Former New York Jets punter Curley Johnson dies at 80

Curley Johnson, who punted for the New York Jets in the 1960s as a member of their Super Bowl III-winning team, has died. He was 80.

John "Curley" Johnson died at his home in Granbury, Texas, on Sunday.

Johnson also was a running back, tight end and kickoff returner early in his career, and became the first top punter for the New York Titans and Jets.

Johnson held the franchise record for gross punting average for nearly 50 years. He had set the franchise mark with a gross punting average of 45.3 yards until it was broken in 2012.

Johnson's final punt for the team came with 15 seconds left in the Jets' 16-7 upset win over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

Johnson was a 1957 draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers and joined the New York Titans in 1961. The franchise became known as the Jets in 1963, and he played for them through the 1968 season and the Super Bowl. He was traded to the New York Giants for his final season in 1969.