Former Super Bowl champion and New York Jets NFL star Mike D'Amato dead at 80 after suffering cardiac arrest

Mike D'Amato, who was notably part of the 1968 New York Jets Super Bowl championship team, has passed away at age 80. 

The Jets announced D'Amato's late November passing due to a cardiac arrest on Tuesday. 

D'Amato only played for one NFL season with the Jets, appearing in 15 games, culminating with victory in Super Bowl III. 

D'Amato has two signature plays from his football career, both postseason tackles. 

In the closing stretch of the AFL Championship against the Oakland Raiders, D'Amato brought George Atkinson to the ground before the dangerous punt returner could build momentum. 

In Super Bowl III, D'Amato repeated that feat in a 16-7 win over the Baltimore Colts.  

'When Johnny Unitas came in, he gave them a little lift,' D'Amato said per the Jets. 'They came down and scored their only touchdown and it looked like they were picking up momentum.

'And I remember, I made a tackle on a punt and it kind of broke their momentum because they thought they were going to go from there, I guess.'

D'Amato also played for one season in the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes. 

After retiring from professional football, D'Amato worked for an automobile and equipment leasing company. He also spent time working for Hofstra University, his alma mater.