On defense, Nitschke played linebacker. They called me a mezzanine rookie the second year until you played in a certain number of games. He thought of it as an honor for somebody to ask him for an autograph. Lombardi gave partial credit to Nitschke's success to Ray's wife, whose calming influence helped him focus on his career. 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. 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. Other surviving children include his sons John and Richard. A quarterback at Proviso High School, Nitschke cried when Illinois coach Ray Eliot moved him to fullback. Ray Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois. * In high school, he played quarterback and at the University of Illinois actually played fullback, along with the linebacker position. . Lueck, 74, lives in suburban Phoenix. 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. The heaviest I ever got there was a little over 260. He was 61. Ray Nitschke's net worth Thus he is the only linebacker to have made both the NFL's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. That was the first year I started making money. I thought (Nitschke) was more versatile, the way he could cover and everything. You don't need an agent. But he was a Hall of Famer from the tip of his toes to the top of his head. The Nitschke Luncheon is like a family reunion and for many Hall of Famers ranks as the favorite part of induction weekend. None. Munoz, however, had a chance to absorb Nitschkes words. 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. Try a week on us. 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. 448-449. We had one-on-one time together, his face right up in my grill, Munoz said. You know the first time I met Vince Lombardi, my wife met him at the College All-Star Game. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. ARLINGTON, TX - It was around ten oclock in the evening a week ago Sunday when Im positive that Mr. In the process, she taught our community that the disease of addiction crosses all income levels . The men who speak try to recapture Nitschkes message. (Ken) Bowman would put up with no crap from Ray. The Nitschke Luncheon is a solemn initiation for the new inductees, who are not allowed to speak. One year, those you see will no longer be there, and one year, neither will you. He is from USA. I became interested in Nitschke when after living in Wisconsin for 8 years I learned that he had become a Christian before he died. Guess what? This is the first of two parts with Bill Lueck. Ray Nitschke. Bengtson, after Lombardi left, said you and Freddie can't be roommates anymore. 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. 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. Lee Remmel, the Packers public relations director and a former beat writer for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, recalled how well Nitschke treated fans. 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. 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. Nitschke was born Dec. 29, 1936, in Elmwood Park. Zeke was really good and he's sitting on the bench. Nitschke left his savage persona on the field and occasionally on camera for The Longest Yard and Miller Lite commercials. If you thought Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was tough, you should get to know his wife Jackie. Tim Graham is a senior writer for The Athletic, covering Buffalo sports. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay and I never want to finish second again. 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. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. [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). His wife died shortly thereafter. She was a widely-known figure in the movement toward creating better drug and alcohol treatment options in Northeastern Wisconsin. "Ray was a ballplayer's ballplayer," former teammate Willie Wood said. 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. His bad grades and temper couldnt derail such a phenomenal athlete. 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. I get dressed. I know your brother is with the Calgary Stampeders.' Fred was a great player. 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. is 6'3"(1.91m) . Someones got to be the leader and step forward, and that was a great quality he had. I liked Schnelker. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 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. No one ever instilled fear in their opponents quite as Nitschke did. Lombardi gave partial credit for Nitschke's success to Nitschke's wife, whose calming influence helped Ray focus on his career. Then from 1969 to 1973, he unofficially started 67 of 70 regular-season games at left guard based on official play-by-plays (he also might have started another, but wasn't listed in the lineup) and also the 1972 NFC Divisional playoff. So we ran the slip block where Bowman would block the defensive tackle and I'd slip and block the middle linebacker. '", On any special memories of farm life: "I used to rope steers. "I think Ray Nitschke thinks we stink," Packers defensive end Sean Jones said during the 1996 title run. )[22][23] Lombardi ran over to see what had happened, but when told it had fallen on Nitschke, said, "He'll be fine. It was his passion for the game, and the way he could flip a switch once he walked over the painted sideline. 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.. In such a violent sport, thats a pretty elusive title to hold. Supplement 1, pp. ", On Ray Wietecha, his first line coach: "I thought he was a very good coach. Tags: Video. The Hall of Famers want to say whatever is on their minds. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. Fred could do anything. In 2019, USA TODAY compiled a group of 19 veteran reporters to vote on and rank the 100 greatest NFL players of all time. The Packers had so much talent that there were not always enough honors to go around. 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. 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). Ray grew up in Chicago and had a. He gave it all to you. 66 in the open field. Nitschke guided a Packers defense that won five NFL championships, including the first two Super Bowls. His wife is Jackie Forchette (26 June1961 - 1996)( her death)( 3 children). Finally, the coaches pulled me off of him and everybody was laughing. The late Jackie Nitschke was married to Lombardi-era Packer Ray Nitschke. At 62 years old, Ray Nitschke height It was during those four hours that I first learned much more about the great Packer. Ray and Jackie had a winter home in Naples, Florida. Nitschkes death was the second to strike the ranks of Lombardis great Packer teams in the last month. Fred made very few mistakes. Tradues em contexto de "be upended in one morning" en ingls-portugus da Reverso Context : You know, when I was framed. Ray played in the 230s, but he hit like he was 300 pounds. His father was killed when he was 3, and his mother died when he was 13. 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 also made the NFLs 75th and 100th anniversary rosters. 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. A new documentary tells the story of the wife of a former football player for the Green Bay Packers and her struggle with alcohol. That was a statement about how much he loved the game.. The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. I said, 'I get it. 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. Ray Nitschke spent two decades informing new Pro Football Hall of Famers none was bigger than the rest. pic.twitter.com/wy2S8g98pb, Packers Legend Jerry Kramer Worried for His Country When the Cowboys Were Named Americas Team. Ray Nitschke was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. (George) Halas didn't draft me, so I was always ready to go against the Bears," Nitschke often said. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. "I loved playing the Bears. Older brothers Robert Jr. (age 21) and Richard (age 17) decided they would raise Ray on their own. He was a natural-born leader, Hall of Fame right tackle Ron Yary said. My wife and I got in an argument this morning before I left home. * 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. [2], His No. Nitschke will be buried in Green Bay. (Gillingham) was probably 275, 280. 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. 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. I think he tried to see how tough you were and if you were going to fight back. But Nitschke wasnt just an incredible player and a fiery leader. 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.. [9] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John (in 1963), Richard (in 1966), and Amy (in 1972). had a luncheon the day before its induction ceremony, attended by most of the living members and honoring the new inductees. 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. We shook hands. 26 overall in what was the second common draft following the merger agreement between the NFL and AFL. A month after the 1958 season ended, Vince Lombardi was hired as head coach. In 1973, Mean on Sunday: The Autobiography of Ray Nitschke ("as told to Robert W. Wells") was published by Doubleday. ", On Lombardi's role as general manager and his dealings with him:"He was in the locker room. Ray Nitschke was born on the 29th of December, 1936. Ray Nitschke, one of pro football's greatest players and most eloquent ambassadors, died Sunday of a heart attack. The Green Bay Packers legend played 15 seasons in the green and yellow and led the team to five NFL championships. I got the $15,000 signing bonus and they paid us every two weeks and I got seven paychecks. 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. He taught us proper technique: pulling, how to come off the ball. Ray and Jackie had a winter home in Naples, Florida. With his bald head, horn-rimmed glasses and impeccable attire, he could have passed for a business executive or a college professor. 42 on the NFL 100 list. A native of Elmwood Park, Nitschke lived in Green Bay, where he. He was a wonderful human being. Fred weighed about 118 pounds when he died. ", On his relationship with fellow No. Ray Nitschke won two Super Bowl championships. Proceeds from the documentary will help fund the center and provide two free scholarships each month. The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of "In the heat of competing against each other, things like that happen. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first Packer Wife to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. This is the only team you cant get cut from or traded from, Robinson said. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He performed several of his own TV commercials in which he brought out his dog, "Butkus", named in honor of his Chicago Bears nemesis, Dick Butkus (who like Nitschke, grew up in the Chicago area and played for the Illinois Fighting Illini). He almost always went after Bob Hyland. Ray Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois. He was the MVP of the 1962 NFL Championship Game, accepting the prize of a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette. [6], Nitschke entered Proviso Township High School in Maywood shortly before his mother's death. I hit him about three times. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961 to Jackie Forchette. 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. It's supposed to be like a walk-through. Lombardi ran over to see what had happened, but when told it had fallen on Nitschke, said, "He'll be fine. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961, to Jackie Forchette. Neither championships nor individual trophies weighed more. In the game, Nitschke recovered two fumbles and deflected a pass that was intercepted. [18] Nitschke returned for a 16th training camp in 1973, then retired in late August.[19][20][21][14]. 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. Never a good student in high school, his grades suffered at college. 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 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. But he's still standing around, so I go in the training room again. 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. Packers Experiences powered by QuintEvents. You're a starter now.' 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. He feuded with Mike Ditka and scoffed at the notion that Butkus was a younger, improved version of himself. "I've always thought I was the best middle linebacker in professional football," Nitschke once said. We're going to pay you a $15,000 signing bonus and a $15,000 salary your rookie year. He touched everyone he met with his kindness and generosity. Follow Tim on Twitter @ByTimGraham, Nitschke recorded 25 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries over his 15 seasons. We always wondered why Zeke wasn't with another team starting. Dad suddenly started having chest pains, Klaas said. Ray Nitschke played linebacker. After three seasons of part-time duty in the middle, Nitschke took over full-time in 1961 on Lombardis first Packer championship team. Nitschke had an unusual pregame routine on Sundays. When we got back into Frankfort, Nitschke, Fortin and myself settled into the Pac Inns watering hole area and there we were with bartender Sherm Blood, who was entertaining us playing the spoons, until 2 a.m. Were all equal, going in with 80 percent of the vote. Theres barely any loyalty around the league anymore. "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 . In his sophomore year in 1955, due to a depletion of players in the offensive backfield, Illini head coach Ray Eliot moved Nitschke from quarterback to fullback,[9] shattering his childhood dream of quarterbacking a team to a victory in the Rose Bowl. Am I in trouble? So I said (to Peppler), 'Well, do I need to come back there?' Nitschkes rage was effectively channeled. Every day until the season begins, well unveil new members of the list, with the No. I was scared to death, but I took his helmet and, 'bang!' The gravitas is unmistakable. ProFootballHistory.com. CTE. He didn't know who I was. 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. So the World League offered me $45,000, $55,000, $75,000 on a three-year contract. Ray Nitschke was 6 ft 3 inches, 235 lb (1.90 m, 106 kg). 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. We became best friends after that. Nitschke had a remarkable knack of being where the football was. Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. Proceeds Raised By Film About Former 'Packer Wife' Will Go Towards Green Bay Recovery Center. ", On Phil Bengtson as head coach: "I had no issues with him. Nitschke was taken to Venice Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m. (EST). New inductees are encouraged to return every year to help maintain the Hall of Fames legacy. In this day and age of egotistical professional athletes, my friend Ray Nitschke would also have been a unanimous selection for the Nice Guy Hall of Fame. He was the one player who most represented legendary coach Vince Lombardis toughness. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 1972. "He was one of the most popular Packers ever," said Packers public relations director Lee Remmel. 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