Ray Nitschke, one of pro football's greatest players and most eloquent ambassadors, died Sunday of a heart attack. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961, to Jackie Forchette. They called me a mezzanine rookie the second year until you played in a certain number of games. They've been kind of the best-kept secret in Green Bay for a long time, said Rivett. The Packers won 167 and finished the season with a 141 record. (It was erroneously first reported as 5,000lb (2,270kg). 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. Munoz was elected in January 1998, six weeks before Nitschke died of a heart attack at 61. A quarterback at Proviso High School, Nitschke cried when Illinois coach Ray Eliot moved him to fullback. In the process, she taught our community that the disease of addiction crosses all income levels . He was probably remembering another Coach Lombardi quote: There is no room for second place. Of all the heroes that the Packers had in their glory years under Coach Vince Lombardi, which included five NFL championships and victories in Super Bowls I and II, Nitschke was probably the most popular. 1 pick Fred Carr: "We roomed together as rookies. Nitschke is considered one of the toughest NFL players to ever live. Among all of us offensive linemen, we supported Zeke 100 percent. Those are the ones that dont understand what this is all about.. Ray Wietecha was still the line coach and he had seen (Nitschke) do that to Hyland so he didn't pull me off. "But it turned out all right," Remmel said. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first Packer Wife to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. 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. So then I went in and showered and never turned my back on him. The helmet (with the hole) is currently on display in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. A new documentary tells the story of the wife of a former football player for the Green Bay Packers and her struggle with alcohol. 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. Ray Nitschke was born on the 29th of December, 1936. Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke comes in at number 47 on NFL Films' "The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players" list produced in 2010.Subscribe t. All the wives. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 1972. 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. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital later that day. I hit him about three times. But Nitschke wasnt just an incredible player and a fiery leader. They had never met, but she recognized him and said, 'Hi, Coach Lombardi, I'm Bill Lueck's wife.' The Jackie Nitschke Center is named in honor of Jackie Nitschke, wife of former Packers great Ray Nitschke. Fred could do anything. Get back to work!" Tim Graham is a senior writer for The Athletic, covering Buffalo sports. Death Nitschke died of a heart attack in Venice, FL, at the age of 61 in 1998. The excerpt above was from a 2019 interview. 66 was the fourth number retired in the franchises rich history. He didn't know who I was. Older brothers Robert Jr. (age 21) and Richard (age 17) decided they would raise Ray on their own. "I can remember him intercepting a pass and crawling into the end zone. is 6'3"(1.91m) . (Complete Story). (He had) no personality. [15][16] Green Bay had clinched the NFC Central division title the week before at Minnesota for their first playoff berth in five seasons. In that room full of alpha males is where Nitschke stood up and explained what it means to join footballs greatest team. He was a beloved member of the Packers organization throughout his career and into retirement. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 1972. Jackie was a recovering alcoholic and an outspoken advocate in the recovery community, sharing her stories of treatment and rebuilding her life. My second year, Gale Gillingham said, 'Bill, you're going to be the next guy who gets tested.' ", On playing against Dick Butkus vs. practicing against Nitschke: "Butkus was tough. As his wife was dying of cancer he had become a member of a Christian Church in Green Bay. 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. He gets dressed. On July 2, 1973 he told me and Fortin, that a metal tower on the Packers practice field fell over on top of him. Rivett says up to 14 people can live at the Jackie Nitschke Center for a month while they get sober. Nitschke wasnt merely a hitter. 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. Discover Ray Nitschke's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. "People talk about tough he was, how bad he was. As a rookie, he backed up both left guard Gale Gillingham and right guard Jerry Kramer. That was the first year I started making money. Nitschke will be buried in Green Bay. Biography in: "American National Biography". In Super Bowl I, Nitschke contributed six tackles and a sack. ", On playing with Bart Starr for at least parts of four seasons: "Nobody is tougher than Bart Starr. [33] The bridge was constructed in 1998 to replace the former Main Street Bridge built in 1923. 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. Nitschke leaves three adopted children: John, 34; Richard, 32; and Amy, 26, and one granddaughter, Jacqueline Rae, 17 months. 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. That's how we became connected. It was during those four hours that I first learned much more about the great Packer. 1 draft choice? But he had a sense about him. Lombardi gave partial credit to Nitschke's success to Nitschke's wife, whose calming influence helped him focus on his career. A month after the 1958 season ended, Vince Lombardi was hired as head coach. Never a good student in high school, his grades suffered at college. He always tried to intimidate offensive guys. 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. Presenter: Phil Bengston. Knocking him in the head, blooding his nose, just because he was (bleeped) off every Friday. In 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. He was MVP of the 1962 title game. He thought of it as an honor for somebody to ask him for an autograph. My wife and I got in an argument this morning before I left home. Ray Nitschkes income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. 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.. According to Nitschke's biography, a spike was driven into his helmet, but did not injure him. Ray Nitschke. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. Sign up now! Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round (36th overall) of the 1958 NFL draft. 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. The guy (Nitschke) was a talented basketball player. [10], In his junior year in 1956 Nitschke lost his four front teeth on the opening kick-off against Ohio State. His humility and appreciation for having had the opportunity to play the NFL will always stick in my mind.. For years after his induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978, the NFL. His father was killed when he was 3, and his mother died when he was 13. ARLINGTON, TX - It was around ten oclock in the evening a week ago Sunday when Im positive that Mr. 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. 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. Guess what? I have found his comments to be poignant for anybody.. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first "Packer Wife" to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981. 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. 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. "Ray was a ballplayer's ballplayer," former teammate Willie Wood said. 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. pic.twitter.com/vf59f532Sw. When was Ray Nitschke inducted to the Hall of Fame? He was a frequent golfer in retirement, and he loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. In the book, The Defenders, author Murray Olderman quoted Nitschke as saying: I took it out on all the other kids in the neighborhood.. 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. Nitschke and his family, who were staying at the PAC Inn and the Crystal Beach Resort that week, fell in love with the town and in particular, the sport of hang gliding. Nitschke was married on June 26, 1961 to Jackie Forchette. We would stay at the Elberta beach until darkness. If you thought Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was tough, you should get to know his wife Jackie. He didn't always follow the defense. Biography. Lee Remmel, the Packers public relations director and a former beat writer for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, recalled how well Nitschke treated fans. Hed be the first to tell you not to put him on a pedestal above all the other linebackers, Robinson said. He had football smarts. 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. The Nitschke Luncheon is a solemn initiation for the new inductees, who are not allowed to speak. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first Packer Wife to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay and I never want to finish second again. We became best friends after that. I look out and see he's gone. 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]. He was a playmaker, recording 25 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries over his 15 seasons. Nitschke made only one Pro Bowl team because Detroit Lions middle linebacker Joe Schmidt was a perennial selection from 1954 to 1963. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. 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. I used to be a bouncer in a bar and so I knew you can't let a guy up. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 29 December. With his bald head, horn-rimmed glasses and impeccable attire, he could have passed for a business executive or a college professor. Nowadays, NFL players swap teams seemingly as often as they get new haircuts. While he wasnt bombing his classes or getting into fistfights, he played quarterback and safety at Proviso High in suburban Chicago. He was 61. Jackie Nitschke's influence transformed this football madman into a loving husband and father of three adopted children. 66 in the open field. In the first Super Bowls, Nitschke had 15 tackles total and a quarterback sack. Neither championships nor individual trophies weighed more. 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. I remember when they'd grab Bart by the belt of his jersey and pile-drive him into the ground. Raised by two older brothers, Nitschke praised Proviso coach Andy Puplis and other high school coaches for keeping him on the right track. He played the rest of the game.[11]. I grew up being a Bears fan. Born in Elmwood Park, Illinois, Nitschke was the youngest of three sons to Robert and Anna Nitschke. Lueck, who played at the University of Arizona, was chosen No. https://www.britannica.com/facts/Ray-Nitschke, 66 (Green Bay Packers, 19591972) 33 (Green Bay Packers, 1958). The personification of gruff and tough, the bald-headed Nitschke's voice and manner remained intimidating 25 years after he left the field. 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. The Hall of Famers want to say whatever is on their minds. If you wanted a leader to emulate, you couldnt pick a better person.. But he was a Hall of Famer from the tip of his toes to the top of his head. 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. I just want to get along.' It was a big-time hit, Yary said. So, how much is Ray Nitschke worth at the age of 62 years old? An all-time great Packer/NFL player. ", On how his friendship with fellow guard Gale Gillingham got started: "Weightlifting. So the World League offered me $45,000, $55,000, $75,000 on a three-year contract. On March 8, Nitschke took a drive with his daughter, Amy Klaas, and her one-year-old daughter to a friend's house. 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,. He was pronounced dead at Venice Hospital. He played on the 1953 state baseball championship team and set basketball scoring records. As much as he insisted they all are equals, his passion set him apart. Jackie Forchette (26 June1961 - 1996)( her death)( 3 children). ", On what happened next: "(I'm a) mezzanine rookie, and I had seen (Nitschke) take his frustration out every Friday on Hyland. Rowland DePeaux on his friendship with Vince & Marie Lombardi, Legendary Wisconsin sportscaster started in Green Bay, Defensive end acquired in Adderley trade played for multiple Packers coaches in the '70s, Massive 1950s defensive tackle came to Packers from Browns, Former Packers defensive end on what led to Lombardi trading him to New York, 1940s player began his pro career with Packers' farm club, Legendary Packers coach went after everybody and that's what made him great, An oral history with one of Lombardi's original assistants, An oral history with former Packers offensive line coach Bill Austin. When you die, youre still in the Hall of Fame.. Also learn how He earned most of Ray Nitschke networth? Birthplace: Elmwood Park, IL Location of death: Venice, FL Cause of death: Heart Failure Remains: Cre. In 1974, Lueck's final season with the Packers, he was bothered by an assortment of injuries and started eight of 14 games. Nitschke started to feel sharp chest pains during the drive, and he pulled over to a nearby rest stop. At a luncheon for new inductees and members, Nitschke hailed football and the Hall in a way few could articulate. 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. We're going to pay you a $15,000 signing bonus and a $15,000 salary your rookie year. "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 . Sure. Nitschke was 61 years old. But he's still standing around, so I go in the training room again. He was the MVP of the 1962 NFL Championship Game, accepting the prize of a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette. 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