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. ", On whether Nitschke ever messed with Gillingham on the practice field: "Never. 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]. You know his classic lines, if it doesnt matter who wins or loses, then why do we keep score or the dictionary is the only place where success comes before work.. They had never met, but she recognized him and said, 'Hi, Coach Lombardi, I'm Bill Lueck's wife.' He played on the 1953 state baseball championship team and set basketball scoring records. In 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. [29] The only other Lombardi-era player to have his number retired is quarterback Bart Starr, whose number 15 was retired in 1973. He was a frequent golfer in retirement, and he loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. 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. ", On how his friendship with fellow guard Gale Gillingham got started: "Weightlifting. Jackie was a recovering alcoholic and an outspoken advocate in the recovery community, sharing her stories of treatment and rebuilding her life. I used to be a bouncer in a bar and so I knew you can't let a guy up. With his bald head, horn-rimmed glasses and impeccable attire, he could have passed for a business executive or a college professor. )[22][23] Lombardi ran over to see what had happened, but when told it had fallen on Nitschke, said, "He'll be fine. Nitschke was known for his strength and toughness. There is only one place in my game and that is first place. Discover Ray Nitschke's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Under his leadership and menacing style of play, Green Bay won five NFL championships during his time with the team. 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. Nitschke is considered one of the toughest NFL players to ever live. AKA Raymond Ernest Nitschke. 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. I would journey with him and longtime TV 7 & 4 news and weatherman Dave Fortin to the Elberta beach to watch the hang gliders fly off the bluffs. " Champion: The Legacy of Jackie Nitschke, " premiered in Green Bay this week. Wood remembered Nitschke working at his image on and off the field. 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. 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. 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. Ray Nitschke was born in IL. 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. Nitschke left his savage persona on the field and occasionally on camera for The Longest Yard and Miller Lite commercials. In a poll conducted in conjunction with the NFLs 50th anniversary, Nitschke was voted the all-time best linebacker. He was adopted by an older brother, and grew up as a self-acknowledged bully. You know the first time I met Vince Lombardi, my wife met him at the College All-Star Game. I grew up being a Bears fan. His Father passed away when he was 3, and his Mother passed away when he was 13. In 1998, Ray Nitschke was living comfortably in Naples, Fla. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. 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. Among the recurring themes is that Canton should be treated as their second home. His wife died shortly thereafter. [22][23][24][25][26] Do I need to get an agent?' You cant go any higher.. On Fridays, we'd go out stocking hats and no pads. Maybe it was the missing teeth or the oversized facemask, but no NFL player wanted to meet No. Biography in: "American National Biography". So, how much is Ray Nitschke worth at the age of 62 years old? The Jackie Nitschke Center is named in honor of Jackie Nitschke, wife of former Packers great Ray Nitschke. Puplis advised him to accept a football scholarship. 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. ", On the reduction in salaries after the merger agreement: "You know what Donny Anderson got as a No. 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 man at the station helped get him out of the car and started CPR.. Munoz, however, had a chance to absorb Nitschkes words. Nitschke also made the NFLs 75th and 100th anniversary rosters. Gale and I could both bench over 400 pounds and squat 600-plus. Proceeds from the documentary will help fund the center and provide two free scholarships each month. [27] Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. Ray wanted everybody to know were all equal. (Focus on Sport / Getty Images). "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. 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. . 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. When I told Green Bay what I was offered, they matched it. While he wasnt bombing his classes or getting into fistfights, he played quarterback and safety at Proviso High in suburban Chicago. He was MVP of the 1962 title game. I became interested in Nitschke when after living in Wisconsin for 8 years I learned that he had become a Christian before he died. Nearly killed during a 1960 practice when a 25-foot photographers' tower fell on him in a windstorm, Nitschke continued practicing after changing helmets. And whenever Nitschke met any of his admirers, he rewarded them handsomely for their loyalty. They've been kind of the best-kept secret in Green Bay for a long time, said Rivett. His humility and appreciation for having had the opportunity to play the NFL will always stick in my mind.. But Nitschke wasnt just an incredible player and a fiery leader. 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. One year, those you see will no longer be there, and one year, neither will you. The Associated Press contributed to this story. 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. He didn't always follow the defense. Ray Nitschke most personified what the Hall of Fame really meant, Robinson said. https://www.britannica.com/facts/Ray-Nitschke, 66 (Green Bay Packers, 19591972) 33 (Green Bay Packers, 1958). 1 draft choice? Ray Nitschke won two Super Bowl championships. The gravitas is unmistakable. Nitschke wasnt merely a hitter. 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 was 61. The film's executive producer, Jim Rivett, said that Nitschke was the first Packer Wife to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism. Andre Reed finally got to his first Nitschke Luncheon in 2014 after eight years of being a finalist. He gave it all to you. 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. What is said in the room stays in the room. What college did Ray Nitschke attend? So I go through and sure enough, Ray goes bam across my forehead. He was pronounced dead at Venice Hospital. Also, the team has named one of its two outdoor practice fields "Ray Nitschke Field". Actor: The Longest Yard. Get back to work!". He played varsity basketball and was a pitcher and left fielder for the varsity baseball team. Funeral arrangements are pending. Nitschke also appeared in the 1974 football comedy The Longest Yard as Guard Bogdanski. Jackie was unable to have children, so they adopted three: John in 1963, Richard in 1966, and Amy in 1972. Nitschkes legacy stretched far beyond the football field. Zeke Bratkowski same thing. 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 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. Although Nitschke was known for his hard hitting, he was an athletic all-around linebacker who also intercepted 25 passes over his career. Lanier took over when Jones died in 2013. Just a few of the recognitions Ray had, he was voted the . Ray Nitschke was born on the 29th of December, 1936. His father was killed when he was 3, and his mother died when he was 13. Older brothers Robert Jr. (age 21) and Richard (age 17) decided they would raise Ray on their own. 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. "I never saw him turn down an autograph or a request to pose for a photo.". Nitschke leaves three adopted children: John, 34; Richard, 32; and Amy, 26, and one granddaughter, Jacqueline Rae, 17 months. On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people. ", On what happened next: "(I'm a) mezzanine rookie, and I had seen (Nitschke) take his frustration out every Friday on Hyland. And certainly, a week ago Sunday, he was smiling down on Cowboy Stadium and the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl victory. Traverse City man arraigned on drunk driving charges, Methamphetamine found during traffic stop in Garfield Township. 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 Willie Lanier, the current Nitschke Luncheon master of ceremonies. Guess what I got my second year? He was famous for being a Football Player. Ray Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois. 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