Matt Snell, an American football player who was a fullback for the New York Jets, died on March 10, 2026.
He was 84. Snell played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was the Jets’ first major acquisition under owner Sonny Werblin before the team signed Joe Namath in 1965.
His 1964 signing drew attention because the New York Giants did not draft him until the fourth round. Snell later played in Super Bowl III, where he scored the Jets’ only touchdown in their 16-7 upset of the Baltimore Colts.
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.