Former New York Jets football player and legend Joe Namath has been accused of turning a blind eye to sexual abuse allegations that occurred at his football camp over 50 years ago. The lawsuit, which was initially filed in 2019 and later amended in 2021, was brought by Philip Lyle Smith, who spoke publicly for the first time about the alleged abuse. Smith claimed that he was repeatedly attacked by Brooklyn Poly Prep Country Club football coach John Foglietta at the camp when he was just 12 years old. Foglietta, who was later revealed to be a serial sexual abuser, used his position of authority to justify the abuse, according to Smith.

In an interview with the New York Post, Smith accused Namath and others of being "enablers and pedophile protectors." He recounted how Foglietta would use Smith's special treatment, such as eating meals with Namath and former Jets player John Dockery, to manipulate and groom him. Smith alleged that Foglietta would boast about his connection to Namath and use it to coerce him into compliance. The abuse allegedly included instances of masturbation in front of Smith, attempts to masturbate him, and showing him pornographic materials.

Smith's lawsuit was filed under the Child Victims Act, which temporarily reopened the statute of limitations to allow victims of sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits. Despite the expiration of the act, Smith is seeking unspecified damages in his case. Lawyers for Namath and Dockery have not responded to requests for comment.

The parallels between Namath and the late Joe Paterno, the former Penn State football coach implicated in the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal, were drawn in court papers filed by Smith. Smith compared Namath's alleged negligence to Paterno's alleged cover-up of Sandusky's abuse. He accused Namath, Dockery, and others of knowing about the abuse at the camp and failing to take action.

Smith's ordeal came to light when he confided in his wife after the emergence of the Penn State scandal. He amended his lawsuit in 2021 to include Namath and Dockery as defendants, alleging negligence, inadequate security, breach of duty, assault, battery, and emotional distress.

The case is ongoing, with a Brooklyn Supreme Court denying a defense motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Several defendants have appealed the decision, prolonging the legal proceedings.