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{{Short description|American football player (born 1941)}}
{{about|the athlete|the musician|Matt Snell (musician)}}
{{about|the athlete|the musician|Matt Snell (musician)}}
{{short description|American football running back}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name = Matt Snell
| name = Matt Snell
|image =
| image =
|image_size =
| image_size =
|alt =
| alt =
|caption =
| caption =
|number = 41
| number = 41
|position = [[Running back]]
| position = [[Running back]]
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1941|8|18}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1941|8|18}}
|birth_place = [[Garfield, Georgia]]
| birth_place = [[Garfield, Georgia]], U.S.
|death_date =
| death_date =
|death_place =
| death_place =
|height_ft = 6
| height_ft = 6
|height_in = 2
| height_in = 2
|weight_lbs = 219
| weight_lbs = 219
|high_school = [[Carle Place High School|Carle Place High]]
| high_school = [[Carle Place High School|Carle Place]] {{nowrap|([[North Hempstead, New York]])}}
|college = [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]]
| college = [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]]
|afldraftyear = 1964
| afldraftyear = 1964
|afldraftround = 1
| afldraftround = 1
|afldraftpick = 3
| afldraftpick = 3
|draftyear = 1964
| draftyear = 1964
|draftround = 4
| draftround = 4
|draftpick = 49
| draftpick = 49
|pastteams =
| pastteams =
* [[New York Jets]] ([[1964 American Football League season|1964]]–{{NFL Year|1972}})
* [[New York Jets]] ([[1964 American Football League season|1964]]–{{NFL Year|1972}})
|highlights =
| highlights =
* [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl III|III]])
* [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star]] (1964, 1966, 1969)
* [[AFL champion]] ([[1968 AFL Championship Game|1968]])
* [[American Football League Rookies of the Year|AFL Rookie of the Year]] (1964)
* First-team [[All-AFL]] ([[American Football League All-League Teams|1969]])
* First-team [[All-AFL]] ([[American Football League All-League Teams|1969]])
* 3× Second-team All-AFL ([[1964 All-AFL Team|1964]], [[1965 All-AFL Team|1965]], [[1968 All-AFL Team|1968]])
* 3× Second-team All-AFL ([[1964 All-AFL Team|1964]], [[1965 All-AFL Team|1965]], [[1968 All-AFL Team|1968]])
* [[American Football League Rookies of the Year|AFL Rookie of the Year]] (1964)
* [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star]] (1964, 1966, 1969)
* [[AFL champion]] ([[1968 AFL Championship Game|1968]])
* [[Super Bowl]] champion ([[Super Bowl III|III]])
* [[New York Jets Ring of Honor]]
* [[New York Jets Ring of Honor]]
* [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|FWAA]] Collegiate National Champion (1961)
* [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|National champion]] ([[1961 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|1961]])
* [[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]] Champion (1961)
* Second-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] ([[1962 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1962]])
|statlabel1=Rushing yards
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
|statvalue1=4,287
| statvalue1 = 4,287
|statlabel2=Rush attempts
| statlabel2 = Rush attempts
|statvalue2=1,057
| statvalue2 = 1,057
|statlabel3=Rushing [[Touchdown|TDs]]
| statlabel3 = Rushing [[Touchdown|TDs]]
|statvalue3=24
| statvalue3 = 24
|statlabel4=Receiving yards
| statlabel4 = Receiving yards
|statvalue4=1,375
| statvalue4 = 1,375
|statlabel5=Receptions
| statlabel5 = Receptions
|statvalue5=193
| statvalue5 = 193
|statlabel6=Games played
| statlabel6 = Games played
|statvalue6=86
| statvalue6 = 86
| pfr = S/SnelMa00
|nflnew=Matt-Snell
|pfr = S/SnelMa00
}}
}}
'''Matt Snell''' (born August 18, 1941) is a retired professional football player who played for the [[New York Jets]]. He was [[New York Jets|Jets']] owner [[Sonny Werblin]]'s first coup, prior to his 1965 acquisition of [[Joe Namath]]. A powerful fullback out of [[Ohio State University]], Snell's 1964 signing jolted the crosstown Giants, who didn't draft Snell until the fourth round, and offered him a fraction of what the Jets gave him as their first-round choice.
'''Matthews Snell''' (born August 18, 1941) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[running back]] for the [[New York Jets]] of the [[American Football League]] (AFL) and [[National Football League]] (NFL). He was Jets' owner [[Sonny Werblin]]'s first coup, prior to his 1965 acquisition of [[Joe Namath]]. A powerful fullback out of [[Ohio State University]], Snell's 1964 signing jolted the crosstown Giants, who didn't draft Snell until the fourth round, and offered him a fraction of what the Jets gave him as their first-round choice.


==Early career==
==Early life==
Born to Isaac and Annie,<ref name="times">{{cite news |last1=Harvin |first1=Al |title=Injuries Force Snell to Quit Football |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/03/23/archives/injuries-force-snell-to-quit-football-snell-of-jets-quits-football.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 23, 1973}}</ref> Snell attended [[Carle Place High School]] in the one-square-mile town of [[Carle Place, New York]], where his picture resides in the Carle Place High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Snell played right halfback on a team that lost only two games while he started. He was awarded ''[[Newsday]]''{{'}}s Thorp Award for 1959 as the outstanding high school football player in [[Nassau County, New York|Nassau County]].
Born to Isaac and Annie,<ref name="times">{{Cite news |last=Harvin |first=Al |date=March 23, 1973 |title=Injuries Force Snell to Quit Football |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/03/23/archives/injuries-force-snell-to-quit-football-snell-of-jets-quits-football.html}}</ref> Snell attended [[Carle Place High School]] in the one-square-mile town of [[Carle Place, New York]], where his picture resides in the Carle Place High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Snell played right halfback on a team that lost only two games while he started. He was awarded ''[[Newsday]]''{{'}}s Thorp Award for 1959 as the outstanding high school football player in [[Nassau County, New York|Nassau County]].


At [[Ohio State University]], Snell was a three-year [[starting lineup|starter]] and a consummate team player, active on both sides of the ball. In 1961, he played right halfback, often blocking for fullback [[Bob Ferguson (American football)|Bob Ferguson]] or left halfback [[Paul Warfield]]. In 1962, Snell was moved to [[defensive end]]. In 1963, Snell's senior year, he was named starting fullback. At the end of his senior season, Snell was named his team's most valuable player.
At [[Ohio State University]], Snell was a three-year [[starting lineup|starter]] and a consummate team player, active on both sides of the ball. In 1961, he played right halfback, often blocking for fullback [[Bob Ferguson (American football player)|Bob Ferguson]] or left halfback [[Paul Warfield]]. In 1962, Snell was moved to [[defensive end]]. In 1963, Snell's senior year, he was named starting fullback, going on to rush for 491 yards and 5 touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/matt-snell-1.html | title=Matt Snell College Stats }}</ref> At the end of his senior season, Snell was named his team's most valuable player.


Snell was named to the [[Ohio State Football All-Century Team]] in 2000 as a defensive end.
Snell was named to the [[Ohio State Football All-Century Team]] in 2000 as a defensive end.
Line 64: Line 64:
In his rookie year with the New York Jets, Snell rushed for a team-record 180 yards against the [[Houston Oilers]] on his way to a 945-yard season and [[American Football League Rookies of the Year|AFL Rookie of the Year]] honors. Snell went on to become an [[American Football League|AFL]] [[American Football League All-Star games|Eastern Division All-Star]] in [[1964 AFL season|1964]] and [[1966 AFL season|1966]], and the ''[[Sporting News]]'' [[American Football League All-League Teams|All-AFL]] fullback in [[1969 AFL season|1969]].
In his rookie year with the New York Jets, Snell rushed for a team-record 180 yards against the [[Houston Oilers]] on his way to a 945-yard season and [[American Football League Rookies of the Year|AFL Rookie of the Year]] honors. Snell went on to become an [[American Football League|AFL]] [[American Football League All-Star games|Eastern Division All-Star]] in [[1964 AFL season|1964]] and [[1966 AFL season|1966]], and the ''[[Sporting News]]'' [[American Football League All-League Teams|All-AFL]] fullback in [[1969 AFL season|1969]].


Snell's defining moment came in [[Super Bowl III]] when the AFL champion Jets played the heavily-favored NFL champion [[History of the Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore Colts]]. Although slowed by knee injuries, Snell was a key player in the Jets' ball-control offense during the 16–7 upset victory. He carried the ball 30 times for a then-[[Super Bowl]] record 121 yards, and in the second quarter went four yards around left end to score the Jets' only touchdown, a score that marked the first time an AFL team had led in a [[Super Bowl]]. He also helped set up a trio of [[Jim Turner (placekicker)|Jim Turner]] field goals that finally put the game away for the Jets in the second half, securing the AFL's first Super Bowl win in the league's penultimate season.
Snell's defining moment came in [[Super Bowl III]] when the AFL champion Jets played the heavily-favored NFL champion [[History of the Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore Colts]]. Although slowed by knee injuries, Snell was a key player in the Jets' ball-control offense during the 16–7 upset victory. He carried the ball 30 times for a then-[[Super Bowl]] record of 121 yards, and in the second quarter went four yards around left end to score the Jets' only touchdown, a score that marked the first time an AFL team had led in a [[Super Bowl]]. He also helped set up a trio of [[Jim Turner (placekicker)|Jim Turner]] field goals that finally put the game away for the Jets in the second half, securing the AFL's first Super Bowl win in the league's penultimate season.


During his career, Snell was well known for his rushing, but also became an important part of the Jets' pass-blocking scheme. Toward the end of his career, Snell became one of the first third-down specialty backs, primarily because he was so good at protecting Joe Namath. He was also reported to have helped teach pass-blocking to Jets running backs during his career.
During his career, Snell was well known for his rushing, but also became an important part of the Jets' pass-blocking scheme. Toward the end of his career, Snell became one of the first third-down specialty backs, primarily because he was so good at protecting Joe Namath. He was also reported to have helped teach pass-blocking to Jets running backs during his career.


Snell suffered multiple injuries in his career, including torn knee [[cartilage]] in 1967 and a torn [[Achilles tendon]] in 1970. In 1971, he hurt his knee in the preseason and was diagnosed with a severe "knee bruise" and missed nine games. In 1972, in Week 4 versus the [[Miami Dolphins]], he suffered a ruptured spleen. The injury was so severe that his spleen had to be removed, ending his season. He decided right then that he couldn't play anymore, though he didn't formally announce his retirement until the following March.<ref name="times"/> He only played in a total of 12 games in what would be his final three seasons.
Snell suffered multiple injuries in his career, including torn knee [[cartilage]] in 1967 and a torn [[Achilles tendon]] in 1970. In 1971, he hurt his knee in the preseason and was diagnosed with a severe "knee bruise" and missed nine games. In 1972, in Week 4 versus the [[Miami Dolphins]], he suffered a ruptured spleen. The injury was so severe that his spleen had to be removed, ending his season. He decided right then that he couldn't play anymore, though he didn't formally announce his retirement until the following March.<ref name="times" /> He only played in a total of 12 games in what would be his final three seasons.


==Post-football==
==Post-football==
In 1973, Snell appeared in the first [[Miller Lite]] beer commercial. According to the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'', "The campaign would feature a collection of middle-aged sports stars and become something of a status symbol for retired athletes for the next 17 years."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ryan |first1=Joan |title=Here Comes The Pitch |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/JOAN-RYAN-Here-Comes-The-Pitch-3028226.php |newspaper=SF Gate |date=August 2, 1995}}</ref>
In 1973, Snell appeared in the first [[Miller Lite]] beer commercial. According to the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'', "The campaign would feature a collection of middle-aged sports stars and become something of a status symbol for retired athletes for the next 17 years."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ryan |first=Joan |date=August 2, 1995 |title=Here Comes The Pitch |work=SF Gate |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/JOAN-RYAN-Here-Comes-The-Pitch-3028226.php}}</ref>

After his playing career in 1973, he sold his restaurant, Matt Snell's Fifth Down, to focus on his new company, Defco Securities, Inc. (of which he is one of the four partners).<ref name="times" />

Snell and [[Emerson Boozer]] were inducted into the Jets' [[New York Jets#Ring of Honor|Ring of Honor]] on November 29, 2015 because they were partners in each other's success and that of the team. Snell did not accept the Jets' invitation to participate in the ceremony at MetLife Stadium, just as he consistently has refused the club's invitations to other alumni events for unspecified reasons ever since he retired.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cosentino |first=Dom |date=November 29, 2015 |title=Emerson Boozer, Matt Snell to enter Jets Ring of Honor on Sunday |url=https://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/11/emerson_boozer_matt_snell_to_enter_jets_ring_of_ho.html |publisher=NJ.com}}</ref> In 2018, Snell revealed that the reason he hasn't spoken to the Jets was because the team's owner at the time he left, [[Leon Hess]], refused to give him a reference for a future job in spite of both being promised he would receive one, and in spite of his work to build the team's success over his professional football career.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lederer |first=Bob |title=Beyond Broadway Joe : The Super Bowl team that changed football |date=September 11, 2018 |publisher=Dey Street Books |isbn=978-0062798046}}</ref>


==NFL career statistics==
After his playing career in 1973, he sold his restaurant, Matt Snell's Fifth Down, to focus on his new company, Defco Securities, Inc. (of which he is one of the four partners).<ref name="times"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}


{| class= "wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
Snell and [[Emerson Boozer]] were inducted into the Jets' [[New York Jets#Ring of Honor|Ring of Honor]] on November 29, 2015 because they were partners in each other's success and that of the team. Snell has not accepted the Jets' invitation to participate in the ceremony at MetLife Stadium, just as he consistently has refused the club's invitations to other alumni events for unspecified reasons ever since he retired.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cosentino |first1=Dom |title=Emerson Boozer, Matt Snell to enter Jets Ring of Honor on Sunday |url=https://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/11/emerson_boozer_matt_snell_to_enter_jets_ring_of_ho.html |publisher=NJ.com |date=November 29, 2015}}</ref> In 2018, Snell revealed that the reason he hasn't spoken to the Jets was because the team's owner at the time he left, [[Leon Hess]], refused to give him a reference for a future job in spite of both being promised he would receive one, and in spite of his work to build the team's success over his professional football career.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lederer |first1=Bob |title=Beyond Broadway Joe : The Super Bowl team that changed football |date=September 11, 2018 |publisher=Dey Street Books |isbn=978-0062798046}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="6"| Rushing
! colspan="5"| Receiving
! colspan="2"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Y/G !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Fum !! FR
|-
! [[1964 American Football League season|1964]] || [[1964 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || '''215''' || '''948''' || 4.4 || 67.7 || 42 || 5 || '''56''' || '''393''' || 7.0 || 41 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1965 American Football League season|1965]] || [[1965 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 13 || 13 || 169 || 763 || '''4.5''' || 58.7 || 44 || 4 || 38 || 264 || 6.9 || 35 || 0 || 3 || 0
|-
! [[1966 American Football League season|1966]] || [[1966 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 12 || 12 || 178 || 644 || 3.6 || 53.7 || 25 || 4 || 48 || 346 || 7.2 || 25 || '''4''' || 3 || 0
|-
! [[1967 American Football League season|1967]] || [[1967 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 7 || 5 || 61 || 207 || 3.4 || 29.6 || 13 || 0 || 11 || 54 || 4.9 || 21 || 0 || 2 || 0
|-
! [[1968 American Football League season|1968]] || style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[1968 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || 179 || 747 || 4.2 || 53.4 || 60 || '''6''' || 16 || 105 || 6.6 || 39 || 1 || 2 || '''1'''
|-
! [[1969 American Football League season|1969]] || [[1969 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| '''14''' || 13 || 191 || 695 || 3.6 || 49.6 || 34 || 4 || 22 || 187 || 8.5 || 54 || 1 || '''5''' || '''1'''
|-
! [[1970 NFL season|1970]] || [[1970 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 3 || 3 || 64 || 281 || 4.4 || '''93.7''' || 19 || 1 || 2 || 26 || '''13.0''' || 27 || 0 || 2 || 0
|-
! [[1971 NFL season|1971]]|| [[1971 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 5 || 0 || colspan="13"|''did not record any stats''
|-
! [[1972 NFL season|1972]] || [[1972 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 4 || 0 || colspan="13"|''did not record any stats''
|-
! colspan="2"|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SnelMa00.htm Career] || 86 || 74 || 1,057 || 4,285 || 4.1 || 49.8 || 60 || 24 || 193 || 1,375 || 7.1 || 54 || 7 || 17 || 2
|}


==Personal life==
==Personal life==


Snell lives in [[New Rochelle, New York]]<ref name="times"/> with his wife Sharon, son Beau and daughter Jada. His grandson Donte is currently the starting safety for [[Holy Cross High School (Flushing)|Holy Cross High School]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Donte Snell|url=http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/donte-snell/KEKbZ0JaEeS00gAmVebEWg/default.htm|website=maxpreps.com |access-date=July 18, 2016}}</ref> He is a partner in DEFCO Securities, Inc. and owns a restaurant in [[New York City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/team/all_time/player/711-matt-snell|title= New York Jets player biography|website=newyorkjets.com}}</ref> He is the first cousin, twice removed of running back [[Benny Snell Jr.]], with Benny Snell's grandfather being his first cousin.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hale|first=Jon|title=UK's Snell carrying on family legacy at RB|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2016/10/14/uks-snell-carrying-family-legacy-rb/92028018/|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|date=October 14, 2016}}</ref>
Snell lives in [[New Rochelle, New York]]<ref name="times" /> with his wife Sharon, son Beau and daughter Jada. His grandson Donte played football for [[Holy Cross High School (Flushing)|Holy Cross High School]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Donte Snell |url=http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/donte-snell/KEKbZ0JaEeS00gAmVebEWg/default.htm |access-date=July 18, 2016 |website=maxpreps.com}}</ref> He is a partner in DEFCO Securities, Inc. and owns a restaurant in [[New York City]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=New York Jets player biography |url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/team/all_time/player/711-matt-snell |website=newyorkjets.com |access-date=October 18, 2009 |archive-date=December 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091208052215/http://www.newyorkjets.com/team/all_time/player/711-matt-snell |url-status=dead }}</ref> He is the first cousin, twice removed of running back [[Benny Snell]], with Benny Snell's grandfather being his first cousin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hale |first=Jon |date=October 14, 2016 |title=UK's Snell carrying on family legacy at RB |url=http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2016/10/14/uks-snell-carrying-family-legacy-rb/92028018/ |access-date=2021-08-12 |website=The Courier-Journal}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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==Sources==
==Sources==
* {{cite book |last=Curran |first=Bob |title=The $400,000 Quarterback, or: The League That Came in From the Cold |year=1965 |publisher=Macmillan & Company, Inc |location=New York, New York |isbn=0-8118-2276-1}}
* {{Cite book |last=Curran |first=Bob |title=The $400,000 Quarterback, or: The League That Came in From the Cold |publisher=Macmillan & Company, Inc |year=1965 |isbn=0-8118-2276-1 |location=New York, New York}}
* {{cite book |last=Gruver |first=Ed |title=The American Football League: A Year-By-Year History, 1960-1969 |year=1997 |publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |isbn=0-7864-0399-3}}
* {{Cite book |last=Gruver |first=Ed |title=The American Football League: A Year-By-Year History, 1960-1969 |publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc |year=1997 |isbn=0-7864-0399-3 |location=Jefferson, North Carolina}}


{{s-start}}
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{{Super Bowl III}}
{{Super Bowl III}}
{{Jets1964DraftPicks}}
{{Jets1964DraftPicks}}
{{Giants1964DraftPicks}}
{{American Football League Rookie of the Year}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Snell, Matt}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Snell, Matt}}
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[[Category:American Football League All-League players]]
[[Category:American Football League All-League players]]
[[Category:American Football League Rookies of the Year]]
[[Category:American Football League Rookies of the Year]]
[[Category:American Football League champions]]
[[Category:People from Emanuel County, Georgia]]
[[Category:People from Emanuel County, Georgia]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from New Rochelle, New York]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from New Rochelle, New York]]
[[Category:African-American players of American football]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Westchester County, New York]]
[[Category:Super Bowl champions]]
[[Category:American Football League players]]
[[Category:American Football League players]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportspeople]]
[[Category:Carle Place High School alumni]]

Revision as of 06:10, 30 July 2024

Matt Snell
No. 41
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1941-08-18) August 18, 1941 (age 83)
Garfield, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:219 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school:Carle Place (North Hempstead, New York)
College:Ohio State
NFL draft:1964 / round: 4 / pick: 49
AFL draft:1964 / round: 1 / pick: 3
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:4,287
Rush attempts:1,057
Rushing TDs:24
Receiving yards:1,375
Receptions:193
Games played:86
Player stats at PFR

Matthews Snell (born August 18, 1941) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the New York Jets of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He was Jets' owner Sonny Werblin's first coup, prior to his 1965 acquisition of Joe Namath. A powerful fullback out of Ohio State University, Snell's 1964 signing jolted the crosstown Giants, who didn't draft Snell until the fourth round, and offered him a fraction of what the Jets gave him as their first-round choice.

Early life

Born to Isaac and Annie,[1] Snell attended Carle Place High School in the one-square-mile town of Carle Place, New York, where his picture resides in the Carle Place High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Snell played right halfback on a team that lost only two games while he started. He was awarded Newsday's Thorp Award for 1959 as the outstanding high school football player in Nassau County.

At Ohio State University, Snell was a three-year starter and a consummate team player, active on both sides of the ball. In 1961, he played right halfback, often blocking for fullback Bob Ferguson or left halfback Paul Warfield. In 1962, Snell was moved to defensive end. In 1963, Snell's senior year, he was named starting fullback, going on to rush for 491 yards and 5 touchdowns.[2] At the end of his senior season, Snell was named his team's most valuable player.

Snell was named to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team in 2000 as a defensive end.

Football career

In his rookie year with the New York Jets, Snell rushed for a team-record 180 yards against the Houston Oilers on his way to a 945-yard season and AFL Rookie of the Year honors. Snell went on to become an AFL Eastern Division All-Star in 1964 and 1966, and the Sporting News All-AFL fullback in 1969.

Snell's defining moment came in Super Bowl III when the AFL champion Jets played the heavily-favored NFL champion Baltimore Colts. Although slowed by knee injuries, Snell was a key player in the Jets' ball-control offense during the 16–7 upset victory. He carried the ball 30 times for a then-Super Bowl record of 121 yards, and in the second quarter went four yards around left end to score the Jets' only touchdown, a score that marked the first time an AFL team had led in a Super Bowl. He also helped set up a trio of Jim Turner field goals that finally put the game away for the Jets in the second half, securing the AFL's first Super Bowl win in the league's penultimate season.

During his career, Snell was well known for his rushing, but also became an important part of the Jets' pass-blocking scheme. Toward the end of his career, Snell became one of the first third-down specialty backs, primarily because he was so good at protecting Joe Namath. He was also reported to have helped teach pass-blocking to Jets running backs during his career.

Snell suffered multiple injuries in his career, including torn knee cartilage in 1967 and a torn Achilles tendon in 1970. In 1971, he hurt his knee in the preseason and was diagnosed with a severe "knee bruise" and missed nine games. In 1972, in Week 4 versus the Miami Dolphins, he suffered a ruptured spleen. The injury was so severe that his spleen had to be removed, ending his season. He decided right then that he couldn't play anymore, though he didn't formally announce his retirement until the following March.[1] He only played in a total of 12 games in what would be his final three seasons.

Post-football

In 1973, Snell appeared in the first Miller Lite beer commercial. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, "The campaign would feature a collection of middle-aged sports stars and become something of a status symbol for retired athletes for the next 17 years."[3]

After his playing career in 1973, he sold his restaurant, Matt Snell's Fifth Down, to focus on his new company, Defco Securities, Inc. (of which he is one of the four partners).[1]

Snell and Emerson Boozer were inducted into the Jets' Ring of Honor on November 29, 2015 because they were partners in each other's success and that of the team. Snell did not accept the Jets' invitation to participate in the ceremony at MetLife Stadium, just as he consistently has refused the club's invitations to other alumni events for unspecified reasons ever since he retired.[4] In 2018, Snell revealed that the reason he hasn't spoken to the Jets was because the team's owner at the time he left, Leon Hess, refused to give him a reference for a future job in spite of both being promised he would receive one, and in spite of his work to build the team's success over his professional football career.[5]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Att Yds Avg Y/G Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum FR
1964 NYJ 14 14 215 948 4.4 67.7 42 5 56 393 7.0 41 1 0 0
1965 NYJ 13 13 169 763 4.5 58.7 44 4 38 264 6.9 35 0 3 0
1966 NYJ 12 12 178 644 3.6 53.7 25 4 48 346 7.2 25 4 3 0
1967 NYJ 7 5 61 207 3.4 29.6 13 0 11 54 4.9 21 0 2 0
1968 NYJ 14 14 179 747 4.2 53.4 60 6 16 105 6.6 39 1 2 1
1969 NYJ 14 13 191 695 3.6 49.6 34 4 22 187 8.5 54 1 5 1
1970 NYJ 3 3 64 281 4.4 93.7 19 1 2 26 13.0 27 0 2 0
1971 NYJ 5 0 did not record any stats
1972 NYJ 4 0 did not record any stats
Career 86 74 1,057 4,285 4.1 49.8 60 24 193 1,375 7.1 54 7 17 2

Personal life

Snell lives in New Rochelle, New York[1] with his wife Sharon, son Beau and daughter Jada. His grandson Donte played football for Holy Cross High School.[6] He is a partner in DEFCO Securities, Inc. and owns a restaurant in New York City.[7] He is the first cousin, twice removed of running back Benny Snell, with Benny Snell's grandfather being his first cousin.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Harvin, Al (March 23, 1973). "Injuries Force Snell to Quit Football". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "Matt Snell College Stats".
  3. ^ Ryan, Joan (August 2, 1995). "Here Comes The Pitch". SF Gate.
  4. ^ Cosentino, Dom (November 29, 2015). "Emerson Boozer, Matt Snell to enter Jets Ring of Honor on Sunday". NJ.com.
  5. ^ Lederer, Bob (September 11, 2018). Beyond Broadway Joe : The Super Bowl team that changed football. Dey Street Books. ISBN 978-0062798046.
  6. ^ "Donte Snell". maxpreps.com. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  7. ^ "New York Jets player biography". newyorkjets.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2009. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  8. ^ Hale, Jon (October 14, 2016). "UK's Snell carrying on family legacy at RB". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved August 12, 2021.

Sources

  • Curran, Bob (1965). The $400,000 Quarterback, or: The League That Came in From the Cold. New York, New York: Macmillan & Company, Inc. ISBN 0-8118-2276-1.
  • Gruver, Ed (1997). The American Football League: A Year-By-Year History, 1960-1969. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 0-7864-0399-3.
Preceded by American Football League
Rookie of the Year

1964
Succeeded by