Joe Namath: Career retrospective

Joe Namath grew up in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, a blue-collar steel town outside Pittsburgh. At Beaver Falls High School, Namath stood out in baseball and football. He became a hometown hero thanks to his rocket arm. 

Fun fact: Namath is one of many great quarterbacks to come out of Western Pennsylvania. The others are Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Johnny Unitas, and George Blanda. 

Namath strongly considered going pro in baseball after high school. University of Alabama head coach Bear Bryant tried to talk him out of it. When his parents stated their desire to see him go to college and get a degree, Namath committed to Alabama. Namath was the starter from day one. 

In his junior year, Namath led the Crimson Tide to a national championship in 1964. When asked about Namath's talent, Bear Bryant said he was one of the best players he had ever coached. 

In the 1965 draft, the NFL and the up-and-coming AFL wanted Namath. And both were willing and able to open up their checkbooks to secure his talents. The St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL drafted Namath with the 12th overall pick in the NFL Draft. Meanwhile, the New York Jets of the AFL drafted him first overall in the AFL Draft. After hearing both teams' offers, Namath chose the AFL and signed with the Jets. The three-year, $427,000 contract had a $200,000 signing bonus and a Lincoln Continental in the fine print. It was the largest contract ever at the time.

While Namath was riding high after his success with Alabama, he suffered a knee injury to his right knee. The injury occurred in the fourth game of the 1964 season. He played through the injury and won a national championship. Namath struggled with knee injuries his entire career. When the New York Jets drafted him in 1965, he underwent knee surgery in January 1965. The New York media highly publicized the surgery because of Namath's potential and the severity of knee injuries to an NFL player's future.

Joe Namath's knee brace is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

During his time in the bright lights of New York, Joe Namath became the gold standard for what a superstar athlete could accomplish. Inspired by his Sports Illustrated cover, Namath's teammates nicknamed him Broadway Joe. The nickname stuck thanks to his flashy play and newsworthy off-field antics of partying and acting in the offseason. 

The Jets organization used the New York media to its advantage and let Namath have the spotlight. On the field, Namath set the league on fire. 

After an 0-5-1 start, Namath took over at quarterback for the rest of the 1965 season. Namath launched 18 touchdowns and 2,220 yards while showing poise and leadership. The Jets finished the season 5-8-1. Broadway Joe was named the AFL Rookie of the Year. His future in the AFL was bright. 

Namath shattered the record books in 1967. He showed off his strong arm and threw for a record-breaking 4,007 yards and 26 touchdowns. He became the first quarterback to pass for over 4,000 yards and the only quarterback to do so in a 14-game season. While quarterbacks pass for over 4,000 yards all the time in the NFL today, Namath's record was a big deal during its time. 

After leading the league in interceptions for back-to-back seasons (1966, '67), Namath was on pace to lead the league for a third consecutive season. He threw 12 interceptions through the first five games, including five against the Buffalo Bills. The Jets limped to a 3-2 start. In the middle of this slump, the Jets returned to the fundamentals of running the ball and playing good defense. Namath became a great game manager by choosing smart and safe passes over deep bombs. 

The Jets turned their season around and went 11-3. Namath and Co. went head-to-head with the Oakland Raiders in the AFL Championship. Namath tossed 266 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning six-yard touchdown pass to Don Maynard. The Jets won a nail-biter, 27-23, and advanced to Super Bowl III. 

The Jets would face the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. The NFL champion Colts were 19-point favorites heading into the game. During the late 1960s, the NFL was considered superior to the AFL, and many analysts thought the AFL had years of catching up to do before it could compete. After having to hear his team was going to lose for days, Broadway Joe guaranteed a win for the Jets at a press conference before the game. This guarantee would soon become legendary.

The Colts underestimated their opponent. And the Jets took advantage. Namath showed confidence playing against his idol, Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas, and was surgical all game, passing for 206 yards as the Jets won, 16-7. The Jets' offense frustrated the Colts' defense all game long. Namath was named Super Bowl MVP for his performance.

The Jets winning Super Bowl III is considered one of the greatest upsets in football history. It was the first time an AFL team beat an NFL team in the Super Bowl. 

After winning Super Bowl III, Namath continued his dominance by winning the AFL MVP award in 1969. He was named MVP in back-to-back seasons (1968, '69). At this stage of his career, Namath was the best player in the AFL by far. 

The NFL and the AFL merged in 1970. This shaped the modern NFL we know today. Joe Namath and the Jets' dominant performance in Super Bowl III helped the 1970 merger happen. From that point on, the AFL had to be respected. They could outbid the NFL for players and finally be at the same talent level as the NFL. Joe Namath's Jets changed the course of NFL history forever. 

Broadway Joe testing his luck in Hollywood almost seemed inevitable the minute he touched down in The Big Apple. He was the league's biggest superstar, and he played in the biggest market. In 1969, he hosted The Joe Namath Show. This experience opened doors for Namath to land other Hollywood gigs. He starred in several movies, including C.C. and Company, The Last Rebel, and Avalanche Express.

He saw a lot of success in television. Broadway Joe made appearances on hit shows like The Dean Martin Show, The Brady Bunch, The Waverly Wonders, The Love Boat, and The A-Team.

Namath had the makings of a star athlete-actor. 

Namath struggled with knee injuries his entire career. He underwent four knee operations with the Jets. Regardless, he showed his toughness and played through it. This changed in 1970. He played in just five games that year, and he also played in just four games in 1971. In fact, he only played in 28 of 58 possible games from 1970-73 as injuries took over his career. It's a shame the NFL never got to see a healthy Namath. His knee injuries started in college.

Namath recovered in 1972 and had one of his finest statistical seasons. He led the league in passing yards (2,816) and passing touchdowns (19). When it was all said and done, Namath made the Pro Bowl. The Jets went 7-7 and missed the playoffs.

On September 24, 1972, Namath outdueled Johnny Unitas, his childhood idol, in a shootout. Namath had a great outing as he threw for 496 yards and six touchdowns. Unitas tossed 376 yards and two touchdowns. The Jets won the game, 44-34. This classic game is now known as one of the best quarterback duels. 

After missing eight games in the 1973 season, Namath made a comeback and passed for 2,616 yards and 20 touchdowns. Broadway Joe won the Comeback Player of the Year in a feel-good NFL moment. The league's aging star showed the world he still had a little left in the tank.

Broadway Joe's 13-year run in The Big Apple ended in 1976. Namath finished the campaign with 1,090 yards, four touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. 

Namath is not only the greatest quarterback in Jets history but also one of the best players to ever suit up for the white and green. He is the only quarterback to win a Super Bowl with the Jets. All these years later, the Jets are still looking for his replacement. 

At 34, Namath was waived by the Jets and signed with the Los Angeles Rams. He wanted to reignite his career in the sun-soaked city. Namath was benched in Week 4 after throwing four interceptions against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. Namath never played another down of football. Regardless of how his career may've ended, Namath is still an NFL legend. All of the hits caught up with him, and he wasn't the same anymore. 

Joe Namath was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985. Broadway Joe threw 27,663 yards and 173 touchdowns in 140 games. While his completion percentage (50.1%) and passer rating (65.5) aren't up to par with today's standards, Namath was still one of the best quarterbacks of the 1960s.

Broadway Joe lived life to the fullest. When he wasn't playing football for the Jets, he was enjoying New York nightlife. His bachelor lifestyle was well documented by the New York sports media. He settled down in 1984 and married Deborah Mays, and they had two kids together. 

When he hung up the cleats, Namath continued to get acting roles. He also landed several endorsement deals as a retired player. To this day, he is still one of the most famous quarterbacks in NFL history.

Namath struggled with alcoholism for much of his adult life. The pain from numerous injuries during his playing career, and the pressure of being the franchise quarterback in New York, led Namath to alcohol as an escape. Before his NFL days, Bear Bryant suspended Namath for drinking at a college party at Alabama. Showing up to practice and games hungover from the night before became part of the Broadway Joe legend. 

He quit drinking for his marriage. He started drinking again in 2000 after getting divorced. Namath hit rock bottom during the Jets' Monday Night Football game in 2003. He told journalist Suzy Kolber, "I want to kiss you. I could care less about the team struggling" in a wildly inappropriate interview. The MNF controversy led Namath to seek help for his addiction. Now, he is sober and has become a beacon of hope for others. 

Joe Namath was larger than life. He had swagger. He brought entertainment and athletics together. Most importantly, he could back up his flashy ways with his rocket arm. He was perfect for the bright lights of New York City. It's difficult to separate the man from the myth and the myth from the man. But one thing is for sure: There will never be another Joe Namath.