Nitschke made only one Pro Bowl team because Detroit Lions middle linebacker Joe Schmidt was a perennial selection from 1954 to 1963. You cant even die from this team. (Ken) Bowman would put up with no crap from Ray. The late Jackie Nitschke was married to Lombardi-era Packer Ray Nitschke. [1] He had been driving to the home of a family friend, according to his daughter, Amy Klaas, who was with him when he was stricken. Besides Klaas, Nitschke is survived by two sons, John and Richard. He was a total family man. Andre Reed finally got to his first Nitschke Luncheon in 2014 after eight years of being a finalist. (Carr) could play every position. "I never saw him turn down an autograph or a request to pose for a photo.". Encyclopdia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them. ARLINGTON, TX - It was around ten oclock in the evening a week ago Sunday when Im positive that Mr. Knocking him in the head, blooding his nose, just because he was (bleeped) off every Friday. The Packers won 167 and finished the season with a 141 record. Ray Nitschke was born in IL. My wife and I got in an argument this morning before I left home. Other surviving children include his sons John and Richard. Excerpts from those interviews will be periodically posted at www.packers.com. Never a good student in high school, his grades suffered at college. Tim Graham is a senior writer for The Athletic, covering Buffalo sports. 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. 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. 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. Every day until the season begins, well unveil new members of the list, with the No. Dad suddenly started having chest pains, Klaas said. He wasnt the biggest or the strongest or the smartest, Robinson said. 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 . Follow Tim on Twitter @ByTimGraham, Nitschke recorded 25 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries over his 15 seasons. In 1997, the Green Bay Packers named one of their practice fields after him. Nitschke wasnt merely a hitter. 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. Lombardi gave partial credit for Nitschke's success to Nitschke's wife, whose calming influence helped Ray focus on his career. In Super Bowl I, Nitschke contributed six tackles and a sack. Bobby Bell, for instance, will make a comment to everyone in the room for them to look around closely and acknowledge the others they see, Lanier said, because next year a certain number will not be here. Ray Nitschkes income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. 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]. He was a beloved member of the Packers organization throughout his career and into retirement. That becomes a most profound reality. They couldn't live with each other and they couldn't live without each other, said Rivett. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. Ray and Jackie had a winter home in Naples, Florida. Ray Nitschke attended the University of Illinois. Even when he was relegated to backup duty in the twilight of his 15-year career, they cheered his every move. Nitschke was born Dec. 29, 1936, in Elmwood Park. It was during those four hours that I first learned much more about the great Packer. He lost both his parents by the age of 14, causing a lot of trouble in school. I chuckle to myself, `Well, yeah, OK.' But when it came down to the business of football, he was as tough as they come.". [10], In his junior year in 1956 Nitschke lost his four front teeth on the opening kick-off against Ohio State. A lot of times we had to guide him into the huddle. The discussion was heated, but remained private. Older brothers Robert Jr. (age 21) and Richard (age 17) decided they would raise Ray on their own. 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. Zeke had great feet.". 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. Older brothers Robert Jr. (age 21) and Richard (age 17) decided they would raise Ray on their own. He was the one player who most represented legendary coach Vince Lombardis toughness. They always listed me at 240. At 62 years old, Ray Nitschke height Lombardi molded the Bart Starrs, Jerry Kramers, Paul Hornungs, Jim Taylors and Nitschkes into the best football teams of the 1960s. He was a natural-born leader, Hall of Fame right tackle Ron Yary said. "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 . Were all equal, going in with 80 percent of the vote. The Eagles paid me my last year. 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. Ray Nitschke was born on December 29, 1936, in Elmwood Park, Illinois, United States. He was MVP of the 1962 title game. He was a wonderful human being. The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of Munoz was elected in January 1998, six weeks before Nitschke died of a heart attack at 61. In a poll that marked the leagues 75th year, he was voted to the all-time all-star team. Ray Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois. He could play quarterback if he had to. He played varsity basketball and was a pitcher and left fielder for the varsity baseball team. We'd run through the plays and Ray would always tee-off on Hyland. He hit you with every ounce of his body. "In fact, he's as mild and as meek as they come, a sweet guy," Wood said. The Green Bay Packers legend played 15 seasons in the green and yellow and led the team to five NFL championships. I remember when they'd grab Bart by the belt of his jersey and pile-drive him into the ground. Yet while Nitschke himself would protest the notion, he did rise above the room. Zeke Bratkowski same thing. He said, 'No, we'll send you the paperwork and you can sign it.' So the World League offered me $45,000, $55,000, $75,000 on a three-year contract. In such a violent sport, thats a pretty elusive title to hold. "I loved playing the Bears. Sure. Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The St. Louis Browns offered him a baseball contract, but he wanted to play Big Ten football. 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 Super Bowl II, Nitschke led Green Bay's defense with nine tackles. Ray Nitschke won two Super Bowl championships. Biography in: "American National Biography". 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. Ray Nitschke Enshrinement speech. I hit him about three times. Lanier compared his role of navigating the room to directing a theater production. A quarterback at Proviso High School, Nitschke cried when Illinois coach Ray Eliot moved him to fullback. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. I want him to remember Ray Nitschke, even in his dreams.". Ray Nitschke (Raymond Edward Nitschke) was born on 29 December, 1936 in Elmwood Park, Illinois, USA, is an Actor. [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. Coming up the middle or filling a hole on a running play, I thought Nitschke was better than Butkus. 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. But he was a Hall of Famer from the tip of his toes to the top of his head. Yary witnessed the fury before he entered the NFL in 1968 with the Minnesota Vikings as the first draft choice. In 1973, Mean on Sunday: The Autobiography of Ray Nitschke ("as told to Robert W. Wells") was published by Doubleday. CTE. 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. What college did Ray Nitschke attend? Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. His father was killed in a car accident in 1940, and his mother died of a blood clot when Ray was 13. [15][16] Green Bay had clinched the NFC Central division title the week before at Minnesota for their first playoff berth in five seasons. "I can remember Nitschke breaking his arm, busting his knee up and playing a whole half without even saying anything," Wood said. Remembering the mean, tough Packer Ray Nitschke, who loved Frankfort. I used to be a bouncer in a bar and so I knew you can't let a guy up. Tags: Video. Fred made very few mistakes. 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. Among all of us offensive linemen, we supported Zeke 100 percent. I just want to get along.' 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. 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. Also, the team has named one of its two outdoor practice fields "Ray Nitschke Field". His father died when he was three and his mother when he was thirteen and he was raised by an older brother. Ray Nitschke. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. [27] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. She was a widely-known figure in the movement toward creating better drug and alcohol treatment options in Northeastern Wisconsin. I'm thinking I'm not going to get what we called, 'punked,' like Hyland did every Friday. What position did Ray Nitschke play? If you wanted a leader to emulate, you couldnt pick a better person.. It wasnt just the All-Pro honors or the five championships that made Nitschke great. Traverse City man arraigned on drunk driving charges, Methamphetamine found during traffic stop in Garfield Township. Fred weighed about 118 pounds when he died. So we ran the slip block where Bowman would block the defensive tackle and I'd slip and block the middle linebacker. While he wasnt bombing his classes or getting into fistfights, he played quarterback and safety at Proviso High in suburban Chicago. He was 61. It's supposed to be like a walk-through. "People talk about tough he was, how bad he was. 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. In that room full of alpha males is where Nitschke stood up and explained what it means to join footballs greatest team. $17,500. (It was erroneously first reported as 5,000lb (2,270kg). Nitschke guided a Packers defense that won five NFL championships, including the first two Super Bowls. But I didn't think he was as good as Nitschke. She pushed back her student's hijab. 42 on the NFL 100 list. [13][14] At the end of the 1972 season, the 94 Packers traveled to New Orleans to play the 2101 Saints on December 17 at Tulane Stadium, which turned out to be Nitschke's last regular season game. 1 draft choice? The Calgary Stampeders offered me the same amount of money. He didn't always follow the defense. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Get back to work!" Everybody loved (Lombardi). A fullback and linebacker at the University of Illinois, Nitschke was a member of the NFL's 75th anniversary all-time team. The Hall of Famers want to say whatever is on their minds. Those guys would take some of the worst hits. 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 taught us proper technique: pulling, how to come off the ball. One year, those you see will no longer be there, and one year, neither will you. Jackie Forchette (26 June1961 - 1996)( her death)( 3 children). When I came back to the car, he had had a heart attack. The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Nitschke is considered one of the toughest NFL players to ever live. Raised by two older brothers, Nitschke praised Proviso coach Andy Puplis and other high school coaches for keeping him on the right track. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. In a poll conducted in conjunction with the NFLs 50th anniversary, Nitschke was voted the all-time best linebacker. Nitschke accused Ditka of a cheap shot in a game, and the two nearly came to blows later that night in a restaurant. [18] Nitschke returned for a 16th training camp in 1973, then retired in late August.[19][20][21][14]. www.jackienitschkecenter.com. I was always scared to death of him. Fred and I remained close until about three, four years ago. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 1972. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 29 December. We became best friends after that. No one ever instilled fear in their opponents quite as Nitschke did. 1 player to be crowned on Wednesday, Sept. 8. When Ray met and married his wife, Jackie, he made an outstanding decision. We didn't even know he was injured.". On March 8, Nitschke took a drive with his daughter, Amy Klaas, and her one-year-old daughter to a friend's house. ProFootballHistory.com. I was scared to death, but I took his helmet and, 'bang!' 26 overall in what was the second common draft following the merger agreement between the NFL and AFL. Heres a guy, after all these years, in an exhibition game. I said, 'I get it. As publisher of the "Ray Nitschke Packer Report," Nitschke was able to enjoy the team's return to glory, but he never allowed the new heroes the luxury of becoming too fond of themselves. He was MVP of the 1962 title game. I wont mention any names, Robinson said, but there are some people that come in and get the gold jacket and never come back. ", On who was better at eluding the pass rush: "Probably Zeke. 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. Nitschke left his savage persona on the field and occasionally on camera for The Longest Yard and Miller Lite commercials. They've been kind of the best-kept secret in Green Bay for a long time, said Rivett. $750,000. There is only one place in my game and that is first place. The heaviest I ever got there was a little over 260. The NFL legend was twice named a First-Team All-Pro, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. 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 excerpt above was from a 2019 interview. 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. Congressman Steve Largent, who ended the pregame ceremonies by flipping the coin. 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". So I started beating him down and they didn't pull me off of him until I had him on the ground. He was famous for being a Football Player. 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. had a luncheon the day before its induction ceremony, attended by most of the living members and honoring the new inductees. He died in Venice, Fla., near his winter home in Naples. During his freshman year at Proviso, he played fullback on one of the school's three football teams. Am I in trouble? He took time for anybody.. He gave it all to you. Nitschke will be buried in Green Bay. Try a week on us. Nowadays, NFL players swap teams seemingly as often as they get new haircuts. [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. 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. He had some of the best football instincts. He also was a humanitarian, loved children and relished being an ambassador for Green Bay and the NFL. The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. He knows which Hall of Famers speak with fire, which are circumspect. They said, 'Bill, we'll send you the paperwork and it will be done.' Raymond Ernest Nitschke was a middle linebacker that spent his entire 15-year career with the Green Bay Packers. But he had a sense about him. Nitschke started to feel sharp chest pains during the drive, and he pulled over to a nearby rest stop. As his wife was dying of cancer he had become a member of a Christian Church in Green Bay. He played the rest of the game.[11]. Nitschke wore number 33 in 1958 and 66 the rest of his career with the Packers. In 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. So it was a volatile relationship.. The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. Munoz, however, had a chance to absorb Nitschkes words. My second year, Gale Gillingham said, 'Bill, you're going to be the next guy who gets tested.' He was like the epitome of what a football player should be, Klaas told the Associated Press after her fathers death. Lueck, 74, lives in suburban Phoenix. Nitschke also made the NFLs 75th and 100th anniversary rosters. He is from USA. I thought so (in 1971) even when I sat on the bench after coach Dan Devine gave Jim Carter my job. We always wondered why Zeke wasn't with another team starting. He'd get in the huddle and he doesn't know where he is. if everything could be upended in one morning like that, maybe someday I'll wake up another day and everything gets flipped back the way it should be just as suddenly. His father was killed in a car accident in 1940,[5] and his mother died of a blood clot when Ray was 13. Ray Nitschke spent two decades informing new Pro Football Hall of Famers none was bigger than the rest. Biography. He liked to forearm your head. " Champion: The Legacy of Jackie Nitschke, " premiered in Green Bay this week. Keep updated on the latest news and information. He intercepted 25 passes and ran two of them back for touchdowns, and also recovered 20 fumbles. 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. Puplis advised him to accept a football scholarship. We shook hands. "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. No matter how much he was bleeding, he wouldnt leave the game. [33] The bridge was constructed in 1998 to replace the former Main Street Bridge built in 1923. So, how much is Ray Nitschke worth at the age of 62 years old? Nitschke died of a heart attack in Venice, Florida at the age of 61 in 1998. ", 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. Pro Football Hall of Fame (inducted 1978) 5 NFL championships 2 Super Bowl championships 2 All-Pro selections 1 Pro Bowl selection. '", On any special memories of farm life: "I used to rope steers. 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. Related Quizzes and Features Quiz Great Moments in Sports Quiz Sports Quiz Nitschkes death was the second to strike the ranks of Lombardis great Packer teams in the last month. He'd get up and his helmet was over here to the side of his face. So, how much is Ray Nitschke worth at the age of 62 years old? His part was of the tough prison guard named Bogdanski. He was a frequent golfer in retirement, and he loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. I have found his comments to be poignant for anybody.. Lionel Aldridge, a defensive end, died Feb. 12 at age 57. Packers fans around the world will never forget the gentle giant that was Ray Nitschke. ", On how his friendship with fellow guard Gale Gillingham got started: "Weightlifting. It was a big-time hit, Yary said. None. All wear gold jackets, the lone standard for greatness. Gale said, 'Bill, it's coming up on your turn. 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. In the first Super Bowls, Nitschke had 15 tackles total and a quarterback sack. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first Packer Wife to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. Theres barely any loyalty around the league anymore. Then Chicago Bears middle linebacker Dick Butkus went to eight straight. "In the heat of competing against each other, things like that happen. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961, to Jackie Forchette. [8] Nitschke was also offered scholarships from college football programs around the country. Image courtesy of "Champion" trailer. Champion:The Legacy of Jackie Nitschke,premiered in Green Bay this week. [6], Nitschke entered Proviso Township High School in Maywood shortly before his mother's death. AKA Raymond Ernest Nitschke. And certainly, a week ago Sunday, he was smiling down on Cowboy Stadium and the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl victory. 66 in the open field. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Those are the ones that dont understand what this is all about.. Ray Nitschke. 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 was one of the most popular Packers ever," said Packers public relations director Lee Remmel. His baseball skills brought him an offer from the professional St. Louis Browns with a $3,000 signing bonus. He went in and took his shower, and I'm still kind of looking around the door from the training room. On March 8, Nitschke took a drive with his daughter, Amy Klaas, and her one-year-old daughter to a friends house. [27] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. 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. In 1974, Lueck's final season with the Packers, he was bothered by an assortment of injuries and started eight of 14 games. 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. According to Nitschke's biography, a spike was driven into his helmet, but did not injure him. [2][3], Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois,[4] the youngest of three sons to Robert and Anna Nitschke. They called me a mezzanine rookie the second year until you played in a certain number of games. The guy (Nitschke) was a talented basketball player. Lueck, who played at the University of Arizona, was chosen 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. ", On Lombardi's role as general manager and his dealings with him:"He was in the locker room. 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. ", On playing against Dick Butkus vs. practicing against Nitschke: "Butkus was tough. Who Is Ray Nitschke's Wife? Nitschke had an unusual pregame routine on Sundays. Was it a mistake or an act of hate? 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