1963 jets vs. patriots

Image #1

I was recently digging through eBay, when I came across a collection of nine color images from a preseason game between the Boston Patriots and New York Jets, played on Sunday, September 1, 1963.  The game was played at Rutgers Stadium, on the campus of Rutgers University.  The color in the images immediately drew my attention, and I purchased the lot. Preseason games usually aren’t a cause for much excitement, even in AFL times, but there are a couple of facts that made this game somewhat interesting.

  • The old New York Titans became the New York Jets in 1963, after the purchase of the club by Sonny Werblin.  Out with the old and in with the new, the Jets ditched the Titans blue and gold in favor of slick Kelly green and white uniforms.  The Jets would also were their airplane logo helmets for the just this season.  Jets’ players wore plain, white helmets in this game, and showed off the new logo at their season opener the next week, which was also against the Patriots.
  • Jess Richardson, #75 for the Patriots, can be seen on the left-side of Image #6.  Richardson was the last professional player to not wear a facemask.
  • The Jets won the preseason game by a score of 22-20, but the Patriots took the season opener the following week, 38-14.
1963 jets vs. patriots

Image #2

1963 jets vs. patriots

Image #3

1963 jets vs. patriots

Image #4

1963 jets vs. patriots

Image #5

1963 jets vs. patriots

Image #6

1963 jets vs. patriots

Image #7

1963 jets vs. patriots

Image #8

1963 jets vs. patriots

Image #9