Gerry Philbin, a star defensive end for the New York Jets during the 1960s and '70s and a member of the franchise's lone Super Bowl championship team, died at the age of 83, the team announced Wednesday.
Philbin was the leading sacker on the 1968 Jets, unofficially tallying 14 QB takedowns over the course of the regular season. In their historic upset win over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, Philbin paced a defense that forced the NFL champions into five turnovers (three interceptions by NFL MVP Earl Morrall, one by Johnny Unitas and one fumble) and held the then-15-1 Colts to a season-low seven points.
Drafted out of Buffalo by New York in the third round of the 1964 AFL Draft, Philbin opted to play for the Jets instead of the Detroit Lions, who took him in the third round of the NFL draft. Philbin became a full-time starter by the end of his rookie season and soon became one of the best recognized defensive players of the Joe Namath era in New York.
The pass rusher started 109 of 112 regular-season games played for the Jets, unofficially totaling 65 sacks (fourth in team history) and one interception over his nine seasons in the Big Apple. Philbin tallied at least 10 sacks from 1966-69, one of just two Jets players ever to accomplish the feat (Verlon Biggs), per the team. He finished his career with the Eagles in 1973.
Philbin was a two-time first-team All-AFL and AFL All Star for the upstart Jets and is a member of the AFL All-Time Team, which was selected in 1970 ahead of the merger. He was inducted into New York's Ring of Honor in 2011 as a member of its second class.
