![]() ![]() ![]() So was Namath’s reverence earned because of his fearless play on the field and his charm off of it? Or does a dash of success go a longer way in America’s largest media market, particularly when in service of a franchise whose quarterback history reeks of Richard Todd, Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith? ![]() He lost more games than he won, retiring in 1977 with a career record of 62-63-4. ![]() After the 1969 campaign, the year after winning the Super Bowl, Namath never finished a season with more touchdowns than interceptions. He’d play nine more seasons, three riddled by injuries, and win more than five games in a season just twice. The problem is this: Namath won Super Bowl III when he was 25 years old. He led football in fourth-quarter comebacks three times, game-winning drives twice, and was the first quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in a season, a record that stood until the San Diego Chargers’ Dan Fouts eclipsed it 12 years later. Former Alabama head coach and deity Bear Bryant said Namath was the best athlete he ever coached and 49ers legend Bill Walsh claimed he was the “the most beautiful, accurate, stylish passer with the quickest release I’d ever seen.” He retired a Super Bowl MVP and champion, a two-time AFL MVP (more on the AFL later) and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1985. ![]()
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