Joe Namath almost played baseball with the Chicago Cubs. Almost played football with the NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals. But ultimately landed with the New York Jets of the upstart American Football League, describing the decision as a “no-brainer.”
The Beaver Falls native was on “Fox & Friends” Tuesday morning talking about his life, his family and his football career. Namath’s new book, “All the Way: My Life in Four Quarter,” was released this month.
Host Brian Kilmeade asked Namath about why he picked the Jets after his college career. He was drafted by in the first-round by both the NFL and the AFL.
“Coach (Bear) Bryant at Alabama gave me some advice along with another player too: get to know the people you go to work with. And getting to know (Sonny Werblin), the ownership and Weeb Eubank – our coach who coached Johnny Unitas with the Colts to a championship — it was really a no-brainer,” Namath said.
Before college Namath was offered a chance to play with the Cubs, but his family talked him into going to the University of Alabama and playing football.
Namath, 75, went on to lead the Jets to defeat the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, 16-7, in 1969.
He was with the Jets from 1965 to 1976, and then one season with the Los Angeles Rams in 1977, before retiring.
