Ray Wietecha was still the line coach and he had seen (Nitschke) do that to Hyland so he didn't pull me off. Ray wanted everybody to know were all equal. In 1997, the Green Bay Packers named one of their practice fields after him. ", On how his friendship with fellow guard Gale Gillingham got started: "Weightlifting. Lueck played in 90 games for the Packers over seven seasons. All the wives. 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.. We have estimated Nitschkes mother died from a blood clot when he was 13. Ray Nitschke spent two decades informing new Pro Football Hall of Famers none was bigger than the rest. [17] In the divisional round of the playoffs on Christmas Eve, Green Bay lost 163 at Washington. 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. With his bald head, horn-rimmed glasses and impeccable attire, he could have passed for a business executive or a college professor. Ray Nitschke was born on December 29, 1936, in Elmwood Park, Illinois, United States. Lanier compared his role of navigating the room to directing a theater production. This is a carousel. Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. He thought of it as an honor for somebody to ask him for an autograph. Remembering the mean, tough Packer Ray Nitschke, who loved Frankfort. You cant go any higher.. He was your regular neighborhood nice guy living in Green Bay, the ultimate small town city of professional sports, and even after his retirement, his phone number and home address were always published in the citys telephone book and he would answer his phone personally. 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 could throw the ball. I was always scared to death of him. Raised by two older brothers, Nitschke praised Proviso coach Andy Puplis and other high school coaches for keeping him on the right track. I came out of the locker room and my wife is standing there, and this older gentleman has his arm around her. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Ray Nitschke (Raymond Edward Nitschke) was born on 29 December, 1936 in Elmwood Park, Illinois, USA, is an Actor. 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 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,. The Nitschke Luncheon is like a family reunion and for many Hall of Famers ranks as the favorite part of induction weekend. Don Pierson and Tribune Pro Football Writer. Ray Nitschke was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. He hit you with every ounce of his body. It was his passion for the game, and the way he could flip a switch once he walked over the painted sideline. With a choice acquired from New Orleans, the Packers drafted linebacker Fred Carr No. The Associated Press contributed to this story. For years after his induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978, the NFL. Ray Nitschke Enshrinement Speech 1978. 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. "But I have the utmost respect for Ray Nitschke of all the players I ever played against," Ditka later said. He gave it all to you. 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. Then what year did the World Football League come in? 42 on the NFL 100 list. Although Nitschke was known for his hard hitting, he was an athletic all-around linebacker who also intercepted 25 passes over his career. All wear gold jackets, the lone standard for greatness. If you thought Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was tough, you should get to know his wife Jackie. He wasnt the biggest or the strongest or the smartest, Robinson said. I used to be a bouncer in a bar and so I knew you can't let a guy up. Supplement 1, pp. We're going to pay you a $15,000 signing bonus and a $15,000 salary your rookie year. He was 61. We became best friends after that. Nitschkes legacy stretched far beyond the football field. Besides Klaas, Nitschke is survived by two sons, John and Richard. Ray Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois. 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. Biography. Encyclopdia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them. In a poll conducted in conjunction with the NFLs 50th anniversary, Nitschke was voted the all-time best linebacker. 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. Birthplace: Elmwood Park, IL Location of death: Venice, FL Cause of death: Heart Failure Remains: Cre. He intercepted 25 passes and ran two of them back for touchdowns, and also recovered 20 fumbles. (Nitschke) would test guys. That's how we became connected. After three seasons of part-time duty in the middle, Nitschke took over full-time in 1961 on Lombardis first Packer championship team. The Nitschke Luncheon is a solemn initiation for the new inductees, who are not allowed to speak. In Super Bowl I, Nitschke contributed six tackles and a sack. During his freshman year at Proviso, he played fullback on one of the school's three football teams. When a certain message needs to be delivered, Lanier knows who to call upon. 66 was retired in 1983, the fourth of six numbers retired by the Packers. [27] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. The Packers had so much talent that there were not always enough honors to go around. He was a playmaker, recording 25 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries over his 15 seasons. 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. He was a natural-born leader, Hall of Fame right tackle Ron Yary said. "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 . No one ever instilled fear in their opponents quite as Nitschke did. 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. premiered in Green Bay this week. Ray and Jackie had a winter home in Naples, Florida. Lionel Aldridge, a defensive end, died Feb. 12 at age 57. I said, 'I get it. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. I know I hit him hard and he hit me hard, and I think that's where it should be left.". ", On practicing against future Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle Henry Jordan upon arrival in training camp as a rookie following the College All-Star Game: "He could move and he had a good head slap. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. The gravitas is unmistakable. He recorded the only pass reception of his career, a 34-yard gain after a blocked Packer field goal attempt, and they won 3020 to finish at 104, their best regular season record since 1966. He loved it. He touched everyone he met with his kindness and generosity. He once scored four times in a game against Iowa State, all on long runs. Keep updated on the latest news and information. Many never knew who this man, one of the greatest NFL players of all time, was. Lee Remmel, the Packers public relations director and a former beat writer for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, recalled how well Nitschke treated fans. (pre-1974). Bengtson, after Lombardi left, said you and Freddie can't be roommates anymore. 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. [27] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. Biography in: "American National Biography". Everybody loved (Lombardi). This must be the 1st quarter because Ray Nitschke barely has any blood on him yet. 66 was the fourth number retired in the franchises rich history. Nitschke leaves three adopted children: John, 34; Richard, 32; and Amy, 26, and one granddaughter, Jacqueline Rae, 17 months. Were all equal, going in with 80 percent of the vote. We leave the huddle and Gale says, 'Watch out.' CTE. Lombardi gave partial credit for Nitschke's success to Nitschke's wife, whose calming influence helped Ray focus on his career. He could play quarterback if he had to. So I go through and sure enough, Ray goes bam across my forehead. , money, salary, income, and assets. Sign up now! Just a few of the recognitions Ray had, he was voted the . * 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. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. He almost always went after Bob Hyland. On July 2, 1973 he told me and Fortin, that a metal tower on the Packers practice field fell over on top of him. Dad suddenly started having chest pains, Klaas said. Ive been trying to get to the Emerald City, and the Emerald City was right in that room. 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. A fullback and linebacker at the University of Illinois, Nitschke was a member of the NFL's 75th anniversary all-time team. He didn't always follow the defense. One year, those you see will no longer be there, and one year, neither will you. * 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. A substantial aspect of Nitschkes legacy forever will be respecting the Hall of Fames legacy. He was the one player who most represented legendary coach Vince Lombardis toughness. 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.. After Nitschkes death, iconic defensive end Deacon Jones took over as master of ceremonies. According to Nitschke's biography, a spike was driven into his helmet, but did not injure him. "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 had been the Buffalo News' enterprise reporter and previously covered the AFC East at ESPN and the Miami Dolphins at the Palm Beach Post. Ray Nitschke won two Super Bowl championships. Nitschke was selected in 1964. Lanier took over when Jones died in 2013. Every ounce of his body hard, and one year, neither will you talent! 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