Joe Namath

Joe William Namath was born on May 31, 1943 in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. Nicknamed "Broadway Joe," he is known as one of the best football players in American History. In high school Joe excelled in many sports. He had wanted to play baseball, but because his mother wanted him to get a college education, he concentrated on football. He ended up going to the University of Alabama on a full scholarship. There he played football under legendary coach Bear Bryant.

Joe left college before graduating to play professional football. He was picked in the draft by both the St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL and the New York Jets of the AFL. He went with the Jets, receiving a sign-on payment for an amount that was a record for pro football players at the time.

He spent most of his professional career with the Jets. During his time with them he was the first quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards in a season. He was an AFL All Star four times. All during his career he had knee problems. Sometimes he would have to have his knee drained before he could finish a game. When the Jets won Super Bowl III by beating the Baltimore Colts in what is considered one of the greatest upsets of all time, Namath became the only quarterback to ever start and win a national championship in college and then start and win a Super Bowl.

He also led his team to beat the Oakland Raiders in the 1968 AFL title game. That same year he received the Hickok Belt as top professional athlete of the year. After his years of football were over, Joe went back to the University of Alabama and earned his college degree at the age of 64.