Joseph William "Joe" Namath (IPA-en?ne?m??pron; born May 31, 1943), also known as 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 (Bear Bryant) and his assistant, Howard Schnellenberger, from 1962-1964, and professional football in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) during the 1960s and 1970s. Namath was an American Football League icon and played for the New York Jets for most of his professional career but finished his career with the Los Angeles Rams (St. Louis Rams). He was elected to the Hall of Fame (Pro Football Hall of Fame) in 1985.

Namath retired after playing in 77 wins, 108 losses and 3 ties. In his career he threw 173 touchdowns, 220 interceptions, and completed 1,886 passes for 27,663 yards. During his thirteen years in the AFL and NFL he played for three division champions (the 1968 and 1969 AFL East Champion Jets and the 1977 NFC West Champion Rams), earned one league championship (1968 AFL Championship (American Football League playoffs#1968 Championship)), and one world championship (Super Bowl III).

In 1999, he was ranked number 96 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. He was the only player on the list to have spent a majority of his career with the Jets.

He is known for brashly telling the media that he guaranteed that his team would upset Don Shulas NFL Baltimore Colts (Indianapolis Colts) in Super Bowl III in 1969, and then delivering on his promise.