Don Maynard

Don Maynard, the Hall of Fame wide receiver who teamed with Joe Namath in the passing attack that propelled the Jets to their storied 1969 upset victory in the Super Bowl, died on Monday January 10 2022 at an assisted living facility in Ruidoso, N.M. He was 86. he cause was a combination of health problems, including dementia, his son, Scot, said. Maynard arrived in the N.F.L. with the 1958 Giants as a little known halfback and safety out of Texas Western College and saw limited action. By the time Maynard played in a storied championship game with another New York team, the Jets’ 16-7 win over the N.F.L.’s heavily favored Colts in Super Bowl III on Jan. 12, 1969 — an unforgettable victory that brought their American Football League long-sought credibility — he had become one of pro football’s most dynamic receivers. When Maynard retired, having played 13 of his 15 seasons for the Jets, his 633 receptions for 11,834 yards were pro football records. He caught 88 touchdown passes, averaging 18.7 yards per catch, and played in four Pro Bowls. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 1987, the second player, after Namath, to go in as a Jet. Donald Rogers Maynard was born on Jan. 25, 1935, in Crosbyton, Texas, a small town about 40 miles east of Lubbock. Maynard played for three seasons at Texas Western (now the University of Texas at El Paso), then was selected by the Giants in the 1957 N.F.L. draft as a ninth-round future pick. After 13 seasons as a Jet, Maynard was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a financial planning consultant after his playing days. In addition to his son Scot, Maynard is survived by his wife, Anna Maynard; a daughter, Terry Perrin; and five grandchildren.