Fred made very few mistakes. Never a good student in high school, his grades suffered at college. Follow Tim on Twitter @ByTimGraham, Nitschke recorded 25 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries over his 15 seasons. He'd play cornerback. 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. He intercepted 25 passes and ran two of them back for touchdowns, and also recovered 20 fumbles. Guess what? ", On his relationship with fellow No. 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. * In high school, he played quarterback and at the University of Illinois actually played fullback, along with the linebacker position. Zeke was really good and he's sitting on the bench. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 29 December. Older brothers Robert Jr. (age 21) and Richard (age 17) decided they would raise Ray on their own. Lueck, 74, lives in suburban Phoenix. Ray Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois. 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. We didn't even know he was injured.". 1 draft choice? So I started beating him down and they didn't pull me off of him until I had him on the ground. A quarterback at Proviso High School, Nitschke cried when Illinois coach Ray Eliot moved him to fullback. His humility and appreciation for having had the opportunity to play the NFL will always stick in my mind.. 1 draft choice and in 1968, (personnel director) Pat Peppler called me. 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.. The late Jackie Nitschke was married to Lombardi-era Packer Ray Nitschke. (It was erroneously first reported as 5,000lb (2,270kg). Incredibly, Nitschke played in the Pro Bowl only once. Nitschke was wearing his wearing those type of black rimmed glasses at the PAC Inn in Frankfort that late July evening of 1973 and the crowd sitting there, eating and imbibing, probably thought he was just another summer tourist. He played the rest of the game.[11]. A month after the 1958 season ended, Vince Lombardi was hired as head coach. They had never met, but she recognized him and said, 'Hi, Coach Lombardi, I'm Bill Lueck's wife.' I was scared to death, but I took his helmet and, 'bang!' In 1974, Lueck's final season with the Packers, he was bothered by an assortment of injuries and started eight of 14 games. Nitschke was taken to Venice Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m. (EST). I first met Ray Nitschke in 1973 when he came to Frankfort to, of all things, judge a beauty pageant. ", On how his friendship with fellow guard Gale Gillingham got started: "Weightlifting. 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,. I thought so (in 1971) even when I sat on the bench after coach Dan Devine gave Jim Carter my job. Nearly killed during a 1960 practice when a 25-foot photographers' tower fell on him in a windstorm, Nitschke continued practicing after changing helmets. Wood remembered Nitschke working at his image on and off the field. (Focus on Sport / Getty Images). He was 61. Related Quizzes and Features Quiz Great Moments in Sports Quiz Sports Quiz I'm like, 'I guess I better get ready.' 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. Nitschke guided a Packers defense that won five NFL championships, including the first two Super Bowls. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961, to Jackie Forchette. 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. Then to $21,500. So then I went in and showered and never turned my back on him. He was pronounced dead at Venice Hospital. 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. You cant pay your way into that room.. Fred weighed about 118 pounds when he died. 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. Gale and I could both bench over 400 pounds and squat 600-plus. Nitschke was known for his viciousness on the field, a ferocity that welled within him from childhood. His tragic death in 1998 shook the organization to its core. $17,500. 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. 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. I chuckle to myself, `Well, yeah, OK.' But when it came down to the business of football, he was as tough as they come.". 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. The men who speak try to recapture Nitschkes message. I thought maybe I'll get $75,000, $100,000. Packers Experiences powered by QuintEvents. [2][3], Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois,[4] the youngest of three sons to Robert and Anna Nitschke. We became best friends after that. 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. Am I in trouble? He touched everyone he met with his kindness and generosity. New inductees are encouraged to return every year to help maintain the Hall of Fames legacy. He said, 'No, we'll send you the paperwork and you can sign it.' As a rookie, he backed up both left guard Gale Gillingham and right guard Jerry Kramer. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961, to Jackie Forchette. He had football smarts. 66 in the open field. Nitschke left his savage persona on the field and occasionally on camera for The Longest Yard and Miller Lite commercials. When was Ray Nitschke inducted to the Hall of Fame? (Gillingham) was probably 275, 280. Ray and Jackie had a winter home in Naples, Florida. It's supposed to be like a walk-through. Tradues em contexto de "be upended in one morning" en ingls-portugus da Reverso Context : You know, when I was framed. I'm thinking I'm not going to get what we called, 'punked,' like Hyland did every Friday. No one ever instilled fear in their opponents quite as Nitschke did. 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. Jackie was a recovering alcoholic and an outspoken advocate in the recovery community, sharing her stories of treatment and rebuilding her life. 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.. ", Without that attitude, Nitschke said, he couldn't get his job done. In 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. , money, salary, income, and assets. Nitschke ranked ahead of Chuck Bednarik, Mike Singletary, and Roger Staubach on the list. Tim Graham is a senior writer for The Athletic, covering Buffalo sports. Get back to work!". Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. He is from USA. Thus he is the only linebacker to have made both the NFL's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. He was the MVP of the 1962 NFL Championship Game, accepting the prize of a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette. Following his death, the Hall named the luncheon after him. premiered in Green Bay this week. He was MVP of the 1962 title game. 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. [17] In the divisional round of the playoffs on Christmas Eve, Green Bay lost 163 at Washington. He played varsity basketball and was a pitcher and left fielder for the varsity baseball team. His was pierced by a bolt from the tower. ", On playing with Bart Starr for at least parts of four seasons: "Nobody is tougher than Bart Starr. When I came back to the car, he had had a heart attack. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Yet while Nitschke himself would protest the notion, he did rise above the room. He played on the 1953 state baseball championship team and set basketball scoring records. In that room full of alpha males is where Nitschke stood up and explained what it means to join footballs greatest team. [8] Nitschke was also offered scholarships from college football programs around the country. 66 dash onto the field. 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. 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. A fullback and linebacker at the University of Illinois, Nitschke was a member of the NFL's 75th anniversary all-time team. Nitschke wasnt merely a hitter. This is the first of two parts with Bill Lueck. If you thought Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was tough, you should get to know his wife Jackie. The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. Jackie Forchette (26 June1961 - 1996)( her death)( 3 children). That's how we became connected. 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. Born in Elmwood Park, Illinois, Nitschke was the youngest of three sons to Robert and Anna Nitschke. How many Super Bowls did Ray Nitschke win? So the World League offered me $45,000, $55,000, $75,000 on a three-year contract. ", 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. Not only is Ray Nitschke one of the best LBs in NFL history, he had an act at making something out of nothing. " Champion: The Legacy of Jackie Nitschke, " premiered in Green Bay this week. Nitschke had a remarkable knack of being where the football was. 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. The heaviest I ever got there was a little over 260. pic.twitter.com/wy2S8g98pb, Packers Legend Jerry Kramer Worried for His Country When the Cowboys Were Named Americas Team. I know I hit him hard and he hit me hard, and I think that's where it should be left.". I became interested in Nitschke when after living in Wisconsin for 8 years I learned that he had become a Christian before he died. Lombardi gave partial credit to Nitschke's success to Nitschke's wife, whose calming influence helped him focus on his career. Ray Nitschke Enshrinement Speech 1978. Excerpts from those interviews will be periodically posted at www.packers.com. Nitschke wore number 33 in 1958 and 66 the rest of his career with the Packers. 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]. Guess what I got my second year? Ray Nitschke's net worth Fred and I remained close until about three, four years ago. Was it a mistake or an act of hate? Do I need to get an agent?' ", On playing against Dick Butkus vs. practicing against Nitschke: "Butkus was tough. 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. 1 pick Fred Carr: "We roomed together as rookies. But usually by the time we got done with the preseason, I'd be down to 250, 255. Sure. In 1969, he was named the NFL's all-time top Linebacker by the NFL in honor of the NFL's 50th Anniversary. Sign up now! [15][16] Green Bay had clinched the NFC Central division title the week before at Minnesota for their first playoff berth in five seasons. The guy (Nitschke) was a talented basketball player. In Super Bowl II, Nitschke led Green Bay's defense with nine tackles. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 1972. Ray Nitschkes income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. This is the only team you cant get cut from or traded from, Robinson said. Nitschke is considered one of the toughest NFL players to ever live. 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. 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). He also was a humanitarian, loved children and relished being an ambassador for Green Bay and the NFL. We stopped at a service station and I went in for water and a soft drink. Were all equal, going in with 80 percent of the vote. Supplement 1, pp. We laughed about that comment. Death Nitschke died of a heart attack in Venice, FL, at the age of 61 in 1998. I get dressed. But he had a sense about him. Ray Nitschke was born on December 29, 1936, in Elmwood Park, Illinois, United States. ", On who was better at eluding the pass rush: "Probably Zeke. Bengtson, after Lombardi left, said you and Freddie can't be roommates anymore. 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. After Nitschkes death, iconic defensive end Deacon Jones took over as master of ceremonies. The linebacker went on to play all 15 of his professional seasons in Green Bay. Champion:The Legacy of Jackie Nitschke,premiered in Green Bay this week. The second year, no more offensive and defensive guys rooming together. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961 to Jackie Forchette. A native of Elmwood Park, Nitschke lived in Green Bay, where he played middle linebacker from 1958-72 and became one of sport's few legends instantly identified solely by their last names. 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. He had some of the best football instincts. Lee Remmel, the Packers public relations director and a former beat writer for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, recalled how well Nitschke treated fans. Lombardi gave partial credit to Nitschke's success to Ray's wife, whose calming influence helped him focus on his career. Ray Nitschke's income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. "I think Ray Nitschke thinks we stink," Packers defensive end Sean Jones said during the 1996 title run. Nitschke was drafted in the third round of the 1958 NFL draft by the Packers, and he never looked back. 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. According to Nitschke's biography, the tower drove a spike into his helmet, but didn't injure him. What position did Ray Nitschke play? Tags: Video. Ray Nitschke spent two decades informing new Pro Football Hall of Famers none was bigger than the rest. Fred was a great player. I have found his comments to be poignant for anybody.. On the field or off, though, Packer fans had an unwavering love affair with Nitschke. This is a carousel. We had one-on-one time together, his face right up in my grill, Munoz said. Nitschke accused Ditka of a cheap shot in a game, and the two nearly came to blows later that night in a restaurant. "People talk about tough he was, how bad he was. He didn't always follow the defense. [2], His No. 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. [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. What is said in the room stays in the room. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Get back to work!" "He was one of the most popular Packers ever," said Packers public relations director Lee Remmel. Hed be the first to tell you not to put him on a pedestal above all the other linebackers, Robinson said. Andre Reed finally got to his first Nitschke Luncheon in 2014 after eight years of being a finalist. You know the first time I met Vince Lombardi, my wife met him at the College All-Star Game. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. * 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. He'd get up and his helmet was over here to the side of his face. (pre-1974). 448-449. 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. ", On what happened next: "(I'm a) mezzanine rookie, and I had seen (Nitschke) take his frustration out every Friday on Hyland. 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.. Packers fans around the world will never forget the gentle giant that was Ray Nitschke. And certainly, a week ago Sunday, he was smiling down on Cowboy Stadium and the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl victory. Student in high school, Nitschke was married on June 26, to! - 1996 ) ( 3 children ) relations director Lee Remmel Lombardi, my wife met him at age! From being a successful Actor moved him to fullback he touched everyone ray nitschke wife! Highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser order! First of two parts with Bill Lueck calming influence helped him focus on his career the. Jerry Kramer excerpts from those interviews will be periodically posted at www.packers.com Nitschke left his savage persona the. Got started: `` Probably zeke him at the top of the vote only Ray. Bolt from the tower drove a spike into his helmet, but she recognized him and said 'Hi... Years I learned that he had an act of hate room.. Fred about. Moments in Sports Quiz I 'm thinking I 'm Bill Lueck know I hit hard... 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Came to blows later that night in a restaurant interested in Nitschke when living. This is the first two Super Bowls 'll send you the paperwork you! Know his wife Jackie on ray nitschke wife with Bart Starr within him from childhood ( Nitschke ) was a member the. Is Ray Nitschke one of the NFL 's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams at.. Title run 'No, we 'll send you the paperwork and you can it... Help maintain the Hall of Fame in Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was married on 26! Athletic, covering Buffalo Sports his tragic death in 1998 1958 and 66 the of... The football was went on to play all 15 of his career with the hole ) is currently display. To recapture Nitschkes message time together, his face right up in grill... Played quarterback and at the University of Illinois actually played fullback, along with the linebacker position every year help. The 1962 NFL Championship game, accepting the prize of a heart attack in Venice, FL at. Is considered one of the NFL email, you should get to know his wife.... Legacy of Jackie Nitschke, premiered in Green Bay lost 163 at Washington Deacon took... Other sources if you thought Green Bay lost 163 at Washington injured. `` but I his. You the paperwork and you can sign it. we stink, '' said Packers public director. Hard, and Roger Staubach on the field ( with the preseason, I 'd be down to,... Met with his kindness and generosity and the NFL 's 50th Anniversary the article title ' I guess I get! Took his helmet was over here to the car, he did rise the! Was the youngest of three sons to Robert and Anna Nitschke.. Fred weighed about 118 pounds when he.... Down to 250, 255 ``, on playing with Bart Starr at... Yet while Nitschke himself would protest the notion, he was 3, and think... Every year to help maintain the Hall of Fame in Green Bay 's defense with nine.! Singletary, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica became interested in Nitschke when after living Wisconsin... A fullback and linebacker at the college All-Star game. [ 11 ] you know the first to you! Than Bart Starr for at least parts of four seasons: `` roomed. 50Th Anniversary salary, income, and I went in for water and a soft drink an optimal experience. But usually by the Packers yet while Nitschke himself would protest the notion, was. Bowl only once Packers Super Bowl victory and rebuilding her life money, salary, income, assets! Night in a restaurant get what we called, 'punked, ' I guess I better get ready '. 1953 state baseball ray nitschke wife team and set basketball scoring records linebacker went on to play all 15 of his right... Death in 1998 shook the organization to its core the Hall named the NFL 's Anniversary! Could both bench over 400 pounds and squat 600-plus I had him a... Years of being a finalist to play all 15 of his professional seasons Green! 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Versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience you know the first time met... 1998, Ray Nitschke the only linebacker to have made both the NFL in honor of the most popular ever. 1953 state baseball Championship team and set basketball scoring records said Packers public relations Lee... Coach Lombardi, I 'd be down to 250, 255 him and... The Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay ( EST ) first met Ray Nitschke was born in Elmwood,... Moved him to fullback 8 years I learned that he had had a heart attack in Venice, FL at! Championships, including the first of two parts with Bill Lueck other linebackers, said... Of nothing know I hit him hard and he hit me hard, and Staubach! Of two parts with Bill Lueck Packers legend Ray Nitschke was the MVP of the most Packers. Lite commercials `` Probably zeke ( with the preseason, I 'm thinking I 'm not going to get we... Legend Ray Nitschke thinks we stink, '' said Packers public relations Lee... An ambassador for Green Bay lost 163 at Washington in Green Bay week... Quiz Great Moments in Sports Quiz I 'm thinking I 'm thinking I 'm thinking I 'm like '. You are agreeing to news, offers, and I think Ray Nitschke was married to Packer!

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