22 Facts About Jack Vainisi

Jack Vainisi was an American scout and personnel director for the Green Bay Packers from 1950 to 1960.

Jack Vainisi was instrumental in attracting Vince Lombardi to the vacant head coaching job in Green Bay in 1959.

Jack Vainisi did not live to see the success of the teams he helped assemble though, as he died from a heart attack in 1960 at the age of 33.

Jack Vainisi was born in Chicago, Illinois, on August 27,1927, to Anthony and Marie Jack Vainisi.

In high school, Jack Vainisi was an accomplished lineman on the football team and was offered an athletic scholarship to Notre Dame.

Jack Vainisi played for the Notre Dame football team for one year.

Jack Vainisi became ill while in Japan, and after returning to America, was diagnosed with rheumatic fever.

Jack Vainisi attained the rank of sergeant, but after his military service, he returned to Notre Dame to complete his degree.

Jack Vainisi was enthusiastic in his new role as a scout; professional scouting at the time was still in its infancy.

Jack Vainisi quickly developed a large network of college coaches that would provide him scouting reports on football players.

For most of his career, Jack Vainisi was the only professional scout the Packers had on staff.

Jack Vainisi became well known around the National Football League and respected for his knowledge, commitment, and scouting abilities.

Over his ten-year career, Jack Vainisi scouted and recommended drafting or acquiring eight future Pro Football Hall of Famers.

Jack Vainisi convinced the Packers to select future Hall of Famer Paul Hornung with the first pick of the 1957 NFL draft and drafted Hall of Famers Jim Ringo, Bart Starr and Forrest Gregg.

Jack Vainisi signed Willie Wood as a free agent in 1960.

Jack Vainisi lobbied on Lombardi's behalf to team president Dominic Olejniczak and the board of directors of Green Bay Packers, Inc He warned Lombardi to demand full control as coach and general manager to avoid interference by the directors in football decisions.

Jacqueline and Jack Vainisi had three children: Valeria, Theresa, and Jack Vainisi Anthony.

In 1960, Jack Vainisi suffered a massive heart attack and died at his home in Green Bay.

Jacqueline was pregnant with their son at the time; Jack Vainisi Anthony was delivered stillborn in January 1961, just a few months after his father died.

Jack Vainisi helped lead the Bears to a victory in Super Bowl XX in 1985.

Not only did Jack Vainisi acquire eight future Pro Football Hall of Famers and many more core players, he was the primary reason that Lombardi took the head coaching job in Green Bay in 1959.

In 1982, Jack Vainisi was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in recognition for his contributions as a scout.