Matt Snell, Jets' Super Bowl III Hero, Dies at 84

The former running back led the Jets to an upset victory in Super Bowl III but had a contentious relationship with the team after his retirement.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Matt Snell, the former New York Jets running back who starred in the team's historic Super Bowl III victory, has died at the age of 84. Snell was a key contributor to the Jets' upset win over the Baltimore Colts, rushing for 121 yards and scoring the team's only touchdown. However, his relationship with the Jets organization soured after his retirement, with Snell claiming that team ownership did not follow through on promises made by former part-owner Sonny Werblin.

Why it matters

Snell's performance in Super Bowl III cemented his legacy as a Jets legend, but his contentious relationship with the team after his playing days ended highlights the challenges some athletes face in transitioning to life after professional sports.

The details

Snell was the Jets' Rookie of the Year in 1964 and had a standout career, including his heroics in Super Bowl III. However, injuries limited him to just 12 games over his final three seasons before he retired in 1972. Snell claimed that then-part-owner Sonny Werblin had promised him a job with the team for life, but that promise was not honored after Werblin's stake was bought out. This led to a long-running grudge that Snell carried until his death.

  • Snell was named AFL Rookie of the Year in 1964.
  • Snell rushed for 121 yards and scored a touchdown in the Jets' upset victory over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III on January 12, 1969.
  • Snell retired from the NFL in 1972 after 12 games over his final three seasons.
  • Snell spoke about his contentious relationship with the Jets organization in an interview with The New York Post in 2015.

The players

Matt Snell

A former running back for the New York Jets who was a key contributor to the team's historic Super Bowl III victory in 1969.

Sonny Werblin

The former part-owner of the New York Jets who Snell claimed had promised him a job with the team for life, a promise that Snell felt was not honored after Werblin's stake was bought out.

Joe Namath

The Jets' Hall of Fame quarterback who led the team to victory in Super Bowl III.

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What they’re saying

“I don't know if Sonny ever communicated what he had promised me to the other owners. I know there were people around the organization that were not happy that Sonny and I were friends, and some of them jumped on the opportunity to say bad things about me when Sonny was gone.”

— Matt Snell, Former Jets Running Back (Beyond Broadway Joe: The Super Bowl Team That Changed Football)

“Those people there now don't owe me anything. I'll be gone soon, too.”

— Matt Snell, Former Jets Running Back (The New York Post)

The takeaway

Snell's legacy as a Jets legend is secure, but his contentious relationship with the organization after his playing days highlights the challenges some athletes face in transitioning to life after professional sports, especially when promises made by team leadership are not kept.