Ray wanted everybody to know were all equal. Nitschke remained popular in Green Bay after retiring, even having his phone number and home address published in the Green Bay phone book. In the first Super Bowls, Nitschke had 15 tackles total and a quarterback sack. Mean In The Middle smiled down from heaven as the Green Bay Packers were about to win the Super Bowl. When was Ray Nitschke inducted to the Hall of Fame? He was like the epitome of what a football player should be, Klaas told the Associated Press after her fathers 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 . In the game, Nitschke recovered two fumbles and deflected a pass that was intercepted. Was it a mistake or an act of hate? Raised by two older brothers, Nitschke praised Proviso coach Andy Puplis and other high school coaches for keeping him on the right track. Nitschke always spoke at this luncheon, telling the new inductees what a great honor they were receiving, and that they were now members of the greatest team of them all. Death Nitschke died of a heart attack in Venice, FL, at the age of 61 in 1998. He played on the 1953 state baseball championship team and set basketball scoring records. But along the way, Nitschke became an all-around athlete, and turned down a $3,000 bonus from baseballs St. Louis Browns to accept a football scholarship to Illinois. ", On playing with Bart Starr for at least parts of four seasons: "Nobody is tougher than Bart Starr. In a poll taken recently to pick the Packers greatest player ever, he placed fourth behind Don Hutson, Brett Favre and Bart Starr. You cant go any higher.. (Carr) could play every position. When a certain message needs to be delivered, Lanier knows who to call upon. 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. In Super Bowl I, Nitschke contributed six tackles and a sack. Ray Nitschke attended the University of Illinois. Cincinnati Bengals left tackle Anthony Munoz didnt get to hear Nitschke speak at the luncheon. He definitely wasnt the fastest. Related Quizzes and Features Quiz Great Moments in Sports Quiz Sports Quiz [6], Nitschke entered Proviso Township High School in Maywood shortly before his mother's death. The Packers had so much talent that there were not always enough honors to go around. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. If you wanted a leader to emulate, you couldnt pick a better person.. Ray Nitschke most personified what the Hall of Fame really meant, Robinson said. Lombardi gave partial credit to Nitschke's success to Nitschke's wife, whose calming influence helped him focus on his career. A common response for the muted, new inductees is to look around the room at legends such as Jim Brown, Roger Staubach and Mean Joe Greene. He was a playmaker, recording 25 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries over his 15 seasons. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first "Packer Wife" to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. 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. He gets dressed. In Super Bowl II, Nitschke led Green Bay's defense with nine tackles. Nitschke will be buried in Green Bay. 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. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. 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. Puplis advised him to accept a football scholarship. On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Ray Wietecha was still the line coach and he had seen (Nitschke) do that to Hyland so he didn't pull me off. The Hall of Famers want to say whatever is on their minds. Ray Nitschke won two Super Bowl championships. I look out and see he's gone. His father was killed in a car accident in 1940,[5] and his mother died of a blood clot when Ray was 13. As much as he insisted they all are equals, his passion set him apart. Sure. The late Jackie Nitschke was married to Lombardi-era Packer Ray Nitschke. Nitschke was wearing his wearing those type of black rimmed glasses at the PAC Inn in Frankfort that late July evening of 1973 and the crowd sitting there, eating and imbibing, probably thought he was just another summer tourist. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Bobby Bell, for instance, will make a comment to everyone in the room for them to look around closely and acknowledge the others they see, Lanier said, because next year a certain number will not be here. A man at the station helped get him out of the car and started CPR.. Ray Nitschke, the meanest Packer of them all and the stalwart of five NFL championships including the first two Super Bowls, is the epitome of the storied franchise. I walk up to the car and he says, 'Bill, I want to apologize. The men who speak try to recapture Nitschkes message. 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. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay and I never want to finish second again. Ray Nitschke's net worth Keep updated on the latest news and information. Am I in trouble? During his freshman year at Proviso, he played fullback on one of the school's three football teams. When you die, youre still in the Hall of Fame.. But Nitschke wasnt just an incredible player and a fiery leader. Packers fans around the world will never forget the gentle giant that was Ray Nitschke. 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. I came out of the locker room and my wife is standing there, and this older gentleman has his arm around her. Then from 1969 to 1973, he unofficially started 67 of 70 regular-season games at left guard based on official play-by-plays (he also might have started another, but wasn't listed in the lineup) and also the 1972 NFC Divisional playoff. It all went for naught, as panelist Bennett Cerf, who had attended the game, guessed his identity immediately. You cant pay your way into that room.. 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I was scared to death. For years after his induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978, the NFL. He did everything to help his wife raise. The NFL legend was twice named a First-Team All-Pro, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. I was scared to death, but I took his helmet and, 'bang!' He was pronounced dead at Venice Hospital. 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. How many Super Bowls did Ray Nitschke win? His bad grades and temper couldnt derail such a phenomenal athlete. He starred on the varsity football team, playing quarterback on offense and safety on defense for coach Andy Puplis. Nitschke was the leader and captain of the Packers defense throughout the entire 1960s. "I never saw him turn down an autograph or a request to pose for a photo.". The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of He once scored four times in a game against Iowa State, all on long runs. Lueck, who played at the University of Arizona, was chosen No. New inductees are encouraged to return every year to help maintain the Hall of Fames legacy. "He was one of the most popular Packers ever," said Packers public relations director Lee Remmel. 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. Ray Nitschke attended the University of Illinois. Said Remmel: I remember sitting in hotel lobbies when the team was on the road and watch Ray obligingly pose for photographs and sign hundreds of autographs. Wood remembered Nitschke working at his image on and off the field. ", On Phil Bengtson as head coach: "I had no issues with him. They called me a mezzanine rookie the second year until you played in a certain number of games. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Not only is Ray Nitschke one of the best LBs in NFL history, he had an act at making something out of nothing. He said, 'No, we'll send you the paperwork and you can sign it.' Fred died of dementia. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. 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. premiered in Green Bay this week. If you thought Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was tough, you should get to know his wife Jackie. Nitschke is considered one of the toughest NFL players to ever live. He also was a humanitarian, loved children and relished being an ambassador for Green Bay and the NFL. That's how we became connected. Nitschkes legacy stretched far beyond the football field. I said, 'I admit I'm a dumb farm kid who just got back from milking cows, how does this process work? Nitschkes mother died from a blood clot when he was 13. It's supposed to be like a walk-through. . On the field or off, though, Packer fans had an unwavering love affair with Nitschke. We'd run through the plays and Ray would always tee-off on Hyland. So, how much is Ray Nitschke worth at the age of 62 years old? On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. Born in Elmwood Park, Illinois, Nitschke was the youngest of three sons to Robert and Anna Nitschke. He didn't know who I was. "I've always thought I was the best middle linebacker in professional football," Nitschke once said. Biography in: "American National Biography". There are too many guys who think it was a privilege for the league to have them., That was years and years ago, but I can hear him say it like it was yesterday. Nitschke was selected in 1964. 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. Besides Klaas, Nitschke is survived by two sons, John and Richard. 66 was the fourth number retired in the franchises rich history. He was a fullback and linebacker for the Illini, and the Packers drafted him as a linebacker on the third round in 1958. You cant have a conversation about the greatest NFL linebackers of all time without Ray Nitschke. 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. Nitschke and his family, who were staying at the PAC Inn and the Crystal Beach Resort that week, fell in love with the town and in particular, the sport of hang gliding. The St. Louis Browns offered him a baseball contract, but he wanted to play Big Ten football. In 1997, the Green Bay Packers named one of their practice fields after him. That was the first year I started making money. Proceeds from the documentary will help fund the center and provide two free scholarships each month. ", On who was better at eluding the pass rush: "Probably Zeke. Raymond Ernest Nitschke was a middle linebacker that spent his entire 15-year career with the Green Bay Packers. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 62 years old group. You cant even die from this team. [27] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. ", Comparing Bratkowski to Starr: "Zeke had the arm. On July 2, 1973 he told me and Fortin, that a metal tower on the Packers practice field fell over on top of him. His wife is Jackie Forchette (26 June1961 - 1996)( her death)( 3 children). That was Ray Nitschke, Hall of Fame linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, who died Sunday of a massive heart attack in Venice, Fla. Nitschke, 61, was stricken while driving with his daughter,. Encyclopdia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them. While he wasnt bombing his classes or getting into fistfights, he played quarterback and safety at Proviso High in suburban Chicago. A lot of times we had to guide him into the huddle. * In high school, he played quarterback and at the University of Illinois actually played fullback, along with the linebacker position. The heaviest I ever got there was a little over 260. In the process, she taught our community that the disease of addiction crosses all income levels . 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. Lueck, 74, lives in suburban Phoenix. Having played with the Green Bay Packers and the number of championships they won, the number of Hall of Famers that played for (coach Vince) Lombardi, who happens to have his name on the trophy, seemed to signify a purity of someone who accepted his role in the game and played it with a fervor.. 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. In 2019, USA TODAY compiled a group of 19 veteran reporters to vote on and rank the 100 greatest NFL players of all time. That was a statement about how much he loved the game.. Nitschke was the anchor of the defense under head coach Vince Lombardi in the 1960's, leading the Packers to five NFL championships and victories in the first two Super Bowls. The Packers won 167 and finished the season with a 141 record. "Ray was a ballplayer's ballplayer," former teammate Willie Wood said. His father was killed when he was 3, and his mother died when he was 13. The Green Bay Packers legend played 15 seasons in the green and yellow and led the team to five NFL championships. The second year, no more offensive and defensive guys rooming together. 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. But I didn't think he was as good as Nitschke. He said, 'Bill, you don't know the AFL and NFL have merged? (George) Halas didn't draft me, so I was always ready to go against the Bears," Nitschke often said. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Klaas walked inside to grab a few drinks, but Nitschke suffered a heart attack while sitting in the parked car. A month after the 1958 season ended, Vince Lombardi was hired as head coach. Fred could do anything. You know his classic lines, if it doesnt matter who wins or loses, then why do we keep score or the dictionary is the only place where success comes before work.. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 1972. Traverse City man arraigned on drunk driving charges, Methamphetamine found during traffic stop in Garfield Township. Ray and Jackie had a winter home in Naples, Florida. He wasnt the biggest or the strongest or the smartest, Robinson said. 26 overall in what was the second common draft following the merger agreement between the NFL and AFL. Nitschke made only one Pro Bowl team because Detroit Lions middle linebacker Joe Schmidt was a perennial selection from 1954 to 1963. [29] The only other Lombardi-era player to have his number retired is quarterback Bart Starr, whose number 15 was retired in 1973. Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. 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. ", On how his friendship with fellow guard Gale Gillingham got started: "Weightlifting. 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. 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