Gerry Philbin

Gerald John Philbin (July 31, 1941 – June 25, 2025) was an American professional football player who played defensive end in the American Football League and the National Football League. He played college football for the Buffalo Bulls, where he was a four-year starter and earned several honors, including second-team All-American, Little All-American, and All-American Academic team. In 1964 he was drafted in the third round by both the Detroit Lions of the NFL and the New York Jets of the AFL. He signed with the Jets, became an immediate starter, and was a perennial All-AFL selection at defensive end over nine seasons with the team.

A ferocious pass-rusher, Philbin recorded 14½ sacks in 1968, helping the Jets win the AFL championship, and was named an AFL All-Star in 1968 and 1969. In Super Bowl III, he anchored the Jets defense in limiting the Colts to seven points. In 1973 he joined the Philadelphia Eagles for one season, then finished his career in the short-lived World Football League with the New York Stars in 1974, where he was reunited with Super Bowl III alumni George Sauer Jr., Randy Beverly, and John Dockery.