in full Joseph William Namath
born May 31, 1943, Beaver Falls, Pa., U.S.
U.S. football quarterback.
He developed his quarterback skills at the University of Alabama. An exceptional passer, in his third season with the New York Jets (1965–77) he threw for a record 4,007 yards. Though long hampered by knee injuries, by the time of his retirement he had set seasonal and career records for most games with 300 yards or more gained in passing. The nickname "Broadway Joe" reflected his fondness for New York nightlife.