Ray Nitschke

The anchor of Lombardi's defense, a Hall of Fame linebacker who led the Packers to five NFL titles and two Super Bowl victories.

Raymond Ernest Nitschke (December 29, 1936 – March 8, 1998) was an American professional football player who spent his entire 15-year career as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) with the Green Bay Packers. Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978, he was the anchor of the defense for head coach Vince Lombardi in the 1960s, leading the Packers to five NFL championships and victories in the first two Super Bowls.

Quick Facts

Position: Linebacker
Championships: Super Bowl I & II

Lore & Background

Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois, the youngest of three sons to Robert and Anna Nitschke. His father was killed in a car accident in 1940, and his mother died of a blood clot when Ray was 13. Older brothers Robert Jr. and Richard decided they would raise Ray on their own. He entered Proviso Township High School in Maywood shortly before his mother's death.

He played fullback as a freshman, but was declared academically ineligible his sophomore year. He raised his grades and starred on varsity football as a junior, playing quarterback on offense and safety on defense. He also played varsity basketball and baseball. He accepted a football scholarship to the University of Illinois in 1954.

In college, he smoked, drank heavily, and fought. In his sophomore year, he was moved from quarterback to fullback. On defense, he played linebacker. In his junior year in 1956, he lost his four front teeth on the opening kick-off against Ohio State.

He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round (36th overall) of the 1958 NFL draft. He wore number 33 in 1958 and 66 the rest of his career. He became a full-time starter in 1962. He was the MVP of the 1962 NFL Championship Game, recovering two fumbles and deflecting a pass that was intercepted.

In Super Bowl I, he contributed six tackles and a sack. In Super Bowl II, he led Green Bay's defense with nine tackles. He was benched in 1971 by new coach Dan Devine and became a reserve. His last regular season game was December 17, 1972, against the Saints, where he recorded the only pass reception of his career, a 34-yard gain.

He returned for a 16th training camp in 1973, then retired. He was known for his strength and toughness; in 1960, a 1000 lb steel coaching tower fell on him, but he was not injured. He intercepted 25 passes over his career. He married Jackie Forchette on June 26, 1961, and they adopted three children. He died of a heart attack in Venice, Florida at age 61 in 1998.

Reader's Guide

Nitschke's No. 66 was retired by the Packers in 1983. He was named the NFL's all-time top Linebacker in 1969 for the NFL's 50th Anniversary, and is the only linebacker to have made both the NFL's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978.

Did You Know?

A 1000 lb steel coaching tower fell on Nitschke during practice in 1960, but he was uninjured; his helmet with a spike hole is on display in the Packer Hall of Fame.
Nitschke appeared in the film Head with The Monkees and in the 1974 football comedy The Longest Yard.