Even as a lifetime New York Jets fan, I would be be pretty surprised if Joe Namath was ever designated as the "best" quarterback ever. I would love to see it, but there are too many odds against him.
Not that I don't think Broadway Joe wasn't one of the greats, because he most definitely was, but I would be rather shocked that he would make it considering the competition and overall bias against New York sports teams (no doubt inspired by the often lubricious Yankee "legacy").
There was a golden age of sorts in football during a different time in sports (and American life in general). These were the sort of innocent (or perhaps naive) days of the 1970s. I can recall debates with friends about the best teams and best quarterbacks. It always seemed incongruous that my good friends (and fellow New York Mets fans) didn't like the same football team as I did. They were Cowboys, Steelers, and Vikings fans for the most part (the successful teams of that era), and only those teams had the quarterbacks that seemed to be held in highest regard.
First there was Roger Staubach, gunning the ball out of the "shotgun" like nobody's business. Along with Steelers' Terry Bradshaw (having the good fortune to have someone like Franco Harris as a halfback) and Fran Tarkenton of the Vikings (probably the best running quarterback I have ever seen), these were the formidable "stars" during the 70s, leading their teams and seemingly always garnering the spotlight.
Before them came Johnny Unitas, still talked about as the greatest by many fans, and since that time guys like Joe Montana, Brett Favre, and Dan Marino are held in the highest esteem. Still, yesterday Joe Namath wasted no time in mentioning the guy he thought was the best ever: Peyton Manning. In a self-deprecating (and refreshingly sober) manner, Joe forgot his glory days (and his inglorious days of asking ESPN's Suzy Kolber for a kiss) and just spoke from his heart about Manning's skills and grace. Okay, Joe, now you are acting like a real Hall of Famer and all around class act.
In his time, Broadway Joe "Willie" Namath had his share of the glory. Playing in the windswept confines of Shea Stadium (I still think games there were infinitely better and more enjoyable than at the current Jets' home at the Meadowlands in New Jersey), Joe defied the laws of nature and brought his Jets all the way. His off the field antics were as exciting (if not more so than) as when he was in uniform, and what young kid would not have been enamored of this glamorous, hotshot QB who seemed to get the girls, party all the time, and trip the light fantastic all over New York City?
Article comments
1 - Victor Lana
Something I would like to add is that I think this Jets victory was important in another way: it justified the old AFL and made it clear there was no turning back after that (the merger with the NFL coming the following year).
2 - alessandro nicolo
You made your case well but it would indeed be hard to have him as the best ever. Shoot, even top five or ten would be hard.
3 - Victor Lana
That's why I sort of qualify it by saying best quarterback to ever play in Queens, New York. By the way, Joe proved right about Manning (at least judging from last night's game).
4 - John
For all his talent, Namath only ranks 13th on rankopedia.com for "Best Quarterback ever". Marino, Montana and Favre are way way ahead.
5 - Victor Lana
John, my "ranking" of Joe has way more to do with emotional ties to the team and the moment. Namath was "cool" and he was just a lot of fun to watch too. As a kid, that was all that mattered to me.
Actually, I am kind of surprised (happily so) that he would make it into the top 20. Thanks!
6 - alessandro nicolo
Victor, yes read that and subsequently (not to mention conveniently) overlooked that. sorry. guess i was looking for a debate ;<)
7 - Victor Lana
I'm always up for a good debate, Alessandro, but there's nothing to question here. Joe was extremely fortunate to have played in New York that 1968 season and to be in Super Bowl III.
I think that's why he is being so humble now, recognizing that reality and also the superior skills of someone like Manning.
8 - MCH
Come on...everyone knows the best quarterback ever was Terry Bradshaw!
9 - Victor Lana
I guess the best approach is to go by numbers, though that's never the same as seeing a guy play. Some really great ones come to mind making this one a tough call. Another measure of success is the big game itself, which some great QBs never made it to.
10 - alessandro nicolo
Namath was a personality with ability that was perfect for New York during that time. I wish I saw him play. Still love how the Simpsons depicted him and Johnny Unitas. You know what? Bradshaw is a tad under rated. Victor, that is indeed a measure people use. I personally think we way overdo it. It's a team game.
11 - Donnie Marler
Joe Montana is the greatest QB in NFL history, in my humble opinion, bar none.
12 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Having grown up in Brooklyn (I'm still pissed off about the Bums leaving for LaLa land), I was happy to see the Mets grow into a decent team at Shea, and was always happy to see Joe Namath fight his way through the opposing line on those awful knees of his.
We were innocents, Victor, but the times were not innocent at all. They were bitter and guys like Namath took our minds off the travesty and waste of blood we all saw on Channel 2 and Channel 4 every night.
As much as I would wish for Namath to be "the greatest," I watched Brent Favre play for the Cheeseheads, and remember Joe Montana. He made 13th and made us in New York all proud.
Hey, send the old guy an aspirin or two for his troubles for me, Victor... It's cheaper from in the States...
13 - Victor Lana
It's true, Ruvy, for I know Dodger fans who are still fuming. They adopted the Mets but the anger at the Bums leaving is almost equal to how much hate they have for the Yankees.
That said, I think personality does have lots to do with things. Guys like Tom Seaver or Joe Montana or Broadway Joe were well liked and came across in a way that endeared them to fans. A boxer like George Foreman, a golfer like Tiger Woods, a b-ball player like Michael Jordan all transcend the sport they play with that. Talent is a big part of it but not all.
So, in his time, Joe "Willie" Namath rode the crest of the wave. Some of us were lucky to get wet.
14 - tester29
The man had his knees wrecked at a time when "surgery" to correct knee injuries was medival.
The guy had a cannon arm, great vision and touch, and before he was injured he was a 4.5 sprinter. In Broadway Joe's prime, Montana couldn't hold his jock.
It all comes down to the breaks.
15 - RP
Best ever? To me he was. Name a QB who's career (on and off the field) you'd rather see all over again? Joe wasn't just a QB, he was an historical media event. He paved the way for the Michael Jordans, and showed 'em how it was done. If he'd have had good knees and a decent team (like the 1968 Jet's) he could have had a stellar career. Did you know he could dunk backwards in high school before the knees went bad? And could that boy ever sling a football and tilt a scotch! You think Peyton Manning could have stole a chick from Mick Jagger in his prime like Joe did one night in a NY bar? When pigs fly, maybe.
16 - crawhammer
Joe Namath even being mentioned as possibly one of the best quarterbacks ever easily makes him perhaps the most overrated quarterback ever. I mean you've got to be realistic here, his career quarterback rating is an abysmal 65.5, which is worse than even the likes of Kyle Boller, Quincy Carter, Ty Detmer, Rex Grossman, Kordell Stewart, and Marc Wilson. He threw 47 more INTs than TDs in his career. He lead the league in INTs 4 times. He only threw over 20 TDs in a season once (26) and that season he lead the league in INTs with 28. His career Cmp% is barely over 50%.
People make such a big deal about his guarantee in the '68 Super Bowl, but his performance in that game was nothing special (17-28, 206 Yds, 0 TDs), and he embarrassed himself the following year in a playoff game against KC (14-40, 35 Cmp%, 164 Yds, 0 TDs, 3 INTs, and 17.1 QBR). He never made it back the postseason.
Stiff.
17 - john
I think you have to look at Joe in the context of his time. He had a flare for the dramatic; the Hiedi game - the Jets against Oakland - being one example. In one game against the Colts Unitus threw for 490 yards and Namath with no backfield to speak of, threw for more than 500 yards. It is reported that after the game that Johnny told Joe that it was the best game Johnny had every played.