Super Bowl III

Lore & Background

Leading into the game, the football landscape was defined by deep skepticism toward the American Football League. Many sports writers and fans believed AFL teams were inferior to their NFL counterparts, expecting the Baltimore Colts to defeat the Jets by a wide margin. The Colts had dismantled the Cleveland Browns 34–0 in the NFL Championship Game and boasted a stellar defense that allowed only seven touchdowns in ten consecutive wins. In contrast, the Jets had defeated the Oakland Raiders 27–23 in the AFL Championship Game. The point spread fluctuated between 17.5 and 19.5 points against New York during the week. Despite the odds, quarterback Joe Namath famously appeared at the Miami Touchdown Club three days before kickoff to personally guarantee a Jets victory. His team backed up his words by controlling the game, building a 16–0 lead in the fourth quarter through a touchdown run by Matt Snell and three field goals by Jim Turner.

In Their Own Story

The game turned on pivotal moments of execution and turnovers. Colts quarterback Earl Morrall threw three interceptions before being replaced by Johnny Unitas late in the contest. Unitas led the Colts to their only touchdown during the final minutes, but it was too little too late. The Jets' defense held firm, securing a 16–7 win that would stand as a historic anomaly: until Super Bowl LIII, the Jets remained the only winning team in Super Bowl history to score exactly one touchdown (an offensive run by Matt Snell). Joe Namath completed 17 of 28 passes for 206 yards. He was named the game's Most Valuable Player, becoming the first player in Super Bowl history to win the award without personally scoring or throwing a touchdown. This victory cemented the Jets' place as the only team with an active championship appearance drought ranking third longest in the NFL as of 2026.

Reader's Guide

For New York Jets fans, Super Bowl III is more than a game; it is their sole Super Bowl victory and appearance to date. The matchup itself holds a unique distinction: barring future realignment or playoff format changes, this specific pairing of the Jets and Colts cannot occur again in the Super Bowl because both teams now reside in the American Football Conference (AFC). The game took place at the Miami Orange Bowl, a venue that hosted the event after owners rejected New Orleans due to financial issues with the Saints and rental fee mix-ups. As the only time the same stadium hosted back-to-back Super Bowls (II and III), the location is etched in history. Fans can study how Namath's guarantee shifted momentum or analyze how the Jets' defense neutralized a Colts offense that had scored 402 points during the regular season, allowing just 144.

Did You Know?

• Super Bowl IV was the first game to officially use the 'Super Bowl' trademark in its branding and promotion.
• Joe Namath became the first player in Super Bowl history to be named MVP without personally scoring or throwing a touchdown.
• Several Super Bowl winners have scored exactly one touchdown, including the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl IX.
• As of 2026, this remains the Jets' only Super Bowl victory and appearance.
• This is the only Super Bowl matchup that cannot occur again due to both teams currently playing in the same conference (AFC).