George Sauer, Jets’ Leading Receiver in Super Bowl III, Dies at 69

May 11, 2013   ·   RC Cos   ·   Jump to comments

George Sauer, the Jets leading receiver in Super Bowl III and four-time AFL All Star, died on May 7 according to the New York Times.  The shifty slot receiver who walked away from the game at the age of 27 died from congestive heart failure and complications from Alzheimer's disease at the age of 69.
After playing three years for the University of Texas, Sauer signed with the Jets in 1965, the same year the team drafted Joe Namath.  Together, Sauer, Namath and Hall of Famer Don Maynard developed one of the top passing offenses in the AFL through the later half of the 1960s.
As a rookie, Sauer established himself as a reliable yet underused split end as Namath began to find his way professionally.  He finished with 29 catches for 301 yards and two touchdowns.
Sauer, however, broke out during his second year, playing a complementary role to Maynard's deep game.  Although the 6'2" Sauer didn't have game-breaking speed, he was an exemplary route-runner an...

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