Joe Namath is a former American football quarterback who played in the NFL from 1965 to 1977. He was born on May 31, 1943, in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and played college football at the University of Alabama. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the first round of the 1965 AFL Draft and played for the team from 1965 to 1976. He also played for the Los Angeles Rams in 1977. Namath is best known for his guarantee of a victory in Super Bowl III and his subsequent delivery on that guarantee, leading the Jets to a historic upset win over the Baltimore Colts. He was the first quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards in a season and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985. Namath is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history and remains an iconic figure in the sport. After retiring from football, he became a successful businessman and television commentator.
Super Bowl III was played on January 12, 1969, between the American Football League (AFL) champion New York Jets and the National Football League (NFL) champion Baltimore Colts. Before the game, Jets quarterback Joe Namath famously guaranteed a victory, stating that the Jets would win the game. Despite being 18-point underdogs, the Jets defeated the Colts 16-7 in a major upset, with Namath earning the game’s Most Valuable Player award. The victory solidified the AFL’s place as a legitimate league and helped to establish the Super Bowl as one of the premier sporting events in the world. Namath’s guarantee and the Jets’ victory in Super Bowl III remain one of the most memorable moments in NFL history and are widely considered to be one of the greatest upsets in sports history.