If recommendations carry any weight for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the late Kenny Stabler just received one of the biggest endorsements possible. 

NFL icon Joe Namath appeared on The Game ahead of Alabama's first home game against Middle Tennessee State and made it clear that Stabler legacy should live alongside his in Canton, Ohio.

"Kenny deserves to be in the football Hall of Fame because of what he did out on that football field - his savy, his playing, his abilities, his determination," Namath told host Ryan Fowler. "He could play for anybody, anytime, at any level and he'd stand out."

Stabler's passing over the summer helped spark a campaign to get the Super Bowl champion inducted. One month later, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Senior Committee nominated the Raider great for the Class of 2016. 

For Namath, he doesn't think there's any question whether this will be the year.

"In my mind, there's no doubt Kenny's going to be there (Hall of Fame)," Namath said. "In my mind, there's no doubt Kenny played as well or better than 90 percent of us over the years."

Namath and Stabler spent one season together in Tuscaloosa as teammates on Bear Bryant's 1964 national championship squad. Both men would go on to become the face of their respective NFL teams. For Stabler, he helped lead the Oakland Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory and eventually landed on the NFL's All-Decade team for the 1970s.

The Oakland Raiders will honor Stabler prior to Sunday's season-opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, which his family will attend. If you have a few minutes, read this personal tribute his daughter wrote earlier this week. While it has nothing to do with his Hall of Fame credentials, it will give you some idea why he meant so much to so many people.

Stabler be up for a vote and will need at least 80% approval from the full board in January to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

You can hear the entire interview below.

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