"I loved playing the Bears. He gets dressed. Bengtson, after Lombardi left, said you and Freddie can't be roommates anymore. (Nitschke) would test guys. Everybody loved (Lombardi). On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. He was probably remembering another Coach Lombardi quote: There is no room for second place. That was a statement about how much he loved the game.. Nitschke also appeared in the 1974 football comedy The Longest Yard as Guard Bogdanski. Nitschke, his wife and family would come back to Frankfort every summer for a number of years and a few weeks before he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio in 1978 he sent me a personal invitation to join him for the ceremonies. His humility and appreciation for having had the opportunity to play the NFL will always stick in my mind.. 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? I look out and see he's gone. 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. 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. 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. 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. We leave the huddle and Gale says, 'Watch out.' In 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. Were all equal, going in with 80 percent of the vote. A lot of times we had to guide him into the huddle. The late Jackie Nitschke was married to Lombardi-era Packer Ray Nitschke. 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. That becomes a most profound reality. His wife, Jackie, died of cancer in 1996. (Complete Story). 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. [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). [27] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. Nitschke wore number 33 in 1958 and 66 the rest of his career with the Packers. Tim Graham is a senior writer for The Athletic, covering Buffalo sports. Lueck, who played at the University of Arizona, was chosen No. 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. He appeared in the comic film Head, starring The Monkees, as a footballer who repeatedly tackles Peter Tork in a mock war movie sequence. 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. On being drafted by the Packers: "I was a No. ", On who was better at eluding the pass rush: "Probably Zeke. But he was a Hall of Famer from the tip of his toes to the top of his head. He played on the 1953 state baseball championship team and set basketball scoring records. Lanier took over when Jones died in 2013. On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. * In high school, he played quarterback and at the University of Illinois actually played fullback, along with the linebacker position. Of all the heroes that the Packers had in their glory years under Coach Vince Lombardi, which included five NFL championships and victories in Super Bowls I and II, Nitschke was probably the most popular. He played varsity basketball and was a pitcher and left fielder for the varsity baseball team. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. On July 2, 1973 he told me and Fortin, that a metal tower on the Packers practice field fell over on top of him. (Focus on Sport / Getty Images). ", On his relationship with fellow No. With a choice acquired from New Orleans, the Packers drafted linebacker Fred Carr No. Presenter: Phil Bengston. "But I have the utmost respect for Ray Nitschke of all the players I ever played against," Ditka later said. I would journey with him and longtime TV 7 & 4 news and weatherman Dave Fortin to the Elberta beach to watch the hang gliders fly off the bluffs. He had been the Buffalo News' enterprise reporter and previously covered the AFC East at ESPN and the Miami Dolphins at the Palm Beach Post. Coming up the middle or filling a hole on a running play, I thought Nitschke was better than Butkus. Keep updated on the latest news and information. He played the rest of the game.[11]. They couldn't live with each other and they couldn't live without each other, said Rivett. Besides Klaas, Nitschke is survived by two sons, John and Richard. premiered in Green Bay this week. I hit him about three times. So, how much is Ray Nitschke worth at the age of 62 years old? 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. Nitschke had a remarkable knack of being where the football was. He had some of the best football instincts. Zeke Bratkowski same thing. The linebacker went on to play all 15 of his professional seasons in Green Bay. 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. 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. ", 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. ", 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. Supplement 1, pp. (George) Halas didn't draft me, so I was always ready to go against the Bears," Nitschke often said. Fred made very few mistakes. A new documentary tells the story of the wife of a former football player for the Green Bay Packers and her struggle with alcohol. Ray Nitschke Enshrinement speech. He said, 'Bill, you don't know the AFL and NFL have merged? 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. Nitschke wasnt merely a hitter. Guess what? With some of the brightest minds in the sport weighing in, Ray Nitschke was ranked No. Hell, even Tom Brady moved on from the New England Patriot after 20 historic years. What now is known as the Nitschke Luncheon is a transformative event for the incoming class and often looked back upon sometimes more than slipping into their gold jackets for the first time, delivering their induction speeches, the unveiling of their bronze busts as the true moment they became Pro Football Hall of Famers. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 1972. The guy (Nitschke) was a talented basketball player. 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. But I didn't think he was as good as Nitschke. He laid down the law to all the new inductees of what was acceptable and unacceptable, and everybody followed what Ray said.. 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. The Ray Nitschke Memorial Bridge, a twin-leaf bascule bridge over the Fox River on Main Street (US 141) in Green Bay,[32] was named in honor of Nitschke. Nitschke appeared on the television show, Whats My Line following the 1962 NFL championship game, wearing his standard black rimmed glasses and not looking at all like one of the most feared players in pro football. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Nitschke started to feel sharp chest pains during the drive, and he pulled over to a nearby rest stop. Related Quizzes and Features Quiz Great Moments in Sports Quiz Sports Quiz "In the heat of competing against each other, things like that happen. ", On playing against Dick Butkus vs. practicing against Nitschke: "Butkus was tough. You cant go any higher.. I got the $15,000 signing bonus and they paid us every two weeks and I got seven paychecks. The NFL legend was twice named a First-Team All-Pro, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. 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. During his freshman year at Proviso, he played fullback on one of the school's three football teams. Although Nitschke was known for his hard hitting, he was an athletic all-around linebacker who also intercepted 25 passes over his career. 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. In 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. He starred on the varsity football team, playing quarterback on offense and safety on defense for coach Andy Puplis. Ray Nitschke won two Super Bowl championships. 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. www.jackienitschkecenter.com. ", On Phil Bengtson as head coach: "I had no issues with him. The personification of gruff and tough, the bald-headed Nitschke's voice and manner remained intimidating 25 years after he left the field. Try a week on us. 5 overall. He knows which Hall of Famers speak with fire, which are circumspect. His tragic death in 1998 shook the organization to its core. 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. His part was of the tough prison guard named Bogdanski. 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. His character is listed in the credits as "Private One" because his jersey is emblazoned with the number "1". . View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. There was a time when the Hall of Fame allowed NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, family members or the occasional reporter into the Nitschke Luncheon. New inductees are encouraged to return every year to help maintain the Hall of Fames legacy. Hit him on the head. Raymond Ernest Nitschke was a middle linebacker that spent his entire 15-year career with the Green Bay Packers. Ray Wietecha was still the line coach and he had seen (Nitschke) do that to Hyland so he didn't pull me off. [8] Nitschke was also offered scholarships from college football programs around the country. In the game, Nitschke recovered two fumbles and deflected a pass that was intercepted. The Nitschke Luncheon is a solemn initiation for the new inductees, who are not allowed to speak. Nitschke made only one Pro Bowl team because Detroit Lions middle linebacker Joe Schmidt was a perennial selection from 1954 to 1963. 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'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. You don't need an agent. Grabo (Jim Grabowski) got $450,000. So, how much is Ray Nitschke worth at the age of 62 years old? Ray Nitschke. Every day until the season begins, well unveil new members of the list, with the No. Well guess what? 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. The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. Ray played in the 230s, but he hit like he was 300 pounds. ", Without that attitude, Nitschke said, he couldn't get his job done. We laughed about that comment. Lionel Aldridge, a defensive end, died Feb. 12 at age 57. Then what year did the World Football League come in? That was Ray Nitschke, Hall of Fame linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, who died Sunday of a massive heart attack in Venice, Fla. Nitschke, 61, was stricken while driving with his daughter, Amy Klaas, and granddaughter, Jacqueline, from his summer home in Naples, Fla. to visit friends. [10], In his junior year in 1956 Nitschke lost his four front teeth on the opening kick-off against Ohio State. Zeke was really good and he's sitting on the bench. Nitschke is considered one of the toughest NFL players to ever live. 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. Other surviving children include his sons John and Richard. 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. But, let me tell you, off the field, Ray Nitschke, who was selected as a linebacker on both the 50th and 75th anniversary all-time National Football League teams was a pussycat. 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. Who Is Ray Nitschke's Wife? Ray Nitschke spent two decades informing new Pro Football Hall of Famers none was bigger than the rest. His bad grades and temper couldnt derail such a phenomenal athlete. [2], His No. A substantial aspect of Nitschkes legacy forever will be respecting the Hall of Fames legacy. 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. If you thought Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was tough, you should get to know his wife Jackie. Sure. Older brothers Robert Jr. (age 21) and Richard (age 17) decided they would raise Ray on their own. He was 61. 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). 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. She's bossing me around.' ?? I thought so (in 1971) even when I sat on the bench after coach Dan Devine gave Jim Carter my job. 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. [22][23][24][25][26] A month after the 1958 season ended, Vince Lombardi was hired as head coach. Ray Nitschke most personified what the Hall of Fame really meant, Robinson said. I just want to get along.' Ray Nitschke's net worth 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.. We played basketball together. ", On other members of a defensive unit coming off a third straight NFL championship: "I'll tell you the guy who did the most damage to the head was Ray Nitschke. Nitschke had an unusual pregame routine on Sundays. Maybe it was the missing teeth or the oversized facemask, but no NFL player wanted to meet No. Lueck, 74, lives in suburban Phoenix. In her lifetime, Jackie was a recovering alcoholic and an outspoken advocate in the recovery community, sharing her stories of treatment and rebuilding her life. 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 loved it. In a poll that marked the leagues 75th year, he was voted to the all-time all-star team. Nitschkes legacy stretched far beyond the football field. He intercepted 25 passes and ran two of them back for touchdowns, and also recovered 20 fumbles. The Green Bay Packers legend played 15 seasons in the green and yellow and led the team to five NFL championships. It all went for naught, as panelist Bennett Cerf, who had attended the game, guessed his identity immediately. When he came into the game, he was in charge. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. "I can remember Nitschke breaking his arm, busting his knee up and playing a whole half without even saying anything," Wood said. Yary witnessed the fury before he entered the NFL in 1968 with the Minnesota Vikings as the first draft choice. 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. 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. 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. He was a frequent golfer in retirement, and he loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. I know your brother is with the Calgary Stampeders.' "Ray was a ballplayer's ballplayer," former teammate Willie Wood said. 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. 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. While at Illinois, Nitschke smoked, drank heavily, and fought at the drop of a hat. Nitschke remained popular in Green Bay after retiring, even having his phone number and home address published in the Green Bay phone book. It wasnt just the All-Pro honors or the five championships that made Nitschke great. Lombardi gave partial credit for Nitschke's success to Nitschke's wife, whose calming influence helped Ray focus on his career. He thought that was a privilege. Was it a mistake or an act of hate? Someones got to be the leader and step forward, and that was a great quality he had. 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