Matt Snell, a burly running back who ground out 121 yards on 30 carries and scored the Jets' only touchdown in the historic 16-7 upset victory of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, died Tuesday morning on Long Island. He was 84.
"Matt Snell will forever hold a special place in the history of the New York Jets," said Jets Chairman Woody Johnson. "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 led the Jets in rushing in five of his first six seasons from 1964-68. He was the AFL Rookie of the Year in 1964, a first-team All-AFL player in 1969 and a second-team All-AFL performer in 1964, '65 and '68. He ranks fourth on the Jets' all-time rushing list with 4,285 yards.
Snell, who was born on Aug. 18, 1941, grew up in Locust Valley on Long Island and starred in high school for Carle Place, where he won Newsday's Thorp Award in 1959 as the best high-school running back in Nassau County. He was said to have the heart of a linebacker but is more widely known in professional football circles for his prowess as a running back,bowling over would-be tacklers while also serving as one of quarterback Joe Namath's knighted protectors when it came to blocking.
"I'm really sad to hear that he passed," Namath said. "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."
After high school, Snell became the first member of his family to attend college, on a scholarship to Ohio State. In his three years (1961-63) playing in Columbus (in those days, freshmen were barred from playing varsity football), he played linebacker and defensive end for the Buckeyes, as well as right halfback, often blocking for fullback Bob Ferguson and left halfback Paul Warfield. Snell was moved to fullback in 1963 and finished his OSU career with 688 rushing yards and 6 TDs. He was named the team's most valuable player in 1963, and in 2000 was named to the Buckeyes' All-Century Team as a defensive end.
Snell had been drafted by the Jets No. 3 overall in the 1964 AFL Draft and taken by the crosstown rival Giants No. 49 overall in the NFL draft. He signed with the Jets and made an immediate impact.
In 1964, his first season with the Jets, Snell had 215 carries for 948 yards (4.4 yards a carry) and 5 TDs while also making 56 catches for 393 yards (7 yards a catch) and 1 TD. He also played on special teams, including in Super Bowl III. After finishing second overall in the AFL in rushing to Buffalo's Cookie Gilchrist, Snell became the first Jets player to earn Rookie of the Year honors, from The Associated Press, United Press International and The Sporting News.
"Trying to tackle him was like tackling a rock," Kansas City linebacker Bobby Bell said. "I'd hit him with everything and there was no change in his expression."
The addition in 1966 of halfback Emerson Boozer gave the Jets a potent one-two punch in the backfield, which helped to make Namath's aerial darts even more of a threat.
"Matt was a complete player, and he was an intelligent player," Namath said. "He didn't miss assignments; he had good hands catching the ball out of the backfield. He was a terrific blocker when we called on him to block, but his forte was certainly running that ball and we used him a lot."
Their most famous play was called "19Straight," which was the play on which Snell scored in the Super Bowl, running behind Boozer's block. In fact, "19 STRAIGHT" was inscribed on the inside of the Jets Super Bowl rings. The backfield twosome of Snell and Boozer, who played together through 1972, were selected to the Jets Ring of Honor together, becoming the 16th and 17th players to be inducted, in 2015. The ceremony was held at halftime of the Jets home game against Miami on Nov. 29, 2015.
Snell had 11 regular-season (14games) 100-yard rushing games in his Jets career plus one in the postseason, which of course was in Super Bowl III. His 4-yard TD run gave the Jets a 7-0 lead in the second quarter, a lead they never lost. His 161 scrimmage yards in the title game (121, plus 40 on 4 catches) was not equaled in a Super Bowl until Lynn Swann had 161 yards from scrimmage when Pittsburgh defeated Dallas in Super Bowl X and was not surpassed until former Jet John Riggins gained 181 total yards when Washington beat Miami in Super Bowl XVII.
The first three of Snell's 100-yard rushing games came in 1964, his rookie season. That list included 180 yards on 31 carries at Shea Stadium vs. the Houston Oilers, which set the Jets' rookie game record that still stands. And Snell's 948 rush yards in 1964 remains a Jets' rookie record.
Snell was selected to the AFL All-Star Game after his rookie season but didn't play. He was also selected to the AFL All-Star Game after the 1966 and '69 seasons. He was voted Team MVP at the end of the 1965 season.
He finished his Jets career with 4,285 rushing yards (4.4 yards a carry) and 24 TDs; 193 receptions for 1,375 and 7 TDs; and returned 11 kicks for 200 yards (18.2 per return) over 84 games. In the postseason (2 AFL title games and Super Bowl III), Snell rushed 61 times for 253 yards and caught 6 passes for 64 yards. Snell was off to a great start three games into his 1970 campaign (281 yards) butthen sustained an Achilles tendonrupture against the Bills. He then injured his right knee the following preseason and was forced to spend nine games on the move list. When he was active, he was used mainly on special teams and as a blocking back.
A versatile force when healthy, Snell was ahead of his time. Weeb Ewbank called him a "complete ballplayer" and also added that he was "the best pure protector in football". He finished amongthe top 10 rushers in the AFL five times and top 10 receivers three times.
It all came together for the Jets in that 1968 season when Namath threw for 3,147 yards, Snell ran for 747, and receivers George Sauer Jr. and Don Maynard combined for 2,438 receiving yards. The Jets capped their AFL season by defeating the rival Oakland Raiders in the title game at windy and freezing Shea Stadium to advance to the Super Bowl, which had been won the previous two seasons by the Green Bay Packers. The rest is history.
"As MVP of the Super Bowl III, the Jets' Joe Namath won this Dodge Charger RT, which was awarded by Sport magazine," wrote veteran sportswriter Dan Daly of the game played on Jan. 12, 1969. "Owner Sonny Werblin thought fullback Matt Snell (30 carriers, 121 yards, 1 TD) deserved the honor, though, and I concur. So he bought him a car himself. Color: Jets green."
He was Namath's nomination for Super Bowl III MVP. Snell, who lived for many years in New Rochelle, NY, is survived by his wife Sharon, son Beau, daughter Jadaand grandson, Donte.
"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," said Chairman Johnson. "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."
