The Jets quarterback, who was filled when Joe Namas fell with an injury, died earlier this month.
Bill Demory, 74, passed away on February 14th of prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease, according to an online obituary.
He played college ball in Arizona before being signed by the Jets in 1973, throwing 28 touchdowns in three seasons.
Head coach Weave Ewbank was awarded a Demory game film and signed the Demory while competing in the General Managers meeting in Arizona.
However, at training camp, Demory was fifth on the quarterback depth chart.
“I'm an Arizona marginal quarterback and I was in the right place with the Jets at the right time,” he said. Observer Dispatch 2012.
Demory moved up to third place with an ineffective play from QB before him.
Namath's injury led Al Woodall to promote his starter and Demory from taxi team to backup QB.
And when Woodor was injured, Demory became a very unlikely starter.
He was the winner in a 9-7 victory over the Patriots. Demory completed only one pass, but set a field goal that won in the game.
“I thought he did a good job following the game plan,” Namas said. After the game. “He didn't turn the ball over, so in games like this you're looking for a younger quarterback and doing handoffs and ruining snaps. He didn't do that.”
Demory also got off to the Steelers and Broncos.
When Demory was released in 1975, Ewbank called around the league to see if the team was interested in Demory as an assistant coach, but no Taker was there.
Demory then went to graduate school in economics in Iowa and became a professor at the University of Central Arizona.
“My students don't really bring it up because they don't really know what I play for the Jets,” he said in 2012. “I think it's a distraction. Classroom time… if they should do my Google search, I'll tell them about my soccer day to get a drop in my class. ”
Demory was survived by his wife, four children and 14 grandchildren.
