Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Joe Namath Saddened By Death Of Legendary NFL Teammate

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Mar 11, 2026 6:50 PM ET

The NFL world lost an unsung legend on Tuesday as former New York Jets running back Matt Snell passed away at the age of 84.

Snell ranked among the best players in the Jets' short history and was one of the best that the old AFL had during his nine-year career with the team. He is most famous for scoring the Jets' lone touchdown in their historic upset over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

But while Snell's 121 yards probably should have earned him Super Bowl MVP honors, the award went to Jets QB Joe Namath. On Wednesday, Namath released a statement offering his condolences on Snell's passing.

"I'm really sad to hear that he passed. Matt was not only a hell of a player — he was a terrific teammate and without him we wouldn't have had a chance to win a championship," Namath said, via Jets head of news strategy Eric Allen.

Joe Namath on Matt Snell: 'I'm really sad to hear that he passed. Matt was not only a hell of a player — he was a terrific teammate and without him we wouldn't have had a chance to win a championship.' https://t.co/F43lcd2K0E
— Eric Allen (@eallenjets) March 11, 2026

Snell arrived in New York one year before Namath and went on to win Rookie of the Year honors in 1964. He would also earn All-AFL and AFL All-Star honors on multiple occasions.

At the time of his retirement in 1972, he had over 4,000 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Sadly, Snell had a falling out with the Jets after his retirement. He did not attend his own Ring of Honor induction in 2015.

Jan 12, 1969; Miami, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; New York Jets running back #41 Matt Snell in action during Super Bowl III against the Baltimore Colts at the Orange Bowl. The Jets defeated the Colts 16-7 as Snell rushed for 121 yards and scored 1 touchdown. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © Copyright 1969 Malcolm Emmons© Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images

The Unsung Hero Of Super Bowl III

Super Bowl III remains the greatest upset in NFL history due to the context behind that game. And while Jets QB Joe Namath made the biggest waves with his iconic “guarantee,”
Namath didn’t even throw a pass in the fourth quarter of a very close game. That was because Snell was busy rushing for 121 yards and the Jets’ only touchdown in their historic win.

In almost any other context, Snell might have been the MVP of that all-important Super Bowl.

The Jets’ win in Super Bowl III paved the way for the AFL-NFL merger shortly afterwards. Had the Jets lost, it’s possible that the two leagues might have destroyed each other in their decade-long battle for football supremacy.

In a way, we owe Snell’s heroics in the Super Bowl for the league we know and love today.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: