Nitschke was born Dec. 29, 1936, in Elmwood Park. Raised by two older brothers, Nitschke praised Proviso coach Andy Puplis and other high school coaches for keeping him on the right track. They couldnt wait until they saw No. 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. They said, 'Bill, we'll send you the paperwork and it will be done.' (Ken) Bowman would put up with no crap from Ray. Packers Experiences powered by QuintEvents. ", On who was better at eluding the pass rush: "Probably Zeke. A quarterback at Proviso High School, Nitschke cried when Illinois coach Ray Eliot moved him to fullback. 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. 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. He had football smarts. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 62 years old group. Fred and I remained close until about three, four years ago. As for Ray Nitschke, you could never question where his allegiance stood. You know the first time I met Vince Lombardi, my wife met him at the College All-Star Game. 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. How many Super Bowls did Ray Nitschke win? The heaviest I ever got there was a little over 260. (He had) no personality. You cant even die from this team. We would stay at the Elberta beach until darkness. The Nitschke Luncheon is like a family reunion and for many Hall of Famers ranks as the favorite part of induction weekend. He feuded with Mike Ditka and scoffed at the notion that Butkus was a younger, improved version of himself. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, High school basketball: Southern California and Northern California Regional results and updated pairings, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame overcomes deficit to win Mission League opener, Still in UCLAs corner, Ben Howland stressed importance of getting No. Nearly killed during a 1960 practice when a 25-foot photographers' tower fell on him in a windstorm, Nitschke continued practicing after changing helmets. This is the only team you cant get cut from or traded from, Robinson said. "Ray was a ballplayer's ballplayer," former teammate Willie Wood said. Nitschke's wife, Jackie, died of cancer in 1996. Hed be the first to tell you not to put him on a pedestal above all the other linebackers, Robinson said. He loved it. Although Nitschke was known for his hard hitting, he was an athletic all-around linebacker who also intercepted 25 passes over his career. He laid down the law to all the new inductees of what was acceptable and unacceptable, and everybody followed what Ray said.. So I go out and guess who's leaning against the driver's seat door to my car? We stopped at a service station and I went in for water and a soft drink. We leave the huddle and Gale says, 'Watch out.' Nitschke was known for his strength and toughness. 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. (Focus on Sport / Getty Images). ", On playing with Bart Starr for at least parts of four seasons: "Nobody is tougher than Bart Starr. I got the $15,000 signing bonus and they paid us every two weeks and I got seven paychecks. [9] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John (in 1963), Richard (in 1966), and Amy (in 1972). Those are the ones that would piss Ray off. He once scored four times in a game against Iowa State, all on long runs. In the book, The Defenders, author Murray Olderman quoted Nitschke as saying: I took it out on all the other kids in the neighborhood.. Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round (36th overall) of the 1958 NFL draft. 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. 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. Ray wanted everybody to know were all equal. (pre-1974). Ray Nitschke played linebacker. Ray Wietecha was still the line coach and he had seen (Nitschke) do that to Hyland so he didn't pull me off. 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? Biography in: "American National Biography". On defense, Nitschke played linebacker. Hes always grabbing people, hitting people, throwing elbows.. Puplis advised him to accept a football scholarship. Said Remmel: I remember sitting in hotel lobbies when the team was on the road and watch Ray obligingly pose for photographs and sign hundreds of autographs. His baseball skills brought him an offer from the professional St. Louis Browns with a $3,000 signing bonus. Not only is Ray Nitschke one of the best LBs in NFL history, he had an act at making something out of nothing. At a luncheon for new inductees and members, Nitschke hailed football and the Hall in a way few could articulate. As a microphone is passed around the room, elders explain the magnitude of the honor. I hit him about three times. I walk up to the car and he says, 'Bill, I want to apologize. Fred was a great player. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. But Nitschke wasnt just an incredible player and a fiery leader. Jackie was a recovering alcoholic and an outspoken advocate in the recovery community, sharing her stories of treatment and rebuilding her life. The Jackie Nitschke Center is named in honor of Jackie Nitschke, wife of former Packers great Ray Nitschke. "In fact, he's as mild and as meek as they come, a sweet guy," Wood said. 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. Raymond Ernest Nitschke (December 29, 1936 March 8, 1998) was an American professional football player who spent his entire 15-year career as a middle linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) with the Green Bay Packers. A common response for the muted, new inductees is to look around the room at legends such as Jim Brown, Roger Staubach and Mean Joe Greene. He played the rest of the game.[11]. I was scared to death, but I took his helmet and, 'bang!' For years after his induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978, the NFL. [33] The bridge was constructed in 1998 to replace the former Main Street Bridge built in 1923. I've just had a rough day. "People talk about tough he was, how bad he was. He knows which Hall of Famers speak with fire, which are circumspect. Ray Nitschke attended the University of Illinois. Among all of us offensive linemen, we supported Zeke 100 percent. "And not just because the National Football League picked me as the top man at that job in the league's first 50 years. Funeral arrangements are pending. But he's still standing around, so I go in the training room again. He was famous for being a Football Player. The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica. I thought (Nitschke) was more versatile, the way he could cover and everything. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. But he was a Hall of Famer from the tip of his toes to the top of his head. Ray and Jackie had a winter home in Naples, Florida. They called me a mezzanine rookie the second year until you played in a certain number of games. [27] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. Rivett says up to 14 people can live at the Jackie Nitschke Center for a month while they get sober. He intercepted 25 passes and ran two of them back for touchdowns, and also recovered 20 fumbles. Together with his three fine youngsters the family life has meant an awful lot to his wife and his career. https://www.britannica.com/facts/Ray-Nitschke, 66 (Green Bay Packers, 19591972) 33 (Green Bay Packers, 1958). We didn't even know he was injured.". Nitschke was known for his strength and toughness, exhibited prior to his third season in 1960. They always listed me at 240. Just a few of the recognitions Ray had, he was voted the . Discover Ray Nitschke's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. That was a statement about how much he loved the game.. (Gillingham) was probably 275, 280. 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. He would lament this embarrassment for the rest of his life.[7]. 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