The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first "Packer Wife" to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. They called me a mezzanine rookie the second year until you played in a certain number of games. We would stay at the Elberta beach until darkness. But I didn't think he was as good as Nitschke. 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. Follow Tim on Twitter @ByTimGraham, Nitschke recorded 25 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries over his 15 seasons. 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. Hell, even Tom Brady moved on from the New England Patriot after 20 historic years. I just want to get along.' Lombardi molded the Bart Starrs, Jerry Kramers, Paul Hornungs, Jim Taylors and Nitschkes into the best football teams of the 1960s. With a choice acquired from New Orleans, the Packers drafted linebacker Fred Carr No. I know I hit him hard and he hit me hard, and I think that's where it should be left.". Get back to work!" He hit you with every ounce of his body. He had football smarts. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 1 player to be crowned on Wednesday, Sept. 8. In Super Bowl I, Nitschke contributed six tackles and a sack. We played basketball together. I thought (Nitschke) was more versatile, the way he could cover and everything. That becomes a most profound reality. Nitschke was the leader and captain of the Packers defense throughout the entire 1960s. Ray Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois. The loss of both parents enraged Nitschke, and the lack of a parental disciplinarian to quell his rage caused him to engage in fights with other kids in the neighborhood. 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 . With his bald head, horn-rimmed glasses and impeccable attire, he could have passed for a business executive or a college professor. Ray wanted everybody to know were all equal. ", 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. Ray Nitschke. He also was a humanitarian, loved children and relished being an ambassador for Green Bay and the NFL. He gave it all to you. [29] The only other Lombardi-era player to have his number retired is quarterback Bart Starr, whose number 15 was retired in 1973. The Packers had so much talent that there were not always enough honors to go around. So I go through and sure enough, Ray goes bam across my forehead. Neither championships nor individual trophies weighed more. premiered in Green Bay this week. Grabo (Jim Grabowski) got $450,000. '", On any special memories of farm life: "I used to rope steers. 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. * 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. Nitschke was known for his strength and toughness, exhibited prior to his third season in 1960. On defense, Nitschke played linebacker. The Green Bay Packers legend played 15 seasons in the green and yellow and led the team to five NFL championships. Congressman Steve Largent, who ended the pregame ceremonies by flipping the coin. All the wives. But Nitschke wasnt just an incredible player and a fiery leader. Many never knew who this man, one of the greatest NFL players of all time, was. It wasnt just the All-Pro honors or the five championships that made Nitschke great. Nitschkes legacy stretched far beyond the football field. Tags: Video. Ray grew up in Chicago and had a. Hit him on the head. He appeared in the comic film Head, starring The Monkees, as a footballer who repeatedly tackles Peter Tork in a mock war movie sequence. Try a week on us. While he wasnt bombing his classes or getting into fistfights, he played quarterback and safety at Proviso High in suburban Chicago. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Nowadays, NFL players swap teams seemingly as often as they get new haircuts. Klaas walked inside to grab a few drinks, but Nitschke suffered a heart attack while sitting in the parked car. In 1974, Lueck's final season with the Packers, he was bothered by an assortment of injuries and started eight of 14 games. That was a statement about how much he loved the game.. 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. In the book, The Defenders, author Murray Olderman quoted Nitschke as saying: I took it out on all the other kids in the neighborhood.. "I've always thought I was the best middle linebacker in professional football," Nitschke once said. He once scored four times in a game against Iowa State, all on long runs. Not only is Ray Nitschke one of the best LBs in NFL history, he had an act at making something out of nothing. 66 was retired in 1983, the fourth of six numbers retired by the Packers. ", On Phil Bengtson as head coach: "I had no issues with him. That was when I got Gale. 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. Nitschke was drafted in the third round of the 1958 NFL draft by the Packers, and he never looked back. 1 draft choice and in 1968, (personnel director) Pat Peppler called me. "In the heat of competing against each other, things like that happen. He had some of the best football instincts. He'd get up and his helmet was over here to the side of his face. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961, to Jackie Forchette. During his freshman year at Proviso, he played fullback on one of the school's three football teams. And Gale told me if you let him know he can't just get away with abusing you like he does with Hyland, you'll get his respect. The University of Illinois converted him to fullback and linebacker. 66 dash onto the field. He starred on the varsity football team, playing quarterback on offense and safety on defense for coach Andy Puplis. "I never saw him turn down an autograph or a request to pose for a photo.". In a poll conducted in conjunction with the NFLs 50th anniversary, Nitschke was voted the all-time best linebacker. 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]. (Ken) Bowman would put up with no crap from Ray. It all went for naught, as panelist Bennett Cerf, who had attended the game, guessed his identity immediately. 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. In 1974, when he came back to Frankfort, he had become a movie star playing in The Longest Yard with Burt Reynolds. 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. His wife died shortly thereafter. Ray Nitschke was born on December 29, 1936, in Elmwood Park, Illinois, United States. Nitschke is considered one of the toughest NFL players to ever live. I became interested in Nitschke when after living in Wisconsin for 8 years I learned that he had become a Christian before he died. 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. 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. . The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. Munoz, however, had a chance to absorb Nitschkes words. Nitschke remained a starter through the 1970 season, but in 1971 he was benched by new coach Dan Devine and became a reserve to Jim Carter. Zeke had great feet.". Welcome tothe NFL 100,The Athleticsendeavor to identify the 100 best players in football history. Emotionally impactful is just what Nitschke would appreciate in order to hammer home as forcefully as stuffing Joe Don Looney in the backfield what it means to be a Hall of Famer. Nitschke will be buried in Green Bay. It felt like I was in the Wizard of Oz or something, Reed said afterward. Ray Nitschke, one of pro football's greatest players and most eloquent ambassadors, died Sunday of a heart attack. 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). Fred died of dementia. had a luncheon the day before its induction ceremony, attended by most of the living members and honoring the new inductees. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. Ray Nitschke was born on the 29th of December, 1936. On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. Packers Experiences powered by QuintEvents. It was a big-time hit, Yary said. Among all of us offensive linemen, we supported Zeke 100 percent. I was scared to death, but I took his helmet and, 'bang!' He was 61. His wife is Jackie Forchette (26 June1961 - 1996)( her death)( 3 children). A fullback and linebacker at the University of Illinois, Nitschke was a member of the NFL's 75th anniversary all-time team. 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. ARLINGTON, TX - It was around ten oclock in the evening a week ago Sunday when Im positive that Mr. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961 to Jackie Forchette. 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. 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. 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. On the Packers' practice field on September 1, a 1,000-pound (450kg) steel coaching tower was blown over by a strong gust of wind, on top of Nitschke. Nitschke had an unusual pregame routine on Sundays. Those guys would take some of the worst hits. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. 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. As for Ray Nitschke, you could never question where his allegiance stood. The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of I think he tried to see how tough you were and if you were going to fight back. You cant even die from this team. He was MVP of the 1962 title game. 66 was the fourth number retired in the franchises rich history. At 62 years old, Ray Nitschke height [10], In his junior year in 1956 Nitschke lost his four front teeth on the opening kick-off against Ohio State. 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. Their success rate is like 78 percent.. I wont mention any names, Robinson said, but there are some people that come in and get the gold jacket and never come back. Ray Nitschke played linebacker. Guess what? I have found his comments to be poignant for anybody.. Wood remembered Nitschke working at his image on and off the field. Ray Nitschke (Raymond Edward Nitschke) was born on 29 December, 1936 in Elmwood Park, Illinois, USA, is an Actor. ", 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. With some of the brightest minds in the sport weighing in, Ray Nitschke was ranked No. 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. Yet no one was more emotional or more sincere in his love for the game. He liked to forearm your head. "But I have the utmost respect for Ray Nitschke of all the players I ever played against," Ditka later said. 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. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 62 years old group. Ray and Jackie had a winter home in Naples, Florida. Cincinnati Bengals left tackle Anthony Munoz didnt get to hear Nitschke speak at the luncheon. Ray Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois. Older brothers Robert Jr. (age 21) and Richard (age 17) decided they would raise Ray on their own. 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. They couldn't live with each other and they couldn't live without each other, said Rivett. He taught us proper technique: pulling, how to come off the ball. 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. Also, the team has named one of its two outdoor practice fields "Ray Nitschke Field". 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.. Then what year did the World Football League come in? He could play quarterback if he had to. They always listed me at 240. Yary witnessed the fury before he entered the NFL in 1968 with the Minnesota Vikings as the first draft choice. You cant go any higher.. Funeral arrangements are pending. "Champion" tells the story of howJackie Nitschke became the first "Packer Wife" to openly acknowledge her alcoholism. She pushed back her student's hijab. * In high school, he played quarterback and at the University of Illinois actually played fullback, along with the linebacker position. Get back to work!". Theres barely any loyalty around the league anymore. Although Nitschke was known for his hard hitting, he was an athletic all-around linebacker who also intercepted 25 passes over his career. He was the one player who most represented legendary coach Vince Lombardis toughness. Rivett says up to 14 people can live at the Jackie Nitschke Center for a month while they get sober. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first Packer Wife to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. Ray Nitschke. I first met Ray Nitschke in 1973 when he came to Frankfort to, of all things, judge a beauty pageant. The men who speak try to recapture Nitschkes message. Ray and Jackie had a winter home in Naples, Florida. Presenter: Phil Bengston. Ray Nitschke was born on December 29, 1936, in Elmwood Park, Illinois, United States. Zeke Bratkowski same thing. Guess what I got my second year? 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. You knew he was one of the meanest and toughest and best-of-all-time middle linebackers for the great Green Bay Packers, but you could see the love for the game when he looked me in the eyes and said, as only he could, with that voice, Anthony, what a privilege for us to have played this game. In 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. "Ray was a ballplayer's ballplayer," former teammate Willie Wood said. I look out and see he's gone. We shook hands. ", 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. he recalled the time when his father Robert Sr. passed away due to a fatal car accident, When the two men played in the pro football ranks years later, Dallas Cowboys center Dave Manders said (via Nitschkes 2002 biography), Hall of Fame halfback Paul Hornung said (via Gruver), The Packers head coach even thought Ray might kill somebody,, No less than future Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr dubbed Nitschke a classic example of Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde, The Life And Career Of Don Majkowski (Story), The Life And Career Of Forrest Gregg (Story), The Life And Career Of Paul Hornung (Story), The Life And Career Of Bobby Dillon (Story), The Life And Career Of Don Hutson (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Matt Flynn (Story), The Life And Career Of Gilbert Brown (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of James Lofton (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Antonio Freeman (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Sterling Sharpe (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Vince Lombardi (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Donald Driver (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Max McGee (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Brett Favre (Complete Story), The Life and Career Of Johnny "Blood" McNally (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Safety Chuck Cecil (Complete Story), What Happened To Tony Mandarich? Fred made very few mistakes. Those are the ones that would piss Ray off. We have estimated Ray Nitschke was 6 ft 3 inches, 235 lb (1.90 m, 106 kg). By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. I said, 'I get it. 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. [27] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. We leave the huddle and Gale says, 'Watch out.' Yet while Nitschke himself would protest the notion, he did rise above the room. Also learn how He earned most of Ray Nitschke networth? Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round (36th overall) of the 1958 NFL draft. 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. I was always scared to death of him. Biography in: "American National Biography". Lionel Aldridge, a defensive end, died Feb. 12 at age 57. Ray Nitschke's net worth This must be the 1st quarter because Ray Nitschke barely has any blood on him yet. You know the first time I met Vince Lombardi, my wife met him at the College All-Star Game. We stopped at a service station and I went in for water and a soft drink. Then to $21,500. 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.. My second year, Gale Gillingham said, 'Bill, you're going to be the next guy who gets tested.' Nitschke also appeared in the 1974 football comedy The Longest Yard as Guard Bogdanski. Those are the ones that dont understand what this is all about.. 1 pick Fred Carr: "We roomed together as rookies. Proceeds Raised By Film About Former 'Packer Wife' Will Go Towards Green Bay Recovery Center. ", On who was better at eluding the pass rush: "Probably Zeke. The Jackie Nitschke Center is named in honor of Jackie Nitschke, wife of former Packers great Ray Nitschke. Finally, the coaches pulled me off of him and everybody was laughing. I got the $15,000 signing bonus and they paid us every two weeks and I got seven paychecks. His humility and appreciation for having had the opportunity to play the NFL will always stick in my mind.. A man at the station helped get him out of the car and started CPR.. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 1972. In 2019, USA TODAY compiled a group of 19 veteran reporters to vote on and rank the 100 greatest NFL players of all time. A native of Elmwood Park, Nitschke lived in Green Bay, where he. If you wanted a leader to emulate, you couldnt pick a better person.. Nitschkes death was the second to strike the ranks of Lombardis great Packer teams in the last month. Wife: Jackie Forchette (waitress, m. 26-Jun-1961, d. 1996, two sons, one daughter) Son: John (adopted in 1963) Son: Richard (adopted in 1966) Daughter: Amy (adopted in 1972 . Don Pierson and Tribune Pro Football Writer. 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. Ray Nitschke spent two decades informing new Pro Football Hall of Famers none was bigger than the rest. 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. Even when he was relegated to backup duty in the twilight of his 15-year career, they cheered his every move. The 23-year-old man was arraigned on Feb. 23 after being arrested for driving his 2016 Toyota Two people have been charged with possession of methamphetamine after a traffic stop in Garfield Kindergarten round-up is for all parents interested in learning more about the kindergarten program. Ray and Jackie had a winter home in Naples, Florida. Lombardi, as most ole football followers knew or are learning from a recent Broadway production, was a screamer and a drill sergeant as the Packer coach. We always wondered why Zeke wasn't with another team starting. I chuckle to myself, `Well, yeah, OK.' But when it came down to the business of football, he was as tough as they come.". Nitschke guided a Packers defense that won five NFL championships, including the first two Super Bowls. 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. Nitschke was taken to Venice Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m. (EST). [9] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John (in 1963), Richard (in 1966), and Amy (in 1972). Tim Graham is a senior writer for The Athletic, covering Buffalo sports. They said, 'You'll make more in the dairy business. On Fridays, we'd go out stocking hats and no pads. I walk up to the car and he says, 'Bill, I want to apologize. How tough was Nitschke? Then Chicago Bears middle linebacker Dick Butkus went to eight straight. , money, salary, income, and assets. MILWAUKEE (AP) _ Ray Nitschke, the bald-headed, tough-as-nails linebacker on Vince Lombardi's title teams of the 1960s, will be remembered for his off-the-field kindness as much as his dominating play, friends say. He knows which Hall of Famers speak with fire, which are circumspect. 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. 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. 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. Ray Nitschke's life was the embodiment of the power of love, the power of family, and the power of an individual to transform himself into a better person. Gale and I could both bench over 400 pounds and squat 600-plus. 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 had) no personality. He could throw the ball. 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