Johnny Unitas, considered by many to be the greatest quarterback of all time, didn’t play in Super Bowl III. The reason? He was injured and had been benched earlier in the season in favor of Earl Morrall.
So, when the Colts made it to the big game, Unitas was relegated to backup duty behind Morrall. It’s a decision that still puzzles many football fans today.
The simple answer is that the Colts were not in Super Bowl III. The more complicated answer has to do with a power struggle between Johnny Unitas and Colts head coach Don Shula. Unitas was the face of the franchise and had led the team to back-to-back NFL championships, but by 1967 he was beginning to show his age.
Shula wanted to go with a younger quarterback, so he started Earl Morrall in Super Bowl V against the Jets. Unitas did come in for one drive late in the game, but it was too little too late and the Colts lost 16-7. After that, Unitas’s relationship with Shula deteriorated and he was eventually traded to the San Diego Chargers in 1973.
Did Johnny Unitas Play in Super Bowl 3?
No, Johnny Unitas did not play in Super Bowl 3. He was injured and did not play in the game.
Who were the Quarterbacks for Super Bowl 3?
Super Bowl III was played on January 12, 1969, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The American Football League (AFL) champion New York Jets defeated the National Football League (NFL) champion Baltimore Colts by a score of 16-7. It was the first AFL-NFL World Championship Game.
The game is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in both American football history and in sports history. Underdog New York entered the game as 11-point underdogs; some Las Vegas casinos even refused to accept bets on the game. Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas had been injured early in the 1968 season and missed most of it, but he returned for Super Bowl III and completed 17 out of 28 passes for 205 yards.
However, he also threw two interceptions that led to Jet touchdowns. Meanwhile, Jets quarterback Joe Namath made good on his guarantee of victory with a flawless performance, completing 15 out of 23 passes for 206 yards and one touchdown. He also ran five times for 27 yards.
This was the first Super Bowl appearance for both teams; they would each go on to make two more appearances apiece over their histories. This was also the last Super Bowl appearance for Colts head coach Don Shula until his sixth and final one following the 1984 season with Miami; Shula retired after that season with an NFL record 347 victories (including playoffs).
Did Johnny Unitas Play in Super Bowl V?
Johnny Unitas did not play in Super Bowl V. He was injured during the season and did not recover in time to participate in the playoffs or the Super Bowl.
Did Earl Morrall Throw the Super Bowl?
In Super Bowl V, the Colts faced the Cowboys in what was a rematch of sorts from their earlier meeting in Texas Stadium during the regular season. The game was a close one, with the score tied at 13-13 late in the fourth quarter. On 3rd and 10 from his own 5-yard line, Morrall threw a pass that was intercepted by Dallas defensive back Mike Gaechter and returned for a touchdown, giving the Cowboys a 20-13 lead.
The Colts would get the ball back, but were unable to score and ultimately lost the game. So did Earl Morrall throw the Super Bowl? While he certainly made a costly mistake at a crucial point in the game, it’s unfair to say that he cost his team the title outright.
The defense could have made a stop on Gaechter’s return, and the offense had opportunities to score later in the game. Ultimately, though, Morrall’s interception proved to be decisive and gave Dallas their first ever Super Bowl victory.
Super Bowl 3 Rigged
The Super Bowl is the biggest and most important American football game of the year. It is the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL). The game is usually played on the first Sunday in February.
The Super Bowl is watched by millions of people around the world.
Some people believe that Super Bowl 3 was rigged. This belief is based on a few things.
First, there were reports that the NFL had fixed previous games, including Super Bowl 1. Second, there were some suspicious calls in Super Bowl 3 that went against the New York Jets. Third, after the game, Jets quarterback Joe Namath said he was told by Colts owner Robert Irsay that the Colts had been instructed to lose the game.
Whether or not Super Bowl 3 was actually rigged is still up for debate. However, it’s clear that many people believe it was fixed – and this belief has persisted for over 50 years!
Conclusion
Super Bowl III is considered one of the greatest upsets in sports history. The New York Jets, led by quarterback Joe Namath, defeated the Baltimore Colts 16-7. After the game, many people wondered why Johnny Unitas, the Colts’ star quarterback, didn’t play.
There are several theories as to why Unitas didn’t take the field that day, but the most likely explanation is that he was injured and couldn’t perform at his usual high level. Whatever the reason, Unitas’s absence was a key factor in the Jets’ victory.
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