General Forum

Joe Namath's career lasted until 1977, but he doesn't have any cards from a major release after 1973 (during his active playing days).

Does anyone know why?

Because in 1973 Woodall became the Jets starter. So Woodall got the quarterback spot in the 1974, 1975, and 1976 Topps sets. Additionally, for 1975 everyone believed he woud join the WFL.

Namath was a mediocre quarterback at best. Extremely overrated and by far the worst quarterback in the HOF (undeserving to be there).

I thought the same thing, but then I looked.  In 1973 Namath started the opening game, but was relieved for poor play by Woodall,  who went on to start 6 games,  In 1974 Namath started all 14 games...Woodall had 8 pass attempts.  In 1975 Namath started 13 of 14 and Woodall was out of football. The other players to attempt a pass for the Jets in 1975 were JJ Jones (57 attempts over 7 games with 1 start) and punter Greg Gantt (1/1 for 1 yd).

For Topps they have to look at more than the previous season stats when deciding who to include in the upcoming set. From their POV who's in the set drives sales.  They're going to include the quarterback they believe to be the most wanted by fans (card collectors).

1974 set: they saw Woodall as the Jets new/future quarterback.
1975 set: everyone thought for sure Namath would be going to the WFL
1976 set: 1975 one of his worst seasons; 1975 was Jones' rookie debut and I'm sure being the Jets first black quarterback had something to do with the inclusion.

I hope I can clear this up for you. After 1973, Topps could not come to an agreement with him to print his card. The company even did a mock up of a 1974 card for him, and there are a few copies of it circulating. It would've been card No. 100. It looks like it's worth a lot. They never came to an agreement with him for the remainder of his career.

Joe Namath wasn't taken out of the game in 1973 for poor play. He separated his right shoulder in the second game of the year, and didn't return until the 10th game. He started the last four games of the year. His playing time in 1973 didn't affect his card status for 1974.

Joe Namath considered overtures from the WFL's Chicago franchise but negotiations fell apart in May 1975 when his asking price was too high. That did not affect his inclusion in the 1975 Topps set.

Namath started 13 of the 14 games in 1975. He was benched for the first quarter of a game late in the year against San Diego for missing curfew. J.J. Jones started, completed 1 of 5 with an interception. Namath entered in the second quarter and played the rest of the way.

In 1976, the Jets had a new coach on Lou Holtz, who preferred their first-round pick, Richard Todd, because Holtz wanted a running quarterback and Todd was a good runner at the time after having run the wishbone in Alabama. Todd wasn't ready, and Namath wound up starting about half the games. Holtz left for the Arkansas job after the season, and Namath joined the Rams. 

In 1977, Namath started four games for the Rams but was no longer physically able to play at anything approaching the level the Rams needed. Pat Haden started the last 10 games.

Unless you grew up at the time, it might be hard to understand the impact of Namath on the NFL in specific and pop culture in general. For example, Namath's name was so big that TVS, which carried the WFL, wouldn't offer a new contract to the league in 1975 until the name of question was settled.

Why Topps was so cheap and couldn't come to an agreement with him is pretty incredible. Then again, it would've been nice for him to consider the market that was buying those football cards -- mostly kids -- and not taken such a hardline.

BigDaddy wrote:

Joe Namath's career lasted until 1977, but he doesn't have any cards from a major release after 1973 (during his active playing days).

Does anyone know why?

I believe this is one of those rare instances where stats cannot tell the whole story. There are several peripheral and probably also non-quantifiable facts associated with Broadway Joe's career that I believe support his inclusion in the Hall of Fame.

• First quarterback to throw for over 4,000 yards in a season - and that with fewer games and more aggressive defenses with bump-and-run and no rules to protect quarterbacks from hits (other than obvious unnecessary roughness, mostly late hits)
• Bringing legitimacy to the AFL by leading the Jets to the upset over the heavily-favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. He had already caused an uproar when he signed with the AFL, and I believe had he not backed up his guarantee to defeat the NFL's powerhouse, this discussion would not be happening. This, to me, is the magic of legendary moments.
• His courage in returning from several knee surgeries even winning Comeback Player of the Year once - I wasn't able to confirm this, but I believe his surgeries were NOT arthroscopic, at least not as non-invasive as they are now.

I agree 100%.  

His Medicare commercials are certainly Hall-worthy...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG3YsCocRPs

Joe Willie was the quarterback 'of my youth' so he always held a special place for me  Every kid wanted a #12 green jersey, even though we were on the opposite coast from the NYJ.  A few yrs ago I read a book authored by Mark Kriegel (Namath was asked to participate in the project, but he declined as he wasn't offered payment).  Gave me a new appreciation for him and his career, both on and off-field.  Great stuff about the TV contracts of the mid-60s and how important the AFL getting Namath on-board was to its overall survival, and eventual merger into the modern NFL/Super Bowl era as we now know it.

Excellent analysis. For anyone interested in football of that era, "Namath" by Mark Kriegel is a great read.

Joe Namath is still popular where I live. The teenager who took my order at a fast-food restaurant a few months ago had "Namath" on his name tag. His name is Namath Pitts. I asked if he was named for you-know-who, and he was. When I told him I was a little surprised his mother agreed to that, he said that it was his mom's idea.