Ray Nitschke was born in IL. This is a carousel. Then to $21,500. His wife died shortly thereafter. 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. . He'd play cornerback. 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. I thought so (in 1971) even when I sat on the bench after coach Dan Devine gave Jim Carter my job. 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. 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. When I told Green Bay what I was offered, they matched it. 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. I want him to remember Ray Nitschke, even in his dreams.". Fred and I remained close until about three, four years ago. That becomes a most profound reality. Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. 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. Their success rate is like 78 percent.. So, how much is Ray Nitschke worth at the age of 62 years old? "I loved playing the Bears. In the game, Nitschke recovered two fumbles and deflected a pass that was intercepted. ARLINGTON, TX - It was around ten oclock in the evening a week ago Sunday when Im positive that Mr. So, how much is Ray Nitschke worth at the age of 62 years old? 1 seed in West, Another Trevor Bauer defamation suit is thrown out, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Dennis Schroder leads depleted Lakers to crucial win over Thunder, Despite cap issues, Chargers GM Tom Telesco says Keenan Allen isnt going anywhere, Georgias Jalen Carter charged with racing in crash that killed teammate, staff member, High school baseball and softball: Tuesdays scores, Atonio Mafi draft diary: Mental health should be a priority, even in football culture. Proceeds Raised By Film About Former 'Packer Wife' Will Go Towards Green Bay Recovery Center. 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. I had the pleasure of meeting him when I was younger before he passed. His part was of the tough prison guard named Bogdanski. Zeke Bratkowski same thing. He was a fullback and linebacker for the Illini, and the Packers drafted him as a linebacker on the third round in 1958. Someones got to be the leader and step forward, and that was a great quality he had. I have found his comments to be poignant for anybody.. He appeared in the comic film Head, starring The Monkees, as a footballer who repeatedly tackles Peter Tork in a mock war movie sequence. His character is listed in the credits as "Private One" because his jersey is emblazoned with the number "1". His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. 66 dash onto the field. The NFL legend was twice named a First-Team All-Pro, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. His baseball skills brought him an offer from the professional St. Louis Browns with a $3,000 signing bonus. Nitschke accused Ditka of a cheap shot in a game, and the two nearly came to blows later that night in a restaurant. 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. On Fridays, we'd go out stocking hats and no pads. Ray Nitschke, one of pro football's greatest players and most eloquent ambassadors, died Sunday of a heart attack. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first Packer Wife to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. The Packers won 167 and finished the season with a 141 record. Mean In The Middle smiled down from heaven as the Green Bay Packers were about to win the Super Bowl. He was 61. He died in Venice, Fla., near his winter home in Naples. In Super Bowl II, Nitschke led Green Bay's defense with nine tackles. While he wasnt bombing his classes or getting into fistfights, he played quarterback and safety at Proviso High in suburban Chicago. I said, 'I admit I'm a dumb farm kid who just got back from milking cows, how does this process work? 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. I chuckle to myself, `Well, yeah, OK.' But when it came down to the business of football, he was as tough as they come.". had a luncheon the day before its induction ceremony, attended by most of the living members and honoring the new inductees. ", On Phil Bengtson as head coach: "I had no issues with him. 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.. Nitschke wore number 33 in 1958 and 66 the rest of his career with the Packers. Among the recurring themes is that Canton should be treated as their second home. If you don't like it go to the Canadian Football League. "And not just because the National Football League picked me as the top man at that job in the league's first 50 years. As his wife was dying of cancer he had become a member of a Christian Church in Green Bay. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. Ray Nitschke, the meanest Packer of them all and the stalwart of five NFL championships including the first two Super Bowls, is the epitome of the storied franchise. Ray Nitschke was 6 ft 3 inches, 235 lb (1.90 m, 106 kg). 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. ", Without that attitude, Nitschke said, he couldn't get his job done. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Ray Nitschke's income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. They had never met, but she recognized him and said, 'Hi, Coach Lombardi, I'm Bill Lueck's wife.' Ray Nitschke, one of pro football's greatest players and most eloquent ambassadors, died Sunday of a heart attack. He was a natural-born leader, Hall of Fame right tackle Ron Yary said. Ray Nitschke. I liked Schnelker. Funeral arrangements are pending. Never a good student in high school, his grades suffered at college. Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round (36th overall) of the 1958 NFL draft. Ray Nitschke, according to Hall of Fame quarterback and teammate Bart Starr, was a "classic example of Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde." Off the field he was a thoughtful caring person. 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. I know your brother is with the Calgary Stampeders.' We played basketball together. Lueck, who played at the University of Arizona, was chosen No. Their rookie season in 1958 under first-year head coach Ray "Scooter" McLean was dismal, with just one win and one tie for the worst record in the 12-team league. I walk up to the car and he says, 'Bill, I want to apologize. When you die, youre still in the Hall of Fame.. But Nitschke wasnt just an incredible player and a fiery leader. 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. "I've always thought I was the best middle linebacker in professional football," Nitschke once said. If you thought Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was tough, you should get to know his wife Jackie. Nitschke never wore a face mask and one of the Buckeye's player's helmets hit him in the mouth knocking out two teeth initially; the other two were hanging by the roots. He protected his turf.. So the World League offered me $45,000, $55,000, $75,000 on a three-year contract. When he came into the game, he was in charge. "But I have the utmost respect for Ray Nitschke of all the players I ever played against," Ditka later said. He wasnt the biggest or the strongest or the smartest, Robinson said. [10], In his junior year in 1956 Nitschke lost his four front teeth on the opening kick-off against Ohio State. So it was a volatile relationship.. Congressman Steve Largent, who ended the pregame ceremonies by flipping the coin. He was the one player who most represented legendary coach Vince Lombardis toughness. ", On playing with Bart Starr for at least parts of four seasons: "Nobody is tougher than Bart Starr. Dad suddenly started having chest pains, Klaas said. "I can remember him intercepting a pass and crawling into the end zone. Nitschke also made the NFLs 75th and 100th anniversary rosters. Who Is Ray Nitschke's Wife? His father died when he was three and his mother when he was thirteen and he was raised by an older brother. Lombardi ran over to see what had happened, but when told it had fallen on Nitschke, said, "He'll be fine. 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. 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. He touched everyone he met with his kindness and generosity. What position did Ray Nitschke play? 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. They said, 'You'll make more in the dairy business. [9] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John (in 1963), Richard (in 1966), and Amy (in 1972). In the process, she taught our community that the disease of addiction crosses all income levels . 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. Nitschke was taken to Venice Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m. (EST). * He would be drafted by the Packers in 1958 along with Taylor and Kramer and Green Bay would win one game their first year before Lombardi was hired as the head coach. He was the MVP of the 1962 NFL Championship Game, accepting the prize of a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette. 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). Nitschke remained popular in Green Bay after retiring, even having his phone number and home address published in the Green Bay phone book. 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. This must be the 1st quarter because Ray Nitschke barely has any blood on him yet. Nitschke also appeared in the 1974 football comedy The Longest Yard as Guard Bogdanski. Ray Wietecha was still the line coach and he had seen (Nitschke) do that to Hyland so he didn't pull me off. They always listed me at 240. Following his death, the Hall named the luncheon after him. Older brothers Robert Jr. (age 21) and Richard (age 17) decided they would raise Ray on their own. Wood remembered Nitschke working at his image on and off the field. All wear gold jackets, the lone standard for greatness. While at Illinois, Nitschke smoked, drank heavily, and fought at the drop of a hat. 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. Packers Experiences powered by QuintEvents. 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. He thought that was a privilege. 42 on the NFL 100 list. [27] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. The St. Louis Browns offered him a baseball contract, but he wanted to play Big Ten football. (George) Halas didn't draft me, so I was always ready to go against the Bears," Nitschke often said. Champion:The Legacy of Jackie Nitschke,premiered in Green Bay this week. 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. You don't need an agent. 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. 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. He succeeded in raising his grades enough in his sophomore year to allow him to play sports his junior year, when he had grown significantly (to six feet tall). We stopped at a service station and I went in for water and a soft drink. [18] Nitschke returned for a 16th training camp in 1973, then retired in late August.[19][20][21][14]. Traverse City man arraigned on drunk driving charges, Methamphetamine found during traffic stop in Garfield Township. He is from USA. The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica. He was MVP of the 1962 title game. (Focus on Sport / Getty Images). 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 . "I never saw him turn down an autograph or a request to pose for a photo.". Zeke had great feet.". That was a statement about how much he loved the game.. Among all of us offensive linemen, we supported Zeke 100 percent. 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. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 62 years old group. Nowadays, NFL players swap teams seemingly as often as they get new haircuts. On being drafted by the Packers: "I was a No. 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. A man at the station helped get him out of the car and started CPR.. We would stay at the Elberta beach until darkness. Try a week on us. 1 draft choice? It's supposed to be like a walk-through. 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. I used to be a bouncer in a bar and so I knew you can't let a guy up. The heaviest I ever got there was a little over 260. Neither championships nor individual trophies weighed more. 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 did everything to help his wife raise. Biography. He thought of it as an honor for somebody to ask him for an autograph. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 1 draft choice and in 1968, (personnel director) Pat Peppler called me. "I thought I was the best middle linebacker even when I was a rookie, trying to beat my good friend Tom Bettis out of a starting job. A fullback and linebacker at the University of Illinois, Nitschke was a member of the NFL's 75th anniversary all-time team. In 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. Nitschke guided a Packers defense that won five NFL championships, including the first two Super Bowls. 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. In that room full of alpha males is where Nitschke stood up and explained what it means to join footballs greatest team. 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. He played varsity basketball and was a pitcher and left fielder for the varsity baseball team. Growing up in the outskirts of Chicago, Nitschke had idolized the Bears and he hoped to be chosen by them in the 1958 NFL Draft, held on December 2, 1957. Ray Nitschke (Raymond Edward Nitschke) was born on 29 December, 1936 in Elmwood Park, Illinois, USA, is an Actor. ", 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. On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. Nitschke had an unusual pregame routine on Sundays. Bengtson, after Lombardi left, said you and Freddie can't be roommates anymore. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay and I never want to finish second again. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital later that day. They said, 'Bill, we'll send you the paperwork and it will be done.' Was it a mistake or an act of hate? Even when he was relegated to backup duty in the twilight of his 15-year career, they cheered his every move. 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. So I started beating him down and they didn't pull me off of him until I had him on the ground. 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. ", Comparing Bratkowski to Starr: "Zeke had the arm. If you thought Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was tough, you should get to know his wife Jackie. When I came back to the car, he had had a heart attack. Those are the ones that dont understand what this is all about.. (pre-1974). (Gillingham) was probably 275, 280. I remember when they'd grab Bart by the belt of his jersey and pile-drive him into the ground. At 62 years old, Ray Nitschke height His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. He had some of the best football instincts. The linebacker went on to play all 15 of his professional seasons in Green Bay. I was the executive secretary of the National Soaring and Hang Gliding Festival and Paul Alfred Corey and his sister Carol, the owners of the PAC Inn, and Gustafson Oil Company had arranged through Detroit Lions general manager Nick Kerbawy to have the perennial All-Pro linebacker, who had recently retired, in the Port City to be part of a five-judge panel to select the first National Soaring Queen. is 6'3"(1.91m) . 66 was the fourth number retired in the franchises rich history. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Besides Klaas, Nitschke is survived by two sons, John and Richard. Ray Nitschke. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961 to Jackie Forchette. 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. "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. The linebackers wore helmets. [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). Also learn how He earned most of Ray Nitschke networth? We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 29 December. " Champion: The Legacy of Jackie Nitschke, " premiered in Green Bay this week. Presenter: Phil Bengston. He was pronounced dead at Venice Hospital. A terror in a football uniform and a soft-spoken guy in civilian clothes. ", On what happened next: "(I'm a) mezzanine rookie, and I had seen (Nitschke) take his frustration out every Friday on Hyland. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981. One year, those you see will no longer be there, and one year, neither will you. Excerpts from those interviews will be periodically posted at www.packers.com. (Ken) Bowman would put up with no crap from Ray. The second year, no more offensive and defensive guys rooming together. But along the way, Nitschke became an all-around athlete, and turned down a $3,000 bonus from baseballs St. Louis Browns to accept a football scholarship to Illinois. 66 in the open field. Nitschke was selected in 1964. CTE. [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. With a choice acquired from New Orleans, the Packers drafted linebacker Fred Carr No. He gets dressed. Yet no one was more emotional or more sincere in his love for the game. The Calgary Stampeders offered me the same amount of money. She's bossing me around.' https://www.britannica.com/facts/Ray-Nitschke, 66 (Green Bay Packers, 19591972) 33 (Green Bay Packers, 1958). 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. 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. He'd get up and his helmet was over here to the side of his face. 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.. None. Nitschke died of a heart attack in Venice, Florida at the age of 61 in 1998. Ray Nitschke Enshrinement Speech 1978. That was when I got Gale. ", On playing against Dick Butkus vs. practicing against Nitschke: "Butkus was tough. Tim Graham is a senior writer for The Athletic, covering Buffalo sports. Discover Ray Nitschke's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. 5 overall. Get back to work!" We'd run through the plays and Ray would always tee-off on Hyland. During his freshman year at Proviso, he played fullback on one of the school's three football teams. (Carr) could play every position. So I go through and sure enough, Ray goes bam across my forehead. Ray Nitschke Enshrinement speech. . They couldnt wait until they saw No. But I didn't think he was as good as Nitschke. Encyclopdia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them. The men who speak try to recapture Nitschkes message. A quarterback at Proviso High School, Nitschke cried when Illinois coach Ray Eliot moved him to fullback. Ray Nitschke's net worth Knocking him in the head, blooding his nose, just because he was (bleeped) off every Friday. It was a big-time hit, Yary said. ", On Ray Wietecha, his first line coach: "I thought he was a very good coach. 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Have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay Packers in the evening a week Sunday! Nfl Championship game, accepting the prize of a heart attack said that was. Have the utmost respect for Ray Nitschke, & quot ; premiered in Green Bay Packers were about win. Four years ago lb ( 1.90 m, 106 kg ) flipping the coin three his... I want him to fullback touched everyone he met with his kindness generosity... Be, Klaas told the Associated Press after her fathers death in his dreams. `` as. Yary said about three, four years ago Without that attitude, Nitschke said,,.