You’re watching a Jets game, or maybe you just saw a clip of a guy in a fur coat from the 70s, and the thought hits you: is Joe Namath still alive? It’s a fair question. The man lived a life that would have sidelined most people by age forty. But here we are in January 2026, and the short answer is a resounding yes. Joe Namath is very much alive.
He’s 82 years old now.
Think about that for a second. This is a guy who basically invented the "celebrity quarterback" archetype. He wasn't just a player; he was a whole mood before we even used that word. While the knees aren't what they used to be, the spirit seems to be holding up just fine in his quiet corner of Florida.
Where is Broadway Joe living now?
Honestly, most people expect a guy nicknamed "Broadway Joe" to be hunkered down in a Manhattan penthouse. But that’s not the vibe anymore. Joe has spent the last few decades living in Jupiter, Florida. It’s a lot slower there.
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He’s traded the nightlife of the 1960s for a life that revolves more around family and his charitable foundation. You’ll still see him pop up on social media or in interviews—usually talking about the Jets, because that's a bond that apparently never breaks, no matter how much the team struggles. In early 2025, he was even vocal on X (formerly Twitter) about the hiring of Aaron Glenn as the Jets' head coach, showing he’s still dialed into the front office moves.
Namath has lived a lot of lives. There was the "Beaver Falls Joe" from Pennsylvania, the "Alabama Joe" under Bear Bryant, and then the legendary New York years. Today, he's more of a patriarch. He’s a grandfather who spends a lot of time with his daughters, Jessica and Olivia, and his grandkids.
The health struggles he doesn't hide
It’s no secret that football absolutely wrecked his body. He’s had both knees replaced—multiple times, actually. But the real story in recent years hasn't been about his legs; it’s been about his brain.
Joe has been incredibly open about the "cognitive fog" he started feeling years ago. We're talking about a guy who had at least five major concussions where he was knocked out cold. Back then, they just gave you smelling salts and told you to get back in.
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He eventually sought out treatment at the Jupiter Medical Center. He’s a huge advocate for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). He’s claimed it "reversed" his brain damage, showing scans that went from dark (meaning low blood flow) to bright and symmetrical. Now, look, medical experts are still split on how effective this is for CTE or general brain trauma, but Joe swears by it. He even launched the Joe Namath Neurological Research Center to help other veterans and athletes get the same treatment.
Is Joe Namath still alive and involved with the Jets?
If you follow the NFL, you know that the New York Jets and Joe Namath are basically inseparable. He is still the only quarterback to lead them to a Super Bowl win. That was Super Bowl III. In 1969.
Yeah, it’s been a while.
Because of that "Guarantee," he has a permanent seat at the table. Even in 2026, he’s basically the team’s unofficial conscience. When the Jets are bad—which, let's be real, is often—Joe isn't afraid to say so. He’s been critical of quarterback play and coaching decisions over the last few seasons, but it always comes from a place of wanting them to win. He’s a fan. A very famous, very frustrated fan.
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- The Guarantee: People still ask him about it constantly.
- The Fur Coat: He still owns them, but they mostly stay in the closet.
- The Voice: That gravelly, Pennsylvania-meets-Alabama drawl is still exactly the same.
What most people get wrong about his retirement
Kinda funny how we remember him, right? We think of the parties and the commercials. But Joe's post-football life was actually pretty rocky for a while. He struggled with alcoholism for years. There was that infamous sideline interview with Suzy Kolber in 2003 where he was clearly intoxicated.
That was his "bottom."
He’s been sober since 2004. That is over twenty years of sobriety. When people ask is Joe Namath still alive, they might not realize how close he came to a different ending. He credits his daughters for giving him the "ultimatum" that saved his life. He chose them over the bottle, and he’s been remarkably consistent about that journey ever since.
The 2026 Perspective
As of today, January 18, 2026, Joe is enjoying his 82nd year. He’s a survivor of a brutal era of sports. He’s a man who transformed himself from a playboy icon into a health advocate and family man.
If you're looking for actionable ways to engage with his legacy or support his current work, here is what you can actually do:
- Support the Joe Namath Foundation: They do a lot of work for children's charities and neurological research.
- Watch the "Namath" Documentary: If you want to see the real footage of his "Broadway" era, the HBO documentary is the gold standard.
- Follow his verified social media: He still posts updates and thoughts on the current NFL season, usually under the handle @RealJoeNamath.
Joe Namath is a reminder that you can have a wild first act and still find a peaceful, meaningful third act. He isn't just "still alive"—he's present. Whether he’s advocating for better brain health for retired players or just cheering for a Jets touchdown, he remains one of the most compelling figures in American sports history.
Check out the official Joe Namath Neurological Research Center website to see the latest studies they are funding regarding TBI and hyperbaric treatments.