Paul “Rocky” Rochester, a defensive midfielder in the New York Jets Super Bowl winning team in 1969, has died. He is 81 years old.
The team announces the death of Rochester on its website Tuesday, said it happened last weekend but did not provide additional details.
Rochester began his professional soccer career with Dallas Texas in 1960, and played three seasons plus with the AFL team who would become Kansas City Chiefs. Shortly after being released during the 1963 season, Rochester was signed by the Jets and became their left defender.
He played 6 / a season for the Jets and ended his playing career by helping Joe Namath and the Jets win the only Super Bowl title in the franchise.
“Paul is an underrated defensive tackle who plays a major role in the Jets’ Super Bowl championship team,” former Jets public relations director Frank Ramos said on the team’s website. “He was a great running stopper that allowed the defense to make Gerry Philbin and Verlon Biggs rush from outside and John Elliott, a defensive tackle quickly, rushed into the middle. Walt Michaels came up with a scheme to use the small-sized linebacker Carl McAdams on DT at the bottom pass, leading Jet 1968 to have the No. defense. 1 on AFL. “
Rochester retired after the Super Bowl victory and started his own business, Paul Rochester and Associates, which sells building and roofing materials in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. He also sells real estate.
Rochester was born in Lansing, Michigan, and grew up in Floral Park, New York. He is a football and lacrosse star at Sewanhaka High School and goes to Michigan State. He was signed by Dallas as a free agent without a contract and was one of only 20 players who played in 10 AFL seasons before the 1970 merger.
Rochester was abandoned by his wife Nancy, children of Laurel Nielsen and Don, and two grandchildren.
