Bengtson, after Lombardi left, said you and Freddie can't be roommates anymore. At a luncheon for new inductees and members, Nitschke hailed football and the Hall in a way few could articulate. "I loved playing the Bears. I look out and see he's gone. Gillie took me under his wing and said Ray is going to mess with you. Birthplace: Elmwood Park, IL Location of death: Venice, FL Cause of death: Heart Failure Remains: Cre. (Gillingham) was probably 275, 280. In Super Bowl I, Nitschke contributed six tackles and a sack. On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. I hit him about three times. 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. In retirement, Nitschke became an inner voice for Hall of Famers. He didn't always follow the defense. Lanier compared his role of navigating the room to directing a theater production. [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. (Carr) could play every position. "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. "I can remember him intercepting a pass and crawling into the end zone. While he wasnt bombing his classes or getting into fistfights, he played quarterback and safety at Proviso High in suburban Chicago. On March 8, Nitschke took a drive with his daughter, Amy Klaas, and her one-year-old daughter to a friend's house. A terror in a football uniform and a soft-spoken guy in civilian clothes. You cant go any higher.. I used to be a bouncer in a bar and so I knew you can't let a guy up. 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. [9] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John (in 1963), Richard (in 1966), and Amy (in 1972). ProFootballHistory.com. Who Is Ray Nitschke's Wife? (Focus on Sport / Getty Images). But he's still standing around, so I go in the training room again. [15][16] Green Bay had clinched the NFC Central division title the week before at Minnesota for their first playoff berth in five seasons. (Complete Story). ", On playing against Dick Butkus vs. practicing against Nitschke: "Butkus was tough. Although Nitschke was known for his hard hitting, he was an athletic all-around linebacker who also intercepted 25 passes over his career. Ray Nitschke was born in IL. 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. On July 2, 1973 he told me and Fortin, that a metal tower on the Packers practice field fell over on top of him. Gale and I could both bench over 400 pounds and squat 600-plus. Nitschke also made the NFLs 75th and 100th anniversary rosters. Image courtesy of "Champion" trailer. A man at the station helped get him out of the car and started CPR.. Nitschkes rage was effectively channeled. Nitschke grew up in Maywood, Ill., lost his father at age 3 and his mother when he was 13. Thus he is the only linebacker to have made both the NFL's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. A quarterback at Proviso High School, Nitschke cried when Illinois coach Ray Eliot moved him to fullback. They said, 'You'll make more in the dairy business. He gets dressed. He was a frequent golfer in retirement, and he loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. Mean In The Middle smiled down from heaven as the Green Bay Packers were about to win the Super Bowl. Traverse City man arraigned on drunk driving charges, Methamphetamine found during traffic stop in Garfield Township. 66 was retired in 1983, the fourth of six numbers retired by the Packers. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. They couldnt wait until they saw No. Ray Nitschke Enshrinement speech. 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 a wonderful human being. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. You don't need an agent. We'd run through the plays and Ray would always tee-off on Hyland. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Encyclopdia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them. He thought of it as an honor for somebody to ask him for an autograph. On being drafted by the Packers: "I was a No. Jackie was a recovering alcoholic and an outspoken advocate in the recovery community, sharing her stories of treatment and rebuilding her life. "In fact, he's as mild and as meek as they come, a sweet guy," Wood said. He was probably remembering another Coach Lombardi quote: There is no room for second place. You know the first time I met Vince Lombardi, my wife met him at the College All-Star Game. I walk up to the car and he says, 'Bill, I want to apologize. I grew up being a Bears fan. I thought maybe I'll get $75,000, $100,000. 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. [18] Nitschke returned for a 16th training camp in 1973, then retired in late August.[19][20][21][14]. Older brothers Robert Jr. (age 21) and Richard (age 17) decided they would raise Ray on their own. Nitschke was taken to Venice Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m. (EST). So we ran the slip block where Bowman would block the defensive tackle and I'd slip and block the middle linebacker. You're a starter now.' We have estimated Ray Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois. That was the first year I started making money. The men who speak try to recapture Nitschkes message. Yary witnessed the fury before he entered the NFL in 1968 with the Minnesota Vikings as the first draft choice. Follow Tim on Twitter @ByTimGraham, Nitschke recorded 25 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries over his 15 seasons. 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). Those guys would take some of the worst hits. I first met Ray Nitschke in 1973 when he came to Frankfort to, of all things, judge a beauty pageant. Dad suddenly started having chest pains, Klaas said. We shook hands. Wood remembered Nitschke working at his image on and off the field. ", On whether Nitschke ever messed with Gillingham on the practice field: "Never. ", 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. He almost always went after Bob Hyland. So, how much is Ray Nitschke worth at the age of 62 years old? They've been kind of the best-kept secret in Green Bay for a long time, said Rivett. Fred made very few mistakes. Lombardi gave partial credit to Nitschke's success to Ray's wife, whose calming influence helped him focus on his career. ", On the reduction in salaries after the merger agreement: "You know what Donny Anderson got as a No. He hit you with every ounce of his body. * In the NFL championship game of 1962, he would recover two fumbles and deflect a pass that was intercepted gaining MVP honors and a new Chevrolet Corvette. Together with his three fine youngsters the family life has meant an awful lot to his wife and his career. 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. , money, salary, income, and assets. But he was a Hall of Famer from the tip of his toes to the top of his head. His part was of the tough prison guard named Bogdanski. Ray Nitschke was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. The guy (Nitschke) was a talented basketball player. She's bossing me around.' Under his leadership and menacing style of play, Green Bay won five NFL championships during his time with the team. Ray Nitschke attended the University of Illinois. ", On how his friendship with fellow guard Gale Gillingham got started: "Weightlifting. He wasnt the biggest or the strongest or the smartest, Robinson said. 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 feuded with Mike Ditka and scoffed at the notion that Butkus was a younger, improved version of himself. He lost both his parents by the age of 14, causing a lot of trouble in school. When I came back to the car, he had had a heart attack. 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. pic.twitter.com/vf59f532Sw. When Ray met and married his wife, Jackie, he made an outstanding decision. (It was erroneously first reported as 5,000lb (2,270kg). That's how I got big. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first "Packer Wife" to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. Were all equal, going in with 80 percent of the vote. Ray grew up in Chicago and had a. He recorded the only pass reception of his career, a 34-yard gain after a blocked Packer field goal attempt, and they won 3020 to finish at 104, their best regular season record since 1966. Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. His father was killed when he was 3, and his mother died when he was 13. If you thought Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke was tough, you should get to know his wife Jackie. ", 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. The discussion was heated, but remained private. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first Packer Wife to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. Theres barely any loyalty around the league anymore. That was when I got Gale. Discover Ray Nitschke's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. They called me a mezzanine rookie the second year until you played in a certain number of games. He certainly didnt look like he was one of the meanest and best football players of all time. He was famous for being a Football Player. After three seasons of part-time duty in the middle, Nitschke took over full-time in 1961 on Lombardis first Packer championship team. He had football smarts. 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. , improved version of himself Ditka and scoffed at the College All-Star Game passes! 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