Johnny unitas biography hall of fame
By Chris Willis, NFL Films
| 1979 Pro Football Hall of Fame Program |
On January 20, 1979 Johnny Unitas was selected as one of four men to be selected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Unitas was elected on his time on the ballot and would be inducted along with Bears linebacker Dick Butkus, Chargers tackle Ron Mix and Lions defensive back Yale Lary. The four men would make up the Hall of Fame's Class of 1979.
For his presenter Unitas went back to his college days and selected his old quarterback coach at the University of Louisville Frank Gitschier.
On July 28, 1979 in Canton, Ohio Unitas would be inducted. Fifteen buses of fans came from Baltimore, as nearly 10,000 football fans packed outside the front steps of the Hall of Fame to see Johnny U get his moment back in the spotlight.
Master of Ceremonies Jim Muzzy, retried sports director at Canton’s WHBC radio, got the ceremony started. (Time). Unitas would go last. After Butkus, Lary and Mix spoke it was now Unitas’s turn. Muzzy introduced Gitschier as Johnny U’s presenter. spoke of his most famous pupil.
“This is a very great moment in my lifeI want to talk about Johnny Unitas, my man. No one here is more totally aware of the talents given to him by God, than Johnny Unitas. And when you use those talents to the utmost, the bottom line is dedication, desire, discipline, sacrifice, and when you put all that spells John Unitas, extraordinary in the field of leadership and it spells John Unitas a man respected by all who have known him.
But let’s talk about some of the talents that more apparent to most of us because John has entertained us over the years. The thing that amazes me than anything else is the man’s ability to stand in that pocket with all that violence and mayhem going on about him. Some of which to be inflicted upon him and he stood back there and ate his lunch before he threw tha American football player (1933–2002) American football player Unitas with the Baltimore Colts in 1963 Pro Football Hall of Fame John Constantine Unitas (; May 7, 1933 – September 11, 2002) was an American professional footballquarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons, primarily with the Baltimore Colts. Nicknamed "Johnny U." and "the Golden Arm", Unitas was considered the prototype of the modern era marquee quarterback and is regarded as one of the greatest NFL players of all time. During his professional career from 1956 to 1973, Unitas set many NFL records and was named Most Valuable Player three times in 1959, 1964, and 1967, in addition to receiving 10 Pro Bowl and five first-team All-Pro honors. He helped lead • Ended 18-year career as NFL leader for passes attempted (5,186), completed (2,830), yards gained (40,239), most seasons with 3,000-plus yards (three), most games with 300-plus yards (26) and most touchdown passes (290). • Had 62.9 postseason completion percentage and gained 1,177 yards in championship play. • Only Colt to serve on 1958, 1959 and 1970 Championship teams. • NFL records included most consecutive seasons leading NFL in touchdown passes (four) and most consecutive games with a scoring pass (47), one of sport's most remarkable feats. • In 17 seasons with club, set 22 records. • Was NFL MVP three times, played in 10 Pro Bowls (a Colts record) and was First Team All-Pro from 1958-1959, 1964, 1965, 1967. • Member of NFL's 75th Anniversary Team. • Born on May 7, 1933, in Pittsburgh. • Passed away September 11, 2002 "A guy broke through the line, hit him, pushed his head in the ground. He called the same play, let the guy come through and broke his nose with the football. I said, "That's my hero,' "says Bubba Smith about Johnny Unitas on ESPN Classic's SportsCentury series. Johnny Unitas, whose passing led the Baltimore Colts to victory in "The Greatest Game Ever Played", will be profiled on Friday, Sept. 26, at 8 and 11 p.m. ET. The Baltimore Colts got it right. Unitas, 6 feet and a mere 145 pounds in high school, became a nowhere-to-somewhere story, a backup who kept getting opportunities to succeed at every level. Give me a chance, the crew-cut quarterback would say, and I'll show you. He went from semi-pro dirt fields to stardom in the NFL. And he did it quickly. "The most important thing of all about Unitas," said Weeb Ewbank, his Colts coach, "is that he had a real hunger. This was a kid who wanted success and didn't have it so long that he wasn't about to waste it when it came." Unitas led the Colts to NFL titles in 1958 and '59, helped them win Super Bowl V, was chosen to five all-league teams and was Player of the Year three times. He played in 10 Pro Bowls. He threw at least one touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games, an NFL record that began in his rookie year. When he led Baltimore to a 23-17 overtime victory over the New York Giants in the 1958 championship, a game often proclaimed as football's greatest, Unitas boosted the sport's popularity. Sid Luckman, a fellow Pro Football Hall of Fame member, said Unitas was the best quarterback ever. "Better than me," he said, "better than Sammy Baugh, better than anyone." Unitas was born on May 7, 1933 and grew up in a working-class section of Pittsburgh. His father died when Johnny was five, Johnny Unitas
Position: Quarterback Born: (1933-05-07)May 7, 1933
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.Died: September 11, 2002(2002-09-11) (aged 69)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Weight: 194 lb (88 kg) High school: St. Justin's (Pittsburgh) College: Louisville (1951–1954) NFL draft: 1955 / round: 9 / pick: 102 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only Johnny Unitas Colts Hall of Fame | Indianapolis Colts - colts.com
Notre Dame thought Johnny Unitas was too small. The Pittsburgh Steelers thought he wasn't intelligent enough.Johnny Unitas emerged as a superstar at the same time the NFL was developing as a TV sport.