He was pronounced dead at a local hospital later that day. Yet no one was more emotional or more sincere in his love for the game. ", On who was better at eluding the pass rush: "Probably Zeke. The Eagles paid me my last year. The discussion was heated, but remained private. Ray Nitschke attended the University of Illinois. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Lombardi gave partial credit to Nitschke's success to Nitschke's wife, whose calming influence helped him focus on his career. Ray Nitschke's income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. I get dressed. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. When he got up to speak, you knew he was speaking from the heart. He played the rest of the game.[11]. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. According to Nitschke's biography, a spike was driven into his helmet, but did not injure him. Thus he is the only linebacker to have made both the NFL's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. Yary witnessed the fury before he entered the NFL in 1968 with the Minnesota Vikings as the first draft choice. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. . 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. And certainly, a week ago Sunday, he was smiling down on Cowboy Stadium and the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl victory. Nitschke was 61 years old. He almost always went after Bob Hyland. The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. [2], His No. "But it turned out all right," Remmel said. In Super Bowl I, Nitschke contributed six tackles and a sack. What is said in the room stays in the room. In that room full of alpha males is where Nitschke stood up and explained what it means to join footballs greatest team. Fred and I remained close until about three, four years ago. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. A new documentary tells the story of the wife of a former football player for the Green Bay Packers and her struggle with alcohol. "I can remember Nitschke breaking his arm, busting his knee up and playing a whole half without even saying anything," Wood said. Related Quizzes and Features Quiz Great Moments in Sports Quiz Sports Quiz 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. A substantial aspect of Nitschkes legacy forever will be respecting the Hall of Fames legacy. My second year, Gale Gillingham said, 'Bill, you're going to be the next guy who gets tested.' They've been kind of the best-kept secret in Green Bay for a long time, said Rivett. Among all of us offensive linemen, we supported Zeke 100 percent. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. He went in and took his shower, and I'm still kind of looking around the door from the training room. I think he tried to see how tough you were and if you were going to fight back. It wasnt just the All-Pro honors or the five championships that made Nitschke great. Bengtson, after Lombardi left, said you and Freddie can't be roommates anymore. They had never met, but she recognized him and said, 'Hi, Coach Lombardi, I'm Bill Lueck's wife.' Nitschkes mother died from a blood clot when he was 13. The excerpt above was from a 2019 interview. Raised by two older brothers, Nitschke praised Proviso coach Andy Puplis and other high school coaches for keeping him on the right track. They couldnt wait until they saw No. Nitschke died of a heart attack in Venice, Florida at the age of 61 in 1998. 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. Also learn how He earned most of Ray Nitschke networth? That's how we became connected. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961, to Jackie Forchette. We have estimated He was a beloved member of the Packers organization throughout his career and into retirement. " Champion: The Legacy of Jackie Nitschke, " premiered in Green Bay this week. Wood remembered Nitschke working at his image on and off the field. When I came back to the car, he had had a heart attack. 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. That was a statement about how much he loved the game.. 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. (pre-1974). The Calgary Stampeders offered me the same amount of money. He was like the epitome of what a football player should be, Klaas told the Associated Press after her fathers death. Discover Ray Nitschke's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. 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). Nitschke remained popular in Green Bay after retiring, even having his phone number and home address published in the Green Bay phone book. He thought that was a privilege. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Follow Tim on Twitter @ByTimGraham, Nitschke recorded 25 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries over his 15 seasons. I became interested in Nitschke when after living in Wisconsin for 8 years I learned that he had become a Christian before he died. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. In 2019, USA TODAY compiled a group of 19 veteran reporters to vote on and rank the 100 greatest NFL players of all time. They always listed me at 240. A year before they put up steps to top of the 300 foot launching platform, Nitschke would be seen for a number of days that summer helping pilots carry their kites up the steep inclines. He was the MVP of the 1962 NFL Championship Game, accepting the prize of a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette. Then Chicago Bears middle linebacker Dick Butkus went to eight straight. Supplement 1, pp. Nitschke had an unusual pregame routine on Sundays. What position did Ray Nitschke play? [18] Nitschke returned for a 16th training camp in 1973, then retired in late August.[19][20][21][14]. 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 retirement, Nitschke became an inner voice for Hall of Famers. Lombardi gave partial credit to Nitschke's success to Ray's wife, whose calming influence helped him focus on his career. Death Nitschke died of a heart attack in Venice, FL, at the age of 61 in 1998. Ray Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois. They said, 'Bill, we'll send you the paperwork and it will be done.' , money, salary, income, and assets. You know the first time I met Vince Lombardi, my wife met him at the College All-Star Game. This is a carousel. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/facts/Ray-Nitschke, 66 (Green Bay Packers, 19591972) 33 (Green Bay Packers, 1958). Fred could do anything. ", On what happened next: "(I'm a) mezzanine rookie, and I had seen (Nitschke) take his frustration out every Friday on Hyland. Andre Reed finally got to his first Nitschke Luncheon in 2014 after eight years of being a finalist. Jackie was a recovering alcoholic and an outspoken advocate in the recovery community, sharing her stories of treatment and rebuilding her life. Of ballcarriers, he said: "I don't intend that he'll make an inch, let alone a touchdown, and then I want him to go back to the huddle shaking his head and thinking about Ray Nitschke. [10], In his junior year in 1956 Nitschke lost his four front teeth on the opening kick-off against Ohio State. All the wives. Nitschke was drafted in the third round of the 1958 NFL draft by the Packers, and he never looked back. It's supposed to be like a walk-through. I got the $15,000 signing bonus and they paid us every two weeks and I got seven paychecks. He gave it all to you. 448-449. 66 was retired in 1983, the fourth of six numbers retired by the Packers. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. "I loved playing the Bears. Proceeds from the documentary will help fund the center and provide two free scholarships each month. He didn't know who I was. I'm thinking I'm not going to get what we called, 'punked,' like Hyland did every Friday. At a luncheon for new inductees and members, Nitschke hailed football and the Hall in a way few could articulate. * In high school, he played quarterback and at the University of Illinois actually played fullback, along with the linebacker position. He liked to forearm your head. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. You cant even die from this team. 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. How tough was Nitschke? He was a natural-born leader, Hall of Fame right tackle Ron Yary said. 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. (Nitschke) would test guys. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Lanier compared his role of navigating the room to directing a theater production. With some of the brightest minds in the sport weighing in, Ray Nitschke was ranked No. He'd get in the huddle and he doesn't know where he is. Sure. 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