Super Bowl III

1969

Super Bowl III, played on January 12, 1969, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, was one of the most significant games in football history. It was the first time the AFL truly proved it could compete with the NFL, thanks to the brash confidence of New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath. Leading up to the game, the Baltimore Colts were widely regarded as one of the best teams ever assembled, and the NFL had dominated the first two Super Bowls. Few believed the upstart AFL had any chance—until Namath famously guaranteed a Jets victory just days before the game.