Richard Todd ( American football ) Richard Todd ( born November 19 , 1953 ) is a former professional American football quarterback for the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints from 1976 to 1985 . Todd , along with former Jets quarterback Joe Namath , played for the University of Alabama ' s Crimson Tide under legendary coach Paul " Bear " Bryant . College . In high school , Todd led Davidson High School in Mobile , Alabama to the state championship in football . Individually , Todd owned the state shot - put record at the time . He then went on to play for Bear Bryant at the University of Alabama , where he was a three year starter at quarterback . During his time at Alabama , the Crimson Tide ran the wishbone offense . In his sophomore year , Todd shared the quarterback position with Gary Rutledge . In a game against Virginia Tech , which the Tide won 77 - 6 , Todd was one of four backs who ran for over 100 yards . The 1973 season concluded in the Sugar Bowl , with a 24 - 23 loss to Notre Dame . In that game , Todd caught a 25 - yard touchdown pass . In 1974 , injuries plagued Todd . The Tide went on to have a rematch with Notre Dame , this time in the Orange Bowl . Todd threw for Alabama ' s only touchdown in the fourth quarter and helped convert two points , but the Tide lost 13 - 11 . In the Sugar Bowl at the end of the 1975 season , his college career ended in New Orleans against Penn State . Todd threw for over 200 yards , and led Alabama to its first bowl victory in eight years . Alabama never lost an SEC game while Richard Todd was the starting quarterback . Professional career . The New York Jets drafted Todd in the first round of the 1976 Draft . The intention was for Todd to replace another Alabama legend , Joe Namath . Todd stated that playing on the same team with Namath was " a dream come true . " After the 1976 season Namath was released , and Todd , who was 23 years old , was named the starter . In his first five seasons , he threw more interceptions than touchdowns and was booed by fans and the press . He is also known for an incident in which he shoved reporter Steve Serby into a locker after Serby supported backup quarterback Matt Robinson instead of him . In a 1980 game against the San Francisco 49ers in which the Jets were so far behind they were never really in it , Todd set an NFL record with 42 completions by continually throwing under a prevent zone defense . ( The record would stand until Drew Bledsoe completed 45 passes in a single game during the 1994 season . ) The Niners won the game 37 - 27 ; Todd finished the year with 30 interceptions as the Jets finished 4 - 12 . Late in the 1980 season Todd ' s Jets hosted the winless New Orleans Saints ; Todd completed only 10 of 27 passes and was intercepted twice as the Saints grabbed a 21 - 20 win , their only win of the 1980 season . That year , he set an NFL record for throwing an interception in 15 games in one season . In 1981 , he led the Walt Michaels coached Jets to their first winning record ( 10 - 5 - 1 ) since 1969 , thanks in part to a defense nicknamed " New York Sack Exchange . " In the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Buffalo Bills , he led a comeback after the team had fallen behind 24 - 0 , but fell short as a late pass was intercepted near the Bills ' end zone . The following year , he led the Jets back to the playoffs . New York defeated the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals 44 - 17 , then the Los Angeles Raiders 17 - 14 , and faced Miami in the AFC Championship Game . The game was played in the mud after the Dolphins did not cover the field during a rainstorm . Todd threw five interceptions in the game , and the Jets lost 14 - 0 . His final year with New York saw a change at head coach . Walt Michaels was replaced with offensive coordinator Joe Walton . The result was a 7 - 9 season , and Todd was traded to the New Orleans Saints . In New Orleans , Todd only played two seasons , as he replaced another aging , interception prone ( and former Super Bowl winning ) Alabama legend at quarterback , Kenny Stabler . His first year with the Saints was the worst year of his career , throwing 19 interceptions to just 11 touchdowns . 1985 saw the Saints go 5 - 11 , which included changes in coaching and ownership , and Todd losing playing time to Louisiana native Bobby Hebert , who came from the USFL , where he won a championship with the Michigan Panthers . Todd finished his career with 1 , 610 of 2 , 967 completions for 20 , 610 yards and 124 touchdowns , with 161 interceptions . He also rushed for 932 yards and 14 touchdowns .