32 Facts About Johnny Unitas

1. Johnny Unitas supported the Baltimore Ravens and is part of their Ring of Honor.

2. Johnny Unitas handed a ball to Alan Ameche, who scored against the New York Giants.

3. Johnny Unitas began the 1956 season on the bench behind starter George Shaw, but that arrangement didn't last long.

4. Johnny Unitas was right to hang with it in the sticks for a season, though.

5. Johnny Unitas took construction and steel work jobs around Pittsburgh to make ends meet while playing QB for a local semipro team, the Bloomfield Rams.

6. Johnny Unitas was traded to the San Diego Chargers in 1973, his last season.

7. Johnny Unitas was thrust into the starting role after the Colt's quarterback broke his leg during the fourth game of Unitas's rookie season.

8. Johnny Unitas excelled in football at St Justin's High School in Pittsburgh, but his slight stature prevented him from earning an athletic scholarship to the University of Notre Dame.

9. In 1979, Johnny Unitas was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

10. Johnny Unitas had business interests in central Florida as well, including a restaurant and real estate.

11. Johnny Unitas held other NFL records when he retired: most seasons passing for more than 3000 yards,; most games passing for 300 yards or more, (27); most touchdowns thrown, (290).

12. Johnny Unitas played his last game as a Colt on December 3, 1972, after which he was benched and traded to the San Diego Chargers.

13. Johnny Unitas had to play injured, as he often did throughout his career.

14. Johnny Unitas was given a tryout by the Colts, and signed to a contract as a back-up to their quarterback, George Shaw.

15. Johnny Unitas moved to Bloomfield, New Jersey and found work on construction sites, primarily as a pile driver.

16. In 1958, Johnny Unitas led his team to a championship in the first overtime and first nationally-televised game in the NFL.

17. Johnny Unitas hit Berry with 3 straight passes to take the Colts down to the 13 yard line.

18. At the age of 21 on November 20, 1954, Johnny Unitas married his high school sweetheart Dorothy Hoelle; they lived in Towson and had five children before divorcing.

19. Johnny Unitas lived most of the final years of his life severely hobbled.

20. Johnny Unitas actively lobbied for another NFL team to come to Baltimore.

21. Johnny Unitas donated his Colts memorabilia to the Babe Ruth Museum in Baltimore; they are now on display in the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards.

22. Johnny Unitas was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

23. Johnny Unitas finished his 18 NFL seasons with 2,830 completions in 5,186 attempts for 40,239 yards and 290 touchdowns, with 253 interceptions.

24. Johnny Unitas was then replaced by rookie quarterback, future Hall-of-Famer Dan Fouts.

25. Johnny Unitas came onto the field, and threw two passes, one of which was a long touchdown to wide receiver Eddie Hinton which would be his last pass as a Colt.

26. Johnny Unitas threw for 390 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in AFC playoff victories over the Cincinnati Bengals and the Oakland Raiders.

27. Johnny Unitas would spend most of the season sitting on the bench.

28. Johnny Unitas continued his prowess in 1958 passing for 2,007 yards and 19 touchdowns as the Colts won the Western Conference title.

29. Johnny Unitas was slowed by so many injuries his senior year his 527 passing yards ended second to Jim Houser's 560.

30. Johnny Unitas completed 16 of 21 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns.

31. Johnny Unitas was a record-setting quarterback, and the NFL's most valuable player in 1959, 1964, and 1967.

32. Johnny Unitas spent the majority of his career playing for the Baltimore Colts.