Top 79 Quotes & Sayings by Joe Namath

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American athlete Joe Namath.
Last updated on December 25, 2024.
Joe Namath

Joseph William Namath is a former American football quarterback who played in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, primarily with the New York Jets. He played college football at Alabama, where he led the team to a national championship title, and was selected by the Jets first overall in the 1965 AFL Draft. During his five AFL seasons, he was a two-time MVP and twice led the league in passing yards while guiding the Jets to victory in one AFL championship and one Super Bowl. Both victories remain the Jets' only championships. Namath joined the NFL with the Jets in 1970 following the AFL–NFL merger, where he was the league's passing yards and touchdowns leader during the 1972 season. He played in New York for seven more seasons, with his final year spent as a member of the Los Angeles Rams.

Till I was 13, I thought my name was 'Shut Up.'
I'd rather go to Vietnam than get married.
Times have changed. The athletes have changed. — © Joe Namath
Times have changed. The athletes have changed.
To be a leader, you have to make people want to follow you, and nobody wants to follow someone who doesn't know where he is going.
My philosophy in life, where I was trying to get, could have been a little bit different.
After my first knee operation, in January of '65 before I went to the Jets, Dr. James Nicholas told me everything went well and that I could probably play four years in the NFL. The surgery was trailblazing to a certain extent.
None of the body was designed to play football. Excuse me, you know, football, we're just not designed for.
I have no idea what my batting average was in high school, but I know it wasn't below .450, and that's pretty good hitting where I come from.
I've always said I'm going to get married only once.
I believe in letting a guy live the way he wants to if he doesn't hurt anyone.
I think I could have become an outstanding professional baseball player, but I don't think I could have reached the heights that I have in football - being one of the very top players in the game, being a world champion.
Something's been guiding me around throughout my life.
I don't think that I've ever been a backup. — © Joe Namath
I don't think that I've ever been a backup.
As a football coach, everything in your life comes after your football schedule. I just could not make that commitment.
Johnny Unitas was my hero.
Pressure just makes you go a little more. I kind of like pressure.
The name of the game is 'kill the quarterback.' Every football team tries to knock the guy out of the game that's handling the ball.
When you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun. And when you have fun, you can do amazing things.
Where I came from, sports were the only way to get out front.
I've tested life and I've learned what works for me.
I couldn't do anything I didn't enjoy.
I'm always gonna be Joe Namath, and I'm not running from that.
After I hurt the knee, football wasn't nearly as much fun. I was limited. But you make do with what you have. I adjusted some. I was lucky to play as long as I did, with the different kinds of injuries I got. I played with two severed hamstring muscles in my leg late in my career. I could barely run, other than to drop back to pass.
Of course, in pro ball, they never hit the quarterback in practice.
I should have been thinking more about my family, how I raised my children, how I maintained life's work, so to speak.
What I do is prepare myself until I know I can do what I have to do.
I have to convince myself I know what I'm doing.
I am a football fan, yeah.
I was a workhorse; there was never a practice that I didn't enjoy.
I think that at some point in your life you realize you don't have to worry if you do everything you're supposed to do right. Or if not right, if you do it the best you can... what can worry do for you? You are already doing the best you can.
I think there's always going to be a problem dealing with firearms, with knives. It's the animal we are that cause the problems.
My family's the most important thing in my life.
I can't compare family to athletics.
It feels bad to feel like you're not wanted.
You learn how to be a gracious winner and an outstanding loser.
There's an old saying amongst players in football talking about your general manger and coaches, they speak with a forked tongue.
Most of my recognition comes from us winning that championship. The words may not come out - 'Super Bowl III' - because a lot of the folks at the grocery store, gas station or mall weren't even born when we won the Super Bowl. But they're aware of it. It has had a tremendous impact on my life since then.
When you win, nothing hurts. — © Joe Namath
When you win, nothing hurts.
There are some things you only learn through experience.
I deal with football from a realistic, logical point of view.
Whether it's 18 years old or 40 years old, we think we know what's going on. But if you're lucky enough to continue the journey, its amazing how we keep learning how much we didn't know.
I took my time to find the perfect girl.
I don't care what a man is as long as he treats me right. He can be a gambler, a hustler, someone everybody else thinks is obnoxious, I don't care so long as he's straight with me and our dealings are fair.
I was lucky enough when it came to sports and work ethic to be taught some basics that continue to be important.
I was born with the gift.
How you recover from what life's throwing at you is what matters.
I've been some through some things medically. I've seen some things on my brain. But I've had some treatment - and I've improved.
I've figured out that life in general is a team effort; it's a team game. — © Joe Namath
I've figured out that life in general is a team effort; it's a team game.
My ego's not the kind that says, 'I want to be an actor and be accepted as that.'
I like music and I like ladies. I like to see them dance.
I don't like going out on a date unless I know the broad a little bit beforehand. By the way, 'broad' to me is not a detrimental term for women; it's simply another word for female. Anyway, I don't really go out a whole lot, because there aren't many girls I like to take out and spend a whole evening with - at least not an evening in public.
I don't like to date so much as I just like to kind of, you know, run into somethin', man.
When we won the league championship, all the married guys on the club had to thank their wives for putting up with all the stress and strain all season. I had to thank all the single broads in New York.
Until my senior year, baseball and basketball were my best sports; and even when I was a senior, I still wanted to play baseball professionally. But the family wanted me to go to college, and I guess I agreed with them, or else I would have accepted some of the offers I got.
First, I prepare. Then I have faith.
We're going to win Sunday. I guarantee it.
I was focused on athletics, outdoors, sports.
I was a very naive young man, and I may still be ignorant about a lot of things.
If you aren't going all the way, why go at all?
I don't know whether I prefer Astroturf to grass. I never smoked Astroturf.
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