was born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, on May 31, 1943. An all-round athlete in high school, Joe excelled in basketball, baseball, and football -- leading the football team to an undefeated season in his senior year. Upon graduation in 1960, Namath received offers from six Major League Baseball teams, in addition to numerous offers from college football programs. He initially decided upon the University of Maryland's football program, but was rejected because of his low college-board scores. He then accepted a scholarship to play for Bear Bryant at the University of Alabama.On January 1, 1963, he led Alabama to a 17-0 Orange Bowl victory over the University of Oklahoma. A knee injury sidelined him in 1964, and he was unable to play in the 1965 Orange Bowl, which Alabama lost to the University of Texas.

Drafted by both the AFL's New York Jets and the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals in 1965, Namath ultimately signed a $400,000 contract with the Jets. Twenty-three days after signing, Namath underwent surgery to repair cartilage and ligaments in his right knee. He recovered from the surgery well enough to make his first appearance as a professional player in the second quarter of the second game of the season, on September 18, against the Kansas City Chiefs. He made his first start the very next week, on September 26, against the Buffalo Bills. He went on to win the AFL Rookie of the Year award.

In 1967, Namath became the first quarterback to pass for more than 4,000 yards in one season. He also led the l