Playing 14-game seasons before the rules were adjusted to benefit the passing game, and basically missing a couple of entire seasons.
Obviously the worst thing about Namath is how often he was injured. His achievements would have been that much greater but for that.
That and the team kind of went to hell around him after Ewbank retired. My first year watching the Jets was 1974, they went 7-7 but had to win the last six to do it after a 1-7 start. Then it was a couple of 3-11s and off to LA. The line was old and beat up, Boozer was old, the WRs average, Joe was on his own with no mobility and no help. A lot of times he got pressured and just had to drop and take sacks, it was sad.
Namath Namath was by far the best Quarterback to ever play for the Jets. Second best would be a close tie between Todd and O'Brien. Third would have to be Pennington.
I liked Todd but he was not good in that postseason. We were carried by Freeman and the D to Miami and Todd threw it away. How many great QBs have we drafted since Namath? "great"? I don't even think Namath had a "great" career so I would say the answer is none but we've drafted some really good QBs like O'Brien and Chad.
Kenny O'brien Kenny O was a very good quarterback who went toe to toe with Isotoner/cocaine Marino for years.
