Bill Demory, whose claim to Jets quarterback fame was that as Joe Namath's and Al Woodall's backup in 1973, he posted the only win of his pro career in his first start for the Green & White, died recently in his home state of Arizona at 73.
Demory came to the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Arizona, where he played for three seasons, throwing for 3,268 yards, 28 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. He was needed by the Jets late in his rookie season when Namath separated his throwing shoulder in Game 2 at Baltimore and Woodall was then sidelined by a knee injury in the second half of Game 4 at Miami.
Demory mopped up in the 31-3 loss to the Dolphins, then got the first of three starts that season the next week against New England at old Schaefer Stadium. Despite completing just one of seven passes for 11 yards and, with an 11-yard sack, posting zero net passing yards on the day, Demory led the Jets on three short field goal drives. Their 232 yards of offense, powered by RB John Riggins, outdid Jim Plunkett and the Pats' 172 yards for a 9-7 win that lifted the Green & White to 2-3.
From there, Demory lost starts in the next two games, then replaced Woodall in Game 9 to get the "save in long relief" by expanding the Jets' second-quarter 7-6 lead into a 33-13 Shea Stadium rout, again over Plunkett and the Patriots.
Demory appeared in just one more game that season and in one game in '74, not throwing a pass in either game. His pro career ended with just his Jets stats on his résumé: 12-for-39 passing for 159 yards, 2 TD passes (one each to Richard Caster and Jerome Barkum) and 8 INTs.
From there Demory retired and parlayed his BS in public administration from Arizona, MBA from the University of Iowa and education MA from the University of Delaware into a post-football career. He spent 16 years as an account executive for the Haggar Apparel Company.
Then he began the teaching phase of his life, as a professor of economics at Arizona Western College, then Central Arizona College, then as an adjunct instructor at Mesa Community College from 1998 through last year.
Demory died Feb. 14 from prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease, The Arizona Republic reported. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, a brother, two sons, two daughters, two step-children and 14 grandchildren. A memorial service and luncheon will be held at Paradise Valley Lutheran Church in Phoenix on the morning of March 1. Memorials may be made to the Concussion Legacy Foundation or to the Paradise Valley Lutheran Church / Capital Improvement Fund.
