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{{Short description|American football player (born 1943)}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
{{Infobox NFL biography
|image= Emerson Boozer 1974.JPG
|image= Emerson Boozer 1974.JPG
Line 5: Line 7:
|number=32
|number=32
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1943|7|4}}
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1943|7|4}}
|birth_place=[[Augusta, Georgia]]
|birth_place=[[Augusta, Georgia]], U.S.
|height_ft=5
|height_in=11
|weight_lbs=195
|afldraftyear=1966
|afldraftyear=1966
|afldraftround=6
|afldraftround=6
Line 12: Line 17:
|draftround=7
|draftround=7
|draftpick=98<br>(By the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]])
|draftpick=98<br>(By the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]])
|high_school=[[Lucy Craft Laney High School|Augusta (GA) Laney]]
|high_school=[[Lucy Craft Laney High School|Laney]] (Augusta)
|college=[[Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks|Maryland State]]
|college=[[Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks|Maryland State]]
|teams=
|teams=
* [[New York Jets]] ({{NFL year|1966}}–{{NFL year|1975}})
* [[New York Jets]] ({{NFL year|1966}}–{{NFL year|1975}})
|statlabel1=Rushing Yards
|statlabel1=Rushing yards
|statvalue1=5,135
|statvalue1=5,135
|statlabel2=Average
|statlabel2=Rushing average
|statvalue2=4.0
|statvalue2=4.0
|statlabel3=[[Touchdowns]]
|statlabel3=Rushing [[Touchdowns|touchdowns]]
|statvalue3=52
|statvalue3=52
|nfl=BOO761365
|nfl=BOO761365
|CollegeHOF=2254
|CollegeHOF=2254
|highlights=
|highlights=
* 2× [[AFL All-Star]] ([[1966 AFL season|1966]], [[1968 AFL season|1968]])
* [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl III|III]])
* [[AFL champion]] ([[1968 AFL Championship Game|1968]])
* [[All-AFL]] ([[1967 All-AFL Team|1967]])
* [[All-AFL]] ([[1967 All-AFL Team|1967]])
* 2× [[AFL All-Star]] ([[1966 AFL season|1966]], [[1968 AFL season|1968]])
* [[Super Bowl]] champion ([[Super Bowl III|III]])
* [[American Football League|AFL]] champion ([[1968 AFL Championship Game|1968]])
* [[List of National Football League career rushing touchdowns leaders|AFL rushing touchdowns leader]] (1967)
* [[List of National Football League rushing touchdowns leaders|AFL rushing touchdowns leader]] (1967)
* [[New York Jets#Jets Ring of Honor|New York Jets Ring of Honor]]
* [[New York Jets#Jets Ring of Honor|New York Jets Ring of Honor]]
* 2× First-team [[All-American]] (1964, 1965)
* 2× First-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] (1964, 1965)
}}
}}


'''Emerson Boozer''' (born July 4, 1943) is a former [[running back]] in the [[American Football League]] (AFL) and in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). In the last year of separate drafts by the AFL and the NFL, Boozer signed with the AFL's [[New York Jets]], rather than with an NFL team. He played his entire professional career with the Jets. Boozer was a member of the Jets team that defeated the NFL's champion [[History of the Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore Colts]], 16–7, in [[Super Bowl III]]. Before joining the American Football League, Boozer played [[college football]] at the [[University of Maryland Eastern Shore|Maryland State College]], which is now the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
'''Emerson Boozer''' (born July 4, 1943) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who spent his entire career as a [[running back]] for the [[New York Jets]] in the [[American Football League]] (AFL) and [[National Football League]] (NFL). In the last year of separate drafts by the AFL and the NFL, Boozer signed with the AFL's Jets, rather than with an NFL team. He was a member of the Jets team that defeated the NFL's champion [[Baltimore Colts]], 16–7, in [[Super Bowl III]]. Before joining the AFL, Boozer played [[college football]] at the [[University of Maryland Eastern Shore|Maryland State College]], which is now the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Boozer's natural athletic ability came to the attention of football coaches at [[Lucy Craft Laney High School]] in [[Augusta, Georgia]]. Despite his proven talent there, football scholarships were not widely offered to the black star. Boozer excelled as well at the college level, where he showed open field ability as a back as well as strength and intensity as a player that exceeded his 5'11 190-pound size.
Boozer's natural athletic ability came to the attention of football coaches at [[Lucy Craft Laney High School]] in [[Augusta, Georgia]]. Despite his proven talent there, football scholarships were not widely offered to the black star. Boozer excelled as well at the college level, where he showed open field ability as a back as well as strength and intensity as a player that exceeded his 5'11 190-pound size.


Boozer played for [[University of Maryland Eastern Shore|Maryland State College]] from 1962 to 1965. A two-time All-American, Boozer rushed for a school-record 2,537 yards and 22 touchdowns on 374 carries, an average of 6.8 yards per rush.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://easternshorehawks.com/news/2017/10/6/Emerson_Boozer_Finalist_for_Black_College_Football_Hall_of_Fame|title=Emerson Boozer Finalist for Black College Football Hall of Fame}}</ref>
Boozer played for [[University of Maryland Eastern Shore|Maryland State College]] from 1962 to 1965. A two-time [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]], Boozer rushed for a school-record 2,537 yards and 22 touchdowns on 374 carries, an average of 6.8 yards per rush.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://easternshorehawks.com/news/2017/10/6/Emerson_Boozer_Finalist_for_Black_College_Football_Hall_of_Fame|title=Emerson Boozer Finalist for Black College Football Hall of Fame}}</ref>


==Professional career==
==Professional career==
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Namath turned to Boozer more as a third-down pass catcher in 1970. In 1971, with Snell down again, Boozer took up the slack with a career-high in carries.
Namath turned to Boozer more as a third-down pass catcher in 1970. In 1971, with Snell down again, Boozer took up the slack with a career-high in carries.


In 1972, with Joe Namath back from injuries himself, the Jets rated the top offense in football. Boozer's ability to block and score near the goal line impressed many as he led the NFL in rushing touchdowns for most of the year before injuries stopped him with 11 touchdowns in 11 games.
In 1972, with Joe Namath back from injuries himself, the Jets were one of the top offenses in football. Boozer's ability to block and score near the goal line impressed many as he led the NFL in rushing touchdowns for most of the year before injuries stopped him with 11 touchdowns in 11 games.


In 1973, he was again the main back with 831 yards rushing before taking a spot next to [[John Riggins]] in 1974. Boozer scored the first regular-season overtime ("sudden death") touchdown in NFL history on a short pass from [[Joe Namath]] in 1974 to beat the cross-town rival [[New York Giants]], beginning an improbable six-game winning streak for the previously 1–7 Jet squad.
In 1973, he was again the main back with 831 yards rushing before taking a spot next to [[John Riggins]] in 1974. Boozer scored the first regular-season overtime ("[[sudden death (sport)|sudden death]]") touchdown in NFL history on a short pass from [[Joe Namath]] in 1974 to beat the cross-town rival [[New York Giants]], beginning an improbable six-game winning streak for the previously 1–7 Jet squad.


Boozer was a player who made the most of limited opportunities early on. When injury robbed him of stardom, he reinvented himself and still had a remarkable career as a key contributor to a set of famous Jets teams.
Boozer was a player who made the most of limited opportunities early on. When injury robbed him of stardom, he reinvented himself and still had a remarkable career as a key contributor to a set of famous Jets teams.


Boozer is a member of [[The Pigskin Club Of Washington, D.C.]] National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor Roll. In 2010, he was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]]. The Jets inducted him into their [[New York Jets#Ring of Honor|Ring of Honor]] in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/11/emerson_boozer_matt_snell_to_enter_jets_ring_of_ho.html|title=Boozer, Snell to enter Jets Ring of Honor on Sunday|date=29 November 2015}}</ref> He was inducted into the [[Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame]] on [[Long Island]] in the Football Category with the Class of 1996.
Boozer is a member of [[The Pigskin Club Of Washington, D.C.]] National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor Roll. In 2010, he was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]]. The Jets inducted him into their [[New York Jets#Ring of Honor|Ring of Honor]] in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/11/emerson_boozer_matt_snell_to_enter_jets_ring_of_ho.html|title=Boozer, Snell to enter Jets Ring of Honor on Sunday|date=29 November 2015}}</ref> He was inducted into the [[Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame]] on [[Long Island]] in the Football Category with the Class of 1996.

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}
{| class= "wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="6"| Rushing
! colspan="5"| Receiving
! colspan="2"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Y/G !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Fum !! FR
|-
! [[1966 American Football League season|1966]] || [[1966 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| '''14''' || 7 || 97 || 455 || '''4.7''' || 32.5 || '''54''' || 5 || 8 || 133 || 16.6 || 26 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1967 American Football League season|1967]] || [[1967 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 8 || 8 || 119 || 442 || 3.7 || 55.3 || 48 || style="background:#cfecec;"|10 || 12 || 205 || '''17.1''' || '''49''' || '''3''' || 1 || 0
|-
! [[1968 American Football League season|1968]] || style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[1968 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 12 || 9 || 143 || 441 || 3.1 || 36.8 || 33 || 5 || 12 || 101 || 8.4 || 23 || 0 || 5 || style="background:#cfecec;"|'''4'''
|-
! [[1969 American Football League season|1969]] || [[1969 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| '''14''' || 13 || 130 || 604 || 4.6 || 43.1 || 50 || 4 || 20 || 222 || 11.1 || 29 || 0 || 3 || 1
|-
! [[1970 NFL season|1970]] || [[1970 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 10 || 10 || 139 || 581 || 4.2 || 58.1 || 27 || 5 || '''28''' || '''258''' || 9.2 || 33 || 0 || 2 || 1
|-
! [[1971 NFL season|1971]]|| [[1971 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || '''188''' || 618 || 3.3 || 44.1 || 19 || 5 || 11 || 120 || 10.9 || 36 || 1 || '''6''' || 3
|-
! [[1972 NFL season|1972]] || [[1972 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 11 || 10 || 120 || 549 || 4.6 || 49.9 || 37 || '''11''' || 11 || 142 || 12.9 || '''49''' || '''3''' || 3 || 0
|-
! [[1973 NFL season|1973]] || [[1973 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 13 || 12 || 182 || '''831''' || 4.6 || '''63.9''' || 52 || 3 || 22 || 130 || 5.9 || 15 || '''3''' || '''6''' || 2
|-
! [[1974 NFL season|1974]] || [[1974 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 13 || 12 || 153 || 563 || 3.7 || 43.3 || 20 || 4 || 14 || 161 || 11.5 || 29 || 1 || 3 || 3
|-
! [[1975 NFL season|1975]] || [[1975 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 9 || 4 || 20 || 51 || 2.6 || 5.7 || 8 || 0 || 1 || 16 || 16.0 || 16 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BoozEm00.htm Career] || 118 || 99 || 1,291 || 5,135 || 4.0 || 43.5 || 54 || 52 || 139 || 1,488 || 10.7 || 49 || 12 || 29 || 14
|}


==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Boozer, Emerson}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boozer, Emerson}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:African-American players of American football]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Augusta, Georgia]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Augusta, Georgia]]
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[[Category:American Football League players]]
[[Category:American Football League players]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportspeople]]

Revision as of 02:33, 4 April 2024

Emerson Boozer
refer to caption
Boozer in 1974
No. 32
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1943-07-04) July 4, 1943 (age 80)
Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Laney (Augusta)
College:Maryland State
NFL draft:1966 / Round: 7 / Pick: 98
(By the Pittsburgh Steelers)
AFL draft:1966 / Round: 6 / Pick: 46
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:5,135
Rushing average:4.0
Rushing touchdowns:52

Emerson Boozer (born July 4, 1943) is an American former professional football player who spent his entire career as a running back for the New York Jets in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). In the last year of separate drafts by the AFL and the NFL, Boozer signed with the AFL's Jets, rather than with an NFL team. He was a member of the Jets team that defeated the NFL's champion Baltimore Colts, 16–7, in Super Bowl III. Before joining the AFL, Boozer played college football at the Maryland State College, which is now the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Early life

Boozer's natural athletic ability came to the attention of football coaches at Lucy Craft Laney High School in Augusta, Georgia. Despite his proven talent there, football scholarships were not widely offered to the black star. Boozer excelled as well at the college level, where he showed open field ability as a back as well as strength and intensity as a player that exceeded his 5'11 190-pound size.

Boozer played for Maryland State College from 1962 to 1965. A two-time All-American, Boozer rushed for a school-record 2,537 yards and 22 touchdowns on 374 carries, an average of 6.8 yards per rush.[1]

Professional career

Not widely sought by the NFL, Boozer was drafted by the Jets, who were assembling a team of talented and enthusiastic players under George Sauer and Wilbur "Weeb" Ewbank. The team already had fullback Matt Snell and figured Boozer to be paired with him at halfback. Sharing the job with Bill Mathis as a rookie, Boozer worked hard and became a starter in 1967. His ability to block with intensity earned him a league-wide reputation.

In 1967, with Snell injured, the Jets turned to Boozer as a rusher. In the first half of that season, Boozer displayed talent that drew comparisons to Gale Sayers. He often broke tackles and excelled in the open field. He had ten touchdowns by mid-season and appeared ready to easily surpass the league record, but then suffered a devastating knee injury against the Kansas City Chiefs that completely altered his career. Despite playing just half that year, he still led the AFL in rushing touchdowns for the season.

Boozer's work ethic further revealed itself over the next two seasons. No longer a breakaway runner, he changed himself into more of an outstanding blocker and goal-line touchdown scorer. Ewbank utilized Boozer in pass blocking schemes then new to football. In blocking for both Snell and Joe Namath, Boozer was part of two outstanding teams that narrowly lost just three games in 1968 and went 10–4 in 1969. Boozer and Winston Hill were the blockers during Snell's famous touchdown run against the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. Boozer's blocking freed Snell often that day for effective running that was key to the legendary 16–7 win.

Namath turned to Boozer more as a third-down pass catcher in 1970. In 1971, with Snell down again, Boozer took up the slack with a career-high in carries.

In 1972, with Joe Namath back from injuries himself, the Jets were one of the top offenses in football. Boozer's ability to block and score near the goal line impressed many as he led the NFL in rushing touchdowns for most of the year before injuries stopped him with 11 touchdowns in 11 games.

In 1973, he was again the main back with 831 yards rushing before taking a spot next to John Riggins in 1974. Boozer scored the first regular-season overtime ("sudden death") touchdown in NFL history on a short pass from Joe Namath in 1974 to beat the cross-town rival New York Giants, beginning an improbable six-game winning streak for the previously 1–7 Jet squad.

Boozer was a player who made the most of limited opportunities early on. When injury robbed him of stardom, he reinvented himself and still had a remarkable career as a key contributor to a set of famous Jets teams.

Boozer is a member of The Pigskin Club Of Washington, D.C. National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor Roll. In 2010, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The Jets inducted him into their Ring of Honor in 2015.[2] He was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island in the Football Category with the Class of 1996.

NFL career statistics

Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Led the league
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
1966 NYJ 14 7 97 455 4.7 32.5 54 5 8 133 16.6 26 0 0 0
1967 NYJ 8 8 119 442 3.7 55.3 48 10 12 205 17.1 49 3 1 0
1968 NYJ 12 9 143 441 3.1 36.8 33 5 12 101 8.4 23 0 5 4
1969 NYJ 14 13 130 604 4.6 43.1 50 4 20 222 11.1 29 0 3 1
1970 NYJ 10 10 139 581 4.2 58.1 27 5 28 258 9.2 33 0 2 1
1971 NYJ 14 14 188 618 3.3 44.1 19 5 11 120 10.9 36 1 6 3
1972 NYJ 11 10 120 549 4.6 49.9 37 11 11 142 12.9 49 3 3 0
1973 NYJ 13 12 182 831 4.6 63.9 52 3 22 130 5.9 15 3 6 2
1974 NYJ 13 12 153 563 3.7 43.3 20 4 14 161 11.5 29 1 3 3
1975 NYJ 9 4 20 51 2.6 5.7 8 0 1 16 16.0 16 1 0 0
Career 118 99 1,291 5,135 4.0 43.5 54 52 139 1,488 10.7 49 12 29 14

In popular culture

In the 1999 movie Big Daddy, Adam Sandler is wearing Boozer's New York Jets #32 jersey at the bar .[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Emerson Boozer Finalist for Black College Football Hall of Fame".
  2. ^ "Boozer, Snell to enter Jets Ring of Honor on Sunday". 29 November 2015.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Emerson_Boozer&oldid=1217143825"