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. Jackie Forchette (26 June1961 - 1996)( her death)( 3 children). In 1974, when he came back to Frankfort, he had become a movie star playing in The Longest Yard with Burt Reynolds. 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,. 26 overall in what was the second common draft following the merger agreement between the NFL and AFL. [17] In the divisional round of the playoffs on Christmas Eve, Green Bay lost 163 at Washington. In the first Super Bowls, Nitschke had 15 tackles total and a quarterback sack. In 1973, Mean on Sunday: The Autobiography of Ray Nitschke ("as told to Robert W. Wells") was published by Doubleday. The late Jackie Nitschke was married to Lombardi-era Packer Ray Nitschke. The Eagles paid me my last year. Nitschke also made the NFLs 75th and 100th anniversary rosters. (Gillingham) was probably 275, 280. There was a time when the Hall of Fame allowed NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, family members or the occasional reporter into the Nitschke Luncheon. https://www.britannica.com/facts/Ray-Nitschke, 66 (Green Bay Packers, 19591972) 33 (Green Bay Packers, 1958). Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Hes always grabbing people, hitting people, throwing elbows.. He had football smarts. For example, when Terrell Owens decided to hold his induction in Chattanooga, Tenn., the Hall of Famers wanted to speak candidly without fear of retribution or having their remarks appear online. 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. If you thought Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was tough, you should get to know his wife Jackie. [31] Every year, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has a luncheon the day before its induction ceremony, attended by most of the living members and honoring the new inductees. You cant pay your way into that room.. 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. "I've always thought I was the best middle linebacker in professional football," Nitschke once said. That's how I got big. Yeah. He touched everyone he met with his kindness and generosity. Nitschke was known for his strength and toughness. [18] Nitschke returned for a 16th training camp in 1973, then retired in late August.[19][20][21][14]. He feuded with Mike Ditka and scoffed at the notion that Butkus was a younger, improved version of himself. I think he tried to see how tough you were and if you were going to fight back. He was a fullback and linebacker for the Illini, and the Packers drafted him as a linebacker on the third round in 1958. Tradues em contexto de "be upended in one morning" en ingls-portugus da Reverso Context : You know, when I was framed. Ray Nitschke (Raymond Edward Nitschke) was born on 29 December, 1936 in Elmwood Park, Illinois, USA, is an Actor. Fred could do anything. We laughed about that comment. We're going to pay you a $15,000 signing bonus and a $15,000 salary your rookie year. 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. Everybody loved (Lombardi). 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. "And not just because the National Football League picked me as the top man at that job in the league's first 50 years. Get back to work!". On the Packers' practice field on September 1, a 1,000-pound (450kg) steel coaching tower was blown over by a strong gust of wind, on top of Nitschke. He was adopted by an older brother, and grew up as a self-acknowledged bully. Were all equal, going in with 80 percent of the vote. Nitschke died of a heart attack in Venice, Florida at the age of 61 in 1998. Ray Nitschke was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. His No. When I told Green Bay what I was offered, they matched it. Nitschke accused Ditka of a cheap shot in a game, and the two nearly came to blows later that night in a restaurant. Bengtson, after Lombardi left, said you and Freddie can't be roommates anymore. Ray Nitschke's income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. His father died in a car accident when Nitschke was 3. My wife and I got in an argument this morning before I left home. 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. We stopped at a service station and I went in for water and a soft drink. The Nitschke Luncheon is a solemn initiation for the new inductees, who are not allowed to speak. I know your brother is with the Calgary Stampeders.' Nearly killed during a 1960 practice when a 25-foot photographers' tower fell on him in a windstorm, Nitschke continued practicing after changing helmets. 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. A man at the station helped get him out of the car and started CPR.. 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. 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. In 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. In a poll that marked the leagues 75th year, he was voted to the all-time all-star team. But Packer fans and others around the league who admired Nitschke's professional skills might pick this up as a reminder of the man beneath the armor."[28]. I thought (Nitschke) was more versatile, the way he could cover and everything. With some of the brightest minds in the sport weighing in, Ray Nitschke was ranked No. A lot of times we had to guide him into the huddle. ", On Phil Bengtson as head coach: "I had no issues with him. AKA Raymond Ernest Nitschke. The Hall of Famers want to say whatever is on their minds. Yet while Nitschke himself would protest the notion, he did rise above the room. Many never knew who this man, one of the greatest NFL players of all time, was. Heres some tidbits about him that a lot of people dont know: * As a young teenager, he was orphaned. Nitschke leaves three adopted children: John, 34; Richard, 32; and Amy, 26, and one granddaughter, Jacqueline Rae, 17 months. On July 2, 1973 he told me and Fortin, that a metal tower on the Packers practice field fell over on top of him. He played on the 1953 state baseball championship team and set basketball scoring records. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Gale and I could both bench over 400 pounds and squat 600-plus. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Andre Reed finally got to his first Nitschke Luncheon in 2014 after eight years of being a finalist. I want him to remember Ray Nitschke, even in his dreams.". 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). His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. Ray Nitschke Enshrinement speech. 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]. I kept telling melf. Fred died of dementia. His was pierced by a bolt from the tower. He was probably remembering another Coach Lombardi quote: There is no room for second place. At this time, college football had reverted to primarily single-platoon football, meaning those players that were on offense had to switch to defense, and vice versa, when ball possession changed. Remembering the mean, tough Packer Ray Nitschke, who loved Frankfort. I get dressed. On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. How tough was Nitschke? He was MVP of the 1962 title game. Am I in trouble? Lueck, 74, lives in suburban Phoenix. On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. He always tried to intimidate offensive guys. [9] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John (in 1963), Richard (in 1966), and Amy (in 1972). An all-time great Packer/NFL player. 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. The St. Louis Browns offered him a baseball contract, but he wanted to play Big Ten football. Lionel Aldridge, a defensive end, died Feb. 12 at age 57. 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. [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). ", 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. [27] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. His tragic death in 1998 shook the organization to its core. 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. 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. Munoz, however, had a chance to absorb Nitschkes words. Ray Nitschke won two Super Bowl championships. I hit him about three times. Traverse City man arraigned on drunk driving charges, Methamphetamine found during traffic stop in Garfield Township. In 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. His humility and appreciation for having had the opportunity to play the NFL will always stick in my mind.. The Packers won 167 and finished the season with a 141 record. Keep updated on the latest news and information. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961 to Jackie Forchette. [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. ", On who was better at eluding the pass rush: "Probably Zeke. The excerpt above was from a 2019 interview. 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. Then what year did the World Football League come in? Ray Nitschke's life was the embodiment of the power of love, the power of family, and the power of an individual to transform himself into a better person. There is only one place in my game and that is first place. Among the recurring themes is that Canton should be treated as their second home. Sign up now! I've just had a rough day. I chuckle to myself, `Well, yeah, OK.' But when it came down to the business of football, he was as tough as they come.". Nitschke was born Dec. 29, 1936, in Elmwood Park. Ray played in the 230s, but he hit like he was 300 pounds. Try a week on us. On Fridays, we'd go out stocking hats and no pads. "People talk about tough he was, how bad he was. I said, 'I admit I'm a dumb farm kid who just got back from milking cows, how does this process work? Nitschke's wife, Jackie, died of cancer in 1996. I'm like, 'I guess I better get ready.' He was 61. 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. MILWAUKEE (AP) _ Ray Nitschke, the bald-headed, tough-as-nails linebacker on Vince Lombardi's title teams of the 1960s, will be remembered for his off-the-field kindness as much as his dominating play, friends say. On being drafted by the Packers: "I was a No. 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. He could throw the ball. Born in Elmwood Park, Illinois, Nitschke was the youngest of three sons to Robert and Anna Nitschke. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. "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 . Ray Nitschke was born in IL. He was like the epitome of what a football player should be, Klaas told the Associated Press after her fathers death. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. Fred made very few mistakes. Mean In The Middle smiled down from heaven as the Green Bay Packers were about to win the Super Bowl. 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. If you thought Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was tough, you should get to know his wife Jackie. Nitschkes death was the second to strike the ranks of Lombardis great Packer teams in the last month. Ray and Jackie had a winter home in Naples, Florida. [6], Nitschke entered Proviso Township High School in Maywood shortly before his mother's death. "I can remember him intercepting a pass and crawling into the end zone. ", 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. Lee Remmel, the Packers public relations director and a former beat writer for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, recalled how well Nitschke treated fans. I have found his comments to be poignant for anybody.. He thought of it as an honor for somebody to ask him for an autograph. It's supposed to be like a walk-through. The Packers had so much talent that there were not always enough honors to go around. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 1972. It all went for naught, as panelist Bennett Cerf, who had attended the game, guessed his identity immediately. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital later that day. 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 . His father was killed in a car accident in 1940,[5] and his mother died of a blood clot when Ray was 13. That's how we became connected. 448-449. Nitschkes legacy stretched far beyond the football field. You cant go any higher.. We became best friends after that. Nitschke will be buried in Green Bay. When he came into the game, he was in charge. I thought so (in 1971) even when I sat on the bench after coach Dan Devine gave Jim Carter my job. I used to be a bouncer in a bar and so I knew you can't let a guy up. Who Is Ray Nitschke's Wife? How many Super Bowls did Ray Nitschke win? 1 draft choice? Those days are over. 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? )[22][23] Lombardi ran over to see what had happened, but when told it had fallen on Nitschke, said, "He'll be fine. Jackie Nitschke's influence transformed this football madman into a loving husband and father of three adopted children. His baseball skills brought him an offer from the professional St. Louis Browns with a $3,000 signing bonus. Funeral arrangements are pending. Left: Nitschke's helmet from the coaching tower incident in September, Ray Nitschkeawards, championships, and honors, "Ray Nitschke, 61, linebacker during Packers' glory years", "Packers get last laugh in slapstick game", "Chicago Tribune - Historical Newspapers", "Larger-than-life pro wrestling icon would love to have had career with Green Bay Packers", "Hard nosed Ray Nitschke just a softie over induction", National Football League 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ray_Nitschke&oldid=1142190700, Players of American football from Illinois, Illinois Fighting Illini football players, National Football League players with retired numbers, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, NFL player missing current team parameter, Infobox NFL biography articles missing alt text, Infobox NFL biography articles with old NFL.com URL, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 00:49. [8] Nitschke was also offered scholarships from college football programs around the country. Nitschke was taken to Venice Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m. (EST). He gets dressed. Besides Klaas, Nitschke is survived by two sons, John and Richard. But I didn't think he was as good as Nitschke. (Carr) could play every position. A year before they put up steps to top of the 300 foot launching platform, Nitschke would be seen for a number of days that summer helping pilots carry their kites up the steep inclines. www.jackienitschkecenter.com. Lombardi ran over to see what had happened, but when told it had fallen on Nitschke, said, "He'll be fine. And certainly, a week ago Sunday, he was smiling down on Cowboy Stadium and the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl victory. A quarterback at Proviso High School, Nitschke cried when Illinois coach Ray Eliot moved him to fullback. But usually by the time we got done with the preseason, I'd be down to 250, 255. Nitschke wasnt merely a hitter. 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. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. In retirement, Nitschke became an inner voice for Hall of Famers. As for Ray Nitschke, you could never question where his allegiance stood. 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. Ray Nitschke played linebacker. Lombardi gave partial credit to Nitschke's success to Ray's wife, whose calming influence helped him focus on his career. I liked Schnelker. Hell, even Tom Brady moved on from the New England Patriot after 20 historic years. "Champion" tells the story of howJackie Nitschke became the first "Packer Wife" to openly acknowledge her alcoholism. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. They said, 'You'll make more in the dairy business. ", On what happened next: "(I'm a) mezzanine rookie, and I had seen (Nitschke) take his frustration out every Friday on Hyland. " Champion: The Legacy of Jackie Nitschke, " premiered in Green Bay this week. Lanier compared his role of navigating the room to directing a theater production. She was a widely-known figure in the movement toward creating better drug and alcohol treatment options in Northeastern Wisconsin. He didn't know who I was. The heaviest I ever got there was a little over 260. I was always scared to death of him. . Not only is Ray Nitschke one of the best LBs in NFL history, he had an act at making something out of nothing. 66 was retired in 1983, the fourth of six numbers retired by the Packers. Ray Nitschke most personified what the Hall of Fame really meant, Robinson said. $750,000. ", 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. "I loved playing the Bears. Ray Nitschke attended the University of Illinois. Lombardi gave partial credit for Nitschke's success to Nitschke's wife, whose calming influence helped Ray focus on his career. 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. We'd run through the plays and Ray would always tee-off on Hyland. Champion:The Legacy of Jackie Nitschke,premiered in Green Bay this week. 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. Grabo (Jim Grabowski) got $450,000. (Nitschke) would test guys. 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