I'm thinking I'm not going to get what we called, 'punked,' like Hyland did every Friday. On defense, Nitschke played linebacker. Lombardi gave partial credit to Nitschke's success to Ray's wife, whose calming influence helped him focus on his career. 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. 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. Other surviving children include his sons John and Richard. 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. "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. Do I need to get an agent?' Hed be the first to tell you not to put him on a pedestal above all the other linebackers, Robinson said. 1 pick Fred Carr: "We roomed together as rookies. He wasnt the biggest or the strongest or the smartest, Robinson said. He took time for anybody.. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? None. Jackie was a recovering alcoholic and an outspoken advocate in the recovery community, sharing her stories of treatment and rebuilding her life. What position did Ray Nitschke play? When I came back to the car, he had had a heart attack. 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. ProFootballHistory.com. Nitschke was the leader and captain of the Packers defense throughout the entire 1960s. Nitschke was selected in 1964. https://www.britannica.com/facts/Ray-Nitschke, 66 (Green Bay Packers, 19591972) 33 (Green Bay Packers, 1958). I think he tried to see how tough you were and if you were going to fight back. His father died when he was three and his mother when he was thirteen and he was raised by an older brother. Welcome tothe NFL 100,The Athleticsendeavor to identify the 100 best players in football history. Also learn how He earned most of Ray Nitschke networth? It was his passion for the game, and the way he could flip a switch once he walked over the painted sideline. 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. The Nitschke Luncheon is a solemn initiation for the new inductees, who are not allowed to speak. It wasnt just the All-Pro honors or the five championships that made Nitschke great. This must be the 1st quarter because Ray Nitschke barely has any blood on him yet. But usually by the time we got done with the preseason, I'd be down to 250, 255. But Nitschke wasnt just an incredible player and a fiery leader. He was adopted by an older brother, and grew up as a self-acknowledged bully. 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. Ray Nitschke Enshrinement Speech 1978. This is the first of two parts with Bill Lueck. [29] The only other Lombardi-era player to have his number retired is quarterback Bart Starr, whose number 15 was retired in 1973. Fred made very few mistakes. 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]. Watch the trailer for the documentary below: For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. Maybe it was the missing teeth or the oversized facemask, but no NFL player wanted to meet No. 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. ", 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. All the wives. Lueck, 74, lives in suburban Phoenix. The Hall of Famers want to say whatever is on their minds. He is from USA. 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. He was a natural-born leader, Hall of Fame right tackle Ron Yary said. Heres a guy, after all these years, in an exhibition game. He would lament this embarrassment for the rest of his life.[7]. [1] Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978, he was the anchor of the defense for head coach Vince Lombardi in the 1960s, leading the Packers to five NFL championships and victories in the first two Super Bowls. The linebacker went on to play all 15 of his professional seasons in Green Bay. The Packers won the first two Super Bowls in NFL history thanks in large part to Nitschke. He gets dressed. (pre-1974). I was on one-year contracts and I was making like $25,500 and had started every game in Green Bay except my rookie year. She pushed back her student's hijab. I thought so (in 1971) even when I sat on the bench after coach Dan Devine gave Jim Carter my job. So I go through and sure enough, Ray goes bam across my forehead. The St. Louis Browns offered him a baseball contract, but he wanted to play Big Ten football. [22][23][24][25][26] With his bald head, horn-rimmed glasses and impeccable attire, he could have passed for a business executive or a college professor. A lot of times we had to guide him into the huddle. ", On how his friendship with fellow guard Gale Gillingham got started: "Weightlifting. Lanier compared his role of navigating the room to directing a theater production. Green Bay Packer, Hall of Famer. Jim Miller, son and nephew of the managers, tells stories from behind the scenes, Or he might have been one of Lombardi's mainstays, Fr. 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. In the game, Nitschke recovered two fumbles and deflected a pass that was intercepted. A new documentary tells the story of the wife of a former football player for the Green Bay Packers and her struggle with alcohol. He thought of it as an honor for somebody to ask him for an autograph. AKA Raymond Ernest Nitschke. Ray Nitschkes income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. He was probably remembering another Coach Lombardi quote: There is no room for second place. (Complete Story). He appeared in the comic film Head, starring The Monkees, as a footballer who repeatedly tackles Peter Tork in a mock war movie sequence. For years after his induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978, the NFL. In a poll conducted in conjunction with the NFLs 50th anniversary, Nitschke was voted the all-time best linebacker. Nitschke was known for his viciousness on the field, a ferocity that welled within him from childhood. He died in Venice, Fla., near his winter home in Naples. While at Illinois, Nitschke smoked, drank heavily, and fought at the drop of a hat. 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 . The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. ", 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. Gale said, 'Bill, it's coming up on your turn. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Every day until the season begins, well unveil new members of the list, with the No. 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. Presenter: Phil Bengston. 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. A native of Elmwood Park, Nitschke lived in Green Bay, where he played middle linebacker from 1958-72 and became one of sport's few legends instantly identified solely by their last names. He played on the 1953 state baseball championship team and set basketball scoring records. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital later that day. 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. New inductees are encouraged to return every year to help maintain the Hall of Fames legacy. ", Comparing Bratkowski to Starr: "Zeke had the arm. "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. 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. Ray Nitschke. Although Nitschke was known for his hard hitting, he was an athletic all-around linebacker who also intercepted 25 passes over his career. It felt like I was in the Wizard of Oz or something, Reed said afterward. ", On his relationship with fellow No. He always tried to intimidate offensive guys. The Packers won 167 and finished the season with a 141 record. Of ballcarriers, he said: "I don't intend that he'll make an inch, let alone a touchdown, and then I want him to go back to the huddle shaking his head and thinking about Ray Nitschke. Their success rate is like 78 percent.. www.jackienitschkecenter.com. Ray wanted everybody to know were all equal. The personification of gruff and tough, the bald-headed Nitschke's voice and manner remained intimidating 25 years after he left the field. But he had a sense about him. We stopped at a service station and I went in for water and a soft drink. Nitschke grew up in Maywood, Ill., lost his father at age 3 and his mother when he was 13. Pro Football Hall of Fame (inducted 1978) 5 NFL championships 2 Super Bowl championships 2 All-Pro selections 1 Pro Bowl selection. I just want to get along.' After Nitschkes death, iconic defensive end Deacon Jones took over as master of ceremonies. Not only is Ray Nitschke one of the best LBs in NFL history, he had an act at making something out of nothing. "In the heat of competing against each other, things like that happen. 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.. Lee Remmel, the Packers public relations director and a former beat writer for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, recalled how well Nitschke treated fans. 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. 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 could play quarterback if he had to. On March 8, Nitschke took a drive with his daughter, Amy Klaas, and her one-year-old daughter to a friend's house. In a poll taken recently to pick the Packers greatest player ever, he placed fourth behind Don Hutson, Brett Favre and Bart Starr. 66 dash onto the field. There is only one place in my game and that is first place. Heres some tidbits about him that a lot of people dont know: * As a young teenager, he was orphaned. Nitschke's wife, Jackie, died of cancer in 1996. 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. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. He was famous for being a Football Player. Champion:The Legacy of Jackie Nitschke,premiered in Green Bay this week. ", On what happened next: "(I'm a) mezzanine rookie, and I had seen (Nitschke) take his frustration out every Friday on Hyland. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 1972. pic.twitter.com/wy2S8g98pb, Packers Legend Jerry Kramer Worried for His Country When the Cowboys Were Named Americas Team. 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. 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. The University of Illinois converted him to fullback and linebacker. A man at the station helped get him out of the car and started CPR.. He was the MVP of the 1962 NFL Championship Game, accepting the prize of a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette. Never a good student in high school, his grades suffered at college. 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. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first "Packer Wife" to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. Nitschke was known for his strength and toughness, exhibited prior to his third season in 1960. Also, the team has named one of its two outdoor practice fields "Ray Nitschke Field". What college did Ray Nitschke attend? The late Jackie Nitschke was married to Lombardi-era Packer Ray Nitschke. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. So it was a volatile relationship.. That's how I got big. Ray Nitschke's income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. It's supposed to be like a walk-through. Ray Nitschke. Lanier took over when Jones died in 2013. A quarterback at Proviso High School, Nitschke cried when Illinois coach Ray Eliot moved him to fullback. His wife is Jackie Forchette (26 June1961 - 1996)( her death)( 3 children). 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. He was MVP of the 1962 title game. He was a beloved member of the Packers organization throughout his career and into retirement. Nitschke was born Dec. 29, 1936, in Elmwood Park. ", On Ray Wietecha, his first line coach: "I thought he was a very good coach. His humility and appreciation for having had the opportunity to play the NFL will always stick in my mind.. Ray Nitschke was born on the 29th of December, 1936. Ray Nitschke played linebacker. 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. [2][3], Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois,[4] the youngest of three sons to Robert and Anna Nitschke. Nitschke will be buried in Green Bay. Ray Nitschke attended the University of Illinois. His wife died shortly thereafter. When Ray met and married his wife, Jackie, he made an outstanding decision. 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 . That was when I got Gale. [18] Nitschke returned for a 16th training camp in 1973, then retired in late August.[19][20][21][14]. 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 was like the epitome of what a football player should be, Klaas told the Associated Press after her fathers death. The NFL legend was twice named a First-Team All-Pro, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. I walk up to the car and he says, 'Bill, I want to apologize. As his wife was dying of cancer he had become a member of a Christian Church in Green Bay. Ray Nitschke won two Super Bowl championships. When you die, youre still in the Hall of Fame.. All wear gold jackets, the lone standard for greatness. The Jackie Nitschke Center is named in honor of Jackie Nitschke, wife of former Packers great Ray Nitschke. My wife and I got in an argument this morning before I left home. 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 frequent golfer in retirement, and he loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. Follow Tim on Twitter @ByTimGraham, Nitschke recorded 25 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries over his 15 seasons. "But I have the utmost respect for Ray Nitschke of all the players I ever played against," Ditka later said. (George) Halas didn't draft me, so I was always ready to go against the Bears," Nitschke often said. "Champion" tells the story of howJackie Nitschke became the first "Packer Wife" to openly acknowledge her alcoholism. 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. He was the one player who most represented legendary coach Vince Lombardis toughness. I want him to remember Ray Nitschke, even in his dreams.". He gave it all to you. Discover Ray Nitschke's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. You cant have a conversation about the greatest NFL linebackers of all time without Ray Nitschke. Jackie Nitschke's influence transformed this football madman into a loving husband and father of three adopted children. [10], In his junior year in 1956 Nitschke lost his four front teeth on the opening kick-off against Ohio State. Nowadays, NFL players swap teams seemingly as often as they get new haircuts. In that room full of alpha males is where Nitschke stood up and explained what it means to join footballs greatest team. 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