Beyond Broadway Joe - Hardcover

Bob Lederer

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0062798049 ISBN 13: 9780062798046

Publisher: HarperOne, 2018

Synopsis

On the eve of the fiftieth anniversary of the New York Jets' historic achievement, a nostalgic, inside look from the men who composed the team behind Joe Namath's Super Bowl III win, filled with exclusive insights and stories from the surviving players, coaches, and management of that championship team whose victory changed the landscape of American football.

On January 12, 1969, the New York Jets astonished the nation when they beat the favored Baltimore Colts to win Super Bowl III. The key to the Jets' success was quarterback Joe Namath, whose superstar talent, revolutionary personality, cockiness, and charm made him an instant celebrity. But Namath didn't do it alone.

In Beyond Broadway Joe, the members of that legendary team share for the first time their often funny, sometimes poignant, and always perceptive personal stories and memorable anecdotes about the Super Bowl team, its players and coaches, and that legendary win. They reminisce about how they became Jets, their success on the gridiron--ten of them were AFC All Stars that magical year of 1968--and reveal for the first time the tactic Namath used to frustrate the Baltimore Colts' defense. They speak about their reactions to Namath's "guarantee" of a Jets' Super Bowl victory, and how the "39 Forgotten" Jets behind him enabled Joe to fulfill that boast. Furthermore, Lederer has interviewed members of the Baltimore team, to provide a 360-degree account of the game that changed it all.

The Jets players reflect on their evolution from a team considered part of a "Mickey Mouse" league, through the sudden transformation caused by the signing and introduction of Joe Namath on America's sporting scene. The book explains from different angles--including Jets' game plans--why Jets' coaches and players were supremely confident going into Super Bowl III. Written by a lifelong Jets' fan, Beyond Broadway Joe captures memories--and through never-before-seen material--sheds light on what happened from the 1963 launch of the Jets to the Super Bowl season and in Super Bowl III itself.

This first complete celebration of the Jets' Super Bowl team is a must for every Jets diehard, for fans of the old American Football League, those who follow the history of professional football, and for all who love the game.

About this title

Review

"The 1969 Super Bowl team led by Joe Namath was a comet across the sky. It was bright and glorious, and then it was gone. For all you diehard Jets fans, here's the book that will brighten up your fading glory days memories."
--Rick Telander, senior sports columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times

"For those who lived through the 'Broadway Joe' era, Lederer's book will provide insights you've never heard or read before. For those who haven't, it will give you an insider's view of the Super Bowl that changed the NFL. A great read for football fans of any age."--Bill Polian, NFL analyst for ESPN and former Vice Chairman of the Indianapolis Colts

"A very satisfying sports book."--Booklist

"Excitingly, Lederer weaves in the exclusive access he got to coach Weeb Ewbank's playbooks, including personal player evaluations, and the game plan for Superbowl III. Football fans will enjoy this comprehensive glimpse into one of the game's great teams."--Publishers Weekly

"An open love letter to the players of the 1968 Super Bowl III champions, the New York Jets. A must read for all Jets' fans, but one that will be enjoyed by all sports fans."--Frank Ramos, former Jets' head of public relations

"Beyond Broadway Joe gives great insights into that championship team and those individuals. A great read for any football fan and an absolute must for Jet fans."--Rex Ryan, former New York Jets coach

"What makes this book special is that it examines the entire team in an in-depth way I haven't read before. It's smart, and it reflects on a key part of that time period, which was the last fun era of football in the NFL."
--Bleacher Report

From the Back Cover

A celebration of the Jets' 1968 historic Super Bowl team, filled with exclusive insights and stories from the surviving players, coaches, and management

In 1968, Joe Namath, the quarterback of the New York Jets, dominated the headlines as a national celebrity and counterculture figure. The Jets were a vastly talented but underappreciated team that drew constant attention due to Namath, but were not taken seriously by fans. When the Jets earned their way to Super Bowl III to face an eighteen-point favorite Baltimore Colts squad, Namath put all the pressure on himself by shockingly "guaranteeing" a Jets victory. He fulfilled his promise, but knew he didn't do it alone. As Broadway Joe said in the postgame locker room: "We've got the team, brother."

In Beyond Broadway Joe: The Super Bowl TEAM That Changed Football, thirty-six surviving members of that legendary 1968 team share for the first time their funny, poignant, and insightful personal stories about their Super Bowl teammates and coaches, and the historic win that changed football forever. Readers will learn what Namath's teammates thought about his "guarantee," find out what Jets coaches discovered on the field early during Super Bowl III that Namath and the defense used to frustrate the Colts, and delight in how the thirty-nine Jets who took the field each week with Namath enabled him to live up to his Super Bowl vow. Author Bob Lederer reviews head coach Weeb Ewbank's never-before-seen player evaluations--that they didn't know existed--and provides a rich history of the Jets franchise, from how these thirty-nine forgotten players became Jets, and the road ten of them took to become AFL all-stars in 1968.

This definitive review of the entire Jets' Super Bowl team is a must for every Jets diehard, for fans of the old American Football League, and for all who love the game.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperOne
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 0062798049
• ISBN 13: 9780062798046
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304