Don Maynard
- New York Giants (1958 )
- Hamilton Tiger -Cats (1959 )
- New York Titans / Jets (1960-1972)
- St. Louis Cardinals (1973 )
- Houston Texans (1974 )
- 4 × AFL All-Star (1965, 1967-1969 )
- 5 × All- AFL selection (1960, 1965, 1967-1969 )
- American Football League All- Time Team
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (1987 )
- Texas Sports Hall of Fame (1983 )
- Jersey number with the New York Jets locked
- New York Jets Ring of Honor ( 2010)
Donald Rogers Maynard ( born January 25, 1935 in Crosbyton, Texas ) is an American former American football player. He played as a wide receiver, among others, in the American Football League ( AFL) and the National Football League ( NFL) for the New York Jets.
Youth
Don Maynard was born in Crosbyton. Due to the continuous change of residence of his parents, his father was a cotton merchant, he attended 13 different schools, including five high schools. At school he was active as a basketball player and athlete. Since his parents stayed at a residence never long, he had only in his last year of school in Colorado City the opportunity to play American football in high school. He was employed here from his school team as a halfback
Playing career
College career
Donald Maynard joined after finishing school first before he moved to the University of Texas at El Paso ( UTEP ) in 1954 for a semester at Rice University. There he played for the UTEP Miners Football. He was employed here as a halfback on offense and safety on defense as the team. In 1957 he was able to move his team into the Sun Bowl, but with the 13:0 went against the team from George Washington University lost. Maynard was elected in his last year in the national team in the league.
Professional career
Don Maynard was drafted in 1957 by the New York Giants in the ninth round at 108th place. However, he finished his studies first before 1958, the team from New York City joined. His rookie season was a disappointment for him. In the offense of the team he was employed as a halfback, but was always in the shadow of Frank Gifford. He was, therefore, mostly playing time as a kick -off and punt returner. The Giants were able to move this year in the NFL playoff against the Baltimore Colts. Maynard came into the final four times as Returner in appearance, but could not prevent the defeat of the Giants 23:17. After Maynard had fallen after the season in 1958 with his coach, Jim Lee Howell, he was released by the Giants. Maynard joined the Canadian Football League ( CFL) to the Hamilton Tiger -Cats and was able to move with his new team in 1959 in the Grey Cup, which was, however, lost 35:28 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
1960 took over Sammy Baugh, the coach of the New York Titans, who were settled in the newly formed American Football League. Maynard knew Baugh nor of its time as a coach of a college team and asked him writing to a contract with the Titans. Baugh accepted this and Maynard was the first player of a contract signed with the team from New York City. Baugh and his successor Bulldog Turner and Weeb Ewbank translated Maynard as a wide receiver. In his first year with the Titans game he was able to achieve a gain of space of 1265 yards with 72 pass catches. The performances of the Titans, however, fell short of expectations. In 1963 the team was bankrupt and was purchased by an investor who renamed the team in New York Jets. Before the 1965 season the Jets managed the obligation quarterback Joe Namath. In the same year Maynard put on his first NFL Jahresbestleistung. He was able to utilize 14 passes for touchdowns. In 1967, he presented with a space gain achieved by 1434 yards again on a Jahresbestleistung. Then the following year he was able to celebrate with the Jets his greatest success. The team won eleven out of 14 games during the regular season and beat the AFL Finals with the Oakland Raiders 27:23. Maynard played outstanding and caught six passes in the game, he could exploit to gain a space of 118 yards and two touchdowns. During the subsequent 16:7 Super Bowl victory of his team over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, but Maynard could not decisive part in the game due to injury. The following year, Maynard could again move with the Jets in the play-offs of the AFL, where the team, however early with 13:6 failed because of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Don Maynard was sacked in 1973 by the Jets and then joined the St. Louis Cardinals. He came with the Cardinals, however, only used twice. In 1974 he moved to the World Football League to the Houston Texans, who were moved in the same year and renamed in Shreveport Steamer. Maynard ended after this game year his career.
Honors
Don Maynard played four times in the AFL All- Star game, the final game of the best players of the season. He was five times elected to the All- AFL and is a member of the AFL All- Time Team in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame and in the University of Texas at El Paso Sports Hall of Fame. The New York Jets honor him in their venue, the MetLife Stadium, on the Ring of Honor and not forgive his shirt number.