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Jets Legend Matt Snell, Super Bowl III Hero, Dies at 84
NEW YORK, NY – The New York Jets organization has announced the passing of former running back Matt Snell at the age of 84. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
Snell, a pivotal figure in the Jets’ sole Super Bowl championship, is widely remembered for his dominant performance in Super Bowl III and a remarkable rookie season that earned him AFL Rookie of the Year honors. In the franchise’s historic 16-7 victory over the Baltimore Colts, Snell rushed for 121 yards and scored the team’s only touchdown, overcoming a knee injury to play a crucial role.
Jets Chairman Woody Johnson released a statement honoring Snell’s legacy. “Matt Snell will forever hold a special place in the history of the New York Jets,” Johnson said.
“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.”
Snell’s career, though impactful, was curtailed by injuries, limiting him to 12 games over his final three seasons before he retired from the NFL after the 1972 season.
While an integral part of the team’s success, Snell’s relationship with the Jets organization experienced a period of strain shortly after his departure. According to the 2018 book, “Beyond Broadway Joe: The Super Bowl Team That Changed Football,” then-Jets owner Sonny Werblin had offered Snell a lifelong role with the franchise.
Snell later attributed a potential miscommunication following Werblin’s sale of his stake as the reason the promise was not fulfilled. “I don’t know if Sonny ever communicated what he had promised me to the other owners,” Snell recounted in an excerpt from the book.
“I know there were people around the organization that were not happy that Sonny and I were friends, and some of them jumped on the opportunity to say bad things about me when Sonny was gone.”
Legendary Jets quarterback Joe Namath also reflected on Snell’s significant contributions. “I’m really sad to hear that he passed,” Namath stated via the team’s official site. “Matt 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.”
Snell’s 4,285 career rushing yards currently rank fourth in Jets franchise history. He is survived by his wife, Sharon, two children, and a grandson.