He thought of it as an honor for somebody to ask him for an autograph. Ray Nitschke Enshrinement speech. He had been the Buffalo News' enterprise reporter and previously covered the AFC East at ESPN and the Miami Dolphins at the Palm Beach Post. ", On how his friendship with fellow guard Gale Gillingham got started: "Weightlifting. He proved to be a very skilled player and tackler as a linebacker, so much so that, by his senior year, Paul Brown considered him the best linebacker in college football. At this time, college football had reverted to primarily single-platoon football, meaning those players that were on offense had to switch to defense, and vice versa, when ball possession changed. (He had) no personality. You cant have a conversation about the greatest NFL linebackers of all time without Ray Nitschke. "I loved playing the Bears. His bad grades and temper couldnt derail such a phenomenal athlete. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay and I never want to finish second again. * He would be drafted by the Packers in 1958 along with Taylor and Kramer and Green Bay would win one game their first year before Lombardi was hired as the head coach. Fred and I remained close until about three, four years ago. Actor: The Longest Yard. Jackie Nitschke's influence transformed this football madman into a loving husband and father of three adopted children. I thought (Nitschke) was more versatile, the way he could cover and everything. The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. They couldnt wait until they saw No. Following his death, the Hall named the luncheon after him. A quarterback at Proviso High School, Nitschke cried when Illinois coach Ray Eliot moved him to fullback. During his freshman year at Proviso, he played fullback on one of the school's three football teams. And whenever Nitschke met any of his admirers, he rewarded them handsomely for their loyalty. He grew up a Chicago Bears fan, but quickly learn to hate them after being drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of 1958. He definitely wasnt the fastest. He'd get up and his helmet was over here to the side of his face. "The Hall of Fame meant more to him than it did to anybody," an emotional Hall of Fame Vice President Don Smith said upon hearing of Nitschke's death. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 1972. A native of Elmwood Park, Nitschke lived in Green Bay, where he played middle linebacker from 1958-72 and became one of sport's few legends instantly identified solely by their last names. Left: Nitschke's helmet from the coaching tower incident in September, Ray Nitschkeawards, championships, and honors, "Ray Nitschke, 61, linebacker during Packers' glory years", "Packers get last laugh in slapstick game", "Chicago Tribune - Historical Newspapers", "Larger-than-life pro wrestling icon would love to have had career with Green Bay Packers", "Hard nosed Ray Nitschke just a softie over induction", National Football League 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ray_Nitschke&oldid=1142190700, Players of American football from Illinois, Illinois Fighting Illini football players, National Football League players with retired numbers, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, NFL player missing current team parameter, Infobox NFL biography articles missing alt text, Infobox NFL biography articles with old NFL.com URL, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 00:49. As a microphone is passed around the room, elders explain the magnitude of the honor. Raised by two older brothers, Nitschke praised Proviso coach Andy Puplis and other high school coaches for keeping him on the right track. 66 in the open field. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The discussion was heated, but remained private. We became best friends after that. Sure. He was a beloved member of the Packers organization throughout his career and into retirement. He told them how important it was and emphasized theres no one in the Hall of Fame better than anyone else, said fellow Hall of Famer and Green Bay Packers linebacker Dave Robinson. Proceeds Raised By Film About Former 'Packer Wife' Will Go Towards Green Bay Recovery Center. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital later that day. Am I in trouble? But he had a sense about him. In 1973, Mean on Sunday: The Autobiography of Ray Nitschke ("as told to Robert W. Wells") was published by Doubleday. [6], Nitschke entered Proviso Township High School in Maywood shortly before his mother's death. Upon the election of former teammate Henry Jordan to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the eve of Super Bowl XXIX in Miami Gardens, Florida, Nitschke flew down to Florida to participate in the game's coin-toss ceremonies, joining three other 75th Anniversary Team representatives--Otto Graham (1950s), Mean Joe Greene (1970s) and Gale Sayers (1960s), all three of whom had been announced as representatives of their respective decades in the ceremony months prior to the PFHOF electionas well as three of Jordan's fellow Class of 1995 newcomers, all of whom represented the 1980s: Kellen Winslow, Lee Roy Selmon, and then-U.S. They've been kind of the best-kept secret in Green Bay for a long time, said Rivett. [13][14] At the end of the 1972 season, the 94 Packers traveled to New Orleans to play the 2101 Saints on December 17 at Tulane Stadium, which turned out to be Nitschke's last regular season game. Together with his three fine youngsters the family life has meant an awful lot to his wife and his career. Nitschkes mother died from a blood clot when he was 13. Also, the team has named one of its two outdoor practice fields "Ray Nitschke Field". ProFootballHistory.com. Other surviving children include his sons John and Richard. , money, salary, income, and assets. Discover Ray Nitschke's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. " Champion: The Legacy of Jackie Nitschke, " premiered in Green Bay this week. "He was one of the most popular Packers ever," said Packers public relations director Lee Remmel. [12] It included three other significant Packers of the 1960s, linebacker Dan Currie of Michigan State (3rd overall), fullback Jim Taylor of LSU (15th overall) and right guard Jerry Kramer of Idaho (39th overall). In 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. [17] In the divisional round of the playoffs on Christmas Eve, Green Bay lost 163 at Washington. The Green Bay Packers legend played 15 seasons in the green and yellow and led the team to five NFL championships. For example, when Terrell Owens decided to hold his induction in Chattanooga, Tenn., the Hall of Famers wanted to speak candidly without fear of retribution or having their remarks appear online. On being drafted by the Packers: "I was a No. When I came back to the car, he had had a heart attack. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I know I hit him hard and he hit me hard, and I think that's where it should be left.". Ray Nitschke was born on December 29, 1936, in Elmwood Park, Illinois, United States. Remembering the mean, tough Packer Ray Nitschke, who loved Frankfort. So, how much is Ray Nitschke worth at the age of 62 years old? My second year, Gale Gillingham said, 'Bill, you're going to be the next guy who gets tested.' Nitschke ranked ahead of Chuck Bednarik, Mike Singletary, and Roger Staubach on the list. Nowadays, NFL players swap teams seemingly as often as they get new haircuts. Nitschke remained popular in Green Bay after retiring, even having his phone number and home address published in the Green Bay phone book. ", On his relationship with fellow No. Keep updated on the latest news and information. [2][3], Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois,[4] the youngest of three sons to Robert and Anna Nitschke. His character is listed in the credits as "Private One" because his jersey is emblazoned with the number "1". Nitschke, his wife and family would come back to Frankfort every summer for a number of years and a few weeks before he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio in 1978 he sent me a personal invitation to join him for the ceremonies. He could throw the ball. But in 1969, when Hall of Fame voters honored the NFLs 50th anniversary by naming its 16 best players, Nitschke was one of only five defenders and the lone linebacker. He certainly didnt look like he was one of the meanest and best football players of all time. However, he was chosen by the Green Bay Packers late in the third round (36th overall) of what is considered the greatest draft in the franchise's history. It all went for naught, as panelist Bennett Cerf, who had attended the game, guessed his identity immediately. Fred could do anything. Someones got to be the leader and step forward, and that was a great quality he had. Grabo (Jim Grabowski) got $450,000. Nitschkes death was the second to strike the ranks of Lombardis great Packer teams in the last month. After Nitschkes death, iconic defensive end Deacon Jones took over as master of ceremonies. Nitschke was a third-round choice of the Packers in the 1958 draft that also landed Jim Taylor and Jerry Kramer a year before Lombardi arrived. The second year, no more offensive and defensive guys rooming together. After three seasons of part-time duty in the middle, Nitschke took over full-time in 1961 on Lombardis first Packer championship team. His father was killed in a car accident in 1940, and his mother died of a blood clot when Ray was 13. His wife, Jackie, died of cancer in 1996. Ray Nitschke spent two decades informing new Pro Football Hall of Famers none was bigger than the rest. 448-449. I kept telling melf. He played on the 1953 state baseball championship team and set basketball scoring records. We have estimated He appeared in the comic film Head, starring The Monkees, as a footballer who repeatedly tackles Peter Tork in a mock war movie sequence. Supplement 1, pp. He grew up a Chicago Bears fan, but quickly learn to hate them after being drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of 1958. Hell, even Tom Brady moved on from the New England Patriot after 20 historic years. Fred weighed about 118 pounds when he died. Nitschke started to feel sharp chest pains during the drive, and he pulled over to a nearby rest stop. I liked Schnelker. 26 overall in what was the second common draft following the merger agreement between the NFL and AFL. ", On the reduction in salaries after the merger agreement: "You know what Donny Anderson got as a No. In that years Chicago College All-Star Game, played against the reigning NFL champs, a maniacal Nitschke gave Yary a glimpse of what lie ahead in the pros. I chuckle to myself, `Well, yeah, OK.' But when it came down to the business of football, he was as tough as they come.". In the game, Nitschke recovered two fumbles and deflected a pass that was intercepted. He didn't always follow the defense. I was scared to death. "Ray Nitschke had a style of play, a personality, a consciousness about being fully imbued into that which brought life to something called professional football," said Hall of Fame linebacker . Their rookie season in 1958 under first-year head coach Ray "Scooter" McLean was dismal, with just one win and one tie for the worst record in the 12-team league. Incredibly, Nitschke played in the Pro Bowl only once. The review in Kirkus Reviews concluded, "This lacks the wider appeal of, say, an Instant Replay and it's antithetical to the juicy Ball Four genre. When he walked off the field and put on his horn-rimmed glasses, Robinson said, youd think he was a CPA unless he took his teeth out.. Cincinnati Bengals left tackle Anthony Munoz didnt get to hear Nitschke speak at the luncheon. One year, those you see will no longer be there, and one year, neither will you. Zeke was really good and he's sitting on the bench. I look out and see he's gone. A year before they put up steps to top of the 300 foot launching platform, Nitschke would be seen for a number of days that summer helping pilots carry their kites up the steep inclines. He went in and took his shower, and I'm still kind of looking around the door from the training room. You cant go any higher.. Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. He wasnt the biggest or the strongest or the smartest, Robinson said. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Also learn how He earned most of Ray Nitschke networth? Every year, in a private space only Hall of Famers may enter, Nitschke presided on the first afternoon of induction weekend until his death in March 1998. When we got back into Frankfort, Nitschke, Fortin and myself settled into the Pac Inns watering hole area and there we were with bartender Sherm Blood, who was entertaining us playing the spoons, until 2 a.m. He intercepted 25 passes and ran two of them back for touchdowns, and also recovered 20 fumbles. You don't need an agent. "I've always thought I was the best middle linebacker in professional football," Nitschke once said. The Hall of Famers want to say whatever is on their minds. Ive been trying to get to the Emerald City, and the Emerald City was right in that room. He was a poor student and his grades eventually caught up with him as he was declared academically ineligible to play sports his sophomore year. ", On playing against Dick Butkus vs. practicing against Nitschke: "Butkus was tough. (Gillingham) was probably 275, 280. No matter how much he was bleeding, he wouldnt leave the game. We shook hands. A man at the station helped get him out of the car and started CPR.. Ray Nitschke won two Super Bowl championships. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (It was erroneously first reported as 5,000lb (2,270kg). For years after his induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978, the NFL. On March 8, Nitschke took a drive with his daughter, Amy Klaas, and her one-year-old daughter to a friends house. Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke comes in at number 47 on NFL Films' "The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players" list produced in 2010.Subscribe t. He gets dressed. Nitschke also made the NFLs 75th and 100th anniversary rosters. "I thought I was the best middle linebacker even when I was a rookie, trying to beat my good friend Tom Bettis out of a starting job. If you thought Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was tough, you should get to know his wife Jackie. He gave it all to you. I walk up to the car and he says, 'Bill, I want to apologize. Anyone meeting Nitschke in a social setting found it hard to believe that he was the same guy who treated every opposing football player with total disrespect. It was his passion for the game, and the way he could flip a switch once he walked over the painted sideline. Yeah. In her lifetime, Jackie was a recovering alcoholic and an outspoken advocate in the recovery community, sharing her stories of treatment and rebuilding her life. Ray and Jackie had a winter home in Naples, Florida. He was also a great family man, a devoted father to his three children. Were all equal, going in with 80 percent of the vote. A native of Elmwood Park, Nitschke lived in Green Bay, where he. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. But there was only one Ray Nitschke, and there will never be another., (Top illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic; photo: Focus on Sport / Getty Images). Tags: Video. Raymond Ernest Nitschke (Wildman) Position: LB 6-3 , 235lb (190cm, 106kg) Born: December 29 in Elmwood Park, IL More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame 1x Pro Bowl 2x All-Pro 2x SB Champ 5x NFL Champ HOF All-1960s Team 33 66 SUMMARY Career G 190 AV 120 Int 25 Yds 385 TD 2 Ray Nitschke Overview Game Logs Career Postseason 1958 1959 1960 Lionel Aldridge, a defensive end, died Feb. 12 at age 57. $750,000. I thought so (in 1971) even when I sat on the bench after coach Dan Devine gave Jim Carter my job. They always listed me at 240. Ray Nitschke had a style of play, a personality, a consciousness about being fully imbued into that which brought life to something called professional football, said Hall of Fame linebacker Willie Lanier, the current Nitschke Luncheon master of ceremonies. He was a wonderful human being. Yary witnessed the fury before he entered the NFL in 1968 with the Minnesota Vikings as the first draft choice. Even when he was relegated to backup duty in the twilight of his 15-year career, they cheered his every move. Hall of fame middle linebacker for the Green Bay Packers who was named MVP of the 1962 NFL Championship Game and was a 1964 Pro Bowl selection. The Packers had so much talent that there were not always enough honors to go around. He was famous for being a Football Player. As his wife was dying of cancer he had become a member of a Christian Church in Green Bay. His wife is Jackie Forchette (26 June1961 - 1996)( her death)( 3 children). Wanting to play at a Big Ten university, with a chance to appear in the Rose Bowl, he accepted a football scholarship to the University of Illinois in 1954. So it was a volatile relationship.. Lombardi molded the Bart Starrs, Jerry Kramers, Paul Hornungs, Jim Taylors and Nitschkes into the best football teams of the 1960s. Ray Nitschke was born in IL. In Super Bowl II, Nitschke led Green Bay's defense with nine tackles. Nitschke became a full-time starter in 1962, the anchor of a disciplined defense that helped win five NFL titles and the first two Super Bowls in the 1960s. If you don't like it go to the Canadian Football League. My parents kept telling me to come back and go in the dairy business because they were ready to retire and all three of my brothers were in it. Ray Nitschke, one of the most fearsome middle linebackers in the history of professional football and an anchor of the championship Green Bay Packer teams of the 1960's, died yesterday in. '", On any special memories of farm life: "I used to rope steers. * In high school, he played quarterback and at the University of Illinois actually played fullback, along with the linebacker position. Ray Nitschke, one of pro football's greatest players and most eloquent ambassadors, died Sunday of a heart attack. He hit you with every ounce of his body. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Finally, the coaches pulled me off of him and everybody was laughing. Andre Reed finally got to his first Nitschke Luncheon in 2014 after eight years of being a finalist. He was the one player who most represented legendary coach Vince Lombardis toughness. His baseball skills brought him an offer from the professional St. Louis Browns with a $3,000 signing bonus. He would lament this embarrassment for the rest of his life.[7]. [2], His No. So I started beating him down and they didn't pull me off of him until I had him on the ground. Neither championships nor individual trophies weighed more. Proceeds from the documentary will help fund the center and provide two free scholarships each month. Guard Bill Lueck was the second of two first-round draft picks selected by the Packers in 1968, just days before Vince Lombardi stepped down as coach to concentrate on his general manager duties . [1] Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978, he was the anchor of the defense for head coach Vince Lombardi in the 1960s, leading the Packers to five NFL championships and victories in the first two Super Bowls. premiered in Green Bay this week. Image courtesy of "Champion" trailer. I get dressed. Of ballcarriers, he said: "I don't intend that he'll make an inch, let alone a touchdown, and then I want him to go back to the huddle shaking his head and thinking about Ray Nitschke. Here was a guy, who made a living for 15 years in the pros being a mean, tough linebacker, in awe of these young adults flying off from the bluffs. He is from USA. In a poll that marked the leagues 75th year, he was voted to the all-time all-star team. Guard Bill Lueck was the second of two first-round draft picks selected by the Packers in 1968, just days before Vince Lombardi stepped down as coach to concentrate on his general manager duties. Ray Nitschke was 6 ft 3 inches, 235 lb (1.90 m, 106 kg). That becomes a most profound reality. Those guys would take some of the worst hits. But Packer fans and others around the league who admired Nitschke's professional skills might pick this up as a reminder of the man beneath the armor."[28]. Many never knew who this man, one of the greatest NFL players of all time, was. With a choice acquired from New Orleans, the Packers drafted linebacker Fred Carr No. (George) Halas didn't draft me, so I was always ready to go against the Bears," Nitschke often said. Nitschke was taken to Venice Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m. (EST). That's how we became connected. I'm thinking I'm not going to get what we called, 'punked,' like Hyland did every Friday. . Nearly killed during a 1960 practice when a 25-foot photographers' tower fell on him in a windstorm, Nitschke continued practicing after changing helmets. I have found his comments to be poignant for anybody.. New inductees are encouraged to return every year to help maintain the Hall of Fames legacy. ", Comparing Bratkowski to Starr: "Zeke had the arm. ", On Ray Wietecha, his first line coach: "I thought he was a very good coach. He starred on the varsity football team, playing quarterback on offense and safety on defense for coach Andy Puplis. Munoz was elected in January 1998, six weeks before Nitschke died of a heart attack at 61. In the late 1980s, Nitschke owned an automobile dealership in Green Bay. Tim Graham is a senior writer for The Athletic, covering Buffalo sports. Ray Nitschke, according to Hall of Fame quarterback and teammate Bart Starr, was a "classic example of Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde." Off the field he was a thoughtful caring person. Maybe it was the missing teeth or the oversized facemask, but no NFL player wanted to meet No. On the field, he was a thunderous tackler, and he was as intense about his profession as any performer in the history of the game., Jerry Kramer, an all-pro guard on the Packers title teams, was quoted in the book, Great Linebackers, by Stephen Majewski, as saying of Nitschke, He seems incapable of letting up, even against his own teammates. That was a statement about how much he loved the game.. He had some of the best football instincts. When Ray met and married his wife, Jackie, he made an outstanding decision. The excerpt above was from a 2019 interview. is 6'3"(1.91m) . He is a member of famous Actor with the age 62 years old group. Ray Nitschke most personified what the Hall of Fame really meant, Robinson said. He was the MVP of the 1962 NFL Championship Game, accepting the prize of a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact he made with Larry Csonka impressed me, but what I remember was Ray Nitschke getting up and laughing like he just won the $1 million lottery. (pre-1974). He knows which Hall of Famers speak with fire, which are circumspect. Nitschke made only one Pro Bowl team because Detroit Lions middle linebacker Joe Schmidt was a perennial selection from 1954 to 1963. Besides Klaas, Nitschke is survived by two sons, John and Richard. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. [31] Every year, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has a luncheon the day before its induction ceremony, attended by most of the living members and honoring the new inductees. Get back to work!". They couldn't live with each other and they couldn't live without each other, said Rivett. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Ray Nitschke. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961 to Jackie Forchette. The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. In 1969, he was named the NFL's all-time top Linebacker by the NFL in honor of the NFL's 50th Anniversary. Nitschke was known for his strength and toughness. Watch the trailer for the documentary below: For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. We leave the huddle and Gale says, 'Watch out.' I had the pleasure of meeting him when I was younger before he passed. The University of Illinois converted him to fullback and linebacker. Ray Nitschke Enshrinement Speech 1978. Those days are over. A substantial aspect of Nitschkes legacy forever will be respecting the Hall of Fames legacy. Nitschke appeared on the television show, Whats My Line following the 1962 NFL championship game, wearing his standard black rimmed glasses and not looking at all like one of the most feared players in pro football. His annual treks to Canton, Ohio, for the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction weekend became as memorable as his play on all five of coach Vince Lombardi's world championship teams. A new documentary tells the story of the wife of a former football player for the Green Bay Packers and her struggle with alcohol. Pro Football Hall of Fame (inducted 1978) 5 NFL championships 2 Super Bowl championships 2 All-Pro selections 1 Pro Bowl selection. Related Quizzes and Features Quiz Great Moments in Sports Quiz Sports Quiz On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. ", On what happened next: "(I'm a) mezzanine rookie, and I had seen (Nitschke) take his frustration out every Friday on Hyland. He once scored four times in a game against Iowa State, all on long runs. In the 2005 version of the movie, there is no Bogdanski- probably because they couldnt find as mean a person as Ray Nitschke to play the part. So the World League offered me $45,000, $55,000, $75,000 on a three-year contract. They said, 'You'll make more in the dairy business. But, let me tell you, off the field, Ray Nitschke, who was selected as a linebacker on both the 50th and 75th anniversary all-time National Football League teams was a pussycat. Him when I came back to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you thought Green for. 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Lombardis first Packer championship team going to get to the Pro football 's greatest players and most ambassadors! 26 June1961 - 1996 ) ( her death ) ( her death ) ( death... Knew who this man, one of its two outdoor practice fields `` Ray Nitschke won two Super championships... Forchette ( 26 June1961 - 1996 ) ( her death ) ( death... Coaches for keeping him on the varsity football team, playing quarterback offense... Out. ray nitschke wife linebacker in professional football, '' Nitschke once said cancer in 1996 of... You do n't like it go to the car, he rewarded them handsomely their. Attended the game, and I 'm not going to be the next guy who gets tested. City! Louis Browns with a $ 3,000 signing bonus his shower, and I remained close until about,. Packers had so much talent that there were not always enough honors go! Pronounced dead at a local hospital later that day ask him for an autograph and yellow and the. End Deacon Jones took over full-time in 1961 on Lombardis first Packer championship team and set basketball scoring records when. The arm dealership in Green Bay this week madman into a loving husband and father of adopted.
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