Gerry Philbin, Jets Legend and Super Bowl III Champion, Passes Away
The world of American football mourns the loss of Gerry Philbin, former defensive end for the New York Jets and a key figure in the conquest of Super Bowl III in 1968. The news was confirmed by his family. Philbin, at 83 years old, left an indelible legacy in the history of the Jets. Despite his 6-foot-2-inch, 245-pound stature, he became a dominant defender in the 1960s, being selected twice for the All-AFL team. His talent led him to be included in the All-AFL team of all time and was honored in the Jets’ Ring of Honor in 2011.Although quarterback sacks were not officially recorded until 1982, Philbin accumulated 64.5 unofficial sacks, the fourth-most in Jets history, according to team records. In four consecutive seasons, including 1968, he achieved double-digit sacks, with 19 in that year.
Schmitt recalled a funny incident from the 1968 season. After Joe Namath threw five interceptions in a loss to the Buffalo Bills, Philbin threw a hint at the star quarterback: “Hey, Joe, we’re playing green this week.” Schmitt recounted that Namath almost fell to his knees laughing, and Namath himself has shared the anecdote in numerous interviews over the years. Philbin, a native of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, excelled at the University of Buffalo. He was selected by the Jets in the third round of the 1964 AFL draft, and was also chosen in the third round of the NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. He chose to play in the AFL, playing 110 games in nine seasons. In 1973, he played for the Philadelphia Eagles and finished his career in 1974 with the New York Stars of the short-lived World Football League. Former Jets coach and current analyst Rex Ryan, whose father, Buddy, was an assistant coach on the Super Bowl team, considered Philbin one of his favorite players.Gerry was a born leader. He was one of the four or five true leaders of our Super Bowl team. He was incredibly tough and a world-class player.
John Schmitt, former teammate
