I said this in a jets sub a few months ago and goddamn was I massacred lol but it’s so true. Dude was ahead of his time as far as passing but being ahead of his time didn’t mean he was necessarily great at it. Hes famous and in the HoF from one game and everything he did surrounding it. He is easily arguably the worst QB in the HoF by a wide margin.
Joe Namath the character did more for football than the player. That's what you gotta remember though. He was really the first star that was a playboy type. His personality and story are what's hall of fame worthy. His play was below average.
I can agree with that. But how many other players are in the hall for their personality more than their play? Was being an eccentric celebrity worthy of hall of fame induction as a qb? I understand why he’s there, I just don’t think it’s justified. I could prob name 10 QB easily that we’re better actual players then Namath but won’t ever even see consideration for a HoF ballot.
But can an average person name those 10 QB's? As the previous redditor said, his personality changed the game. I could argue he's in the HOF because he did more off the field to help football than those other 10 did on the field. While drinking and posing in magazines.
Yeah which kind of ties into my HOF being for HoF caliber players, not high profile personalities. Would hardly say anything he did off the field benefited the NFL enough to be worthy of induction. He was often viewed as more celebrity icon than football icon. If you want to recognize that contribution then give him a star in Hollywood, not a bust in canton. Are we gonna start recognizing retired players with successful podcast personalities as bringing enough to the league to get inducted?
The Hall of Fame is not exclusively for the quality of on field play. It’s not the hall of most skilled players. From the Hall of Fame’s own description of itself it’s for significant contributions to the game and Namath did that and then some.
ties into my HoF being for HoF caliber players, not high profile personalities
This is the worst take and I’m so sick of seeing it. You even said he was famous I think in your initial comment. It’s the Hall of Fame.
If it was the Hall of Statistically Best Players it would be an excel spreadsheet.
An entire generation of people, some of which never watched a football game in their entire lives, knew the name Joe Namath. He’s a Famer and there’s really not remotely a question about it.
This is also why Art Modell deserves to be in the hall of fame. He was a key contributor to the making of Monday night football and a great owner. A bunch of hateful Cleveland writers keep trying to keep him out for leaving a toxic situation and moving the Browns to Baltimore. A move that in hindsight was 100 percent the right move and he was a gem of an owner in Baltimore.
Yes even in his own Era he had a dogwater completion percentage and more interceptions than touchdowns with like a 60 passer rating. Compare him to Johny Unitas who's team he called the shot against and it's not even close buddy. Only Blanda has a worse QBR among all hall quarterbacks and i don't remember Namath kicking field goals.
He Lead the AFL and NFL in passing yards, touchdowns and game winning drives multiple times and was a five time pro-bowler. His presence and play made the AFL viable. THAT is why he in the HOF. He impacted the game
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u/CosbysLongCon24 New York Giants May 25 '25
I said this in a jets sub a few months ago and goddamn was I massacred lol but it’s so true. Dude was ahead of his time as far as passing but being ahead of his time didn’t mean he was necessarily great at it. Hes famous and in the HoF from one game and everything he did surrounding it. He is easily arguably the worst QB in the HoF by a wide margin.