Joe Namath is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, one of the best quarterbacks for the New York Jets, and one of the most famous former football players in the world. He had a great college football career at the University of Alabama before being drafted and signed by the New York Jets of the American Football League.
He immediately brought respect and excitement to the Jets and the entire AFL with his skills on the field and personality off the field. The defining moment in his career came with his prediction of a Super Bowl III victory for the Jets over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts.
Here’s a look at five little-known facts about the career of Jets great Joe Namath.
#1 – The first of many
Joe Namath’s first touchdown pass in professional football occurred in week two of 1965, his rookie season, in a 14-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The pass came in the fourth quarter and went for 37 yards to Don Maynard.
#2 – Good consistency!
During his career, Namath was very consistent. He threw for 173 total regular season touchdowns over 13 seasons. He threw 87 during home games and 86 away from home.
#3 – Run faster Caster!
The longest touchdown pass he would throw in his entire career came during the 1974 season in the fourth quarter of a 21–17 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The play was 89 yards and the pass was caught by Rich Caster.
#4 – Who caught more?
Nobody caught more touchdown passes from Joe Namath than the great Don Maynard. During their time together they combined for 42 regular season touchdowns.
#5 – The Los Angeles Season
Joe Namath ended his career with one final season in the NFL playing for the Los Angeles Rams. He threw just three touchdown passes there and those are the only TDs he threw that didn’t go to Jets players. The Rams who caught Namath’s touchdown passes were Harold Jackson, Terry Nelson and Lawrence McCutcheon.