Matt Snell
Encyclopedia
Matt Snell was the American Football League
's New York Jets
owner Sonny Werblin
's first coup, prior to his 1965 acquisition of Joe Namath
. A powerful fullback out of the 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.
Snell currently lives in New Rochelle, New York
with his wife Sharon, son Beau and daughter Jada. He is a partner in DEFCO Securities, Inc. and owns a restaurant in New York City
.
Upon graduation, at Ohio State, Snell was a three-year starter
and a consummate
team player. In 1961 he was a right halfback, with responsibilities typically of blocking for fullback Bob Ferguson
or left halfback Paul Warfield
. In 1962 he was moved to defensive end
. In 1963, his senior year, he was named starting fullback, making him the featured running back
in the Ohio State offense. 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.
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.
His defining moment came in Superbowl III when the AFL Champion Jets played the 1968 NFL Champion Baltimore Colts
. Although slowed by knee injuries, Snell was the key player in the Jets ball-control offense during the 16-7 upset of the Colts. He carried 30 times for a then Super Bowl
record 121 yards, and in the second quarter, went 4 yards around the left end to score the Jets' only touchdown in super bowl history. It was 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.
In 1973 Snell was in the first Miller Lite
beer commercial. According to the SF 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."http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1995/08/02/SP35938.DTL&hw=endorsements&sn=005&sc=714
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
's New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
owner Sonny Werblin
Sonny Werblin
David Abraham "Sonny" Werblin was a prominent entertainment industry executive and sports impresario who was an owner of the New York Jets, Chairman of Madison Square Gardens, and who built and managed the Meadowlands Sports Complex.A graduate of Rutgers University, Werblin went to work for Music...
's first coup, prior to his 1965 acquisition of Joe Namath
Joe Namath
Joseph William "Joe" Namath , nicknamed "Broadway Joe" or "Joe Willie", is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for the University of Alabama under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and his assistant, Howard Schnellenberger, from 1962–1964, and professional football in the...
. A powerful fullback out of the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, 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.
Snell currently lives in New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
with his wife Sharon, son Beau and daughter Jada. He is a partner in DEFCO Securities, Inc. and owns a restaurant in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Early career
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.Upon graduation, at Ohio State, Snell was a three-year starter
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
and a consummate
Consummate
Consummation or consummation of a marriage, in many traditions and statutes of civil or religious law, is the first act of sexual intercourse between two individuals, following their marriage to each other...
team player. In 1961 he was a right halfback, with responsibilities typically of blocking for fullback Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson (American football)
Robert E. "Bob" Ferguson was an American football running back and member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He is considered by many to be the greatest fullback in the history of the Ohio State University Buckeyes.Ferguson attended Troy High School in Troy, Ohio.Ferguson's first year of...
or left halfback Paul Warfield
Paul Warfield
Paul Dryden Warfield is a former professional American football wide receiver in the 1960s and 1970s known for his speed, fluid moves, grace, jumping ability and hands.- Football career :...
. In 1962 he was moved to defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
. In 1963, his senior year, he was named starting fullback, making him the featured running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the Ohio State offense. 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
Ohio State Football All-Century Team
The Ohio State Football All-Century Team was chosen in early 2000 by the Touchdown Club of Columbus. It was selected to honor the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes football players of the 20th century...
in 2000, as a defensive end.
Football career
In his rookie year, Snell rushed for a Jets record 180 yards against the Houston Oilers, on his way to a 945-yard season and AFL Rookie of the YearAmerican Football League Rookies of the Year
In each year of its ten-year existence , numerous sports-news services named their choice for the American Football League's best first-year player...
honors. Snell went on to become an AFL
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
Eastern Division All-Star
American Football League All-Star games
-All-League Teams:The Sporting News published American Football League All-League Teams for each season played by the American Football League, 1960 through 1969...
in 1964 and 1966 and the Sporting News All-AFL
American Football League All-League Teams
The Sporting News published American Football League All-League Teams for each season played by the American Football League, 1960 through 1969...
fullback in 1969.
His defining moment came in Superbowl III when the AFL Champion Jets played the 1968 NFL Champion Baltimore Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
. Although slowed by knee injuries, Snell was the key player in the Jets ball-control offense during the 16-7 upset of the Colts. He carried 30 times for a then Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
record 121 yards, and in the second quarter, went 4 yards around the left end to score the Jets' only touchdown in super bowl history. It was the first time an AFL team had led in a Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
. 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.
In 1973 Snell was in the first Miller Lite
Miller Lite
Miller Lite is a 4.2% abv pale lager brand sold by MillerCoors of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Sibling beers include Miller Genuine Draft and Miller High Life.-History:...
beer commercial. According to the SF 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."http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1995/08/02/SP35938.DTL&hw=endorsements&sn=005&sc=714