January 12, 1969 - Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida - Super Bowl III, the day the AFL gained some respect. Super Bowl III pitted the AFL Champions, the New York Jets, against the NFL’s heavily favored Baltimore Colts. The most famous artists of this game may have been the confident promise of the ever-trend-setting Jets Quarterback Joe Namath, who declared in pre-game interviews that the Jets would win the game, according to the Bleacher Report. He gave it as a guarantee! It was almost a laughable joke at the time as the Colts were loaded with Johnny Unitas at quarterback, and his backup was the legendary Earl Morrall. The Colt's head coach was Don Shula, how could they lose to this team from what many considered an inferior league? The Jets, of course, had Colt's former coach, Weeb Ewbank, at the helm, who once led the Baltimore squad to the NFL Title in the Greatest Game Ever Played, the 1958 NFL Championship against the New York Giants. Well, Namath backed up his claim of victory by setting the football world on its ear as the New York Jets upset the Baltimore Colts, 16-7. The MVP of the game was one of Joe Willie Namath of the NY Jets; how appropriate that was!
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Super Bowl III
The 1922 Rose Bowl
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Jan 12, 1969 Super Bowl III Jets vs Colts
On January 12, 1969, the football world witnessed a seismic shift at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Super Bowl III pitted the upstart American Football League champions, the New York Jets, against the mighty Baltimore Colts, a powerhouse of the established National Football League. The Colts, boasting legendary quarterback Johnny Unitas and led by the esteemed coach Don Shula, were overwhelming favorites. However, the brash young Jets quarterback, Joe Namath, boldly declared his team would emerge victorious, a prediction met with widespread disbelief.
Namath's "guarantee" fueled a national debate, further emphasizing the perceived gulf between the two leagues. The Colts, with their storied history and star-studded roster, were expected to easily dismantle the Jets. Yet, against all odds, Namath and the Jets delivered a stunning 16-7 upset. This landmark victory not only silenced the doubters but also forever altered the landscape of professional football, proving the AFL's legitimacy and ushering in a new era of parity.
Super Bowl III transcended the game itself, becoming a cultural phenomenon. The AFL versus NFL games of the past ended on this day as the AFL rose to equal footing with the senior league. The NFL was truly unified and the championship would become a National Holiday of sorts in the near future.
Namath, the charismatic and confident quarterback, became a national icon. His victory cemented his status as a superstar and inspired a generation of athletes to believe in themselves and defy expectations. The Jets' triumph shattered the myth of NFL dominance and paved the way for the eventual merger of the two leagues, creating the modern-day NFL we know today.
Namath's "guarantee" fueled a national debate, further emphasizing the perceived gulf between the two leagues. The Colts, with their storied history and star-studded roster, were expected to easily dismantle the Jets. Yet, against all odds, Namath and the Jets delivered a stunning 16-7 upset. This landmark victory not only silenced the doubters but also forever altered the landscape of professional football, proving the AFL's legitimacy and ushering in a new era of parity.
Super Bowl III transcended the game itself, becoming a cultural phenomenon. The AFL versus NFL games of the past ended on this day as the AFL rose to equal footing with the senior league. The NFL was truly unified and the championship would become a National Holiday of sorts in the near future.
Namath, the charismatic and confident quarterback, became a national icon. His victory cemented his status as a superstar and inspired a generation of athletes to believe in themselves and defy expectations. The Jets' triumph shattered the myth of NFL dominance and paved the way for the eventual merger of the two leagues, creating the modern-day NFL we know today.
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Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer
We invite you to take a ride through 1920's sports history in the audio drama that takes the listener through the sounds and legendary events of the era through the eyes of a young newspaper journalist. You will feel like you were there!
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Gridiron Legacy: Pro Football's Missing Origin Story
Author Gregg Ficery tells the story of the beginnings of Pro Football through the pro football career of his Great Grandfather, Bob Shiring
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Sports Jersey Dispatch
If you like remembering players of the NFL by their numbers then you may also enjoy going uniform number by number in other team sports as well. We have it for you on our other website in baseball, basketball, hockey and more on the Sports Jersey Dispatch.
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Bears versus Cardinals: The NFL's Oldest Rivalry
Author Joe Ziemba the master historian of football in Chicago has released another beauty. It is titled Bears versus Cardinals: The NFL's Oldest Rivalry.
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