Fansided

Ranking the 30 Best NFL QB-WR duos in the modern era

By Brad Weiss

ANAHEIM, CA - CIRCA 1991:Joe Montana (16) of the San Francisco 49ers congratulates Jerry Rice (80) on his TD catch against the Los Angeles Rams at Anaheim Stadium circa 1991 in Anaheim,California on November 25th 1991. (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - CIRCA 1991:Joe Montana (16) of the San Francisco 49ers congratulates Jerry Rice (80) on his TD catch against the Los Angeles Rams at Anaheim Stadium circa 1991 in Anaheim,California on November 25th 1991. (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images) /
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New York Jets unveil a new sign honoring Joe Klecko along with Joe Namath, Don Maynard, and Weeb Eubank during the halftime ceremony retiring their jerseys. The Patriots defeated the Jets 23-7 on December 26, 2004, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Ralph Waclawicz/Getty Images)
New York Jets unveil a new sign honoring Joe Klecko along with Joe Namath, Don Maynard, and Weeb Eubank during the halftime ceremony retiring their jerseys. The Patriots defeated the Jets 23-7 on December 26, 2004, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Ralph Waclawicz/Getty Images) /

30 Best NFL QB-WR duos in the modern era

No. 17: Joe Namath and Don Maynard

When it comes to the New York Jets, there has certainly not been a lot of winning, as they have not won a Super Bowl title since Super Bowl III. In that game, one of the more legendary in league history, Jets quarterback Joe Namath guaranteed a victory over the Baltimore Colts, a heavily-favored team led by another Hall of Fame quarterback in Johnny Unitas.

However, while that Super Bowl win is the thing everyone remembers, the play of Don Maynard in the AFL title game to clinch a spot in Super Bowl III got the Jets there. In that game, Maynard hauled in six catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns, setting the stage for the greatest guarantee in the history of sports.

That huge game by Maynard was not his only accomplishment for the Jets, as he was their best wide receiver during Namath’s time as the starter. In Broadway Joe’s first season, Maynard led the AFL with 14 touchdowns, while leading the league in receiving yards two seasons later.

Namath is the face of the Jets franchise, as their greatest player ever, but without Maynard, who knows how good he would have been in the big city.

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