The Jets traded quarterback Mike Taliaferro to Boston for…
The Jets traded quarterback Mike Taliaferro to Boston for veteran Babe Parilli on July 20, 1968. Parilli became Joe Namath's backup for the Super Bowl III champions and stayed two seasons, while Taliaferro started seven games for Boston in 1968 and all 14 in 1969. New York received experienced insurance for a title run; Boston received a younger starter. The different roles produced comparable value, making the exchange even.
New England Patriots Received
- player Myron Taliaferro / Mike Taliaferro (Eugene)
New York Jets Received
- player Vito Parilli / Babe Parilli
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
On July 20, 1968, the New York Jets and Boston Patriots exchanged quarterbacks. New York acquired 38-year-old Babe Parilli, a longtime Patriots starter, while Boston received 27-year-old Mike Taliaferro. The Jets' own account of Parilli's career identifies the date and terms, and Taliaferro's transaction history records his move to Boston on the same day. The deal matched two teams with very different quarterback needs.
What New York Got
The Jets already had Joe Namath, so Parilli was acquired as experienced insurance rather than a new starter. He appeared in all 14 games in 1968, completed 29 of 55 passes for 401 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions, and served as Namath's backup on the team that won Super Bowl III. Parilli remained with New York in 1969. His greatest value was stability behind the franchise quarterback during the most important season in Jets history.
What Boston Got
Boston needed a younger quarterback capable of starting, and Taliaferro supplied that. He started seven games in 1968 before a shoulder problem interrupted his season, then started all 14 games in 1969 and threw for 2,160 yards and 19 touchdowns. The Patriots were not successful teams, so those starts did not translate into contention, but Boston received far more playing time from Taliaferro than it would have received from an aging Parilli behind a rebuilding roster.
Final Verdict
The returns were different but balanced. New York got the veteran backup it wanted for a championship run; Boston got a younger quarterback who started extensively for two seasons. Neither side sacrificed a player better suited to its own situation. B grades for both clubs and an Even Trade verdict recognize that each team solved a real roster problem and received meaningful, role-appropriate value.