Don Maynard, a Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver that was a member of the New York Jets team that won Super Bowl III, has died at the age of 86. The Hall announced Maynard’s death on Monday afternoon, saying he was “a resilient man on and off the field – and someone that his teammates could always count on.”
Maynard’s first taste of the NFL came as a member of the Giants as a ninth-round pick in 1957. However, his tenure with the team didn’t last long as he was released during training camp in 1959. He then spent time in the CFL before becoming the first player to sign with the AFL’s New York Titans (eventually renamed to the Jets) in 1960.
From there, Maynard enjoyed a 13-year career and was a member of the team’s Super Bowl III championship team. He is a member of the AFL All-Time Team and had his No. 13 retired, one of only five New York Jets to have that honor. Maynard was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.
Maynard — a go-to target for Joe Namath — finished his career with 633 receptions and 11,834 yards, which were both all-time records at the time. At the time of his retirement in 1973, he was one of just five players to have more than 50 receptions and more than 1,000 yards in five different seasons. To this day, Maynard ranks 31st on the all-time receiving yards list, which is an impressive feat considering that the passing game has grown dramatically since he last played.
