open mike Mike Vaccaro Jets once introduced a bizarre fight song into the mix — it offers an important reminder By Mike Vaccaro Published Aug. 29, 2026, 7:51 p.m. ET New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath looks on during an NFL game Focus on Sport via Getty Images I apologize, dear reader. I am usually more vigilant about marking important anniversaries. Somehow, I allowed last Saturday to slip through my five hole, leaving me a week tardy in commemorating a seminal moment in our civic sporting history.
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Fifty years and one week ago, the Jets traveled to Houston and defeated the Oilers 27-24 in the fourth of their six exhibition games after losing the first three. In a nod to usual Jets zaniness, head coach Lou Holtz — shaken after Richard Todd fumbled a couple of snaps as they were trying to run out the clock late — summoned Joe Namath to return to the game.
Joe Willie had already relieved his knees of the roughly 90 pounds of braces required to stay upright and pinched a fat chaw of Skoal between his cheek and gums. After limping to the line of scrimmage, he smiled at 10 Jets and 11 Oilers and announced: “Fellas, I’m taking a knee. Let’s not get anyone hurt.”
