Raymond Ernest Nitschke was an American professional football player who spent his entire 15-year career as a middle linebacker in the National Football League with the Green Bay Packers.
29 Facts About Ray Nitschke
2.
Ray Nitschke's father was killed in a car accident in 1940, and his mother died of a blood clot when Ray was 13.
3.
Ray Nitschke was a poor student and his grades eventually caught up with him as he was declared academically ineligible to play sports his sophomore year.
4.
Ray Nitschke succeeded in raising his grades enough in his sophomore year to allow him to play sports his junior year, when he had grown significantly.
5.
Ray Nitschke starred on the varsity football team, playing quarterback on offense and safety on defense for coach Andy Puplis.
6.
Ray Nitschke played varsity basketball and was a pitcher and left fielder for the varsity baseball team.
7.
Ray Nitschke was offered scholarships from college football programs around the country.
8.
Ray Nitschke proved to be a very skilled player and tackler as a linebacker, so much so that, by his senior year, Paul Brown considered him the best linebacker in college football.
9.
Ray Nitschke never wore a face mask and one of the Buckeye's player's helmets hit him in the mouth knocking out two teeth initially; the other two were hanging by the roots.
10.
Ray Nitschke wore number 33 in 1958 and 66 the rest of his career with the Packers.
11.
Ray 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.
12.
Ray Nitschke was the MVP of the 1962 NFL Championship Game, accepting the prize of a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette.
13.
The Packers won and finished the season with a In Super Bowl I, Ray Nitschke contributed six tackles and a sack.
14.
In Super Bowl II, Ray Nitschke led Green Bay's defense with nine tackles.
15.
Ray Nitschke remained a starter through the 1970 season, but in 1971 he was benched by new coach Dan Devine and became a reserve to Jim Carter.
16.
Ray Nitschke recorded the only pass reception of his career, a 34-yard gain after a blocked Packer field goal attempt, and they won to finish, their best regular season record Green Bay had clinched the NFC Central division title the week before at Minnesota for their first playoff berth in In the divisional round of the playoffs on Christmas Eve, Green Bay lost Nitschke returned for a 16th training camp in 1973, then retired in.
17.
Ray Nitschke was known for his strength and toughness, exhibited prior to his third season in 1960.
18.
Ray Nitschke was married on June 26,1961, to Jackie Forchette.
19.
Lombardi gave partial credit for Nitschke's success to Nitschke's wife, whose calming influence helped Ray focus on his career.
20.
Ray Nitschke remained popular in Green Bay after retiring, even having his phone number and home address published in the Green Bay phone book.
21.
In 1973, Mean on Sunday: The Autobiography of Ray Nitschke was published by Doubleday.
22.
Ray Nitschke appeared in the comic film Head, starring The Monkees, as a footballer who repeatedly tackles Peter Tork in a mock war movie sequence.
23.
Ray Nitschke's character is listed in the credits as "Private One" because his jersey is emblazoned with the number "1".
24.
Ray Nitschke appeared in the 1974 football comedy The Longest Yard as Guard Bogdanski.
25.
Ray Nitschke died of a heart attack in Venice, Florida at the age of 61 in 1998.
26.
Ray Nitschke had been driving to the home of a family friend, according to his daughter, Amy Klaas, who was with him when he was stricken.
27.
Ray Nitschke was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978.
28.
Ray 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.
29.
Ray Nitschke was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981.