Matt Snell Matt Snell ( born August 18 , 1941 in Garfield , Georgia ) was the American Football League ' s New York Jets owner Sonny Werblin ' s first coup , prior to his 1965 acquisition of Joe Namath . A powerful fullback out of Ohio State University , Snell ' s 1964 signing jolted the crosstown Giants , who didn ' t draft Snell until the fourth round , and offered him a fraction of what the Jets gave him as their first - round choice . Snell currently lives in New Rochelle , New York with his wife Sharon , son Beau and daughter Jada . He is a partner in DEFCO Securities , Inc . and owns a restaurant in New York City . Early career . Snell attended Carle Place High School ( The Frogs ) in the one - square mile town of Carle Place , New York , where his picture resides in the Carle Place High School Athletic Hall of Fame . At Carle Place he played right halfback on a team that only lost 2 games while he started . He was awarded " Newsday ' s " 1959 Thorp Award awarded annually to the outstanding high school football player in Nassau County as a running back . Upon graduation , at Ohio State , Snell was a three - year starter and a consummate team player . In 1961 he was a right halfback , with responsibilities typically of blocking for fullback Bob Ferguson or left halfback Paul Warfield . In 1962 he was moved to defensive end . In 1963 , his senior year , he was named starting fullback , making him the featured running back in the Ohio State offense . At the end of his senior season , Snell was named his team ' s most valuable player . Snell was named to the Ohio State Football All - Century Team in 2000 , as a defensive end . Football career . In his rookie year , Snell rushed for a Jets record 180 yards against the Houston Oilers , on his way to a 945 - yard season and AFL Rookie of the Year honors . Snell went on to become an AFL Eastern Division All - Star in 1964 and 1966 and the " Sporting News " All - AFL fullback in 1969 . His defining moment came in Super Bowl III when the AFL Champion Jets played the 1968 NFL Champion Baltimore Colts . Although slowed by knee injuries , Snell was the key player in the Jets ball - control offense during the 16 - 7 upset of the Colts . He carried 30 times for a then Super Bowl record 121 yards , and in the second quarter , went 4 yards around the left end to score the Jets ' only touchdown in super bowl history . It was the first time an AFL team had led in a Super Bowl . He also helped set up a trio of Jim Turner field goals that finally put the game away for the Jets in the second half , securing the first AFL win over the NFL . During his career , Snell was well known for his rushing , but also became an important part of the Jet ' s Pass Blocking scheme . Towards the end of his career , he became one of the early 3rd down backs , primarily because he was so good at protecting Joe Namath . He was also reported to have helped teach pass blocking to Jets running backs during his career . In 1973 Snell was in the first Miller Lite beer commercial . According to the SF Chronicle , " The campaign would feature a collection of middle - aged sports stars and become something of a status symbol for retired athletes for the next 17 years . "