special protective helmet with a "Jaw Strap" was devised.This helmet is widely used to this day to protect NFL quarterbacks. The following week on Dec. 24,1967, he again played the entire game against The San Diego Chargers , leading the NY Jets to a 49-31 victory.
- Passed for 27,663 yards and 173 touchdowns in his career.
- Graduated from the University of Alabama (December, 2007) 42 years after leaving school early to become a pro football legend.
- If you're not going all the way, why go at all?
- [His prediction for Super Bowl III] We're going to win Sunday, I guarantee it.
- [on Jackie Gleason] Jackie's consistent: he's got a fat mouth and a fat belly.
- I like my Johnny Walker Red and my women blonde.
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