Joe Namath's aura during his prime years were that of a Hollywood personality rather than that of an athlete's. Sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll was the lifestyle for the man nicknamed, Broadway Joe, but while he was the party type who was continuously spotted with a hottie on his arm, he also was a major problem on the football field as well. The three-sport high school athlete known for his dunking ability took his talents to the University of Alabama where he played from 1962 to 1964 and stated that residing in Alabama was a culture shock for him being that he grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood in Pennsylvania. However, that didn't stop Namath from leading the Crimson Tide to a 29-4 record during his three-year tenure in Alabama and a national championship in 1964.
In the 1965 NFL Draft, Joe Namath was selected 12th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals while the New York Jets selected Namath 1st overall in the AFL Draft. After negotiations took place, Namath signed a contract with the New York Jets where he would become a local legend and play all but one out of the thirteen seasons of his professional football career. Despite going winless in his first six games as a rookie, Namath was able to scoop up the award for AFL Rookie of the Year. He would then go on to lead the Jets to an AFL Championship win in 1968 while also being named an AFL All-Star four times and AFL MVP twice. Following the AFL-NFL merger in the mid-'60s, Namath also participated in Super Bowl III against the Baltimore Colts, leading the Jets to a 16-7 victory and winning Super Bowl MVP honors. In 132 starts, Namath ended his football career with an overall record of 64-64-4 and a touchdown to interception ratio of 173-220. While some may argue Namath is mediocre at best skill-wise, his celebrity and impact on football culturally have made him an icon.