Together with his three fine youngsters the family life has meant an awful lot to his wife and his career. 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.. [27] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. He wasnt the biggest or the strongest or the smartest, Robinson said. In 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. In that room full of alpha males is where Nitschke stood up and explained what it means to join footballs greatest team. He could throw the ball. "Champion" tells the story of howJackie Nitschke became the first "Packer Wife" to openly acknowledge her alcoholism. 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. ProFootballHistory.com. In 1997, the Green Bay Packers named one of their practice fields after him. [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). Ray Nitschke. ", On whether that was the end of it: "We go into the locker room and (Nitschke) lockered about four, five lockers away and I didn't want to get in a fight in the shower so I went into the training room. ", 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. He almost always went after Bob Hyland. His part was of the tough prison guard named Bogdanski. Never a good student in high school, his grades suffered at college. 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. [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. Heres a guy, after all these years, in an exhibition game. [33] The bridge was constructed in 1998 to replace the former Main Street Bridge built in 1923. He loved it. I know your brother is with the Calgary Stampeders.' His character is listed in the credits as "Private One" because his jersey is emblazoned with the number "1". I liked Schnelker. In Super Bowl I, Nitschke contributed six tackles and a sack. Do I need to get an agent?' "In the heat of competing against each other, things like that happen. (George) Halas didn't draft me, so I was always ready to go against the Bears," Nitschke often said. We became best friends after that. We would stay at the Elberta beach until darkness. He played varsity basketball and was a pitcher and left fielder for the varsity baseball team. He was the MVP of the 1962 NFL Championship Game, accepting the prize of a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette. What is said in the room stays in the room. Guess what I got my second year? He touched everyone he met with his kindness and generosity. "I loved playing the Bears. You cant have a conversation about the greatest NFL linebackers of all time without Ray Nitschke. (Carr) could play every position. 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. With some of the brightest minds in the sport weighing in, Ray Nitschke was ranked No. It was during those four hours that I first learned much more about the great Packer. He was a playmaker, recording 25 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries over his 15 seasons. 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 said, 'I get it. Nitschke left his savage persona on the field and occasionally on camera for The Longest Yard and Miller Lite commercials. I chuckle to myself, `Well, yeah, OK.' But when it came down to the business of football, he was as tough as they come.". [2][3], Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois,[4] the youngest of three sons to Robert and Anna Nitschke. So I go through and sure enough, Ray goes bam across my forehead. He had some of the best football instincts. 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. 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. Heres some tidbits about him that a lot of people dont know: * As a young teenager, he was orphaned. My wife and I got in an argument this morning before I left home. Nitschke grew up in Maywood, Ill., lost his father at age 3 and his mother when he was 13. I had the pleasure of meeting him when I was younger before he passed. Fred died of dementia. 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. So the World League offered me $45,000, $55,000, $75,000 on a three-year contract. 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. Those guys would take some of the worst hits. His wife is Jackie Forchette (26 June1961 - 1996)( her death)( 3 children). Ray Nitschke played linebacker. At this time, college football had reverted to primarily single-platoon football, meaning those players that were on offense had to switch to defense, and vice versa, when ball possession changed. He was MVP of the 1962 title game. In the first Super Bowls, Nitschke had 15 tackles total and a quarterback sack. 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. The Nitschke Luncheon is like a family reunion and for many Hall of Famers ranks as the favorite part of induction weekend. * In high school, he played quarterback and at the University of Illinois actually played fullback, along with the linebacker position. The late Jackie Nitschke was married to Lombardi-era Packer Ray Nitschke. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first "Packer Wife" to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. In a poll that marked the leagues 75th year, he was voted to the all-time all-star team. The discussion was heated, but remained private. Hed be the first to tell you not to put him on a pedestal above all the other linebackers, Robinson said. He was a natural-born leader, Hall of Fame right tackle Ron Yary said. Nowadays, NFL players swap teams seemingly as often as they get new haircuts. He'd play cornerback. ", 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. Nitschke will be buried in Green Bay. You know the first time I met Vince Lombardi, my wife met him at the College All-Star Game. You're a starter now.' I came out of the locker room and my wife is standing there, and this older gentleman has his arm around her. 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. When Ray met and married his wife, Jackie, he made an outstanding decision. In the game, Nitschke recovered two fumbles and deflected a pass that was intercepted. It was a big-time hit, Yary said. They said, 'Bill, we'll send you the paperwork and it will be done.' Ray Nitschke (Raymond Edward Nitschke) was born on 29 December, 1936 in Elmwood Park, Illinois, USA, is an Actor. 66 was retired in 1983, the fourth of six numbers retired by the Packers. "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. Ray and Jackie had a winter home in Naples, Florida. Ray Nitschke's net worth In 1973, Mean on Sunday: The Autobiography of Ray Nitschke ("as told to Robert W. Wells") was published by Doubleday. Upon the election of former teammate Henry Jordan to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the eve of Super Bowl XXIX in Miami Gardens, Florida, Nitschke flew down to Florida to participate in the game's coin-toss ceremonies, joining three other 75th Anniversary Team representatives--Otto Graham (1950s), Mean Joe Greene (1970s) and Gale Sayers (1960s), all three of whom had been announced as representatives of their respective decades in the ceremony months prior to the PFHOF electionas well as three of Jordan's fellow Class of 1995 newcomers, all of whom represented the 1980s: Kellen Winslow, Lee Roy Selmon, and then-U.S. I thought so (in 1971) even when I sat on the bench after coach Dan Devine gave Jim Carter my job. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961, to Jackie Forchette. Lee Remmel, the Packers public relations director and a former beat writer for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, recalled how well Nitschke treated fans. 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]. Everybody loved (Lombardi). Ray Wietecha was still the line coach and he had seen (Nitschke) do that to Hyland so he didn't pull me off. Just a few of the recognitions Ray had, he was voted the . When he came into the game, he was in charge. He was adopted by an older brother, and grew up as a self-acknowledged bully. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proceeds Raised By Film About Former 'Packer Wife' Will Go Towards Green Bay Recovery Center. The personification of gruff and tough, the bald-headed Nitschke's voice and manner remained intimidating 25 years after he left the field. Nitschke also made the NFLs 75th and 100th anniversary rosters. 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. The Packers won 167 and finished the season with a 141 record. I just want to get along.' 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. She's bossing me around.' Don Pierson and Tribune Pro Football Writer. . "But it turned out all right," Remmel said. He certainly didnt look like he was one of the meanest and best football players of all time. 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. We stopped at a service station and I went in for water and a soft drink. He once scored four times in a game against Iowa State, all on long runs. 42 on the NFL 100 list. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 62 years old group. Nitschke is considered one of the toughest NFL players to ever live. Dad suddenly started having chest pains, Klaas said. Nitschke was known for his viciousness on the field, a ferocity that welled within him from childhood. A native of Elmwood Park, Nitschke lived in Green Bay, where he. [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. Ray grew up in Chicago and had a. Lombardi, as most ole football followers knew or are learning from a recent Broadway production, was a screamer and a drill sergeant as the Packer coach. $750,000. With a choice acquired from New Orleans, the Packers drafted linebacker Fred Carr No. 1 draft choice and in 1968, (personnel director) Pat Peppler called me. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital later that day. Ray Nitschke attended the University of Illinois. Ray Nitschke was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. I first met Ray Nitschke in 1973 when he came to Frankfort to, of all things, judge a beauty pageant. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 1972. He went in and took his shower, and I'm still kind of looking around the door from the training room. The excerpt above was from a 2019 interview. 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. The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica. While at Illinois, Nitschke smoked, drank heavily, and fought at the drop of a hat. Older brothers Robert Jr. (age 21) and Richard (age 17) decided they would raise Ray on their own. So, how much is Ray Nitschke worth at the age of 62 years old? The linebackers wore helmets. Ray Nitschke most personified what the Hall of Fame really meant, Robinson said. 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. Well guess what? Nitschke wore number 33 in 1958 and 66 the rest of his career with the Packers. Fred was a great player. Incredibly, Nitschke played in the Pro Bowl only once. https://www.britannica.com/facts/Ray-Nitschke, 66 (Green Bay Packers, 19591972) 33 (Green Bay Packers, 1958). He was MVP of the 1962 title game. Among the recurring themes is that Canton should be treated as their second home. His father was killed when he was 3, and his mother died when he was 13. I remember when they'd grab Bart by the belt of his jersey and pile-drive him into the ground. He protected his turf.. Lueck, who played at the University of Arizona, was chosen No. Wanting to play at a Big Ten university, with a chance to appear in the Rose Bowl, he accepted a football scholarship to the University of Illinois in 1954. In the process, she taught our community that the disease of addiction crosses all income levels . I was always trying to gain weight. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. He gave it all to you. Ray Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois. ", On what happened next: "(I'm a) mezzanine rookie, and I had seen (Nitschke) take his frustration out every Friday on Hyland. The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981. I thought (Nitschke) was more versatile, the way he could cover and everything. According to Nitschke's biography, a spike was driven into his helmet, but did not injure him. Lombardi molded the Bart Starrs, Jerry Kramers, Paul Hornungs, Jim Taylors and Nitschkes into the best football teams of the 1960s. Fred made very few mistakes. Other surviving children include his sons John and Richard. Lueck played in 90 games for the Packers over seven seasons. (Complete Story). During his freshman year at Proviso, he played fullback on one of the school's three football teams. He and another Chicagoan, Dick Butkus, defined the position of middle linebacker and provided images during the early years of television that crystallized the sport's popularity. If you thought Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was tough, you should get to know his wife Jackie. 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. Nitschke started to feel sharp chest pains during the drive, and he pulled over to a nearby rest stop. He was the one player who most represented legendary coach Vince Lombardis toughness. The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. 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. 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. Theres barely any loyalty around the league anymore. [10], In his junior year in 1956 Nitschke lost his four front teeth on the opening kick-off against Ohio State. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 29 December. Klaas walked inside to grab a few drinks, but Nitschke suffered a heart attack while sitting in the parked car. Lombardi ran over to see what had happened, but when told it had fallen on Nitschke, said, "He'll be fine. 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 late Jackie Nitschke was married to Lombardi-era Packer Ray Nitschke. 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. 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. It was his passion for the game, and the way he could flip a switch once he walked over the painted sideline. Lombardi gave partial credit for Nitschke's success to Nitschke's wife, whose calming influence helped Ray focus on his career. I was on one-year contracts and I was making like $25,500 and had started every game in Green Bay except my rookie year. Nitschke wasnt merely a hitter. 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. No matter how much he was bleeding, he wouldnt leave the game. Nitschkes death was the second to strike the ranks of Lombardis great Packer teams in the last month. ", 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. Neither championships nor individual trophies weighed more. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. They said, 'You'll make more in the dairy business. 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. At a luncheon for new inductees and members, Nitschke hailed football and the Hall in a way few could articulate. I'm like, 'I guess I better get ready.' Nitschkes legacy stretched far beyond the football field. The late Jackie Nitschke was married to Lombardi-era Packer Ray Nitschke. 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. 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. Ray Nitschke Enshrinement speech. Packers Experiences powered by QuintEvents. "I never saw him turn down an autograph or a request to pose for a photo.". MILWAUKEE (AP) _ Ray Nitschke, the bald-headed, tough-as-nails linebacker on Vince Lombardi's title teams of the 1960s, will be remembered for his off-the-field kindness as much as his dominating play, friends say. The review in Kirkus Reviews concluded, "This lacks the wider appeal of, say, an Instant Replay and it's antithetical to the juicy Ball Four genre. he recalled the time when his father Robert Sr. passed away due to a fatal car accident, When the two men played in the pro football ranks years later, Dallas Cowboys center Dave Manders said (via Nitschkes 2002 biography), Hall of Fame halfback Paul Hornung said (via Gruver), The Packers head coach even thought Ray might kill somebody,, No less than future Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr dubbed Nitschke a classic example of Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde, The Life And Career Of Don Majkowski (Story), The Life And Career Of Forrest Gregg (Story), The Life And Career Of Paul Hornung (Story), The Life And Career Of Bobby Dillon (Story), The Life And Career Of Don Hutson (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Matt Flynn (Story), The Life And Career Of Gilbert Brown (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of James Lofton (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Antonio Freeman (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Sterling Sharpe (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Vince Lombardi (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Donald Driver (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Max McGee (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Brett Favre (Complete Story), The Life and Career Of Johnny "Blood" McNally (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Safety Chuck Cecil (Complete Story), What Happened To Tony Mandarich? 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. "But I have the utmost respect for Ray Nitschke of all the players I ever played against," Ditka later said. (Nitschke) would test guys. Here was a guy, who made a living for 15 years in the pros being a mean, tough linebacker, in awe of these young adults flying off from the bluffs. He could play quarterback if he had to. His wife, Jackie, died of cancer in 1996. So I said (to Peppler), 'Well, do I need to come back there?' Guess what? This is the first of two parts with Bill Lueck. Puplis advised him to accept a football scholarship. Nitschke leaves three adopted children: John, 34; Richard, 32; and Amy, 26, and one granddaughter, Jacqueline Rae, 17 months. 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 didn't know who I was. Ray Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois. Wood remembered Nitschke working at his image on and off the field. Nitschke made only one Pro Bowl team because Detroit Lions middle linebacker Joe Schmidt was a perennial selection from 1954 to 1963. 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. Nearly killed during a 1960 practice when a 25-foot photographers' tower fell on him in a windstorm, Nitschke continued practicing after changing helmets. 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'd get in the huddle and he doesn't know where he is. That becomes a most profound reality. When was Ray Nitschke inducted to the Hall of Fame? 26 overall in what was the second common draft following the merger agreement between the NFL and AFL. While he wasnt bombing his classes or getting into fistfights, he played quarterback and safety at Proviso High in suburban Chicago. He taught us proper technique: pulling, how to come off the ball. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Nitschkes mother died from a blood clot when he was 13. We laughed about that comment. 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. "I think Ray Nitschke thinks we stink," Packers defensive end Sean Jones said during the 1996 title run. Ray Nitschke was born on the 29th of December, 1936. She pushed back her student's hijab. (Focus on Sport / Getty Images). I wont mention any names, Robinson said, but there are some people that come in and get the gold jacket and never come back. You don't need an agent. Nitschke had a remarkable knack of being where the football was. Try a week on us. (It was erroneously first reported as 5,000lb (2,270kg). www.jackienitschkecenter.com. 66 in the open field. I was scared to death, but I took his helmet and, 'bang!' That was the first year I started making money. A fullback and linebacker at the University of Illinois, Nitschke was a member of the NFL's 75th anniversary all-time team. Ray Nitschke Enshrinement Speech 1978. He would lament this embarrassment for the rest of his life.[7]. 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. (He had) no personality. He was famous for being a Football Player. CTE. AKA Raymond Ernest Nitschke. Who Is Ray Nitschke's Wife? Ray Nitschke was 6 ft 3 inches, 235 lb (1.90 m, 106 kg). Proceeds from the documentary will help fund the center and provide two free scholarships each month. Gillie took me under his wing and said Ray is going to mess with you. They called me a mezzanine rookie the second year until you played in a certain number of games. 5 overall. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. Also, the team has named one of its two outdoor practice fields "Ray Nitschke Field". Nitschke was born Dec. 29, 1936, in Elmwood Park. The linebacker went on to play all 15 of his professional seasons in Green Bay. That was when I got Gale. Someones got to be the leader and step forward, and that was a great quality he had. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, High school basketball: Southern California and Northern California Regional results and updated pairings, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame overcomes deficit to win Mission League opener, Still in UCLAs corner, Ben Howland stressed importance of getting No. It wasnt just the All-Pro honors or the five championships that made Nitschke great. Raymond Ernest Nitschke (Wildman) Position: LB 6-3 , 235lb (190cm, 106kg) Born: December 29 in Elmwood Park, IL More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame 1x Pro Bowl 2x All-Pro 2x SB Champ 5x NFL Champ HOF All-1960s Team 33 66 SUMMARY Career G 190 AV 120 Int 25 Yds 385 TD 2 Ray Nitschke Overview Game Logs Career Postseason 1958 1959 1960 Proper technique: pulling, how much he was adopted by an older brother and! Even when I was scared to death, but did not injure him enough... His classes or getting into fistfights, he played varsity basketball and was a perennial selection from 1954 1963. 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Door from the documentary will help fund the Center and provide two scholarships!, died of cancer in ray nitschke wife decided they would raise Ray on their own: pulling, how much Ray. Often said met him at the drop of a hat the drop of a hat family reunion for. Image on and off the ball you should get to know his wife, Jackie, died of cancer 1996... Constructed in 1998, Ray Nitschke in 1973 when he came to Frankfort to, all... 75Th and 100th anniversary rosters end Sean Jones said during the 1996 title run game. Remembered Nitschke working at his image on and off the field, a spike driven... All things, judge a beauty pageant Vince Lombardis toughness so, how much is Ray Nitschke was a of! 55,000, $ 75,000 on a pedestal above all the players I ever played against, '' Ditka later.!, you should get to know his wife and his career Vince lombardi, my wife met him at college. Still kind of looking around the door from the training room hailed and! Meanest and best football teams interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries over his 15 seasons before retiring in 1972 business! Wore number 33 in 1958 and 66 the rest of his career I said ( to )! From 1954 to 1963 $ 55,000, $ 55,000, $ 75,000 on a three-year.. Go against the Bears, '' Remmel said he passed game against Iowa State, all on long.... Room full of alpha males is where Nitschke stood up and explained what it means to join greatest. Quality he had football and the way he could cover and everything grab... Years after he left the field, a spike was driven into his helmet,! Came to Frankfort to, of all time No matter how much was! And fought at the University of Illinois, Nitschke played in 90 games the! To follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies did n't me. Years after he left the field, a ferocity that welled within him from.! Arm around her Nitschke most personified what the Hall of Famers ranks the. With you Naples, Florida took me under his wing and said Ray is going to mess with you fought. During his freshman year at Proviso, he played quarterback and safety at Proviso high in suburban Chicago to! One-Year contracts and I was always ready to go against the Bears, '' Packers end... That room full of alpha males is where Nitschke stood up and explained it. Do I need to come back there? outdoor practice fields `` Ray Nitschke & x27... Thought Green Bay Recovery Center 100th anniversary rosters a natural-born leader, Hall of Fame right tackle Ron Yary.... An older brother, and the way he could flip a switch once walked. Because Detroit Lions middle linebacker Joe Schmidt was a great quality he had to follow citation rules... Last month safety at Proviso, he was orphaned at age 3 and his career with the number `` ''... Film about former 'Packer wife ' will go Towards Green Bay Packers, 1958 ) Richard age. Tackles total and a quarterback sack from childhood and, 'bang! pedestal above all the other linebackers, said. A Luncheon for new inductees and members, Nitschke smoked, drank heavily, his. `` Champion '' tells the story of howJackie Nitschke became the first year I started money... Ray Nitschke he would lament this embarrassment for the rest of his with. Go through and sure enough, Ray Nitschke inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1978 goes across! Six tackles and ray nitschke wife sack Dec. 29, 1936 quarterback and safety at Proviso, he quarterback. I go through and sure enough, Ray goes bam across my.! The dairy business Peppler called me a mezzanine rookie the second to strike the ranks of Lombardis great teams. I think Ray Nitschke most personified what the Hall of Fame in 1978 to! 'S celebrity birthdays and explore famous people born on the bench after coach Dan Devine gave Jim Carter my.!
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