Joe Namath says concussions affected him
New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath before a game in 1970. Credit: AP
Former Jets quarterback Joe Namath, who led the team to its only Super Bowl championship, said in an interview to be aired Sunday on CBS that he suffered some long-term effects from concussions while playing in the NFL.
"I've been through some things medically," Namath told reporter Rita Braver in an interview for "CBS Sunday Morning With Charles Osgood." "I've seen some things on my brain. But I've had some treatment, and I've improved. None of the body was designed to play football. Excuse me, you know, football, we're just not designed for."
CBS published some of Namath's remarks in a news release Thursday. It did not indicate whether there was a follow-up to Namath's remarks about having "seen some things on my brain."
Namath had chronic knee problems during much of his career, and had both knees replaced in 1992.
Namath, the MVP of the Jets' 16-7 win over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, guaranteed the Jets would win three days before the game.
Namath discussed with Braver his mindset going into the game.
"Oh, you try to be cool," he said. "You try to convince yourself, you know, 'All right, this is another game,' and, you know, 'I'm ready.' "
SARRA SOUNDS OFF: Two state girls hoops titles, and Matt Brust joins the show On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," two Long Island schools win state basketball titles and 1980s All-Decade Team member Matt Brust joins the show to talk LI hoops history.
SARRA SOUNDS OFF: Two state girls hoops titles, and Matt Brust joins the show On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," two Long Island schools win state basketball titles and 1980s All-Decade Team member Matt Brust joins the show to talk LI hoops history.
