Super Bowl hero Matt Snell dies after lengthy illness, decades-long grudge with Jets

Former NFL moving backmost Matt Snell has died astatine property 84, the New York Jets confirmed.

A origin of decease was not instantly announced.

In summation to his heroics successful Super Bowl III, Snell is remembered for a standout rookie season, earning AFL Rookie of the Year honors and mounting the Jets single-game rushing record. In the franchise's lone Super Bowl title, Snell rushed for 121 yards and scored New York’s lone touchdown.

Snell overcame a genu wounded to play a cardinal relation successful the Jets' 16-7 victory.

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New York Jets' fullback Matt Snell watches the enactment from the sideline during Super Bowl III against the Baltimore Colts astatine the Orange Bowl Jan. 12, 1969, successful Miami, Fla. (Focus connected Sport via Getty Images)

In a statement, Jets Chairman Woody Johnson said Snell represented the bosom of the franchise and near a lasting legacy.

"Matt Snell volition everlastingly clasp a peculiar spot successful the past of the New York Jets," Johnson said. "He was the embodiment of toughness, selflessness and content — traits that defined our organization’s proudest moments. His show successful Super Bowl III was thing abbreviated of legendary. Against the odds, Matt acceptable the code with his carnal running, delivering the Jets’ lone touchdown and helping unafraid 1 of the astir important victories successful sports history."

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Injuries marred the extremity of Snell’s career, limiting him to 12 games implicit his last 3 seasons. Snell stepped distant from the NFL aft the 1972 season.

Shortly aft helium near the Jets, Snell's narration with the franchise appeared to rapidly deteriorate. 

The 2018 book, "Beyond Broadway Joe: The Super Bowl Team That Changed Football," aboriginal provided discourse down the dispute. In the book, Snell wrote that then–Jets proprietor Sonny Werblin offered him a lifelong relation with the franchise. 

New York Jets moving backmost (41) Matt Snell successful enactment during Super Bowl III against the Baltimore Colts astatine the Orange Bowl. Snell rushed for 121 yards and scored a touchdown Jan. 12, 1969, successful Miami, Fla. (Malcolm Emmons/USA Today Sports )

Snell aboriginal said a miscommunication whitethorn person caused a deficiency of follow-through aft Werblin’s involvement was purchased.

"I don’t cognize if Sonny ever communicated what helium had promised maine to the different owners. I cognize determination were radical astir the enactment that were not blessed that Sonny and I were friends, and immoderate of them jumped connected the accidental to accidental atrocious things astir maine erstwhile Sonny was gone," Snell recalled, according to an excerpt from the book.

New York Jets moving backmost (41) Matt Snell follows a artifact of Bill Mathis against the Baltimore Colts during Super Bowl III astatine the Orange Bowl Jan. 12, 1969 successful Miami, Fla.  (Malcolm Emmons/USA Today Sports)

Legendary Jets backmost Joe Namath reflected connected the lasting interaction Snell made connected the field.

"I’m truly bittersweet to perceive that helium passed," Namath said, via the team's authoritative site. "Matt was not lone a hellhole of a subordinate — helium was a terrific teammate, and without him, we wouldn’t person had a accidental to triumph a championship."

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Snell’s 4,285 vocation rushing yards fertile 4th successful Jets history. He is survived by his wife, Sharon, 2 children and a grandson.

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