Joe Namath

In 1967, Namath earned his money becoming the first player to pass for over 4,000 yards, but his team was far from championship caliber. His fearlessness of play was overshadowed only by the pain he played through from his ailing knees. "I never played a down of pro football with a good knee. My game was left in college," Namath would recall. "Dr. Nichols of the Jets didn't see my knee until I'd hurt it for the fifth time. I'd had it go out and ripped five times before he operated on it the first time." Because of his reputation as a playboy, with his New York penthouse, white llama-skin rug and enormous oval-shaped bed, he wouldn't get credit for the courage and toughness he displayed until he proved himself the following year.