Jets Legend Don Maynard Passes Away at 86
He was one of the most important players in the history of the New York Jets. An original Jet, who played on the team when it was still called the Titans of New York in 1960, and later a Super Bowl Champion in 1968, Don Maynard passed away Monday. He was 86.
Maynard is the Jets’ all-time leader in catches (627), receiving yards (11,732), receiving touchdowns (88) and games at receiver (172).
Maynard began his NFL journey in 1958 with the Giants before opting to play the 1959 season in Canada. In 1960, he signed on with the brand new New York Titans, an expansion team of the American Football League.
Little did Maynard know at the time it was the beginning of a beautiful relationship between he and the team that would change its name from the Titans to the Jets come 1962. Maynard spent 14 seasons with Gang Green, and was in many ways the Yin to Joe Namath’s Yang during their championship run in the late 60s.
In the 1968 AFL Championship against the Oakland Raiders, Maynard caught the game winning touchdown pass from Namath that sent Gang Green to its first and only Super Bowl to date.
A week later the Jets upset the heavily favored Baltimore Colts 16-7 in Super Bowl III. That was the Super Bowl that would legitimize the AFL, and eventually usher in the 1970 merger of the two leagues into the NFL that we know today.
Maynard “career average of 18.7 yards per catch trails only Paul Warfield, Bob Hayes and Lance Alworth among Hall of Famers and remains 16th all time – but first for a player with 600 receptions. His name still occupies places 2, 3, 4 and 6 on the Jets’ all-time list for single-season receiving yardage more than a half-century since the last of his five 1,000-yard seasons,” Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Maynard’s iconic number 13 is one of five jersey’s retired by the Jets including: Joe Namath (12), Curtis Martin (28), Joe Klecko (73) and Dennis Byrd (90). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, becoming the second Jet at the time to get enshrined into the Hall.
Whenever @RealJoeNamath needed a big play, he always went Don Maynard's way.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 11, 2022
Their fourth-quarter connection in the 1968 AFL Championship is unforgettable.
(via @NFLFilms) pic.twitter.com/JHhDdeWWb1
RIP, Don.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 10, 2022
Don Maynard made the two most important catches in #Jets history on consecutive plays, midway through the fourth quarter of the 1968 AFL Championship classic:
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) January 11, 2022
A 52-yard over-the-head rainbow from Joe Namath, followed by the 6-yard game-winning score. pic.twitter.com/syCx9V8nrO
So sorry to hear my idol Don Maynard passed today. One of the greatest Jets of all time. Such an honor to spend time with him over the years. I’ll cherish those moments. My condolences go out to the Maynard family. He will be missed. pic.twitter.com/Idbw9vyTtF
— Wayne Chrebet (@waynechrebet) January 10, 2022