Super Bowl III
The National Football League awarded Super Bowl III to Miami on the 14th of May 1968. This decision came during owners meetings held in Atlanta. Two cities were considered for the game: New Orleans and Miami. New Orleans had been reported as the favorite to host the event. It was believed that commissioner Pete Rozelle promised the game to Louisiana congressman Hale Boggs and senator Russell B. Long. These politicians helped pass crucial antitrust exemption legislation allowing the AFL-NFL merger.
Owners rejected any potential quid pro quo when selecting Miami instead. The expansion Saints lost money in their first season and faced public front office shakeups. A mix-up in the Tulane Stadium rental fee also dissuaded the league from choosing New Orleans. Miami hosted sold-out Super Bowl II just four months earlier. That success made all accounts view it as a known commodity. Rozelle made it clear that Miami was not positioned to become the permanent home for the Super Bowl.
The National Football League dominated professional football from its origins after World War I. Rival leagues crumbled or merged with it over time. When the American Football League began play in 1960, it was the fourth to challenge the older NFL. Unlike previous challengers, this AFL commanded sufficient financial resources to survive. One factor was becoming the first league to sign a television contract. Individual franchises previously signed agreements with networks to televise games.
After the 1964 season, a well-publicized bidding war culminated with the signing of Alabama quarterback Joe Namath by the AFL's New York Jets. Fearing that bidding wars would increase labor costs, NFL owners obtained a merger agreement with the AFL in June 1966. This agreement provided for a common draft, interleague play in the pre-season, and a world championship game following each season. The two leagues had an unequal number of teams under the new merger agreement. Eventually three NFL teams agreed to move over to join ten AFL franchises in the American Football Conference.
Baltimore Colts finished the regular season with an NFL-best 13-1 record. Long-time starting quarterback Johnny Unitas suffered a preseason injury to his throwing arm. He was replaced by Earl Morrall who led the league in passer rating during the regular season. Coach Don Shula decided to keep Morrall in the starting lineup after Unitas became healthy enough to play. The Colts won ten games in a row including four shutouts. They allowed only seven touchdowns during those ten games.
The Jets finished the regular season with an 11-3 record. Quarterback Joe Namath threw for 3,147 yards during the regular season but threw more interceptions than touchdowns. Wide receiver George Sauer recorded 66 receptions for 1,141 yards and three touchdowns. Fullback Matt Snell was the top rusher on the team with 747 yards and six touchdowns. Kicker Jim Turner made 34 field goals and 43 extra points for a combined total of 145 points. Several Jets players had been cut by NFL teams before joining the organization.
Three days before the game, an intoxicated Joe Namath appeared at the Miami Touchdown Club. He boldly predicted to the audience that they would win the game. Namath stated directly: "We're gonna win the game. I guarantee it." This statement came in response to a rowdy Colts supporter who boasted the Colts would easily defeat the Jets. Coach Weeb Ewbank later joked that he could have shot Namath for making such a public prediction.
Sportswriter Dave Anderson did not think the remark was notable because Namath had said similar things during the week. An article by Luther Evans of the Miami Herald made the statement famous instead. The Colts linebacker Mike Curtis recalled that the team sort of laughed at Namath's guarantee. The AFL champions shared the confident feelings of their quarterback. Most of the Jets considered the Raiders better than the Colts despite barely beating them in the AFL title game.
Joe Namath completed 17 out of 28 passes for 206 yards during Super Bowl III. Matt Snell rushed for 121 yards on 30 carries with one touchdown. George Sauer caught eight passes for 133 yards. Randy Beverly became the first player in Super Bowl history to record two interceptions. Earl Morrall threw three interceptions before being replaced by Johnny Unitas late in the third quarter.
The Jets controlled the majority of the game building a 16-0 lead by the fourth quarter. They scored via a touchdown run by Matt Snell and three field goals by Jim Turner. Baltimore allowed only seven points throughout the entire match. The Jets defense kept the Colts offense from scoring for most of the game. Unitas led the Colts to its only touchdown during the last few minutes of play. The final score was 16-7 in favor of New York.
NBC broadcast the game in the United States on the 12th of January 1969. Curt Gowdy handled play-by-play duties joined by color commentators Al DeRogatis and Kyle Rote. Jim Simpson reported from the sidelines while Pat Summerall conducted player interviews for the pregame show. Gowdy later called it the most memorable game he ever called because of its historical significance.
Forty-one point six six million people watched the game on television resulting in a rating of 36. The market share reached 70 percent despite blackout rules preventing live telecast within Miami itself. The original NBC broadcast aired later as part of the NFL Network Super Bowl Classics series. Astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders led the Pledge of Allegiance after returning from their Moon mission just eighteen days prior.
Baltimore defensive back Bobby Boyd remained bitter about the loss for his entire life. In a 2010 interview he said he had nightmares about the game for a long time. He would wake up angry thinking why they did not try different strategies. Eventually the dreams stopped but he stated he would think about that game until the day he died. He passed away in 2017.
Colts lineman Bubba Smith alleged in 1983 that the game was rigged to allow the Jets to win so the merger could proceed smoothly. Smith never offered evidence to support these claims and charges were never corroborated by anyone. His old coach Don Shula flatly rejected them accusing Smith of making them up to sensationalize his book. Several players including Mike Curtis said they have never gotten over that loss and never will. They described it as humiliation to be kind.
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Common questions
Why was Super Bowl III awarded to Miami instead of New Orleans?
The National Football League selected Miami over New Orleans because the Saints lost money in their first season and faced public front office shakeups. A mix-up in the Tulane Stadium rental fee also dissuaded the league from choosing New Orleans. Miami hosted a sold-out Super Bowl II just four months earlier which made it a known commodity.
When did Joe Namath guarantee that the Jets would win Super Bowl III?
Joe Namath appeared at the Miami Touchdown Club three days before the game on the 12th of January 1969 to make his prediction. He stated directly to the audience that they would win the game and guaranteed victory against the Colts. This statement became famous after an article by Luther Evans of the Miami Herald published it.
What were the final statistics for Joe Namath during Super Bowl III?
Joe Namath completed 17 out of 28 passes for 206 yards during Super Bowl III. Matt Snell rushed for 121 yards on 30 carries with one touchdown while George Sauer caught eight passes for 133 yards. The Jets won the match with a final score of 16-7 in favor of New York.
Who broadcast Super Bowl III and when was the game played?
NBC broadcast the game in the United States on the 12th of January 1969. Curt Gowdy handled play-by-play duties joined by color commentators Al DeRogatis and Kyle Rote. Jim Simpson reported from the sidelines while Pat Summerall conducted player interviews for the pregame show.
How many people watched Super Bowl III on television?
Forty-one point six six million people watched the game on television resulting in a rating of 36. The market share reached 70 percent despite blackout rules preventing live telecast within Miami itself. Astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders led the Pledge of Allegiance after returning from their Moon mission just eighteen days prior.