Matt Snell

Matthews Snell (August 18, 1941 – March 10, 2026) was an American professional football player who was a fullback for the New York Jets of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Snell was Jets' owner Sonny Werblin's first coup, prior to his 1965 acquisition of Joe Namath. Snell's 1964 signing jolted the crosstown New York Giants, who didn't draft Snell until the fourth round, and offered him a fraction of what the Jets gave him as their first-round choice. After joining the Jets, he would play in Super Bowl III, where he notably, among other things, scored the Jets' only touchdown and had good rushing stats in their upset 16-7 win over the Baltimore Colts.

Early life Born to Isaac and Annie, Snell attended Carle Place High School in the one-square-mile town of Carle Place, New York, where his picture resides in the Carle Place High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Snell played right halfback on a team that lost only two games while he started. He was awarded Newsdays Thorp Award for 1959 as the outstanding high school football player in Nassau County.

At Ohio State University, Snell was a three-year starter and a consummate team player, active on both sides of the ball. In 1961, he played right halfback, often blocking for fullback Bob Ferguson or left halfback Paul Warfield. In 1962, Snell was moved to defensive end. In 1963, Snell's senior year, he was named starting fullback, going on to rush for 491 yards and five touchdowns. At the end of his senior season, Snell was named his team's most valuable player.

Snell was named to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team in 2000 as a defensive end.

Football career In his rookie year with the New York Jets, Snell rushed for a team-record 180 yards against the Houston Oilers on his way to a 945-yard season and AFL Rookie of the Year honors. Snell went on to become an AFL Eastern Division All-Star in 1964 and 1966, and the Sporting News All-AFL fullback in 1969.

Snell's defining moment came in Super Bowl III when the AFL champion Jets played the heavily favored NFL champion Baltimore Colts. Although slowed by knee injuries, Snell was a key player in the Jets' ball-control offense during the 16–7 upset victory. He carried the ball 30 times for a then-Super Bowl record of 121 yards, and in the second quarter went four yards around left end to score the Jets' only touchdown, a score that marked the first time an AFL team had led in a Super Bowl. He also helped set up a trio of Jim Turner field goals that finally put the game away for the Jets in the second half, securing the AFL's first Super Bowl win in the league's penultimate season.

During his career, Snell was well known for his rushing, but also became an important part of the Jets' pass-blocking scheme. Toward the end of his career, Snell became one of the first third-down specialty backs, primarily because he was so good at protecting Joe Namath. He was also reported to have helped teach pass-blocking to Jets running backs during his career.

Snell suffered multiple injuries in his career, including torn knee cartilage in 1967 and a torn Achilles tendon in 1970. In 1971, he hurt his knee in the preseason and was diagnosed with a severe "knee bruise" and missed nine games. In 1972, in Week 4 versus the Miami Dolphins, he suffered a ruptured spleen. The injury was so severe that his spleen had to be removed, ending his season. He decided right then that he couldn't play anymore, though he didn't formally announce his retirement until the following March. He only played in a total of 12 games in what would be his final three seasons.

Post-football In 1973, Snell appeared in the first Miller Lite beer commercial. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, "The campaign would feature a collection of middle-aged sports stars and become something of a status symbol for retired athletes for the next 17 years."

After his playing career in 1973, he sold his restaurant, Matt Snell's Fifth Down, to focus on his new company, Defco Securities, Inc. (of which he was one of the four partners). In 2018, Snell revealed that the reason he hadn't spoken to the Jets was because the team's owner at the time he left, Leon Hess, refused to give him a reference for a future job in spite of both being promised he would receive one, and in spite of his work to build the team's success over his professional football career.

Personal life and death Snell lived in New Rochelle, New York, He was a partner in DEFCO Securities, Inc. and owned a restaurant in New York City. He was the first cousin, twice removed of running back Benny Snell, with Benny Snell's grandfather being his first cousin.

Snell died on Long Island, New York, on March 10, 2026, at the age of 84.

NFL career statistics Legend Won the Super Bowl Bold Career high

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Fumbles GP GS Att Yds Avg Y/G Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum FR 1964 NYJ 14 14 215 948 4.4 67.7 42 5 56 393 7.0 41 1 0 0 1965 NYJ 13 13 169 763 4.5 58.7 44 4 38 264 6.9 35 0 3 0 1966 NYJ 12 12 178 644 3.6 53.7 25 4 48 346 7.2 25 4 3 0 1967 NYJ 7 5 61 207 3.4 29.6 13 0 11 54 4.9 21 0 2 0 1968 NYJ 14 14 179 747 4.2 53.4 60 6 16 105 6.6 39 1 2 1 1969 NYJ 14 13 191 695 3.6 49.6 34 4 22 187 8.5 54 1 5 1 1970 NYJ 3 3 64 281 4.4 93.7 19 1 2 26 13.0 27 0 2 0 1971 NYJ 5 0 did not record any stats 1972 NYJ 4 0 did not record any statsCareer 86 74 1,057 4,285 4.1 49.8 60 24 193 1,375 7.1 54 7 17 2