Gerry Philbin, legend of the New York Jets Champions at the Super Bowl III, died at age 83the New York team reported on Wednesday.
“Rest in peace the legend of all time of the New York Jets, Gerry Philbin, who was key in the 1968 Super Bowl championship season. Condolences to his family, friends and former companions,” the franchise regretted through a statement.
Philbin was a defensive wing that in his passage through New York accumulated 65 captures of Mariscal de Campo, the fourth greatest amount in the history of the team of which he is part in his honor ring since 2011.
According to the Jets records, since the NFL officially counts the captures since 1982, Philbin and Verlon Biggs are the only players in the history of the franchise in getting more than 10 captures of a pin in four consecutive seasons.
The player originally from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, arrived at the league selected by the jets in the third round of the 1964 draft.
Gerry was part of the first generation of the American Conference, formerly called the American League (AFL), which won the National Conference in a Super Bowl.
It happened in the Super Bowl III of 1968, when the jets, led by the historic Joe Namath, were imposed 16-7 on the colts that Johnny Unitas commanded, in a duel for the title made in the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.
Philbin was twice selected All-Pro and was part of the ideal team of the AFL decade in the 60s.
Over the years the defensive wing gathered praise of his companions and coaches for the leadership that he contributed to the defensive for nine seasons.
“Gerry has a unique gift to penetrate and always reach the ball. He never gives up. He always throws himself. He has heart and pride and desire to win,” Web Ewbank thought, a coach who took the jets to win their only Lombardi trophy, who died in 1998.
His last season with New York was in 1972. A year later he played his final campaign at the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. Once retired he dedicated himself to the sale of properties in Florida.
