Eric Boggs
The Ohio State family lost one of its greats this week with the passing of Matt Snell, a Buckeye standout and Super Bowl champion who died Tuesday at the age of 84.
Snell made his mark in Columbus long before he became a professional star. Playing for Ohio State from 1961 to 1963, the versatile standout lined up on both sides of the ball. On offense he played fullback and halfback, while also contributing as a defensive end. His leadership and physical style helped define those Buckeye teams, and his senior season in 1963 cemented his place in program history. That year Snell served as a team captain, led Ohio State with 491 rushing yards and five touchdowns, and earned team MVP honors. Decades later, his impact was further recognized when he was named to Ohio State’s All-Century Team in 2000 as a defensive end.
Snell’s success in Columbus carried over to the professional ranks. The New York Jets selected him with the No. 4 overall pick in the 1964 AFL Draft, beginning a seven-season career that would make him one of the most important players in franchise history. A native of North Hempstead, New York, Snell quickly established himself as a powerful runner and dependable offensive weapon. He earned AFL Rookie of the Year honors during his first season and went on to be named an AFL All-Star three times. By the time his career ended, he had rushed for 4,285 yards and 60 touchdowns.
Snell’s most enduring moment came during Super Bowl III, one of the most famous games in football history. Facing the heavily favored Baltimore Colts, Snell delivered a performance that helped validate the AFL on the sport’s biggest stage. Battling through a knee injury, he rushed for 121 yards and scored the Jets’ lone touchdown in a stunning 16–7 victory. His physical running style set the tone for the game and helped secure the only Super Bowl championship in Jets franchise history.
Jets chairman Woody Johnson praised Snell’s legacy in a statement following the news of his death, calling him a player who embodied toughness, selflessness and belief during one of the organization’s proudest moments. Legendary quarterback Joe Namath also reflected on Snell’s importance to that championship team, saying the Jets would not have had a chance to win the title without him.
Injuries began to take a toll later in Snell’s career, limiting him to just 12 games over his final three seasons. He eventually stepped away from professional football after the 1972 season. In the years that followed, Snell’s relationship with the Jets became complicated. In the 2018 book Beyond Broadway Joe: The Super Bowl Team That Changed Football, Snell revealed that former Jets owner Sonny Werblin had once promised him a lifelong role with the organization. After Werblin sold his stake in the team, however, that promise was never fully realized, something Snell later attributed to a possible miscommunication within the ownership group.
Even with those challenges, Snell’s legacy in both college and professional football remains secure. His 4,285 rushing yards still rank fourth in Jets history, and his performance in Super Bowl III remains one of the defining moments in the sport. For Ohio State fans, he will always be remembered first as a Buckeye — a tough, versatile player who helped build the proud tradition of Ohio State football.
Snell is survived by his wife, Sharon, two children, and a grandson.
