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Thirty Sundays to NFL football: 30 reasons why we love the Green Bay Packers

By Raymond Rivard

Don Majkowski with the guy who succeeded him as Packers quarterback. Raymond T. Rivard photograph
Don Majkowski with the guy who succeeded him as Packers quarterback. Raymond T. Rivard photograph /
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Courtesy of http://www.packershistory.net/
Courtesy of http://www.packershistory.net/ /

Ray Nitschke

Ray Nitschke is a legend not only in Green Bay, but across the entire league.

He was a monster on the field and said to be one of the nicest guys off the field. He was the epitome of the Vince Lombardi years … a player tough as nails who played through injury and helped the team to championship after championship.

As a middle linebacker on one of the best defenses in the league during the 1960s, Nitschke intercepted 25 passes, returning them 385 yards. Two of them were pick-sixes.

Though forced fumbles, sacks and tackles weren’t recorded during the time he played, you know he had a few of those, too.

If there was a player that defined the Packers of the 1960s it was Nitschke. Unfortunately, he died way too soon. He had become somewhat of a celebrity across the nation because of television commercials he did in retirement, but it was his face on the field that Packers fans love the most.

Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers during a practice on the field named after Ray Nitschke. Raymond T. Rivard photograph
Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers during a practice on the field named after Ray Nitschke. Raymond T. Rivard photograph /

If only there were players like him working on the field these days. Nitschke was probably considered a throwback to earlier times in the NFL, but there’s one thing for certain – any player who has a field and a bridge named after him has had an impact.

I miss Ray Nitschke … he was one of my favorites growing up. He will never be forgotten.

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