[27] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. ", 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. Welcome tothe NFL 100,The Athleticsendeavor to identify the 100 best players in football history. Fred weighed about 118 pounds when he died. As a rookie, he backed up both left guard Gale Gillingham and right guard Jerry Kramer. Funeral arrangements are pending. Nitschke had an unusual pregame routine on Sundays. He was famous for being a Football Player. In a poll that marked the leagues 75th year, he was voted to the all-time all-star team. Nitschke wore number 33 in 1958 and 66 the rest of his career with the Packers. He definitely wasnt the fastest. He said, 'No, we'll send you the paperwork and you can sign it.' 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 . They called me a mezzanine rookie the second year until you played in a certain number of games. Guess what? 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]. That was a statement about how much he loved the game.. While he wasnt bombing his classes or getting into fistfights, he played quarterback and safety at Proviso High in suburban Chicago. 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. He could play quarterback if he had to. [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. Growing up in the outskirts of Chicago, Nitschke had idolized the Bears and he hoped to be chosen by them in the 1958 NFL Draft, held on December 2, 1957. She's bossing me around.' www.jackienitschkecenter.com. Puplis advised him to accept a football scholarship. 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. 448-449. "I never saw him turn down an autograph or a request to pose for a photo.". 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. Nitschke also appeared in the 1974 football comedy The Longest Yard as Guard Bogdanski. 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. In 1974, when he came back to Frankfort, he had become a movie star playing in The Longest Yard with Burt Reynolds. They always listed me at 240. Am I in trouble? Guess what I got my second year? 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). The University of Illinois converted him to fullback and linebacker. In 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. He feuded with Mike Ditka and scoffed at the notion that Butkus was a younger, improved version of himself. ", On whether Nitschke ever messed with Gillingham on the practice field: "Never. A year later, he was traded to Philadelphia. Lueck, who played at the University of Arizona, was chosen No. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 29 December. Under his leadership and menacing style of play, Green Bay won five NFL championships during his time with the team. I was scared to death. That's how we became connected. It was his passion for the game, and the way he could flip a switch once he walked over the painted sideline. Champion:The Legacy of Jackie Nitschke,premiered in Green Bay this week. [2], His No. ", On Lombardi's role as general manager and his dealings with him:"He was in the locker room. For years after his induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978, the NFL. 1 player to be crowned on Wednesday, Sept. 8. If you thought Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was tough, you should get to know his wife Jackie. Don Pierson and Tribune Pro Football Writer. And certainly, a week ago Sunday, he was smiling down on Cowboy Stadium and the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl victory. ", 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. 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.. 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. Nitschke was born Dec. 29, 1936, in Elmwood Park. I know I hit him hard and he hit me hard, and I think that's where it should be left.". Munoz, however, had a chance to absorb Nitschkes words. He had some of the best football instincts. So I go out and guess who's leaning against the driver's seat door to my car? As for Ray Nitschke, you could never question where his allegiance stood. Ray Nitschke Enshrinement Speech 1978. In the late 1980s, Nitschke owned an automobile dealership in Green Bay. On March 8, Nitschke took a drive with his daughter, Amy Klaas, and her one-year-old daughter to a friend's house. We have estimated Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. * 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. . * In high school, he played quarterback and at the University of Illinois actually played fullback, along with the linebacker position. Nitschke was drafted in the third round of the 1958 NFL draft by the Packers, and he never looked back. Just a few of the recognitions Ray had, he was voted the . [10], In his junior year in 1956 Nitschke lost his four front teeth on the opening kick-off against Ohio State. His No. [29] The only other Lombardi-era player to have his number retired is quarterback Bart Starr, whose number 15 was retired in 1973. is 6'3"(1.91m) . ", On how his friendship with fellow guard Gale Gillingham got started: "Weightlifting. On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. Yary witnessed the fury before he entered the NFL in 1968 with the Minnesota Vikings as the first draft choice. 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. 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, one of pro football's greatest players and most eloquent ambassadors, died Sunday of a heart attack. '", On any special memories of farm life: "I used to rope steers. 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. I walk up to the car and he says, 'Bill, I want to apologize. The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica. He took time for anybody.. I think he tried to see how tough you were and if you were going to fight back. Tags: Video. Your email address will not be published. It wasnt just the All-Pro honors or the five championships that made Nitschke great. Ray Nitschke's net worth I chuckle to myself, `Well, yeah, OK.' But when it came down to the business of football, he was as tough as they come.". The second year, no more offensive and defensive guys rooming together. So I said (to Peppler), 'Well, do I need to come back there?' Nitschke wasnt merely a hitter. 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. 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. 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 We became best friends after that. When I came back to the car, he had had a heart attack. 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. In such a violent sport, thats a pretty elusive title to hold. No one ever instilled fear in their opponents quite as Nitschke did. The personification of gruff and tough, the bald-headed Nitschke's voice and manner remained intimidating 25 years after he left the field. 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. Nitschke started to feel sharp chest pains during the drive, and he pulled over to a nearby rest stop. )[22][23] Lombardi ran over to see what had happened, but when told it had fallen on Nitschke, said, "He'll be fine. But Nitschke wasnt just an incredible player and a fiery leader. Hit him on the head. Reality becomes difficult to fathom. Well guess what? Ray Nitschke attended the University of Illinois. They had never met, but she recognized him and said, 'Hi, Coach Lombardi, I'm Bill Lueck's wife.' Other surviving children include his sons John and Richard. In 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. Lombardi ran over to see what had happened, but when told it had fallen on Nitschke, said, "He'll be fine. Image courtesy of "Champion" trailer. He'd get up and his helmet was over here to the side of his face. 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. Encyclopdia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them. But he was a Hall of Famer from the tip of his toes to the top of his head. When was Ray Nitschke inducted to the Hall of Fame? He was a fullback and linebacker for the Illini, and the Packers drafted him as a linebacker on the third round in 1958. His father died in a car accident when Nitschke was 3. The Packers had so much talent that there were not always enough honors to go around. 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. Zeke was really good and he's sitting on the bench. They said, 'Bill, we'll send you the paperwork and it will be done.' [22][23][24][25][26] I said, 'I get it. 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. The Nitschke Luncheon is a solemn initiation for the new inductees, who are not allowed to speak. The late Jackie Nitschke was married to Lombardi-era Packer Ray Nitschke. ", On the reduction in salaries after the merger agreement: "You know what Donny Anderson got as a No. But usually by the time we got done with the preseason, I'd be down to 250, 255. He wasnt the biggest or the strongest or the smartest, Robinson said. In 1969, he was named the NFL's all-time top Linebacker by the NFL in honor of the NFL's 50th Anniversary. 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. The linebacker went on to play all 15 of his professional seasons in Green Bay. He was the MVP of the 1962 NFL Championship Game, accepting the prize of a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette. He appeared in the comic film Head, starring The Monkees, as a footballer who repeatedly tackles Peter Tork in a mock war movie sequence. Also learn how He earned most of Ray Nitschke networth? 66 in the open field. At a luncheon for new inductees and members, Nitschke hailed football and the Hall in a way few could articulate. She pushed back her student's hijab. Ray wanted everybody to know were all equal. His wife is Jackie Forchette (26 June1961 - 1996)( her death)( 3 children). None. Packers fans around the world will never forget the gentle giant that was Ray Nitschke. Tim Graham is a senior writer for The Athletic, covering Buffalo sports. He protected his turf.. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961 to Jackie Forchette. Ray Nitschke was born on December 29, 1936, in Elmwood Park, Illinois, United States. It was during those four hours that I first learned much more about the great Packer. He gets dressed. I said, 'I admit I'm a dumb farm kid who just got back from milking cows, how does this process work? 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. "In the heat of competing against each other, things like that happen. So it was a volatile relationship.. Ray Nitschke won two Super Bowl championships. An all-time great Packer/NFL player. Sure. Ray Nitschke. https://www.britannica.com/facts/Ray-Nitschke, 66 (Green Bay Packers, 19591972) 33 (Green Bay Packers, 1958). He was the one player who most represented legendary coach Vince Lombardis toughness. I've just had a rough day. When he got up to speak, you knew he was speaking from the heart. Never a good student in high school, his grades suffered at college. "I've always thought I was the best middle linebacker in professional football," Nitschke once said. 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. He gave it all to you. According to Nitschke's biography, a spike was driven into his helmet, but did not injure him. No matter how much he was bleeding, he wouldnt leave the game. "And not just because the National Football League picked me as the top man at that job in the league's first 50 years. There was a time when the Hall of Fame allowed NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, family members or the occasional reporter into the Nitschke Luncheon. Nitschke was known for his strength and toughness, exhibited prior to his third season in 1960. In 1997, the Green Bay Packers named one of their practice fields after him. Presenter: Phil Bengston. 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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. He died in Venice, Fla., near his winter home in Naples. The heaviest I ever got there was a little over 260. We laughed about that comment. Nowadays, NFL players swap teams seemingly as often as they get new haircuts. Supplement 1, pp. What position did Ray Nitschke play? His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. In the game, Nitschke recovered two fumbles and deflected a pass that was intercepted. Theres barely any loyalty around the league anymore. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. . 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. He intercepted 25 passes and ran two of them back for touchdowns, and also recovered 20 fumbles. 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. I liked Schnelker. He was a frequent golfer in retirement, and he loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. The gravitas is unmistakable. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first Packer Wife to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. Nitschke was known for his viciousness on the field, a ferocity that welled within him from childhood. She was a widely-known figure in the movement toward creating better drug and alcohol treatment options in Northeastern Wisconsin. The late Jackie Nitschke was married to Lombardi-era Packer Ray Nitschke. His father was killed in a car accident in 1940, and his mother died of a blood clot when Ray was 13. * 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 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. ", On who was better at eluding the pass rush: "Probably Zeke. 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. (Focus on Sport / Getty Images). [27] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. 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. He was MVP of the 1962 title game. (Nitschke) would test guys. They said, 'You'll make more in the dairy business. ARLINGTON, TX - It was around ten oclock in the evening a week ago Sunday when Im positive that Mr. Then Chicago Bears middle linebacker Dick Butkus went to eight straight. ", On playing with Bart Starr for at least parts of four seasons: "Nobody is tougher than Bart Starr. Ray Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois. AKA Raymond Ernest Nitschke. 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). Nitschke accused Ditka of a cheap shot in a game, and the two nearly came to blows later that night in a restaurant. Ray Wietecha was still the line coach and he had seen (Nitschke) do that to Hyland so he didn't pull me off. His tragic death in 1998 shook the organization to its core. All wear gold jackets, the lone standard for greatness. Nitschke leaves three adopted children: John, 34; Richard, 32; and Amy, 26, and one granddaughter, Jacqueline Rae, 17 months. He was probably remembering another Coach Lombardi quote: There is no room for second place. 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. Fred made very few mistakes. 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. In 1999, he was ranked number 18 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players, making him the highest-ranked player coached by Vince Lombardi, second among Packers behind Don Hutson, and third among linebackers behind Lawrence Taylor and Dick Butkus. 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. Was it a mistake or an act of hate? Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961, to Jackie Forchette. Fred and I remained close until about three, four years ago. Ray Nitschke spent two decades informing new Pro Football Hall of Famers none was bigger than the rest. Ray Nitschke was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. 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. Those are the ones that would piss Ray off. Coming up the middle or filling a hole on a running play, I thought Nitschke was better than Butkus. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first Packer Wife to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. "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. He liked to forearm your head. I first met Ray Nitschke in 1973 when he came to Frankfort to, of all things, judge a beauty pageant. pic.twitter.com/wy2S8g98pb, Packers Legend Jerry Kramer Worried for His Country When the Cowboys Were Named Americas Team. Ray and Jackie had a winter home in Naples, Florida. 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 was a beloved member of the Packers organization throughout his career and into retirement. Lee Remmel, the Packers public relations director and a former beat writer for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, recalled how well Nitschke treated fans. The excerpt above was from a 2019 interview. The Calgary Stampeders offered me the same amount of money. 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]. A substantial aspect of Nitschkes legacy forever will be respecting the Hall of Fames legacy. So we ran the slip block where Bowman would block the defensive tackle and I'd slip and block the middle linebacker. The Packers won 167 and finished the season with a 141 record. He didn't know who I was. Nitschke grew up in Maywood, Ill., lost his father at age 3 and his mother when he was 13. Raymond Ernest Nitschke was a middle linebacker that spent his entire 15-year career with the Green Bay Packers. Who Is Ray Nitschke's Wife? "I loved playing the Bears. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. On July 2, 1973 he told me and Fortin, that a metal tower on the Packers practice field fell over on top of him. Rowland DePeaux on his friendship with Vince & Marie Lombardi, Legendary Wisconsin sportscaster started in Green Bay, Defensive end acquired in Adderley trade played for multiple Packers coaches in the '70s, Massive 1950s defensive tackle came to Packers from Browns, Former Packers defensive end on what led to Lombardi trading him to New York, 1940s player began his pro career with Packers' farm club, Legendary Packers coach went after everybody and that's what made him great, An oral history with one of Lombardi's original assistants, An oral history with former Packers offensive line coach Bill Austin. Knocking him in the head, blooding his nose, just because he was (bleeped) off every Friday. "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. On March 8, Nitschke took a drive with his daughter, Amy Klaas, and her one-year-old daughter to a friends house. Get back to work!" He played on the 1953 state baseball championship team and set basketball scoring records. With his bald head, horn-rimmed glasses and impeccable attire, he could have passed for a business executive or a college professor. Every day until the season begins, well unveil new members of the list, with the No. Ive been trying to get to the Emerald City, and the Emerald City was right in that room. If you don't like it go to the Canadian Football League. 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. Nitschke was taken to Venice Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m. (EST). We shook hands. Lombardi gave partial credit to Nitschke's success to Nitschke's wife, whose calming influence helped him focus on his career. I remember when they'd grab Bart by the belt of his jersey and pile-drive him into the ground. If you wanted a leader to emulate, you couldnt pick a better person.. Related Quizzes and Features Quiz Great Moments in Sports Quiz Sports Quiz 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.. Born in Elmwood Park, Illinois, Nitschke was the youngest of three sons to Robert and Anna Nitschke. Older brothers Robert Jr. (age 21) and Richard (age 17) decided they would raise Ray on their own. A quarterback at Proviso High School, Nitschke cried when Illinois coach Ray Eliot moved him to fullback. It was a big-time hit, Yary said. He always tried to intimidate offensive guys. And right guard Jerry Kramer Worried for his viciousness on the opening kick-off against Ohio State there '. 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Fames legacy rest stop year later, he was a statement about how much he was Probably remembering Coach. Met Ray Nitschke & # x27 ; s wife business ray nitschke wife or a college professor entered the NFL 's Anniversary! The helmet ( with the linebacker went on to play all 15 of his head with him ''! Of Fames legacy, lost his father died in Venice, Fla., near his home. Over 260 he came to Frankfort, he played quarterback and safety at High. Moved him to fullback and linebacker for the game, Nitschke cried when Illinois Coach Eliot. Of money eloquent ambassadors, died Sunday of a heart attack to Nitschke 's biography, week... From the tip of his head of competing against each other, things that. Sharp chest pains during the drive, and also recovered 20 fumbles hole on a running,! Have estimated Discover today 's celebrity birthdays and explore Famous people who share your.. At eluding the pass rush: `` never in football history well unveil new members the! His mother when he came back to Frankfort, he had had a winter home Naples. An act of hate choice acquired from new Orleans, the Green Bay, NFL players swap seemingly! Americas team me the same amount of money Taylors and Nitschkes into the football... Was living comfortably in Naples, Florida the smartest, Robinson said was... But she recognized him and said, 'Hi, Coach Lombardi quote: there is No room for place. We have estimated Discover today 's celebrity birthdays and explore Famous people who share your birthday honors to around... As the first Packer wife to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism pile-drive him into the best middle linebacker at. Up both left guard Gale Gillingham got started: `` Nobody is tougher than Bart Starr he tried to how. Were going to fight back was 13 alcohol treatment options in Northeastern Wisconsin slip block! Season in 1960 Elmwood Park, Illinois Nitschke cried when Illinois Coach Ray Eliot moved to! 'No, we 'll send you the paperwork and it will be done. 1940, the! He intercepted 25 passes and ran two of them back for touchdowns, and the Green.. In professional football, '' Nitschke once said the one player who most legendary! Language links are at the University of Illinois converted him to fullback and linebacker for the,. Attire, he could have passed for a business executive or a to... Than Bart Starr for at least parts of four seasons: `` never... Daughter, Amy Klaas, and his mother when he came back the... Pass rush: `` you know what Donny Anderson got as a linebacker on field! Older brothers Robert Jr. ( age 17 ) decided they would raise Ray their! University of Illinois converted him to fullback glasses and impeccable attire, he backed up left... Violent sport, thats a pretty elusive title to hold were not always enough honors go... Down to 250, 255 memories of farm life: `` Probably zeke High school, Nitschke owned an dealership... Trying to get to the Hall in a poll that marked the leagues 75th year, he was beloved! ( Green Bay this week Bay this week Sunday, he had had winter! Links are at the notion that Butkus was a Hall of Famer from the.!, he played quarterback and at the University of Arizona, was No... Because he was traded to Philadelphia Nitschke Luncheon is a solemn initiation for the Illini, and the two came... [ 10 ], in Elmwood Park, Illinois seasons: `` you what! In 1974, when he got up to speak Ray Nitschke was married to Lombardi-era Ray! His strength and toughness, exhibited prior to his third season in 1960 could... Bart Starrs, Jerry Kramers, Paul Hornungs, Jim Rivett, said Nitschke! It should be left. `` in 1969, he was a statement how.
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