Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke comes in at number 47 on NFL Films' "The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players" list produced in 2010. Subscribe to NFL Films: goo.gl/XJTggL
This one brings tears to my eyes. Especially when Kramer talks about how Ray found a woman who loved him. Then a team and a city that loved him. How he became a loving person himself. Great story.
It's the first part that makes he start to cry. The point that Ray's journey to perfection made him decide to quit drinking and it's because of his teammates and Lombardi that loved him into doing it. It just proves that you don't need to nag someone into being a better person, you can just sort of love them into making them want to try.
I wrote to Ray and asked him to sign my photo. He not only signed it, but bought a mini-helmet, signed that for me, and sent me game used cleats that he had worn in his last year. I explained to him that I was a Marine battling cancer. He not ONLY sent all that stuff back, he continued to call me at least once a month, to see how I was. Mind you, I NEVER met the man until he came to Vegas once and he asked if hew could meet my family at our home. I'm the ONLY person in America that has Ray Nitschke's signature on OUR GAME ROOM WALL, and he signed it HUGE! God rest your soul Ray and THANK YOU SO MUCH for all your kindness. Semper Fidelis, Captain T, Ret. U.S.M.C.
That is seriously so cool. What an awesome guy. Thanks alot for sharing that, that’s really amazing. And just seriously cool (anybody in my family who actually watched him play would never be caught dead saying a good word about a player as massively talented as him on an bitter rival’s club-were from Detroit, & that was back when Detroit made it a real rivalry, & we’re all viciously loyal. So I’d never get to hear anything about what kind of incredible man he was. So Thank you!).
Not old enough to have seen him play but I remember an interview with an old running back that played him and he said when I looked up and didn't see ray that's all I had time to process and he knocked me out cold! It would probably be a penalty now but lord can u imagine how tough those old guys from then had to be to play 12 games a year like that? Really too bad they never got to make the big money then. In fact a lot of them worked other jobs in the off season. Different bunch of cats those guys!
@@tynosille6747 Even though those guys didn't make the cash today .They all were a bonus to the players as many still went on during their real jobs they would return to after the season .Nflers back then , just picked up after the end of the season .The first 2 SBs where the victors got like 25 K counting the playoff " tournament and losers got half that That " bonus " playoff pursue was as much as the salary often less that those players earned in the course of the season. So it was a gigantic incentive to not only get to the ultimate goal of being a champion but the chance to receive the awarded winners share .Heck SB 1 wasn't close to being sold out ..Super Bowl 2 started the ball rolling that I was very fortunate to attend ..Ticket Price , a whopping 18 to 20 bucks , And no problem going down on the field post game to get autographs without intruding on the players ,for the most part As far as the players being greeted by close family and / or close friends . I got 3 autos from the mostly situational guys that contributed on ST or plugged in for that particular plays that required the teams to be stronger all around . There wasn't really nickel ,dime designed blitzes etc back then . 5 wideouts !!! no way 2 back sets were the norm ..If the " starter "'was banged up Then the next man up was expected to be ready and contribute ,show no " significant drop off in performance " That was expected , often achieved by the ' subs " Sure there were many players that had exceptional skills That hasn't changed much But the discrepancy of pays from the exceptional players back when , from a lineman to the star RBs or QBs wasn't nearly as it is today Those PO wins were and the total purse. Was ,However ,substantial . That purse of winners share was often the equivalent or more than the salary they got paid for the whole year ! NOT TODAY ..Who wouldn't want the chance at earning more for a 3 game season then earned all year !! Irregardless of whatever one does at their respected jobs or daily report to put food on your table , Times change sometimes radically But not always for the best .Like Washington crossing the Delaware Its rarely understood as to the significance in overall history .Go figure . !!!
Ray 66, “Don’t let me down” he screamed at Bart in the ice bowls last play, will ring in my Packer ears forever! Watching that game as a 14 year old with my Dad and brothers on the edge of our seats. I was lucky enough to see Ray at a card show in Janesville Wi with my three Sons, he was late getting there. He explained to everyone that a older gal had rear ended his car on his trip there. He said she was so upset that he had to stay with her and console her until she calmed down and apologized for being late. He always said after he retired that he had one good hit left in him, lol! When we got to the front of his table I said to him, “Ray, my Dad who had passed and I always felt you were the best MLB that ever played the game”. He literally shoved his chair back and came around to shake my hand, I was surprised at his reaction to that! That was his heart and love for the game, forever my favorite Packer!!!
A buddy of mines dad knew Ray and invited me to go visit him at his house. I didn't know who he was but except that he was a hall of fame Green Bay packer player. I went of course. Had dinner at his house, went into downtown Oneida, WI and people came up to him asking for autographs. Very surreal. A special treat. Very nice guy. So glad to have met him. 43 years ago. Just after he filmed longest yard.
Met ray over 25 yrs ago at the marinette armoury.the man was a giant.friendly,kind,and talked to everyone on such a personal level.#66 will always be loved in GB!
Even as an old man he still talks like he’s ready to get out there and play. You can really hear when he talks how much he loved to play. They don’t get any tougher than 66.
*benjie414* Greatness is a philosophy. A lifetime lived for the wrong reasons is the ultimate personal failure. A man cannot live by a manufactured set of ideals that cannot be manifested; otherwise, one has lived a Lie. *"Blinded by self-importance..... the visionaries of society haven't the vision of a blind musician nor the perception of a churchmouse_"* 💗🌹🐀
Right! Also, if you haven't read it and can find a copy, Jerry Kramer wrote a book called, The Green Bay Diary of Jerry Kramer. It is an excellent book if you like the old Packers in that era.
The Greatest!!! Anyone who grew up a Packers fan in the 60's idolized Ray Nitschke!! As a little kid, number 6 of 6, my parents didn't have money at that point to get me a GB helmet, so my father got me this white helmet and I got some paint and put the G on the sides, and number 66 on the back!! Great years to be a Packer fan!!! But as a fan, I can't remember a year when it wasn't a good time to be a Packer fan!!!
Never realized until I proof read what I typed.....I was number 6 of 6, and Nitschke was 66. One day before I die I'll get out to Lambeau!!! Tough growing up a GB fan in New Jersey!!!
Hey, same here - I was a little luckier with the helmet, though. My father's best friend went to the first 2 Super Bowls, and when he found out I was a Packers fan he gave me a Green Bay helmet one year for Christmas. Not the real deal - I dropped it on the bricks outside once and the facemask broke - but I loved that helmet. My son has it now.
@@taxisteve929 Tell me about it. Never on TV unless they played the Giants (or Jets later on) so we had to go without. My first Packers game was (of all places) in Philadelphia. I made it out of there alive (somehow) - probably only because they lost, 10-9 (to Ty Detmer - their former backup QB, of all things).
When the old Packers had a 25 year reunion in Green Bay, the subject of hardest hitting linebackers came up. Ray walked in the room and someone asked him if anyone ever hit harder than he did. He said: "Yeah. Butkus"!
No way Nitzsche is better than Butkus. Nitzsche played on a great overall defensive unit. They had Willie Davis, Dave Robinson, Herb Adderley, and Willie Wood plus Nitzsche. Thats 5 future Hall of Famers. Butkus was a great player on an otherwise horrible team. The Bears never even made the playoffs once in Butkus' career
Michael Washington If that’s the case, how come Nitschke won 5 NFL Championships and 2 Super Bowls with the Packers while Butkus never won 1? Butkus was probably more photogenic then Nitschke was
Absolutely correct .He never rushed an autograph .He sat in the stands at Lambeau His number was in the phone book .He always gave credit to 5ge team .On the field ," Watch Out !!!!!! " Yes ,he was certainly a throwback to a time and era that is so distant today . Always went to the Packers vs Bears in the 60s. TALK ABOUT HITTERS !!!! Yikes ... Was almost "scary "
I'm 60 now, but when I was a kid (around 7) I was given a book about sports figures, and one of them was Ray Nitschke. The first sentence said something like 'When Ray Nitschke puts his helmet on for the first game of the season, it breaks a scab on the bridge of his nose, which doesn't stop bleeding until he takes his helmet off after the last game of the season.' Something like that - obviously it always stuck with me for some reason; I was never sure if it was true or not, but I took it to mean he played so hard that he didn't stop putting out until the season was over. I wish I still had that book.
Anyone that had the great fortune of not only meeting , but enjoying a chat , albeit brief or possibly longer is more about the TEAM of the 60s under Vince .Long after those guys playing careers they continued to be still to be a TEAM .Whether as an individual, or with a few teammates .They continued to do charitable ,time consuming ,travel time things that for the most part go unnoticed , perceived as insignificant ,ho hum No big deal events ..Those guys on the TEAM , unfortunately most have passed probably contributed more cash to those charities well.beyond their collective salaries during their careers .They were ALWAYS approachable , never dwelled on their personable accolades that didn't include the TEAM . Had the great fortune in 1996 to be invited for a legends " reunion " and having several conversations with not only those guys that weren't considered "Stars " in their run to 3 straight , 2 SBs ..in to history like Mercein Hart ,Dowler , FLem etc But the HoF guys ,as well To the T they all put those personal stats without saying they accomplished them as a Team . Whether it was one play or several plays ,maybe even just a year . Every lesser known players all made significant contributions to the TEAM .And without those seemingly overlooked ,certainly not appreciated as far as the record books will say .To blend those unsung guys with a few recognizablre,household names isn't an easy task . Especially today with egos ,stats , and huge contracts seemingly being the main factor on " teams " today The riches today with sports cars jewelry, highly visible press .etc ..The publics more about on
seheadhunter50 i agree with your sentiment, bud. When the societal sickness gets to me, I look for something to make me smile. Today it was this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Or2gV2aqZcs.html
I got to meet Ray at a meet and greet in Sioux City about half a year before he passed away. What a terrific person he was. Afterward, I caught him in the sporting goods store that had sponsored the event, and, knowing how people mangled my last name, I asked him, "Ray, how do you pronounce your last name?" He kind of glared at me and said "NITS-key."
I was born in '57 and grew up in Cocoa Beach, Fl., but my favorite team as a young boy was the Packers, #5 Paul Hornung was my fave player followed by #15 Bart Starr and #66 Nitschke was my 3rd fave player...how I loved that team as a little boy....that all changed in '70 when Shula became the coach of the Dolphins, but that's a story for another time.
will lasenberry YESSSIRRRRR 🔥🔥14 time nfl champions 4x Super Bowl champ
7 лет назад
These types of players were REAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS. They didn't get paid much, many had to work in the off season. These were real MEN! Many were out of WW2, when it was life or death. When Reagan called these the greatest of all Americans, you can believe it's true. The things these had to witness and endure from the Great Depression, WW2, seeing the Death Camps after defeating the Nazis, then come back to rebuild this country. Today's athletes owe alot of gratitude so not just the athletes, but we the American people can live as we do now.
Tremendous sideline-to-sideline pursuit . . . has all the physical tools. Linebackers to this day seem to mold their game to his relentless style of play.
Growing up in Florida in the 60's we didn't have an NFL team and I was a huge packer fan as a youngster...one of the first books I read was Jerry Kramer's book about football with the packers...Ray Nitschke was my favorite defensive player.
I was at at tailgate up in Green Bay in 2004. Met an older man who was a neighbor of Ray's. Said he'd go out and be all-time QB for the kids' pickup football games. Was a normal regular everyday guy during the off season.
was so lucky to meet him in 1990 at Wickes Lumber in Beloit when I was 6 years old. I remember he was super nice, and wrote me a nice message on the autograph he signed for me. He will always be my all time favorite packer with Brett Favre coming in a close second.
When you have a MLB of this caliber -- Huff, Butkus, Nitschke, Lewis, Gradishar, Carson, among others -- you can build a great defense around him. Without him, you are struggling to find strategies to account for his absence.
I think the linebacker position has been hit the hardest by the change in eras...nowadays they're essentially big strong safeties or the rush the passer. Back then, the linebackers were the heart of the whole defense! Now it is just not the same. Rules prevent the LB position from asserting itself in a dominant fashion. Ray was the beginning of a new era in defense. Man was a goddamn monster in the middle.
Ray Nitschke attended Proviso East High School and was so known in the football field during his high school years. We have a memorabilia of him at the Fieldhouse. He is so missed at his alma mater at Proviso East.
And he was a quarterback in high school. He could throw the football farther than Bart Starr. The first year I attended The Green Bay Experience Fantasy Football Camp, Bart Starr showed up late so Nitschke threw passes to us. He threw perfect spirals with a cigar in his mouth!
I always liked Ray's Oldsmobile commercials with his side kick Butkus (his dog). Then Butkus did a parody commercial with his sidekick Nitschke (a cat with Nitschke style glasses). You couldnt help but chuckle.
I had the Privileged to meet Ray while he was signing autographs for a Wisconsin lottery promotion. I handed Ray my football that already had Bart Starr and Paul Hornung's autograph on it. He held the football and looked at the names and said in a deep loud voice " I'm going to sign my name right over these two jerks!" Rays companion behind him starting laughing and of coarse Ray very nicely signed his name right next to not over them. I thank Ray and shook his hand and remembered thinking even in his older years this man was a big tough guy.
Was born in Wisconsin in 1958, been a Packer fan ever since I could walk, and got to enjoy all the wins so from the middle 1960's then we moved to Chicago. Once a Packer fan ALWAYS one. Great matchups with Ray and Butkis but lots of arguments with neighbors.
A Little before my time, but my dad was a fan. Nitschke played because he loved the game and hustled each play. He helped make the game great He did what the coach told him to do. With the old- coaches, often the best team was the team who were able to play with heart and follow directions; yes the coaches were that good.
Before steroids, before strength programs, before amino acids, before pass runners were protected from getting hit coming out of the backfield, before players were down when they were merely grabbed, Butkus, Nitschke, and Lambert prevailed by making textbook yet vicious tackles on players that could take a hit. They were the greatest in a time when the game was the greatest! And they did it by being smart and without tattoos, fishing tackle in their noses, and hooks in their mouths and ears.
I can still remember #66 on the cover of The Packers yearbook...God bless you Raymond, and all those great memories of the 60's....AND LOMBARDI'S PACKERS!!!
I got to meet most of the Packers at the Mary E. Sawyer Auditorium in LaCrosse, WI after their first Super Bowl win. Ray scuffed my hair before signing my program. After two days my mom made me wash it..... My favorite pro football memory. I was allowed to be an usher at Notre Dame Stadium, 1988-92. Right time, right place.
Mike Greensmith not really 2002 bucs had just as good of a defense honestly. Sapp, Lynch, Brooks, Barber, simeon rice who was a 1st team pro bowler and All pro criminally underrated. Against Ray, Rod, McAllister, and boulware ed reed wasn't on that team yet. and the buccaneers had the better offense no competition.
Mike Greensmith Both legendary defenses, but the 2000 Ravens may be the best of all time (yes even the 85 Bears considering by 2000 the offensive rules had changes to favor the offense a bit.)
I don't know what it was about early football but these were men of character. They played because they loved the game, you can go up and down every team and find great players....God I miss those times.
In years past they would stage these games in Chicago, college all stars vs pro world champions. My dad would get tickets for this. One year the college all stars take the field, all confident and stuff, and then they announce the world champion Packers and they run on the field led by this apparent, insane lunatic, Ray Nitschke. It did it go well for the college kids.
He was ripping up my uncle's bar one time so my uncle got some guys with him to grab him and he punched him with a blackjack and after he goes to my uncle "mister you have the hardest right hook I ever felt"🤣
Here in Wisconsin when I was 12 back in 1964 I got some shoulder pads and a Packer jersey. Off course all the kids wanted a number 15 like Bart Starr or Hornung or Taylor, but the only number they had was 66 and at the time I didn't even know it was Nitschke's number.
So I met Ray Nitsche in 1997 during a signing session in St. Louis Missouri. I also met John Madden and Jim McMahon . Out of the three, McMahon was a hot head show off, Madden was too busy a personality yet he was a nice dude disappointed with Astro turf. rRay was the man he’s describing. We talked for like 10 minutes and sadly died shortly thereafter. I have a nice personally autographed 8x10 and two autographed footballs 🏈 from Madden and McMahon !
Old vid, I know. But When the packers made it to Superbowl XXXI, here in milwaukee, the local rock morning show (Bob n Brian) Wanted to do some interviews of old packers... And discovered Nitchke's phone number... In the green Bay Phone Book. LIke he was listed. They called and asked, and he came on and was a great interview. Dude was a legend.
