Randy Beverly (born 1944) is a former professional American football player. He played cornerback for the New York Jets and is best known for making two key interceptions that helped the Jets to their historic victory in Super Bowl III in 1969.

Early career

Beverly grew up in northern New Jersey. He attended Wildwood High School, where he won the state long jump championship. He attended junior college in Trinidad, Colorado, where he was a junior college All-American. He later attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he played football. At Colorado State, he returned a kick-off for 99 yards.

Considered too small to play professional football, Beverly was passed up in the 1967 draft. He signed with the Jets as rookie free agent in the fall of 1967. He received a signing bonus of $500 and a one-year contract of $12,500. In 1968, Beverly became the starting cornerback of the Jets. The team went 11-3, winning the American Football League East division. They defeated the Oakland Raiders in the AFL Championship game and faced the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League in Super Bowl III.

Super Bowl III

The Jets had managed a solid defense throughout the season, but going into Super Bowl III, the Jets passing defense was not considered particularly strong. Many sportwriters predicted that the Colts' high-powered offense, led by starting quarterback and NFL MVP Earl Morral , would dominate the Jets, who were installed as an 18-point underdog. It was widely believed that Beverly, at only 5 foot 11 inches and 190 pounds, would be not be able to cover the Colts' receivers, and the Colts would probably win in a rout.

Beverly's first great moment came early in the game. In the first quarter, the Colts drove down the field, seemingly fulfilling the predictions about their offensive prowess. They reached the Jets' 10-yard-line, where Morral threw a pass into the end zone. The pass bounced off a Jets lineman, then hit the shoulder pads of the Colts tight end. Beverly tracked the ball and caught it in the end zone, ending the Colts first scoring drive.

The Jets defense continued to stymie the Colts for the rest of the first half, shutting them out and prompting the replacement of Morral (who went 6-for-17 with three interceptions) with backup quarterback and football legend Johnny Unitas. Under Unitas, the Colts drove down the field and seemed poise to score their first touchdown. Unitas threw a crossing pattern to one of his wide receivers in the end zone, but Beverly stepped in front and caught the ball in the end zone and downed it. The Colts managed to score a touchdown late in the fourth quarter after the game was considered to be decided. The Jets' 16-7 triumph is considered to be one of the greatest upsets in the history of professional sports in the United States.

Later career

Beverly played a third season with the Jets in 1969. In 1970 the Jets traded Beverly to the San Diego Chargers for wide receiver Richard Trapp. He was waived by the Chargers and later signed by the New England Patriots, where he played on special teams. Although his two interceptions were among the most dramatic in the history of postseason NFL play, he intercepted only four passes during the rest of his NFL career. He later played in the World Football League.

Beverly now lives in Monroe Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey. He regularly attends home games of the New York Jets at Giants Stadium with other Jets alumni.

External links

• The Sentinel:Randy Beverly
• New England Patriots 1971 press release on Randy Beverly
• SI.com: 10 most unexpected NFL postseason heroes