Super Bowl III Hero Dead at 84
Matt Snell, who scored the New York Jets' only touchdown in the team's iconic Super Bowl III upset over the Baltimore Colts, passed away Tuesday on Long Island. He was 84.
Snell's son Beau confirmed his father's passing. The 1964 AFL Rookie of the Year is survived by his wife Sharon, children Beau and Jada, grandson Donte and great-nephew Benny Snell Jr., a former NFL running back.
Jets pay tribute to Snell
The No. 3 overall pick in the 1964 AFL Draft out of Ohio State, Snell spent his entire nine-year professional career with the Jets. He was a one-time first-team All-AFL selection and three-time second-team honoree, and was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor in 2015.
In Super Bowl III, Snell, who rushed for a career-high six touchdowns during the 1968 season, scored New York's only TD in a monumental 16-7 victory over the NFL champion Colts.
"Matt Snell will forever hold a special place in the history of the New York Jets," said Jets Chairman Woody Johnson Tuesday. "He was the embodiment of toughness, selflessness, and belief — traits that defined our organization's proudest moments. His performance in Super Bowl III was nothing short of legendary. Against the odds, Matt set the tone with his physical running, delivering the Jets' lone touchdown and helping secure one of the most important victories in sports history."
"Matt represented what it means to be a Jet—doing whatever it took to win, putting team above self, and rising to the moment when it mattered most," Johnson added. "Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those who were touched by his life and career, including the Jets family he so deeply impacted."
Joe Namath, the legendary quarterback for the Jets in Super Bowl III, added that Snell was "not only a hell of a player — he was a terrific teammate and without him we wouldn't have had a chance to win a championship."
More on Matt Snell
Born in Georgia and raised on Long Island, Snell was a captain and second-team All-Big Ten selection at Ohio State before joining the Jets.
For this pro career, Snell rushed for 4,285 yards and 24 touchdowns on 1,057 carries while adding 193 receptions for 1,375 yards and seven touchdowns.
He was a force in his first six years with the Jets, before injuries limited him to only 12 games played in his last three campaigns.