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.. Birthplace: Elmwood Park, IL Location of death: Venice, FL Cause of death: Heart Failure Remains: Cre. He was a playmaker, recording 25 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries over his 15 seasons. He was pronounced dead at Venice Hospital. This must be the 1st quarter because Ray Nitschke barely has any blood on him yet. The Green Bay Packers legend played 15 seasons in the green and yellow and led the team to five NFL championships. We didn't even know he was injured.". He wasnt the biggest or the strongest or the smartest, Robinson said. He's got a helmet on and I've got a stocking cap, but I learned at the University of Arizona, the first thing you do is get the helmet off if you're going to have a fight or you're going to just bust your hands. 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. ", On Ray Wietecha, his first line coach: "I thought he was a very good coach. Not only is Ray Nitschke one of the best LBs in NFL history, he had an act at making something out of nothing. Ray Nitschke attended the University of Illinois. Yet no one was more emotional or more sincere in his love for the game. He touched everyone he met with his kindness and generosity. Those are the ones that would piss Ray off. ", On who was better at eluding the pass rush: "Probably Zeke. That was a statement about how much he loved the game.. He went in and took his shower, and I'm still kind of looking around the door from the training room. He succeeded in raising his grades enough in his sophomore year to allow him to play sports his junior year, when he had grown significantly (to six feet tall). Grabo (Jim Grabowski) got $450,000. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. I came out of the locker room and my wife is standing there, and this older gentleman has his arm around her. 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, Amy Klaas, and granddaughter, Jacqueline, from his summer home in Naples, Fla. to visit friends. My wife and I got in an argument this morning before I left home. ", On whether the players knew Wietecha, who was in charge of the running game, and Bob Schnelker, in charge of the passing game, were at odds: "We knew there was something going, on. The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of His wife is Jackie Forchette (26 June 1961 - 1996) ( her death) ( 3 children) Ray Nitschke Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. ", On Phil Bengtson as head coach: "I had no issues with him. Guess what? A fullback and linebacker at the University of Illinois, Nitschke was a member of the NFL's 75th anniversary all-time team. I look out and see he's gone. 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. Ray played in the 230s, but he hit like he was 300 pounds. Nitschke wore number 33 in 1958 and 66 the rest of his career with the Packers. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital later that day. 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 playing with Bart Starr for at least parts of four seasons: "Nobody is tougher than Bart Starr. He was a frequent golfer in retirement, and he loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. He laid down the law to all the new inductees of what was acceptable and unacceptable, and everybody followed what Ray said.. In 1973, Mean on Sunday: The Autobiography of Ray Nitschke ("as told to Robert W. Wells") was published by Doubleday. Following his death, the Hall named the luncheon after him. Gale said, 'Bill, it's coming up on your turn. So we ran the slip block where Bowman would block the defensive tackle and I'd slip and block the middle linebacker. His father was killed in a car accident in 1940,[5] and his mother died of a blood clot when Ray was 13. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981. As a rookie, he backed up both left guard Gale Gillingham and right guard Jerry Kramer. He gave it all to you. Nitschke was known for his strength and toughness, exhibited prior to his third season in 1960. Nitschke was 61 years old. I liked Schnelker. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. When you die, youre still in the Hall of Fame.. Packers fans around the world will never forget the gentle giant that was Ray Nitschke. The heaviest I ever got there was a little over 260. * 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. Raymond Ernest Nitschke was a middle linebacker that spent his entire 15-year career with the Green Bay Packers. His baseball skills brought him an offer from the professional St. Louis Browns with a $3,000 signing bonus. 66 in the open field. When was Ray Nitschke inducted to the Hall of Fame? That's how we became connected. Nitschkes rage was effectively channeled. Carp Lake man missing, MSP requesting public's help, Traverse City man crashes into Thompsonville bar, Looking back in Benzie: Blast furnaces and sunsets, Puppy love coming to Benzie County schools, Harris gets hot, Panthers advance to district finals, Benzie Central girls advance to district finals, Benzie County 24-hour road patrol returns after 10 years, Frankfort Elementary School to host kindergarten round-up. The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. The Hall of Famers want to say whatever is on their minds. After Nitschkes death, iconic defensive end Deacon Jones took over as master of ceremonies. Raised by two older brothers, Nitschke praised Proviso coach Andy Puplis and other high school coaches for keeping him on the right track. In 1996, with wife Jackie dying of cancer, Nitschke was in tears as he related to inductees that his wife had implored him to go to the ceremony in Canton, where he belonged. Cliff Christl started gathering oral histories with former Packers and others associated with the team in 2000 and will continue to gather them as Packers historian. Finally, the coaches pulled me off of him and everybody was laughing. Among the recurring themes is that Canton should be treated as their second home. Nitschke ranked ahead of Chuck Bednarik, Mike Singletary, and Roger Staubach on the list. His father died when he was three and his mother when he was thirteen and he was raised by an older brother. "I never saw him turn down an autograph or a request to pose for a photo.". He was famous for being a Football Player. As publisher of the "Ray Nitschke Packer Report," Nitschke was able to enjoy the team's return to glory, but he never allowed the new heroes the luxury of becoming too fond of themselves. Their success rate is like 78 percent.. You're a starter now.' What position did Ray Nitschke play? 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. Nitschke was selected in 1964. Ray Nitschke won two Super Bowl championships. Biography in: "American National Biography". With a choice acquired from New Orleans, the Packers drafted linebacker Fred Carr No. )[22][23] Lombardi ran over to see what had happened, but when told it had fallen on Nitschke, said, "He'll be fine. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. He appeared in the comic film Head, starring The Monkees, as a footballer who repeatedly tackles Peter Tork in a mock war movie sequence. He did everything to help his wife raise. His wife, Jackie, died of cancer in 1996. Zeke had great feet.". Follow Tim on Twitter @ByTimGraham, Nitschke recorded 25 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries over his 15 seasons. He once scored four times in a game against Iowa State, all on long runs. Jackie Nitschke's influence transformed this football madman into a loving husband and father of three adopted children. (Carr) could play every position. 5 overall. Keep updated on the latest news and information. Reality becomes difficult to fathom. [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). Ray Nitschke was born in IL. There is only one place in my game and that is first place. Gillie took me under his wing and said Ray is going to mess with you. Prior to its retirement, number 66 had remained in circulation and was last worn in 1983 by offensive lineman Lawrence Pfohl, who would go on to fame as a professional wrestler under the ring name Lex Luger.[30]. He didn't know who I was. We're going to pay you a $15,000 signing bonus and a $15,000 salary your rookie year. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 1972. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay and I never want to finish second again. Lanier took over when Jones died in 2013. "But it turned out all right," Remmel said. His bad grades and temper couldnt derail such a phenomenal athlete. All the wives. 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. ", Without that attitude, Nitschke said, he couldn't get his job done. Hell, even Tom Brady moved on from the New England Patriot after 20 historic years. After three seasons of part-time duty in the middle, Nitschke took over full-time in 1961 on Lombardis first Packer championship team. 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. What college did Ray Nitschke attend? He was a frequent golfer in retirement, and he loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. 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. But I didn't think he was as good as Nitschke. He was adopted by an older brother, and grew up as a self-acknowledged bully. When he came into the game, he was in charge. The NFL legend was twice named a First-Team All-Pro, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. He gets dressed. [18] Nitschke returned for a 16th training camp in 1973, then retired in late August.[19][20][21][14]. [1] He had been driving to the home of a family friend, according to his daughter, Amy Klaas, who was with him when he was stricken. I became interested in Nitschke when after living in Wisconsin for 8 years I learned that he had become a Christian before he died. He hit you with every ounce of his body. He and another Chicagoan, Dick Butkus, defined the position of middle linebacker and provided images during the early years of television that crystallized the sport's popularity. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 62 years old group. He said, 'No, we'll send you the paperwork and you can sign it.' It was his passion for the game, and the way he could flip a switch once he walked over the painted sideline. [27] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. premiered in Green Bay this week. Nowadays, NFL players swap teams seemingly as often as they get new haircuts. When I told Green Bay what I was offered, they matched it. Yary witnessed the fury before he entered the NFL in 1968 with the Minnesota Vikings as the first draft choice. In the late 1980s, Nitschke owned an automobile dealership in Green Bay. The St. Louis Browns offered him a baseball contract, but he wanted to play Big Ten football. Lombardi gave partial credit to Nitschke's success to Nitschke's wife, whose calming influence helped him focus on his career. How tough was Nitschke? He liked to forearm your head. He taught us proper technique: pulling, how to come off the ball. He died in Venice, Fla., near his winter home in Naples. CTE. The Eagles paid me my last year. 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. "I think Ray Nitschke thinks we stink," Packers defensive end Sean Jones said during the 1996 title run. In this day and age of egotistical professional athletes, my friend Ray Nitschke would also have been a unanimous selection for the Nice Guy Hall of Fame. Nitschke also appeared in the 1974 football comedy The Longest Yard as Guard Bogdanski. So the World League offered me $45,000, $55,000, $75,000 on a three-year contract. Ray and Jackie had a winter home in Naples, Florida. You know the first time I met Vince Lombardi, my wife met him at the College All-Star Game. 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,. At 62 years old, Ray Nitschke height Nitschkes death was the second to strike the ranks of Lombardis great Packer teams in the last month. 1 draft choice and in 1968, (personnel director) Pat Peppler called me. When Nitschke became a born-again Christian in 1995, his wife Jackie told Ray he wore that number because there are 66 books in the Holy Bible, per Gruver. 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. had a luncheon the day before its induction ceremony, attended by most of the living members and honoring the new inductees. Supplement 1, pp. He had some of the best football instincts. They couldnt wait until they saw 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. Nitschke leaves three adopted children: John, 34; Richard, 32; and Amy, 26, and one granddaughter, Jacqueline Rae, 17 months. According to Nitschke's biography, the tower drove a spike into his helmet, but didn't injure him. Lueck played in 90 games for the Packers over seven seasons. During his freshman year at Proviso, he played fullback on one of the school's three football teams. Ray Nitschke was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. I have found his comments to be poignant for anybody.. Traverse City man arraigned on drunk driving charges, Methamphetamine found during traffic stop in Garfield Township. His wife died shortly thereafter. (Focus on Sport / Getty Images). He protected his turf.. His was pierced by a bolt from the tower. They had never met, but she recognized him and said, 'Hi, Coach Lombardi, I'm Bill Lueck's wife.' Those days are over. "I've always thought I was the best middle linebacker in professional football," Nitschke once said. * In the NFL championship game of 1962, he would recover two fumbles and deflect a pass that was intercepted gaining MVP honors and a new Chevrolet Corvette. 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. I had the pleasure of meeting him when I was younger before he passed. 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). In 1969, he was named the NFL's all-time top Linebacker by the NFL in honor of the NFL's 50th Anniversary. Nitschke never wore a face mask and one of the Buckeye's player's helmets hit him in the mouth knocking out two teeth initially; the other two were hanging by the roots. "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 loved it. Your email address will not be published. In the first Super Bowls, Nitschke had 15 tackles total and a quarterback sack. The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. He lost both his parents by the age of 14, causing a lot of trouble in school. They said, 'You'll make more in the dairy business. Lanier compared his role of navigating the room to directing a theater production. He is from USA. We stopped at a service station and I went in for water and a soft drink. Coming up the middle or filling a hole on a running play, I thought Nitschke was better than Butkus. You cant pay your way into that room.. In Super Bowl I, Nitschke contributed six tackles and a sack. Nitschke was known for his viciousness on the field, a ferocity that welled within him from childhood. I hit him about three times. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. Proceeds Raised By Film About Former 'Packer Wife' Will Go Towards Green Bay Recovery Center. Was it a mistake or an act of hate? Nitschke was known for his strength and toughness. We had one-on-one time together, his face right up in my grill, Munoz said. She pushed back her student's hijab. The gravitas is unmistakable. 66 was retired in 1983, the fourth of six numbers retired by the Packers. On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. Nearly killed during a 1960 practice when a 25-foot photographers' tower fell on him in a windstorm, Nitschke continued practicing after changing helmets. He thought that was a privilege. '", On any special memories of farm life: "I used to rope steers. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first "Packer Wife" to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. On March 8, Nitschke took a drive with his daughter, Amy Klaas, and her one-year-old daughter to a friends house. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. He played varsity basketball and was a pitcher and left fielder for the varsity baseball team. Pro Football Hall of Fame (inducted 1978) 5 NFL championships 2 Super Bowl championships 2 All-Pro selections 1 Pro Bowl selection. [22][23][24][25][26] "People talk about tough he was, how bad he was. When Ray met and married his wife, Jackie, he made an outstanding decision. 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. 1 seed in West, Another Trevor Bauer defamation suit is thrown out, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Dennis Schroder leads depleted Lakers to crucial win over Thunder, Despite cap issues, Chargers GM Tom Telesco says Keenan Allen isnt going anywhere, Georgias Jalen Carter charged with racing in crash that killed teammate, staff member, High school baseball and softball: Tuesdays scores, Atonio Mafi draft diary: Mental health should be a priority, even in football culture. This is the first of two parts with Bill Lueck. ", On how his friendship with fellow guard Gale Gillingham got started: "Weightlifting. Ray Wietecha was still the line coach and he had seen (Nitschke) do that to Hyland so he didn't pull me off. In a poll taken recently to pick the Packers greatest player ever, he placed fourth behind Don Hutson, Brett Favre and Bart Starr. At a luncheon for new inductees and members, Nitschke hailed football and the Hall in a way few could articulate. Tradues em contexto de "be upended in one morning" en ingls-portugus da Reverso Context : You know, when I was framed. So, how much is Ray Nitschke worth at the age of 62 years old? Hes always grabbing people, hitting people, throwing elbows.. Incredibly, Nitschke played in the Pro Bowl only once. We always wondered why Zeke wasn't with another team starting. One guy, Grant Smith of Detroit, asked Nitschke if he wanted to learn how to hang glide and the Packer, then 36 years old at the time, said it looked too dangerous for him. It was during those four hours that I first learned much more about the great Packer. In his sophomore year in 1955, due to a depletion of players in the offensive backfield, Illini head coach Ray Eliot moved Nitschke from quarterback to fullback,[9] shattering his childhood dream of quarterbacking a team to a victory in the Rose Bowl. Lueck, 74, lives in suburban Phoenix. "In the heat of competing against each other, things like that happen. ", On whether that was the end of it: "We go into the locker room and (Nitschke) lockered about four, five lockers away and I didn't want to get in a fight in the shower so I went into the training room. My second year, Gale Gillingham said, 'Bill, you're going to be the next guy who gets tested.' The late Jackie Nitschke was married to Lombardi-era Packer Ray Nitschke. I was the executive secretary of the National Soaring and Hang Gliding Festival and Paul Alfred Corey and his sister Carol, the owners of the PAC Inn, and Gustafson Oil Company had arranged through Detroit Lions general manager Nick Kerbawy to have the perennial All-Pro linebacker, who had recently retired, in the Port City to be part of a five-judge panel to select the first National Soaring Queen. He was a beloved member of the Packers organization throughout his career and into retirement. "He was one of the most popular Packers ever," said Packers public relations director Lee Remmel. The Nitschke Luncheon is like a family reunion and for many Hall of Famers ranks as the favorite part of induction weekend. ", On other members of a defensive unit coming off a third straight NFL championship: "I'll tell you the guy who did the most damage to the head was Ray Nitschke. 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. 1 pick Fred Carr: "We roomed together as rookies. Hit him on the head. 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. The personification of gruff and tough, the bald-headed Nitschke's voice and manner remained intimidating 25 years after he left the field. We laughed about that comment. Fred made very few mistakes. It felt like I was in the Wizard of Oz or something, Reed said afterward. She was a widely-known figure in the movement toward creating better drug and alcohol treatment options in Northeastern Wisconsin. ProFootballHistory.com. 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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