Joe Namath’s place in football history is not limited to his fine record of 12 seasons with the New York Jets and one swan-song year at the end of his career with the Los Angeles Rams. Namath was also in the thick of the 1960s rivalry between the National and American Football Leagues.

Drafted by the NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals, Namath raised eyebrows when he signed with the AFL’s New York Jets, in no small part, one must assume, because of the then astronomical $400,000 contract he was offered. That, and his reputation as a ladies man, earned him the nickname Broadway Joe.

On the field, the former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback, who played for legendary coach Bear Bryant, excelled in his first season, earning Rookie of the Year honors. In 1967, h...

Namath’s idol, Johnny Unitas, was on the Colts bench until late in that game, but it was Namath’s 17 of 28 completions—which got Matt Snell close enough to score a touchdown and Jim Turner close enough to kick three field goals—that kept the pressure on the Colts. Namath was named the game’s Most Valuable Player and gave the AFL its first Super Bowl victory.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985, Namath has long been a favorite of football-memorabilia collectors. Indeed, few vintage football cards are as iconic as his vertical, 1965 Topps rookie card.

The illustration of the young Namath, with an all-business expression on his face, floats on a bright yellow background—the words “NEW YORK” hover above his head like a Broadway marquee. In fact, all of Namath’s Topps cards from the 1960s are collectible, as are recent items, from signed jerseys and footballs to autographed photos.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Interviews & Articles

Going Deep for Football Cards

I collected football cards when I was a kid, back in the late ’60s, early ’70s. Then I set them in the closet for about 15 to 20 y… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Vintage Football Card Gallery

Vintage Football Card Gallery

This great database of pro and collegiate football cards from the 1950s and 1960s offers scanned images of cards fo… [read review or visit site]

U. Michigan Football Ticket Museum

U. Michigan Football Ticket Museum

Brian Powers' excellent gallery of over a century of Wolverines ticket stubs (1900 to 2005), not to mention a lot o… [read review or visit site]



Other Great Reference Sites: Football

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 104 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Topps 1966 Joe Namath #96 Psa 8 High End Joe Namath Autographed Signed Jersey New York Jets Coa Hologram Tfc Serial Green2007 Topps Co-signers John Elway Dan Marino Joe Namath Triple Auto Bgs Graded Joe Broadway Namath Signed Inscribed Full Size Authentic Jets Helmet Auto Jsa2011 Panini Gold Standard Joe Namath Card #17 1/5Joe Namath Autographed Signed Jersey Alabama Roll Tide Tfc Hologram 12 College 1972 Topps Joe Namath Ia #343 New York JetsNfl Championship Super Bowl Iii Program Superbowl Joe Namath Guarantees A Win!!2012 National Treasures Joe Namath/tim Tebow/vinny Testaverde Triple Auto /10Joe Namath Topps Supreme 2012 Auto Autograph 1/12010 Topps Tribute Joe Namath Auto Autograph Adr-jn Jets Hof Gold /15 Rare!2008 Joe Namath Upper Deck Premier Inscriptions Auto 1/1 Joe Namath Autograph 2003 Sp Signature Black Ink Psa 10Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, Sonny Jurgensen Signed Nfl Football - C.o.a.Joe Namath 2010 Gridiring Kings Auto Jersey Autograph 23/25 Jets Bv $150 AlabamaJoe Namath Signed Football Joe Namath & Todd & Parker Wilson And Many Other Alabama Tide Stars Signed Book1970 Ny Jets 12" Mego Joe Namath Doll Figure-- Sealed. Mint In Box1966 Topps Joe Namath **psa 6**Joe Namath Signed Nfl Jets Throwback Mini Helmet Gtsm HologramJoe Namath Autographed Rare New York Jets Throwback Mini-helmet2012 National Treasures Joe Namath Tim Tebow Testaverde Triple Auto #/10New York Jets Joe Namath F/s Helmet Autograph2004 Playoff Absolute Joe Namath Auto & Jersey 75/941969 Topps Football Joe Namath #100 New York Jets Psa 82010 Joe Namath Panini Epix Letterman Autograph Auto 43/50 Nfl Jets LegendJoe Namath Autographed Signed Jersey Alabama Roll Tide Coa Hologram 12 College Joe Namath New York Jets Auto Signed 8x10 Photo Coa Psa/dna 100% Guarantee1970 Football 249 Diff , 95% Of Set , Poor / Good , Namath , Starr , Sayers EtcJoe Namath 2003 Autographed Signature Edition Red Ink 30/100 Joe Namath Autographed New York Jets Signed Nfl Football Mini Helmet + CoaJoe Namath Autograph 8x10 PhotoSports Icons Joe Namath Cut Signature~ Autograph 14/26 New York Jets Hof Qb1968 Topps Joe Namath #65 Sharp2001 Playoff Legendary Contenders Joe Namath Auto Autograph Lc-33 Signatures2013 Upper Deck Football Autographed Joe Namath Painted Header Ssp1967 Topps Joe Namath Ny Jets #98 Ex-mtArian Foster Adrian Peterson Joe Namath Chris Johnson Jeresy Auto Autograph Lot2012 National Treasures Joe Namath 09/15 Game Used Jersey Auto New York Jets HofJoe Namath 2011 Topps Triple Threads Relic Card 7/9Joe Namath Autographed New York Jets Mini HelmetJoe Namath Autographed Hand Signed Cachet EnvelopeVtg 70's Poly Disco Button Up Shirt Joe Namath Arrow Ship Graphic Print L Usa1970 Topps Football Partial Set / Lot Of 51 Cards Namath Unitas Butkus Joe Namath Autograph 8 X 10 New York Jets Auto CoaVintage Joe Namath 70's Xl Sz Ls Disco Shirt New!!!1969 Original Photo Joe Namath Jets Super Bowl Iii Guarantee Delivered !Joe Namath, Game Used Jersey Patch Topps Triple Threads #/9 2010 National Treasures Joe Namath Autograph Jersey /25 Ny JetsNy Jets Joe Namath Pro Cut Jersey Sz 48 + 2 Starter Berlin Wi Usa Durene RareRobert Griffin Rg3 Rookie Jersey 1/299 1/1 Plus Joe Namath Magneta Plate /51969 Topps Joe Namath New York Jets #100 Football CardNy Jets Joe Namath Signed Autographed 8 X 10 Photo / White JerseyJoe Namath Playoff Accolades Auto #15/35 - New York JetsAuto Signed Autographed 2011 Topps Precision Joe Namath Jets 10/10Joe Namath 2012 Panini Limited Jumbo Jersey #/49 Jets Hof1970 Topps Super Joe Namath Jets # 33Joe Namath / Don Maynard New York Jets Two-fold Booklet Card Jersey/patch ***awesome*** 2008 Ud Masterpieces Nfl Football Cards 3 Pack Lot Namath AutoJoe Namath New York Jets Rare Autographed Wilson Football * Ga

Recent News: Joe Namath Memorabilia

Source: Google News

Despite Getting 'In Trouble,' Geno Smith Doesn't Regret Playoff Guarantee
CBS Local, May 20th

It seems the Jets — a franchise famous for boasts from Joe Namath (good) and Rex Ryan (not so good) — didn't like that very much. “I've already gotten in trouble for saying some things about, you know, playoffs and all that stuff, which I don't...Read more

Just Because: Joe Namath flexing acting muscles for Brady Bunch
CBS sports.com (blog), May 9th

With Joe Namath's HBO documentary winning a Sports Emmy on Tuesday night, we figured now was the appropriate time to reminisce about a TV appearance for Broadway Joe that perhaps didn't garner as much critical acclaim. Yes, the former Jets star...Read more

Joe Namath-focused documentary earns top honors at Sports Emmy Awards
al.com, May 8th

Joe Namath, seen here at the 2013 NFL Draft, was the subject of "Namath," which won Best Sports Documentary at Tuesday's Sports Emmys. Print · Andrew Gribble | agribble@al.com By Andrew Gribble | agribble@al.com al.com. Email the author | Follow on...Read more

He played for them!?
USA TODAY, May 6th

Joe Namath was the New York Jets. But when the Jets opted to wave Namath after the 1976 season, it wasn't a difficult decision, considering the Jets had gone 4-17 the past two years while paying Broadway Joe $450,000. Despite the harsh turn of events,...Read more

Joe Namath's Odd Behavior at 2013 Draft Conjures Up MNF Memories
Bleacher Report, April 25th

Namath hit the stage and hit it hard Thursday night alongside Phil Simms and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to promote Super Bowl XLVIII. And by “promote,” I mean yell hysterically. The Hall of Famer grabbed the mic and let it drop. “New York!...Read more

Namath: Rex isn't going to last
ESPN (blog), April 25th

Joe Namath believes the Rex Ryan era is coming to an end. "I don't think Rex is going to be back next year," Namath said on "The Michael Kay Show" on ESPN 98.7 FM on Thursday afternoon. Namath, the most famous quarterback in Jets history,...Read more

Wait, did that Broadway Joe Namath special really happen?
Salon, April 24th

International Business Times Sunday's episode of AMC's “Mad Men” threw a mixture of accurate historical details into its skillfully written storylines, and viewers — as usual — made sport out of separating the fact from the fiction. One subplot...Read more

'Mad Men' Season 6 'To Have And To Hold': Did That Broadway Joe Namath ...
International Business Times, April 22nd

Sunday's episode of AMC's “Mad Men” threw a mixture of accurate historical details into its skillfully written storylines, and viewers -- as usual -- made sport out of separating the fact from the fiction. One subplot centering on the real-life...Read more