Joe was born and grew up in a small town in Beaver Falls PA.  He was born May 31, 1943 and 1 of 5 children.  It is in the middle of "Football Country."  Football is the most popular and the most attended sport in that area.
                                       Joe's childhood was very basic.  His parents both worked.  The area that they grew up in was mostly steel factories, and coal mines.  But something Joe displayed early was a love for sports. He played both football and baseball early.
                                Joe was a extraordinary athlete.  He played football, baseball. and basketball through high school. His early years of high school, though, he was very skinny and small.  His freshman year of football he was listed 5'10 and 150 lbs.  Then during his Junior year and through the summer, he shot up to 6'2 and gained 25 pounds.  His final year of football was his greatest.  He made a team that usually was not competitive, competitive.  By the end of the year he was 85 for 146 for 1564 yards passing, and 12 touchdowns.  By the end of the year, he received 52 scholar ship offers. 
Joe excelled in every sport he played.  His best two sports was football and baseball.  He was drafted to play pro-baseball for Baltimore but also received 52 scholarship offers for football.  He decided to go to Alabama and play under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.  Despite Joe's dislike for southern way of life that included racism and segregation, Joe learned a lot from the coach.  He said," He's not only a coach, but he makes a map out of you."  Through tough practices, yelling, and suspension, Joe won the 1962 Orange Bowl and was one of the best players in the nation.   He was then drafted by the AFL's NY Jets.
Joe Namath was now living in the New York.  With night life that could keep you entertained all night, and a love for sports that was very passionate, Joe was excited about going there.  He signed at that time, the biggest  contract in sports, $127,000.  In his first year he was on-again off-again kind of starter.  But towards the end of the year everything clicked and he was latter named Rookie of the Year.  He finished that year 164-340 along with 2220 yards passing.  He was also MVP of the All-star Game.  He was the first to throw 4,000 in one season.  Nothing was more memorable when he guaranteed a Super Bowl and they won!
Throughout Joe's career he has had many disappointments, but many achievements.  He was named MVP of the League numerous times, won a Super Bowl, and a college Championship bowl game.  His career stats were as follows: played 143 games, attempted 3,762 passes and completed 1,886 (50.6%), 27,663 yards passing, and 173 yards passing.  Joe had a great and illustrious career.

 

 

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                                  Ken Griffey Jr.                         Joe Montana                                Joe Namath