New York Jets all-time Mount Rushmore

QB Joe Namath (1965-76)

There was no suspense here as any Jets’ fan worth their salt knows that Joe Namath belongs on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore. Besides being the only quarterback to win a Super Bowl in Jets’ history, Namath also made his mark on football as well.

The AFL played a key role in the passing revolution that has taken over football, and Namath was at the epicenter of it. Namath became the first professional quarterback to pass for over 4,000 yards in a season in 1967 when he hit that mark in 14 games.

The Jets became one of football’s marquee franchises with Namath under center, a fact that was cemented during the 1968 season. Namath helped guide the Jets past the Oakland Raiders and into Super Bowl III, where they were set to take on the mighty Baltimore Colts.

The Jets were massive underdogs and that bothered Namath, who guaranteed that his team would beat the Colts in the game. Namath backed up his words with a steady performance in the big game, helping the Jets shock Baltimore to win one of the most significant games in NFL history.

Injuries ended up wrecking Namath’s career, costing a ton of games and the opportunity to guide New York to a second championship. That doesn’t diminish the impact Namath had on the franchise and his deserving place on the Jets’ Mount Rushmore.