You probably remember the white shoes. Or maybe the fur coats. If you're a Jets fan, you definitely remember the "guarantee" before Super Bowl III that changed football forever. But time moves fast, and suddenly, the brash young kid from Beaver Falls isn't the kid anymore. People are constantly asking how old Joe Namath is these days, mostly because he still seems to pop up everywhere, from Medicare commercials to sideline appearances.
Honestly, it's hard to believe, but Joseph William Namath turned 82 years old on May 31, 2025. As we move through 2026, he's closing in on 83.
It’s wild to think that the man who became the first quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in a single season—back when defensive backs were basically allowed to tackle receivers at the line of scrimmage—is now an octogenarian. He's lived a lot of life since those 13 seasons in the AFL and NFL.
The Numbers Behind the Legend
Namath was born in 1943. To put that in perspective, when he was born, the world was in the middle of World War II. He grew up in a steel-mill town in Pennsylvania, the son of Hungarian immigrants. By the time he hit his prime with the New York Jets in the late '60s, he wasn't just a football player; he was a full-blown cultural icon.
He didn't just play the game. He sold it.
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You've probably seen the old clips of him in those pantyhose commercials or wearing a floor-length mink coat on the sidelines. It was a different era. But the physical toll was real. Namath’s knees were famously "shot" before he even finished college at Alabama under Bear Bryant. He underwent multiple surgeries during a time when sports medicine was, let's say, a bit primitive compared to the laser-focused recovery tech players have in 2026.
Why Everyone Is Still Talking About Him
A lot of the recent searches about his age come from his ubiquity on television. For a few years there, you couldn't turn on a TV during the day without seeing Namath talking about Medicare Advantage plans. It made him a familiar face to a whole new generation that never saw him drop back in the pocket.
But it hasn't all been easy.
Namath has been very open about his health struggles. Around 2014, he started talking about the "get-your-bell-rung" hits he took. He actually sought out hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat brain issues related to concussions. He’s mentioned that the scans showed his brain essentially "re-oxygenating" areas that had been dark for years.
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Where is Joe Namath living now?
He’s mostly traded the bright lights of Broadway for the sunshine of Florida. Specifically, he’s been a long-time resident of Jupiter, Florida.
He isn't just sitting on a porch, though. He’s been involved in local business ventures, like the restaurant "Charlie & Joe’s at Love Street" in Jupiter. It’s a waterfront spot he opened with his partner, Charlie Modica. It's kinda funny to see the guy who used to own "Bachelors III" in New York—a bar that got him in hot water with the NFL commissioner back in the day—now running a family-friendly destination in Florida.
His Family and Legacy
Family has become a huge focus for him in his later years. He has two daughters, Jessica and Olivia, and he’s a grandfather now. If you follow any of the family on social media, you see a much softer side of "Joe Willie" than the guy who was "kissing girls" on the sidelines.
He also stays busy with the Joe Namath Charitable Foundation. They do a lot of work for children’s charities and neurological research, which makes sense given his own history with head injuries.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Namath
People look at his career stats—173 touchdowns against 220 interceptions—and think, "Wait, why is this guy in the Hall of Fame?"
You have to look at the context. Namath played in a league that was much more brutal and less pass-friendly than today’s NFL. His impact wasn't just in the box score; it was in the legitimacy he brought to the AFL. When the Jets beat the Colts in Super Bowl III, it forced the merger to be taken seriously. Without Namath, the NFL might look very different today.
He also didn't get his college degree until he was 64. He went back to the University of Alabama in 2007 and finished his Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies. It took him decades, but he got it done.
Taking Action: Keeping Up With the Legend
If you're looking to dive deeper into the life of Broadway Joe or support his current projects, here is how you can actually engage:
- Check out his foundation: The Joe Namath Charitable Foundation holds annual golf tournaments and events that fund pediatric care and brain injury research.
- Visit Love Street: If you find yourself in Jupiter, Florida, you can actually visit his restaurant complex. It's a legitimate piece of his post-football legacy.
- Read "I Can't Wait Until Tomorrow... 'Cause I Get Better Looking Every Day": It’s his 1969 autobiography. It is a wild, unfiltered look at what it was like to be the biggest star in the world at age 25.
- Watch the "Namath" Documentary: HBO did a fantastic job detailing his rise and the physical pain he hid from the public for years.
Joe Namath might be 82, but he remains one of the few athletes who successfully transitioned from a sports hero to a permanent fixture in American pop culture. He’s still "Broadway Joe," just with a little more gray hair and a lot more wisdom.