1972 New York Jets season
OwnerLeon Hess
Head coachWeeb Ewbank
Home fieldShea Stadium
Results
Record7–7
Division place2nd AFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersT Winston Hill
WR Jerome Barkum
QB Joe Namath

The 1972 New York Jets season was the 13th season for the team and the third in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 6–8 record from 1971 under head coach Weeb Ewbank. The Jets star quarterback Joe Namath was healthy for a full season for the first time in three years but the rest of the squad was decimated by injuries and, after a strong start, the Jets finished with a record of 7–7.

During the 1972 preseason, a squad composed of the Jets’ rookies defeated the Long Island Chiefs of the Seaboard Football League, 29–3.[1](In 1974, the Houston Oilers rookie squad played a preseason game vs the minor league San Antonio Toros) [2]

Namath threw for 496 yards and six touchdowns (on 15 of 28 passes) in a 44–34 victory over the Baltimore Colts in his first appearance at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium in week two, but the next week, the Jets were humbled 26–20 by the Houston Oilers, the Oilers' only victory of 1972 and their last before embarking on an 18-game losing streak.

The Jets were eliminated from playoff contention in the season’s thirteenth week, a Monday Night Game with the Raiders in which a battered and bruised Namath threw for 403 yards and nearly pulled off the upset. After the game Raiders coach John Madden went into the Jets locker room and shook Namath’s hand out of respect; it was the only time in his coaching career Madden ever did that. Eliminated from postseason play, the Jets’ coaches decided Namath would sit out the final game of the season to make sure no serious injuries were incurred prior to the 1973 season.

Roster

1972 New York Jets final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Rookies in italics

Offseason

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 17 at Buffalo Bills W 41–24 1–0 War Memorial Stadium 46,206
2 September 24 at Baltimore Colts W 44–34 2–0 Memorial Stadium 56,626
3 October 1 at Houston Oilers L 20–26 2–1 Astrodome 51,423
4 October 8 Miami Dolphins L 17–27 2–2 Shea Stadium 63,841
5 October 15 at New England Patriots W 41–13 3–2 Schaefer Stadium 60,999
6 October 22 Baltimore Colts W 24–20 4–2 Shea Stadium 62,948
7 October 29 New England Patriots W 34–10 5–2 Shea Stadium 62,867
8 November 5 Washington Redskins L 17–35 5–3 Shea Stadium 63,962
9 November 12 Buffalo Bills W 41–3 6–3 Shea Stadium 62,853
10 November 19 at Miami Dolphins L 24–28 6–4 Miami Orange Bowl 80,010
11 November 23 at Detroit Lions L 20–37 6–5 Tiger Stadium 54,418
12 December 3 New Orleans Saints W 18–17 7–5 Shea Stadium 62,496
13 December 11 at Oakland Raiders L 16–24 7–6 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 54,843
14 December 17 Cleveland Browns L 10–26 7–7 Shea Stadium 62,614
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 2: at Baltimore Colts

New York Jets at Baltimore Colts
1 234Total
• Jets 6 21314 44
Colts 7 13014 34
Scoring summary
1JetsEddie Bell 65 yard pass from Joe Namath (kick failed)Jets 6–0
1ColtsSam Havrilak 40 yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Jim O'Brien kick)Colts 7–6
2ColtsJim O'Brien 14 yard field goalColts 10–6
2ColtsJim O'Brien 32 yard field goalColts 13–6
2JetsJohn Riggins 67 yard pass from Joe Namath (Bobby Howfield kick)Tie 13–13
2ColtsDon McCauley 93 yard kickoff return (Jim O'Brien kick)Colts 20–13
2JetsDon Maynard 28 yard pass from Joe Namath (Bobby Howfield kick)Tie 20–20
2JetsRich Caster 10 yard pass from Joe Namath (Bobby Howfield kick)Jets 27–20
3JetsBobby Howfield 14 yard field goalJets 30–20
4ColtsDon McCauley 1 yard run (Jim O'Brien kick)Jets 30–27
4JetsRich Caster 79 yard pass from Joe Namath (Bobby Howfield kick)Jets 37–27
4ColtsTom Matte 21 yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Jim O'Brien kick)Jets 37–34
4JetsRich Caster 80 yard pass from Joe Namath (Bobby Howfield kick)Jets 44–34

The rivalry between Joe Namath and Johnny Unitas had never resulted in both quarterbacks meeting for a full game until this meeting. Namath and Unitas exploded to a combined 872 passing yards. Namath threw for 496 yards and six touchdowns despite only 15 completions in 28 attempts. Unitas scored twice but was sacked six times. Don McCauley also scored twice for the Colts as the Jets won 44–34.

Standings

AFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Miami Dolphins 14 0 0 1.000 8–0 11–0 385 171 W14
New York Jets 7 7 0 .500 6–2 6–5 367 324 L2
Baltimore Colts 5 9 0 .357 4–4 5–6 235 252 L2
Buffalo Bills 4 9 1 .321 2–6 2–9 257 377 W1
New England Patriots 3 11 0 .214 0–8 0–11 192 446 L1

References

  1. ↑ ‘Hartford Gets Grid Franchise’, Reading Eagle – May 31, 1972, p 58 The Chiefs played an exhibition game against the New York Jets rookies on July 29, 1972, losing 29-3, ‘Packer Excels at Quarterback As Jets Top L.I. Chiefs, 29-3’, New York Times, July 30, 1972, pS-3; "Rookie QB Fires Jets", Pittsburgh Press, July 30, 1972, pD-8
  2. ↑ "Today in S.A. History". July 19, 2016.
  3. ↑ Pro Football Reference; New York Jets at Baltimore Colts – September 24th, 1972
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