It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Matt Snell, the legendary fullback for the New York Jets who scored the team’s only touchdown in Super Bowl III. Snell died on March 10, 2026, in East Meadow, New York, at the age of 84, leaving behind a legacy of grit, determination, and excellence on the football field.
While Super Bowl III is often remembered for Joe Namath’s famous “guarantee,” it was Snell who delivered the performance that made that promise a reality. His punishing running game on that January afternoon helped secure the Jets’ historic 16-7 victory over the Baltimore Colts, establishing the AFL as a league worthy of merging with the NFL on equal terms. Jets chairman Woody Johnson described the win as “one of the most important victories in sports history,” noting that Snell “was the embodiment of toughness, selflessness, and belief—traits that defined our organization’s proudest moments. His performance in Super Bowl III was nothing short of legendary.”
Born on August 18, 1941, in Garfield, Georgia, Snell grew up in Carle Place, New York, on Long Island. A standout athlete at Carle Place High School, he is remembered in the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Snell continued his football career at Ohio State University, where he played a key role in the Buckeyes’ 1961 Big Ten Championship and was named team MVP in his senior year.
In 1964, Snell was drafted by both the AFL’s Jets and the NFL’s New York Giants. He chose the Jets, drawn by the larger contract, and quickly proved his worth by earning AFL Rookie of the Year honors. He would go on to be selected as an AFL All-Star three times. The pinnacle of his career came in the 1968 season, when his contributions helped the Jets achieve their only Super Bowl appearance to date. Snell’s touchdown gave the Jets an early lead, and his powerful running game contributed to the team’s subsequent three field goals that secured the victory.
Snell’s playing career was curtailed by injuries, including a torn Achilles tendon in 1970, a knee injury in 1971, and a ruptured spleen in 1972. Following his retirement, he appeared in Miller Lite commercials and became a partner in Defco Securities, Inc. In recognition of his contributions, Snell was inducted into the Jets Ring of Honor in 2015.
Matt Snell is survived by his wife, Sharon; his children, Beau and Jada; one grandson; and his siblings, Dorothy Robertson, Viola O’Neal, and Isaac Snell. His legacy as a courageous, selfless athlete and a Jets icon will be remembered by fans, teammates, and generations of football lovers.
