New York Jets: 50-Year flashback to Super Bowl III victory
By Cory Kinnan
In preparation for Super Bowl 53, a trip down memory lane will take us back to Super Bowl III, the one and only time the New York Jets have found themselves in the big game.
On Jan. 12, 1969, following a 13-3 1968 campaign under head coach Weeb Ewbank, the New York Jets traveled to Miami to face the Baltimore Colts. The 15-2 Colts, coached by Don Shula and led by Johnny Unitas, entered the Orange Bowl as 18-point favorites over the Jets.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Jets got on the board first in the second with four yard rushing touchdown on the back of fullback Matt Snell. This would be the only points scored in the first half of this highly anticipated Super Bowl. After the slow first half, the second did its best to be even less exciting than the first.
The Jets added to their lead, riding the foot of kicker Jim Turner who hit three second-half field goals as the New York defense stifled Unitas, holding him to only 110 yards, no touchdowns, and picking him off once; the Jets defense forced five turnovers in total. The Colts scored in the fourth quarter on a one-yard rush from Jerry Hill, but it would not be enough as the underdog Jets defeated the Colts 16-7 to win Super Bowl III.
After completing 60 percent of his passes and throwing for 206 yards in this lackluster offensive game, Joe Namath was named Super Bowl MVP. The Jets have been close to returning to a Super Bowl, playing in AFC Championship Games in four times since 1969, losing all four. Their most recent appearance in 2010, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who would go on to win the Super Bowl that season.
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Only time will tell if the current coaching staff and roster have the talent and grit to compete in the AFC East and the New England Patriots moving forward. Under new head coach Adam Gase, franchise quarterback Sam Darnold, and the third overall pick in the upcoming draft, the Jets hope to have their foundation built to return to the playoffs and again compete for a championship.