Proceeds from the documentary will help fund the center and provide two free scholarships each month. And whenever Nitschke met any of his admirers, he rewarded them handsomely for their loyalty. ", On how his friendship with fellow guard Gale Gillingham got started: "Weightlifting. 66 was retired in 1983, the fourth of six numbers retired by the Packers. I'm like, 'I guess I better get ready.' 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. Lueck, 74, lives in suburban Phoenix. They've been kind of the best-kept secret in Green Bay for a long time, said Rivett. In the first Super Bowls, Nitschke had 15 tackles total and a quarterback sack. 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. Ray Nitschke attended the University of Illinois. If you wanted a leader to emulate, you couldnt pick a better person.. On March 8, Nitschke took a drive with his daughter, Amy Klaas, and her one-year-old daughter to a friends house. Wood remembered Nitschke working at his image on and off the field. He gets dressed. 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. (Carr) could play every position. Ray Nitschke was 6 ft 3 inches, 235 lb (1.90 m, 106 kg). On being drafted by the Packers: "I was a No. They had never met, but she recognized him and said, 'Hi, Coach Lombardi, I'm Bill Lueck's wife.' He was a frequent golfer in retirement, and he loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. Every day until the season begins, well unveil new members of the list, with the No. He could play quarterback if he had to. 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. Finally, the coaches pulled me off of him and everybody was laughing. 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. Nitschke made only one Pro Bowl team because Detroit Lions middle linebacker Joe Schmidt was a perennial selection from 1954 to 1963. You cant have a conversation about the greatest NFL linebackers of all time without Ray Nitschke. He was probably remembering another Coach Lombardi quote: There is no room for second place. Jackie Forchette (26 June1961 - 1996)( her death)( 3 children). ", Without that attitude, Nitschke said, he couldn't get his job done. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 1972. When a certain message needs to be delivered, Lanier knows who to call upon. 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. When I came back to the car, he had had a heart attack. 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. On July 2, 1973 he told me and Fortin, that a metal tower on the Packers practice field fell over on top of him. They said, 'Bill, we'll send you the paperwork and it will be done.' Fred weighed about 118 pounds when he died. According to Nitschke's biography, the tower drove a spike into his helmet, but didn't injure him. The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. Nitschke wasnt merely a hitter. It all went for naught, as panelist Bennett Cerf, who had attended the game, guessed his identity immediately. He played the rest of the game.[11]. So it was a volatile relationship.. Packers fans around the world will never forget the gentle giant that was Ray Nitschke. When he got up to speak, you knew he was speaking from the heart. Jim Miller, son and nephew of the managers, tells stories from behind the scenes, Or he might have been one of Lombardi's mainstays, Fr. Then Chicago Bears middle linebacker Dick Butkus went to eight straight. Nitschke had a remarkable knack of being where the football was. 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 was known for his strength and toughness. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Gale said, 'Bill, it's coming up on your turn. 26 overall in what was the second common draft following the merger agreement between the NFL and AFL. How tough was Nitschke? 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. His tragic death in 1998 shook the organization to its core. Yet while Nitschke himself would protest the notion, he did rise above the room. Yeah. Andre Reed finally got to his first Nitschke Luncheon in 2014 after eight years of being a finalist. "In the heat of competing against each other, things like that happen. I thought (Nitschke) was more versatile, the way he could cover and everything. Thus he is the only linebacker to have made both the NFL's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. The Hall of Famers want to say whatever is on their minds. 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. Nitschke became a full-time starter in 1962, the anchor of a disciplined defense that helped win five NFL titles and the first two Super Bowls in the 1960s. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. So I said (to Peppler), 'Well, do I need to come back there?' 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. This must be the 1st quarter because Ray Nitschke barely has any blood on him yet. In the process, she taught our community that the disease of addiction crosses all income levels . Death Nitschke died of a heart attack in Venice, FL, at the age of 61 in 1998. He didn't know who I was. Supplement 1, pp. Traverse City man arraigned on drunk driving charges, Methamphetamine found during traffic stop in Garfield Township. You're a starter now.' I get dressed. 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. Follow Tim on Twitter @ByTimGraham, Nitschke recorded 25 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries over his 15 seasons. We shook hands. (George) Halas didn't draft me, so I was always ready to go against the Bears," Nitschke often said. Those are the ones that would piss Ray off. Nitschke ranked ahead of Chuck Bednarik, Mike Singletary, and Roger Staubach on the list. He almost always went after Bob Hyland. 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. 42 on the NFL 100 list. ", 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. ", On whether Nitschke ever messed with Gillingham on the practice field: "Never. 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). 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. 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. If you thought Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was tough, you should get to know his wife Jackie. The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of Nitschke will be buried in Green Bay. 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]. Nitschke remained popular in Green Bay after retiring, even having his phone number and home address published in the Green Bay phone book. I used to be a bouncer in a bar and so I knew you can't let a guy up. 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. [22][23][24][25][26] 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 think he tried to see how tough you were and if you were going to fight back. * 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. 1 draft choice and in 1968, (personnel director) Pat Peppler called me. ", On his relationship with fellow No. Lombardi molded the Bart Starrs, Jerry Kramers, Paul Hornungs, Jim Taylors and Nitschkes into the best football teams of the 1960s. In 1969, he was named the NFL's all-time top Linebacker by the NFL in honor of the NFL's 50th Anniversary. [27] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. ", On Lombardi's role as general manager and his dealings with him:"He was in the locker room. CTE. When Ray met and married his wife, Jackie, he made an outstanding decision. I chuckle to myself, `Well, yeah, OK.' But when it came down to the business of football, he was as tough as they come.". Theres barely any loyalty around the league anymore. Under his leadership and menacing style of play, Green Bay won five NFL championships during his time with the team. Nitschke wore number 33 in 1958 and 66 the rest of his career with the Packers. Lee Remmel, the Packers public relations director and a former beat writer for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, recalled how well Nitschke treated fans. He was MVP of the 1962 title game. Ray Nitschke (Raymond Edward Nitschke) was born on 29 December, 1936 in Elmwood Park, Illinois, USA, is an Actor. I wont mention any names, Robinson said, but there are some people that come in and get the gold jacket and never come back. They always listed me at 240. ", 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. But Nitschke wasnt just an incredible player and a fiery leader. He was 61. [18] Nitschke returned for a 16th training camp in 1973, then retired in late August.[19][20][21][14]. Emotionally impactful is just what Nitschke would appreciate in order to hammer home as forcefully as stuffing Joe Don Looney in the backfield what it means to be a Hall of Famer. 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. 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 get in the huddle and he doesn't know where he is. It wasnt just the All-Pro honors or the five championships that made Nitschke great. On the field, he was a thunderous tackler, and he was as intense about his profession as any performer in the history of the game., Jerry Kramer, an all-pro guard on the Packers title teams, was quoted in the book, Great Linebackers, by Stephen Majewski, as saying of Nitschke, He seems incapable of letting up, even against his own teammates. [2], His No. He died in Venice, Fla., near his winter home in Naples. Nitschke was selected in 1964. "I loved playing the Bears. This is the first of two parts with Bill Lueck. 448-449. 66 in the open field. He thought that was a privilege. He played varsity basketball and was a pitcher and left fielder for the varsity baseball team. Nitschke started to feel sharp chest pains during the drive, and he pulled over to a nearby rest stop. He was a natural-born leader, Hall of Fame right tackle Ron Yary said. Ray Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois. He was the one player who most represented legendary coach Vince Lombardis toughness. (Ken) Bowman would put up with no crap from Ray. That becomes a most profound reality. He was a beloved member of the Packers organization throughout his career and into retirement. For years after his induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978, the NFL. A terror in a football uniform and a soft-spoken guy in civilian clothes. 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.. He would lament this embarrassment for the rest of his life.[7]. We always wondered why Zeke wasn't with another team starting. )[22][23] Lombardi ran over to see what had happened, but when told it had fallen on Nitschke, said, "He'll be fine. '", On any special memories of farm life: "I used to rope steers. Klaas walked inside to grab a few drinks, but Nitschke suffered a heart attack while sitting in the parked car. Champion:The Legacy of Jackie Nitschke,premiered in Green Bay this week. Ray Nitschke. He wasnt the biggest or the strongest or the smartest, Robinson said. Proceeds Raised By Film About Former 'Packer Wife' Will Go Towards Green Bay Recovery Center. If you thought Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was tough, you should get to know his wife Jackie. His No. His was pierced by a bolt from the tower. We stopped at a service station and I went in for water and a soft drink. Maybe it was the missing teeth or the oversized facemask, but no NFL player wanted to meet No. He is from USA. I became interested in Nitschke when after living in Wisconsin for 8 years I learned that he had become a Christian before he died. 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. He taught us proper technique: pulling, how to come off the ball. The NFL legend was twice named a First-Team All-Pro, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961 to Jackie Forchette. [10], In his junior year in 1956 Nitschke lost his four front teeth on the opening kick-off against Ohio State. ", 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. $17,500. 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. Among the recurring themes is that Canton should be treated as their second home. We laughed about that comment. I have found his comments to be poignant for anybody.. The linebackers wore helmets. Gale and I could both bench over 400 pounds and squat 600-plus. Older brothers Robert Jr. (age 21) and Richard (age 17) decided they would raise Ray on their own. 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. Ray Nitschke, one of pro football's greatest players and most eloquent ambassadors, died Sunday of a heart attack. She was a widely-known figure in the movement toward creating better drug and alcohol treatment options in Northeastern Wisconsin. Older brothers Robert Jr. (age 21) and Richard (age 17) decided they would raise Ray on their own. We played basketball together. But he's still standing around, so I go in the training room again. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Heres a guy, after all these years, in an exhibition game. "I think Ray Nitschke thinks we stink," Packers defensive end Sean Jones said during the 1996 title run. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. There is only one place in my game and that is first place. I hit him about three times. I got the $15,000 signing bonus and they paid us every two weeks and I got seven paychecks. He was adopted by an older brother, and grew up as a self-acknowledged bully. Ray played in the 230s, but he hit like he was 300 pounds. ", On who was better at eluding the pass rush: "Probably Zeke. pic.twitter.com/wy2S8g98pb, Packers Legend Jerry Kramer Worried for His Country When the Cowboys Were Named Americas Team. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981. 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. 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. No one ever instilled fear in their opponents quite as Nitschke did. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Following his death, the Hall named the luncheon after him. I'm thinking I'm not going to get what we called, 'punked,' like Hyland did every Friday. Image courtesy of "Champion" trailer. So I go through and sure enough, Ray goes bam across my forehead. Keep updated on the latest news and information. So, how much is Ray Nitschke worth at the age of 62 years old? He was 61. They called me a mezzanine rookie the second year until you played in a certain number of games. A substantial aspect of Nitschkes legacy forever will be respecting the Hall of Fames legacy. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. How many Super Bowls did Ray Nitschke win? Welcome tothe NFL 100,The Athleticsendeavor to identify the 100 best players in football history. Packers Experiences powered by QuintEvents. Someones got to be the leader and step forward, and that was a great quality he had. On Fridays, we'd go out stocking hats and no pads. [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. Ray Nitschke, one of pro football's greatest players and most eloquent ambassadors, died Sunday of a heart attack. Nitschke was known for his strength and toughness, exhibited prior to his third season in 1960. 1 player to be crowned on Wednesday, Sept. 8. is 6'3"(1.91m) . 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. ", On playing against Dick Butkus vs. practicing against Nitschke: "Butkus was tough. 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. He liked to forearm your head. I want him to remember Ray Nitschke, even in his dreams.". 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. New inductees are encouraged to return every year to help maintain the Hall of Fames legacy. I had the pleasure of meeting him when I was younger before he passed. 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. On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. The men who speak try to recapture Nitschkes message. 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. Hell, even Tom Brady moved on from the New England Patriot after 20 historic years. Nitschke was the leader and captain of the Packers defense throughout the entire 1960s. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 1972. Born in Elmwood Park, Illinois, Nitschke was the youngest of three sons to Robert and Anna Nitschke. But, let me tell you, off the field, Ray Nitschke, who was selected as a linebacker on both the 50th and 75th anniversary all-time National Football League teams was a pussycat. "And not just because the National Football League picked me as the top man at that job in the league's first 50 years. Nitschkes mother died from a blood clot when he was 13. Ray wanted everybody to know were all equal. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 62 years old group. Congressman Steve Largent, who ended the pregame ceremonies by flipping the coin. Ray Nitschke spent two decades informing new Pro Football Hall of Famers none was bigger than the rest. He definitely wasnt the fastest. "I've always thought I was the best middle linebacker in professional football," Nitschke once said. ", On Phil Bengtson as head coach: "I had no issues with him. Hall of fame middle linebacker for the Green Bay Packers who was named MVP of the 1962 NFL Championship Game and was a 1964 Pro Bowl selection. A lot of times we had to guide him into the huddle. The University of Illinois converted him to fullback and linebacker. 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. Lueck, who played at the University of Arizona, was chosen No. Those are the ones that dont understand what this is all about.. In 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. The linebacker went on to play all 15 of his professional seasons in Green Bay. His father died in a car accident when Nitschke was 3. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first Packer Wife to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. Butkus was tough was 300 pounds as a self-acknowledged bully Towards Green Bay Recovery center the topics included in first! Page across from the tower language links are at the top of 1960s! 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