1969 Topps #100 Joe Namath SGC 8.5

Description

1969 Topps #100 Joe Namath card graded NM-MT+ 8.5 by SGC.  Joe played collegiately at Alabama from1962-1964.  He would lead the Crimson Tide to the 1964 National Title.  He compiled 203 completions for 2,713 yards and 25 touchdowns to 19 interceptions during his time at Alabama.  He was deferred from military service during Vietnam due to a knee injury from playing football.  He would be draft by both the NFL and AFL in the 1965 Drafts for both Football Leagues.  He was selected 12th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in the NFL Draft and 1st overall by the New York Jets in the AFL Draft.  He would sign with the Jets after winning the 1964 Orange Bowl.  He would be given the nickname of “Broadway Joe” by teammate Sherman Plunkett after Joe was on the cover of Sports Illustrated.  He would win the 1965 AFL Rookie of the Year award.  He would be a four-time all-star in the AFL from 1965 to 1969.  He would set an AFL and NFL record of 4,007 passing yards in a 14-game season in 1968 (a record that would be broken in a 16-game season by Dan Fouts in 1979).  Namath would go on to win the 1968 AFL Championship over the defending champions Oakland Raiders.  He would go on to predict a Super Bowl III win by the Jets in 1969, which he would deliver on with a win over the NFL’s Baltimore Colts.  He would play from 1965-1976 for the NY Jets and play for the LA Rams in 1977 to finish his career.  He would play in the 1972 Pro Bowl, his only selection.  He won the 1974 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.  He would join the Jets ring of Honor and have his number 12 retired by them.  He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.  He would compile 1,886 completions for 27,663 yards with 173 touchdowns to 220 interceptions over 13 seasons.