12/5 in Jet History: Jets Sign 1st Rd Pick Matt Snell
Dec 5, 2015 7:56:20 GMT -5
Bing© in Buffalo Chairman likes this
Post by Lithfan on Dec 5, 2015 7:56:20 GMT -5
December 5, 1963
On November 30, the New York Jets selected Matt Snell, RB from Ohio State in the AFL draft. 2 days later, Snell, who also played defensive end at OSU, was also drafted by the New York Giants in the 4th round of the NFL draft.
It was the first time the Jets and Giants competed for the same player, so it was considered a major victory for the Jets when Snell agreed to sign with them, signing his rookie contract on 12/5/63. The signing came after Jets owner Sonny Werblin paid a visit to Snell on the Ohio State campus to persuade him to join the Jets.
That 1964 draft was pivotal in reshaping the Jets roster as they added several players that would be starters or major contributors on Jet teams in the late 60s. In the 3rd round they added DE Gerry Philbin from Buffalo, and LB Ralph Baker from Penn State was added in the 6th. C John Schmitt also joined the team as an undrafted free agent out of Hofstra.
And in the 25th round, the Jets added Jerry Rhome, a QB out of Tulsa. Although he would never play for them, Rhome’s rights would be traded to the Houston Oilers in 1964 in exchange for a first round pick in the 64 draft. The pick the Jets used to select Joe Namath.
Snell would become an immediate contributor for the Jets, rushing 22 times for 82 yards and a TD in his first game, a 30-6 victory against the Denver Broncos. In just his 4th pro game, he set a franchise record with 168 rushing yards in a victory against the Raider. A record that lasted just a week, as Snell went for 180 yards in a 24-21 victory against Houston the following week. He was named AFL Rookie of the Year following the 1964 season.
As we all know, he would go on to star for the Jets in Super Bowl III, rushing for 121 yards and the Jets only TD in their 16-7 upset of the Baltimore Colts. A great blocker, Snell would finish his career as one of the first 3rd down backs in the NFL. In 1973, he also became the first athlete to star in a Lite Beer Commercial, video clip is below.
On November 30, the New York Jets selected Matt Snell, RB from Ohio State in the AFL draft. 2 days later, Snell, who also played defensive end at OSU, was also drafted by the New York Giants in the 4th round of the NFL draft.
It was the first time the Jets and Giants competed for the same player, so it was considered a major victory for the Jets when Snell agreed to sign with them, signing his rookie contract on 12/5/63. The signing came after Jets owner Sonny Werblin paid a visit to Snell on the Ohio State campus to persuade him to join the Jets.
That 1964 draft was pivotal in reshaping the Jets roster as they added several players that would be starters or major contributors on Jet teams in the late 60s. In the 3rd round they added DE Gerry Philbin from Buffalo, and LB Ralph Baker from Penn State was added in the 6th. C John Schmitt also joined the team as an undrafted free agent out of Hofstra.
And in the 25th round, the Jets added Jerry Rhome, a QB out of Tulsa. Although he would never play for them, Rhome’s rights would be traded to the Houston Oilers in 1964 in exchange for a first round pick in the 64 draft. The pick the Jets used to select Joe Namath.
Snell would become an immediate contributor for the Jets, rushing 22 times for 82 yards and a TD in his first game, a 30-6 victory against the Denver Broncos. In just his 4th pro game, he set a franchise record with 168 rushing yards in a victory against the Raider. A record that lasted just a week, as Snell went for 180 yards in a 24-21 victory against Houston the following week. He was named AFL Rookie of the Year following the 1964 season.
As we all know, he would go on to star for the Jets in Super Bowl III, rushing for 121 yards and the Jets only TD in their 16-7 upset of the Baltimore Colts. A great blocker, Snell would finish his career as one of the first 3rd down backs in the NFL. In 1973, he also became the first athlete to star in a Lite Beer Commercial, video clip is below.