Johnny Unitas

Johnny Unitas was a scrawny high school quarterback from Pittsburgh who couldn't even pass the entrance exam at the University of Pittsburgh. When he was offered a scholarship at the University of Louisville, he weighed just 145 pounds. In his four years at Louisville, the football team never had a winning season, and in his senior year he finished second on the team with only 527 yards passing. He was drafted in the seventh round by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he failed to make the team.

The Baltimore Colts gave Unitas a second chance, and in the fourth game of the season he was pressed into service when the starting quarterback broke his leg. Unitas promptly threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. On his second play, he lost a fumble. And yet he played on. During the last game of yet another losing season in his career, he threw a touchdown pass. It was the first of 47 consecutive games in which he threw for a touchdown, an NFL record. The next year, the Colts posted their first winning season, Unitas led the NFL in passing, and was honored as the league's Most Valuable Player.

The next year, Unitas led the Colts into "The Greatest Game Ever Played". The game was played in Yankee Stadium 50 years ago. Twelve of the players and three of the coaches are now enshrined in the Hall of Fame. At the end of regulation, the Colts and the Giants were tied, and for the first time in history, the teams played into overtime. After the Giants were forced to punt, Unitas led the Colts on an 80 yard drive to win the game.

When Johnny Unitas died six years ago he was younger than Roscoe Bartlett.

Permalink