Ray Nitschke was born on the 29th of December, 1936. 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. Packers Experiences powered by QuintEvents. Andre Reed finally got to his first Nitschke Luncheon in 2014 after eight years of being a finalist. Lueck played in 90 games for the Packers over seven seasons. A man at the station helped get him out of the car and started CPR.. Remembering the mean, tough Packer Ray Nitschke, who loved Frankfort. Raised by two older brothers, Nitschke praised Proviso coach Andy Puplis and other high school coaches for keeping him on the right track. So I said (to Peppler), 'Well, do I need to come back there?' 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. 1 draft choice and in 1968, (personnel director) Pat Peppler called me. And whenever Nitschke met any of his admirers, he rewarded them handsomely for their loyalty. He'd play cornerback. Zeke had great feet.". His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. 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. AKA Raymond Ernest Nitschke. 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. (Gillingham) was probably 275, 280. 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. Hed be the first to tell you not to put him on a pedestal above all the other linebackers, Robinson said. No one ever instilled fear in their opponents quite as Nitschke did. [12] It included three other significant Packers of the 1960s, linebacker Dan Currie of Michigan State (3rd overall), fullback Jim Taylor of LSU (15th overall) and right guard Jerry Kramer of Idaho (39th overall). He is a member of famous Actor with the age 62 years old group. A substantial aspect of Nitschkes legacy forever will be respecting the Hall of Fames legacy. 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. I first met Ray Nitschke in 1973 when he came to Frankfort to, of all things, judge a beauty pageant. Klaas walked inside to grab a few drinks, but Nitschke suffered a heart attack while sitting in the parked car. ", On playing against Dick Butkus vs. practicing against Nitschke: "Butkus was tough. Born in Elmwood Park, Illinois, Nitschke was the youngest of three sons to Robert and Anna Nitschke. This is the only team you cant get cut from or traded from, Robinson said. Those days are over. When Ray met and married his wife, Jackie, he made an outstanding decision. Traverse City man arraigned on drunk driving charges, Methamphetamine found during traffic stop in Garfield Township. His wife died shortly thereafter. Tags: Video. He knows which Hall of Famers speak with fire, which are circumspect. Nitschke's wife, Jackie, died of cancer in 1996. ", On Phil Bengtson as head coach: "I had no issues with him. 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. He had some of the best football instincts. (George) Halas didn't draft me, so I was always ready to go against the Bears," Nitschke often said. I was scared to death. He was adopted by an older brother, and grew up as a self-acknowledged bully. Nitschkes mother died from a blood clot when he was 13. It was a big-time hit, Yary said. 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. Excerpts from those interviews will be periodically posted at www.packers.com. We're going to pay you a $15,000 signing bonus and a $15,000 salary your rookie year. Death Nitschke died of a heart attack in Venice, FL, at the age of 61 in 1998. They said, 'You'll make more in the dairy business. 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.. Heres some tidbits about him that a lot of people dont know: * As a young teenager, he was orphaned. ", On his relationship with fellow No. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 1972. 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. He was 61. (It was erroneously first reported as 5,000lb (2,270kg). Ray Nitschke won two Super Bowl championships. Munoz was elected in January 1998, six weeks before Nitschke died of a heart attack at 61. 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 field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. . I'm thinking I'm not going to get what we called, 'punked,' like Hyland did every Friday. The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. The late Jackie Nitschke was married to Lombardi-era Packer Ray Nitschke. ", 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. Other surviving children include his sons John and Richard. But Nitschke wasnt just an incredible player and a fiery leader. He went in and took his shower, and I'm still kind of looking around the door from the training room. My wife and I got in an argument this morning before I left home. He didn't know who I was. [18] Nitschke returned for a 16th training camp in 1973, then retired in late August.[19][20][21][14]. They had never met, but she recognized him and said, 'Hi, Coach Lombardi, I'm Bill Lueck's wife.' He played varsity basketball and was a pitcher and left fielder for the varsity baseball team. They couldn't live with each other and they couldn't live without each other, said Rivett. CTE. Heres a guy, after all these years, in an exhibition game. I got the $15,000 signing bonus and they paid us every two weeks and I got seven paychecks. ", 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. Nitschke will be buried in Green Bay. Their success rate is like 78 percent.. The St. Louis Browns offered him a baseball contract, but he wanted to play Big Ten football. Lombardi ran over to see what had happened, but when told it had fallen on Nitschke, said, "He'll be fine. 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. Nitschke was born Dec. 29, 1936, in Elmwood Park. At a luncheon for new inductees and members, Nitschke hailed football and the Hall in a way few could articulate. [29] The only other Lombardi-era player to have his number retired is quarterback Bart Starr, whose number 15 was retired in 1973. Yet while Nitschke himself would protest the notion, he did rise above the room. Nitschke never wore a face mask and one of the Buckeye's player's helmets hit him in the mouth knocking out two teeth initially; the other two were hanging by the roots. But he had a sense about him. It wasnt just the All-Pro honors or the five championships that made Nitschke great. The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. Image courtesy of "Champion" trailer. In the game, Nitschke recovered two fumbles and deflected a pass that was intercepted. In retirement, Nitschke became an inner voice for Hall of Famers. Together with his three fine youngsters the family life has meant an awful lot to his wife and his career. On July 2, 1973 he told me and Fortin, that a metal tower on the Packers practice field fell over on top of him. 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. 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. Guess what? It was his passion for the game, and the way he could flip a switch once he walked over the painted sideline. Ray Nitschke (Raymond Edward Nitschke) was born on 29 December, 1936 in Elmwood Park, Illinois, USA, is an Actor. He also was a humanitarian, loved children and relished being an ambassador for Green Bay and the NFL. In Super Bowl I, Nitschke contributed six tackles and a sack. His bad grades and temper couldnt derail such a phenomenal athlete. Reality becomes difficult to fathom. She's bossing me around.' 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. 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. 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.. He is from USA. He was a fullback and linebacker for the Illini, and the Packers drafted him as a linebacker on the third round in 1958. Munoz, however, had a chance to absorb Nitschkes words. Even when he was relegated to backup duty in the twilight of his 15-year career, they cheered his every move. [2], His No. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961 to Jackie Forchette. 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. As soon as he forearmed me, I got my hand under his helmet and pulled it up, and yanked his chinstrap off and I've got it in my hand. Nitschke was known for his strength and toughness, exhibited prior to his third season in 1960. Nitschke ranked ahead of Chuck Bednarik, Mike Singletary, and Roger Staubach on the list. His wife, Jackie, died of cancer in 1996. It all went for naught, as panelist Bennett Cerf, who had attended the game, guessed his identity immediately. Then to $21,500. Green Bay Packer, Hall of Famer. ", On whether Nitschke ever messed with Gillingham on the practice field: "Never. 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. 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. So then I went in and showered and never turned my back on him. None. Those guys would take some of the worst hits. (Focus on Sport / Getty Images). Every day until the season begins, well unveil new members of the list, with the No. Hit him on the head. How tough was Nitschke? 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]. In Super Bowl II, Nitschke led Green Bay's defense with nine tackles. 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.

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