Sonny Jurgenson (Tubby Sonny) had one of the quickest releases in QB history. To bad Earl Moral had to substitute in for Johny U in, I think, was Johnny's final championship game.. It wasn't the Super Bowl then
@@doctordearmas8645 That would be Super Bowl 5 (or 6 ?? - 1970, 71), the Colts/AFC vs. the Cowboys/NFC. Unitas started, played the game thru most of the first half (not sure exactly how many quarters), played well and was instrumental in the game, but got hurt and had to go out. Morral came in and, with seconds left, led them to the game winning field goal - rookie kicker Jim Obrien.
As a kid, I was a Baltimore Orioles and a Baltimore Colts fan - Brooks Robinson, Davey Johnson, Boog Powell, Jim Palmer, Luis Aparicio, Frank Robinson for the Orioles, and this man as my Quarterback. Thanks for this retrospective. Well done.
@@JamesStalnaker-z2p Tarkenton changed the game---the forerunner of today's mobile QBs that every coach an franchise is clamoring for! He was ahead of his time, by far!!!
@@guywright-gx9km It is a shame he and Kelly do not have a Super Bowl championship despite four appearances each. Though it pains me to say this as a kid who grew up a Gator fan just north of Gainesville FL, then did his masters degree at FSU (in the Bowden, PrimeTime era) because Tarkenton played college football at UGA and Kelly at Miami (though both were in the pros by the time I was off to college).
Amen to that. 68 yo and along with my Dad, followed Unitas and the old Baltimore Colts, since I was a 10-11 yo kid. His career stats have since been passed by others (he once held them all), but in my book, Johnny U will always be " the man ". Greatest field general that ever played the game.
I met Johnny Unitas when I participated in a football throwing contest. The test was for accuracy only. I didn’t have a strong arm, but I was accurate; 9 of 10 throws somehow made it through the target hole. Anyway, I won a football autographed by Mr. Unitas. This was in the mid-90’s. He’d gone back to his iconic flattop haircut, and was fit and trim. He was very gracious and chatted with me for a few minutes. Great experience!
I go back to that era of football. I'm that old. My all-time favorite professional athlete is Sonny Jurgensen, Unitas's contemporary and rival. But I liked Unitas. Sometimes, when playing backyard football at age 10 with the neighbor boys, I would announce that I am Jimmy Orr, a Unitas pass receiving target. "Orr is lining up at flanker," I'd announce. Now and then I'd be John Mackey. When I would QB, I was Jurgensen.
I got interested in pro-football when the Jets won the Super bowl behind Namath, which means I really missed Johnny U's glory years. Too me he was the big name guy that was always injured. But, I started out and still am a Bears fan, so I really don't know what a great QB is supposed to like like. Hopefully the current one is because I'm old and running out of years.
It was reported that when he left Louisville, he had to make phone calls in order to get into the NFL. The Indianappolis Colts ask him to come to a reunion but he declined. He said he played for the Baltimore Colts, not the Indianappolis Colts.
@@williampaz2092 Tarkenton called his own plays, made more difficult by trying to pass behind an inferior line! Unitas had that luxury throughout his career, yet Fran eventually passed him
The greatest clutch quarterback of all time, Johnny U knew my mother and aunt while he led the University of Louisville’s Cardinals. Mom was an employee of the university and my Aunt was a nursing student there, and both were unofficially assigned the duty of helping Johnny with basic life skills, and making sure he was faithfully attending class and getting home at night. Johnny’s mother in Pennsylvania had given the green light for him to attend the U of L after touring the campus with him, but on this condition: If he gets in trouble, he’ll have to come home. So Mom and my Aunt Kay’s dutiful intervention changed football history! That always made me so proud.
I too was a Colts Orioles fan growing up in 60’s and 70’s. My Dad had season tickets for Colts up to 1974 at end of Unitas, Berry, Mattie , John Mackey, era. My parents even ended up living in same area as Mattie, Unitus and others in Timonium. One of my great memories was going into IHOP with my Dad and finding Unitus and Mattie already there eating!! 🎉😊
The first game I remember watching with my Dad was the 1958 championship between NY and Baltimore. My Dad bought a TV just to watch the game. It was the biggest TV on the block, 25"! Times have changed a bit since then.
@@nflunveiled As long as you know your stuff, and you appreciate the subject you talk about, nobody will be upset that 'you aren't from around these parts.' Good job, sir.
As a kid in the Central Valley in far away California, I somehow became a Unitas fan and the Colts were my team. I'll never forget my prized football cards with Colts players Alan Ameche, Raymond Berry, "Big Daddy" Lipscomb and Lenny Moore. I never got a Unitas card. My 2nd team, the 49ers, had great memorable players as well but it was Johnny U for me. Simpler times for sure.
I was blessed to have seen Mr Unitas work his magic for my beloved Colts. Although some of his long standing records were recently broken there is no comparison when it comes to rule changes in NFL.
I used to enjoy watching him when I was young, to me he has always been the GOAT ! Back when they played smash mouth football !❤❤ Johnny is gone, but much love to him !
@@cpierce3277 Amen on all points. The master field general, the GOAT. Tuff as nails - Mr. Blood and guts, with the undivided and full respect of his team-mates, could litetally will his team to victory in so very many critical game situations.
Johnny Unitas wrote our high school football team a letter of encouragement at the start of the season during the mid - sixties. That was quite a deal for us back then. THANKS!
Oh yes sir, the great Raymond Berry, one of the best possession receivers in the whole history of the game. Had " glue hands ". If he could touch it, he caught it.
@davidbusciglio5529 They don't make many like him anymore. The emphasis is on speed. I see so many receivers dropping the ball and I scratch my head wondering what good is speed if the ball is on the ground. Unitias knew how lucky he was to have Raymond Berry.
As a VERY frequent flyer, I have flown on hundreds of flights. To this day, the best flight I was ever on was when I sat next to Johnny U. He was cordial, friendly, and funny! When it came time to land, the guys sitting around him asked if we couldn't go into a holding pattern instead since we were having such a great time. As a lifetime Redskin/Commanders fan, I loved Sonny Jurgensen. But I still place him below Johnny as one of the greatest of all time.
My father ran into Unitas at the international airport in Atlanta, in 1972 (post Super Bowl III) while on vacation with my Mom and us kids (brother, sister and me). Unitas was readying for a flight out of town, but took extended time to talk with my Dad and gladly signed autographs for each of us. Just a regular guy, and was extremely kind toward us all. Will always be grateful for the gesture.
Raymond Barry was my football coach in college at Hartford Jr. College in Bel Air Maryland in 1972-‘73. I remember my first meeting with coach. He showed me his championship ring. I was a wide receiver and he would run pass patterns with us. He could still catch that ball.
Saw Raymond Berry in his prime, along with Unitas. Glue for hands. He simply never dropped the ball (actually, more like a rare occurrence). Arguably one of the greatest possession receivers in pro football history.
@ I can imagine. He was my coach. I was up close and communicated with him on a daily basis at practice. I learned a lot from him. We were called the Hartford Owls.
@@johnmassoud930 Tarkenton was way ahead of his time, not Unitas! Who do you think today's coaches and owners are going after? A Unitas--staybin the pocket and get creamed, or a Tarkenton type (Maholmes, Jackson, Allen)??? Fran has foresight enough to survive 18 seasons, leading everybody when retiring! Where's Unitas now? Where's Jurgenson now? Unitas didn't even show the courtesy of being at the game where Tark passed his TD record!!!
One thing you should have emphasized here was that he had Ray Berry as his receiver during his heyday. I’ve seen Berry catch passes that shouldn’t have been caught, no matter who threw them.
So true. As I posted earlier to other commenters, Ray Berry, Mr. " glue hands " himself, was, without question, one of the greatest (if not the greatest) possession receivers of all time.
A fellow Lithuanian. His surname was originally spelled, Jonaitis (the Lithuanian J is pronounced as a consonant Y) and was transliterated to Unitas. The coach at Notre Dame at the time was none other than Frank Leahy. Makes you wonder how the Steelers would have fared, had they kept him.
The 1970 AFC Championship Game was the Raiders at the Colts; it was the Colts' first year in the conference. Darryl Lamonica got injured sometime in the first half, so Blanda comes in. From then on, the two offenses were being led by men who had THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS of professional football experience between them.
Funnily, just last night, one of the talking heads on the Chargers-Ravens broadcast was calling Justin Herbert the toughest quarter back of all time. The first thing that popped into my head was that there was a certain crew-cutted, #19-wearing, Baltimore Colt immortal who might have had something to say about that. No knock on today's players, many of whom are definitely impressive physical specimens. But the players of Mr. Unitas' era were really on another level of toughness, since there weren't rules to mitigate the physical part of the game like there are today.
Interesting. He's basically the '50s - '60s version of Tom Brady -- too short, a backup, dear Lord in heaven what a work ethic. Reads the field like a book. Never gives up.
You made it! You're a man of your word. I clicked as soon as I saw it. I hope it does well and your channel becomes the #2 channel in England (second to, you know, THE channel). 😁
Watched those games every Sunday while sitting on the floor watching him on B&W T V. A transport trailer called The Book Mobile. parked every second week in my grade school parking lot. As time was running out before our class was to head back in I pulled out a book called "The Johnny Unitas Story" I was smitten I didn't know behind the scene books were written about my heroes. That slight stutter step he had was because as a kid he set of a blasting cap with a hammer which lodged a piece of Shrapnel left in his leg for the rest of his life
Invented the two-minute drill right before the nation's eyes in the 1958 title game on the final game-tying drive. Master of the seven-step drop - the man in the high blacks. He and Raymond Berry held most of the QB-WR records until Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison Sr. came along [with the same franchise].
It was actually Bobby Layne and the Lions who 1st first utilized this style of playing. I remember this tactic in 1955 the 1st year I watched the Lions. I was 11 years old at the time. I believe it was 1954 when they 1st employed it. Of course it was Johny U and the colts who really showcased it because of the drama of the 1958 overtime victory in the championship game.
He was the guest speaker at our booster fund raiser in the 60s and I have his autograph. Down to earth. BTW our school only had 500 students! They didn't make the big bucks then. Quit watching the game after they snuck out of Baltimore
One could always see Unitas around Balt. And especially Timonium Md. He remained loyal after the colts left for Indy, always referring to himself as a Baltimore Colt!
I remember, too, the tremendous respect extended Unitas, after he'd passed at the too young age of 69 (forgive me, but I think it was between 1999 and 2001 ?), tribute was soon after offered at midfield, halftime, at a then Ravens game in Baltimore. Unitas' signature high top shoes were placed at the 50 yard line to the thunderous applause of thousands of stadium fans. Throughout the stadiym, as the TV network cameras panned through, numerous fans were standing and holding up signs that simply read, " Unitas We Stand ! "
There have been great quarterback since Unitas. The difference is, he called his own plays. No headphone guys with computers in the stands calling in the plays. He was on his own. Also, he wore no real protection - light padding and small shoulder pads with a single thin bar facemask. He would end a tough game with a broken nose, bloody face, poked out eye, limping, etc. No facemask, headshot, horse collar, roughness calls, It was war. They were paid little, had to work in the offseason to make ends meet, partied hard, and did not workout like today's players. It was a much different game in the '50's and early 60's.
In my opinion, Johnny U. was the toughest QB I ever saw play in the NFL. The league didn't protect QB's like they do now. I can't imagine some of the QBs that play today ever making it if they tried to play in the era when Johnny played. I am especially thinking about guys like Tom Brady!
As a kid, saw and followed Unitas in his prime and throughout to his final years as a player. He was all " blood and guts ", one " tough as nails " " sum a bitch ". Almost always called his own plays. Later in his career in a regular season game between the Colts and Jets (talking about after, post, Super Bowl III, after the AFL merged with the NFL), he went toe to toe with ole Broadway Joe Namath, and the two put on a passing clinic, combining for over 1000 yards and multiple TD passes between them. Colts lost that game, if I recall correctly, and Unitas threw for just under 500 yards and Namath went over 500. Namath (several years younger), later paid tribute to Unitas, admitting having idolized him during his high school (?)/college years. So much respect for Unitas, that according to Namath, story goes, that some of his early days (pre-pro) teammates nicknamed him " Joey - U ".
Makes you wonder what would have happened to the Steelers if they hadn't cut him - paraphrasing Jim Bowen, "look what you could have won." Nice to hear these stories from NFL history from the perspective of a fellow Brit.
Johnny Unites was well known as a youngster in his town and he once set a county record by eating a dozen donuts while holding his breath and not swallowing until the food was chewed. He wince took a hard practice chewing out the befitting comment
Yep, the great Brooks Robinson and the great Johnny U. Don't make em like that anymore. Saw Robinson vs the Cincinnati Reds (Johnny Bench and company) during their World Serues matchup. The year escapes me (1970, 71 ?), but wow, what a fielding clinic Robibson put on thru the whole series. Unbelievable performance with that glove (!!), reaching, diving, stabbing it out of the dirt. Robbed the Reds of several extra base hits. He was peerless; greatest fielding third baseman of all time.
The story I heard years ago is that the coach deciding he wasn't smart enough had something to do with not learning the playback fast enough or something like that.
People in my hometown of Pittsburgh still get angry that the Steelers let Dan Marino get past them in the draft in 1983. But to me, Unitas is far worse. He had one Superbowl title and a Superbowl. Marino never won a title. I'm of Marino's generation, but even with being too young to remember Unitas, I'm certainly not that bad as far as memory is concerned.
I’m noticing a glaring omission in your video library - What about the early 70’s Dolphins? Only undefeated team. Some of the greatest yet least known players. Csonka, the only RB to ever get called for unnecessary roughness. Guy was a bruiser and punished anyone who dared to try and tackle him.
@@psidvicious Larry Csonka has been on my video list for a while. I really need to get a video out on him! You’re right I have not covered the Dolphins, I’ll start with Csonka and then cover their other legends
@@jbshaka653 somebody did point this out. My mistake as in the UK one University can usually be referred either way. I’ll make sure not make the same mistake going forward 👍
I grew up a Cowboys fan, dyed-in-the-wool. But one of the football cards arranged on the bedspread was always a Johnny Unitas card. I know these guys now work hard, but football is not the same. Too much show, for one thing. Don't really watch it anymore.
With a name like "Johnny Unitas" he may as well been a superhero. He was destined for glory. That'd be like having the name "Tommy Blades" it just sounds made up lol
Saw him play many times. Saw Sonny Jurgensen too, These were the guy's of my youth . More magic than today's players.
Sonny Jurgenson (Tubby Sonny) had one of the quickest releases in QB history. To bad Earl Moral had to substitute in for Johny U in, I think, was Johnny's final championship game.. It wasn't the Super Bowl then
@@doctordearmas8645 That would be Super Bowl 5 (or 6 ?? - 1970, 71), the Colts/AFC vs. the Cowboys/NFC. Unitas started, played the game thru most of the first half (not sure exactly how many quarters), played well and was instrumental in the game, but got hurt and had to go out. Morral came in and, with seconds left, led them to the game winning field goal - rookie kicker Jim Obrien.
As a kid, I was a Baltimore Orioles and a Baltimore Colts fan - Brooks Robinson, Davey Johnson, Boog Powell, Jim Palmer, Luis Aparicio, Frank Robinson for the Orioles, and this man as my Quarterback. Thanks for this retrospective. Well done.
Great players all. I’m still mad that the stupid Reds traded away Frank Robinson. That was epically boneheaded.
thank you James
@@JamesStalnaker-z2p Tarkenton changed the game---the forerunner of today's mobile QBs that every coach an franchise is clamoring for!
He was ahead of his time, by far!!!
@@guywright-gx9km It is a shame he and Kelly do not have a Super Bowl championship despite four appearances each. Though it pains me to say this as a kid who grew up a Gator fan just north of Gainesville FL, then did his masters degree at FSU (in the Bowden, PrimeTime era) because Tarkenton played college football at UGA and Kelly at Miami (though both were in the pros by the time I was off to college).
My hometown’s college University of Louisville sent Baltimore Johnny U, Wes Unseld, and Lamar Jackson. You’re welcome 🙂.
Colts fan forever. The man with the golden arm will always be my favorite.
Amen to that. 68 yo and along with my Dad, followed Unitas and the old Baltimore Colts, since I was a 10-11 yo kid. His career stats have since been passed by others (he once held them all), but in my book, Johnny U will always be " the man ". Greatest field general that ever played the game.
@@Joaquin-227 my loyalty to the colts left with the Mayflower trucks!
@@Joaquin-227 Yeah, the golden arm that couldn't do squat against the Namath-led Jets!
@@guywright-gx9km That's what makes the game great.
One of favorite players. He is reason I have been colts fan for 60 years
I met Johnny Unitas when I participated in a football throwing contest. The test was for accuracy only. I didn’t have a strong arm, but I was accurate; 9 of 10 throws somehow made it through the target hole. Anyway, I won a football autographed by Mr. Unitas. This was in the mid-90’s. He’d gone back to his iconic flattop haircut, and was fit and trim. He was very gracious and chatted with me for a few minutes. Great experience!
When I was a kid, ALL of the boys on my block wanted to be Johnny Unitas. He was just so good, amazing. Thanks for this video!
I go back to that era of football. I'm that old. My all-time favorite professional athlete is Sonny Jurgensen, Unitas's contemporary and rival. But I liked Unitas. Sometimes, when playing backyard football at age 10 with the neighbor boys, I would announce that I am Jimmy Orr, a Unitas pass receiving target. "Orr is lining up at flanker," I'd announce. Now and then I'd be John Mackey. When I would QB, I was Jurgensen.
I'm from the same era... Have to include Bart Starr, Jim Brown, Dick Butkas to that list 👍👍👍👍👍
I got interested in pro-football when the Jets won the Super bowl behind Namath, which means I really missed Johnny U's glory years. Too me he was the big name guy that was always injured. But, I started out and still am a Bears fan, so I really don't know what a great QB is supposed to like like. Hopefully the current one is because I'm old and running out of years.
@@rrampage36 Dick Butkus was, arguably, THE most ferocious MLB
It was reported that when he left Louisville, he had to make phone calls in order to get into the NFL. The Indianappolis Colts ask him to come to a reunion but he declined. He said he played for the Baltimore Colts, not the Indianappolis Colts.
In my humble opinion Johnny Unitas was the greatest quarterback of his era, the era when QB’s called the plays and managed to offense.
@@williampaz2092 Tarkenton called his own plays, made more difficult by trying to pass behind an inferior line! Unitas had that luxury throughout his career, yet Fran eventually passed him
Yes Indeed. Am 70. Always was Johnny U in pickup games. He was so cool as you all know. Winner. Thank you for posting.
I’m too young to have seen Unitas play, but I know NFL history and he is the true GOAT of quarterbacks.
Johnny was great, but Otto Graham played 10 seasons for the Browns 1946 to 1955 took them to 10 straight world championship game. And won 7 of them.
The greatest clutch quarterback of all time, Johnny U knew my mother and aunt while he led the University of Louisville’s Cardinals. Mom was an employee of the university and my Aunt was a nursing student there, and both were unofficially assigned the duty of helping Johnny with basic life skills, and making sure he was faithfully attending class and getting home at night.
Johnny’s mother in Pennsylvania had given the green light for him to attend the U of L after touring the campus with him, but on this condition: If he gets in trouble, he’ll have to come home.
So Mom and my Aunt Kay’s dutiful intervention changed football history! That always made me so proud.
Comments like yours are why I take the time to look! Thanks for fleshing out more about Johnny U - THE GOAT!
I too was a Colts Orioles fan growing up in 60’s and 70’s.
My Dad had season tickets for Colts up to 1974 at end of Unitas, Berry, Mattie , John Mackey, era.
My parents even ended up living in same area as Mattie, Unitus and others in Timonium. One of my great memories was going into IHOP with my Dad and finding Unitus and Mattie already there eating!! 🎉😊
Love how they would just hang out in the community like normal people
As football fans, Johnny did unite us!
The first game I remember watching with my Dad was the 1958 championship between NY and Baltimore. My Dad bought a TV just to watch the game. It was the biggest TV on the block, 25"! Times have changed a bit since then.
Lord, weren't them the days!
He is still beloved in Baltimore. In fact the Ravens discourage new players from wearing 19 because that was Johnny's number.
Johnny Unitas set the Bar back in his Day.
Thank you for this, so nice to see something recent, and extemporaneous rather than official network. Surprised hearing this with an English accent!
@@theOlLineRebel appreciate it. And some people aren’t a fan of me being English 😂
@@nflunveiled
As long as you know your stuff, and you appreciate the subject you talk about, nobody will be upset that 'you aren't from around these parts.' Good job, sir.
As a kid in the Central Valley in far away California, I somehow became a Unitas fan and the Colts were my team. I'll never forget my prized football cards with Colts players Alan Ameche, Raymond Berry, "Big Daddy" Lipscomb and Lenny Moore. I never got a Unitas card. My 2nd team, the 49ers, had great memorable players as well but it was Johnny U for me. Simpler times for sure.
I was blessed to have seen Mr Unitas work his magic for my beloved Colts. Although some of his long standing records were recently broken there is no comparison when it comes to rule changes in NFL.
Tuff as nails. Smart as a whip. Professional through and through.
I used to enjoy watching him when I was young, to me he has always been the GOAT ! Back when they played smash mouth football !❤❤ Johnny is gone, but much love to him !
@@cpierce3277 Amen on all points. The master field general, the GOAT. Tuff as nails - Mr. Blood and guts, with the undivided and full respect of his team-mates, could litetally will his team to victory in so very many critical game situations.
Great look at the man who invented the 2 minute drill.
aaah... actually.... I think it was Bobby Lane who invented the 2 minute drill.
@@samuelmoulds1016 I wasn't aware of that - just looked it up and you are right.
@@samuelmoulds1016 Unitas perfected it.
Johnny Unitas wrote our high school football team a letter of encouragement at the start of the season during the mid - sixties. That was quite a deal for us back then. THANKS!
@@adrianlouviere7650 oh that’s amazing!!
I'm from Arkansas and Unitias was my football hero along with Raymond Berry his receiver.
Oh yes sir, the great Raymond Berry, one of the best possession receivers in the whole history of the game. Had " glue hands ". If he could touch it, he caught it.
@davidbusciglio5529 They don't make many like him anymore. The emphasis is on speed. I see so many receivers dropping the ball and I scratch my head wondering what good is speed if the ball is on the ground. Unitias knew how lucky he was to have Raymond Berry.
Unitas was a legend for sure. Earl Morrall that came in for Unitas after hurting his ribs became a legend himself.
As a VERY frequent flyer, I have flown on hundreds of flights. To this day, the best flight I was ever on was when I sat next to Johnny U. He was cordial, friendly, and funny! When it came time to land, the guys sitting around him asked if we couldn't go into a holding pattern instead since we were having such a great time.
As a lifetime Redskin/Commanders fan, I loved Sonny Jurgensen. But I still place him below Johnny as one of the greatest of all time.
You should do something on the King of backups, who you mentioned in the film. The Earl Morrall story has it's own twists and turns!
@@robertwilloughby8050 you are right, adding that to my list of videos to make now!
I had the great honor of having John Unitas play with our golf foursome in a Pro Am event in the 1990's. A genuine and nice man.
that's awesome!
My father ran into Unitas at the international airport in Atlanta, in 1972 (post Super Bowl III) while on vacation with my Mom and us kids (brother, sister and me). Unitas was readying for a flight out of town, but took extended time to talk with my Dad and gladly signed autographs for each of us. Just a regular guy, and was extremely kind toward us all. Will always be grateful for the gesture.
Raymond Barry was my football coach in college at Hartford Jr. College in Bel Air Maryland in 1972-‘73. I remember my first meeting with coach. He showed me his championship ring. I was a wide receiver and he would run pass patterns with us. He could still catch that ball.
Saw Raymond Berry in his prime, along with Unitas. Glue for hands. He simply never dropped the ball (actually, more like a rare occurrence). Arguably one of the greatest possession receivers in pro football history.
@ I can imagine. He was my coach. I was up close and communicated with him on a daily basis at practice. I learned a lot from him. We were called the Hartford Owls.
Unitas was light years ahead of his time. Unitas invented the 3 and 5 step dropbacks. He invented timing routes.
@@johnmassoud930 Tarkenton was way ahead of his time, not Unitas!
Who do you think today's coaches and owners are going after? A Unitas--staybin the pocket and get creamed, or a Tarkenton type (Maholmes, Jackson, Allen)???
Fran has foresight enough to survive 18 seasons, leading everybody when retiring!
Where's Unitas now? Where's Jurgenson now? Unitas didn't even show the courtesy of being at the game where Tark passed his TD record!!!
Johnny U , the ORIGINAL GOAT and still is !
I grew up with Johnny U and he is still the greatest QB ever. End of story.
Forget the stats. Agree completely. He was the man.
One thing you should have emphasized here was that he had Ray Berry as his receiver during his heyday. I’ve seen Berry catch passes that shouldn’t have been caught, no matter who threw them.
this is a good point, my bad. Thanks for highlighting the omission.
I once saw Raymond Berry catch a Unitas pass over the middle while completely upside down from an early hit.
So true. As I posted earlier to other commenters, Ray Berry, Mr. " glue hands " himself, was, without question, one of the greatest (if not the greatest) possession receivers of all time.
At 73 yrs old. I'm old enough to remember Mr. Unitas. Another QB with a similar career is Kurt Warner. These two are forever GOATS in my memory.
Great post, but Otto Graham was the real goat.
I was rooting for Unitas clear from the West Coast. He was "everyone's" hero.
A fellow Lithuanian. His surname was originally spelled, Jonaitis (the Lithuanian J is pronounced as a consonant Y) and was transliterated to Unitas. The coach at Notre Dame at the time was none other than Frank Leahy. Makes you wonder how the Steelers would have fared, had they kept him.
@@8avexp oh that is interesting, appreciate you sharing
Always liked him (and the short haircut) along with George Blanda...
The 1970 AFC Championship Game was the Raiders at the Colts; it was the Colts' first year in the conference. Darryl Lamonica got injured sometime in the first half, so Blanda comes in. From then on, the two offenses were being led by men who had THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS of professional football experience between them.
He was great. I miss those days of Football. Now... lots of money ... Glad to see athletes are paid better but the game didn't improve.
Funnily, just last night, one of the talking heads on the Chargers-Ravens broadcast was calling Justin Herbert the toughest quarter back of all time. The first thing that popped into my head was that there was a certain crew-cutted, #19-wearing, Baltimore Colt immortal who might have had something to say about that. No knock on today's players, many of whom are definitely impressive physical specimens. But the players of Mr. Unitas' era were really on another level of toughness, since there weren't rules to mitigate the physical part of the game like there are today.
agreed!
Interesting. He's basically the '50s - '60s version of Tom Brady -- too short, a backup, dear Lord in heaven what a work ethic. Reads the field like a book. Never gives up.
For the younger folks: this was not the Indianapolis Colts; it was the Baltimore Colts, something this video fails to mention.
I was so P**ssed when they moved out in the middle of the night.
And when Indy visits Baltimore, it's "Indy" on the scoreboard, not "Colts". All other teams have their nickname on the scoreboard.
@@nortiusmaximus1789 You and me both!
@@sws1776 I wasn't aware of that. Thanks!
John Unitas is the QB that Payton Manning always tried to be but never quite made it.
I remember watching Johnny U on black and white television with my grandad.
One of the greatest rip sir I salute you🙏❤️😞
My boyhood hero! 19 Johnny U! 🎉
You made it! You're a man of your word. I clicked as soon as I saw it. I hope it does well and your channel becomes the #2 channel in England (second to, you know, THE channel). 😁
@@truthseeker9454 thank you I really appreciate it! I’m an idiot though you gotta tell me who the channel is lol
@@nflunveiled Not who, what -- The English Channel, of course! 😁
Watched those games every Sunday while sitting on the floor watching him on B&W T V. A transport trailer called The Book Mobile. parked every second week in my grade school parking lot. As time was running out before our class was to head back in I pulled out a book called "The Johnny Unitas Story" I was smitten I didn't know behind the scene books were written about my heroes. That slight stutter step he had was because as a kid he set of a blasting cap with a hammer which lodged a piece of Shrapnel left in his leg for the rest of his life
He would be top 10 in the NFL today especially with today's dumbed down offenses.
The greatest qb of all time. If he played under today's rules he'd throw 50 TD's a season
Hands down, no question, on BOTH points.
Invented the two-minute drill right before the nation's eyes in the 1958 title game on the final game-tying drive. Master of the seven-step drop - the man in the high blacks. He and Raymond Berry held most of the QB-WR records until Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison Sr. came along [with the same franchise].
When I was a kid in the 50s I played a lot of football. I was ALWAYS #19 Johnny Unitas. He was the greatest QB to watch.
@@mikeboyd3225 Tarkenton was!
It was actually Bobby Layne and the Lions who 1st first utilized this style of playing. I remember this tactic in 1955 the 1st year I watched the Lions. I was 11 years old at the time. I believe it was 1954 when they 1st employed it. Of course it was Johny U and the colts who really showcased it because of the drama of the 1958 overtime victory in the championship game.
He was the guest speaker at our booster fund raiser in the 60s and I have his autograph. Down to earth. BTW our school only had 500 students! They didn't make the big bucks then. Quit watching the game after they snuck out of Baltimore
Everyone loved Johnny U as a kid and wanted a #19 jersey
hard not to love the guy!
One could always see Unitas around Balt. And especially Timonium Md. He remained loyal after the colts left for Indy, always referring to himself as a Baltimore Colt!
I remember, too, the tremendous respect extended Unitas, after he'd passed at the too young age of 69 (forgive me, but I think it was between 1999 and 2001 ?), tribute was soon after offered at midfield, halftime, at a then Ravens game in Baltimore. Unitas' signature high top shoes were placed at the 50 yard line to the thunderous applause of thousands of stadium fans. Throughout the stadiym, as the TV network cameras panned through, numerous fans were standing and holding up signs that simply read, " Unitas We Stand ! "
After 12 seasons he had a then high 82.9 qb rating. Injuries dragged his stats down considerably.
There have been great quarterback since Unitas. The difference is, he called his own plays. No headphone guys with computers in the stands calling in the plays. He was on his own. Also, he wore no real protection - light padding and small shoulder pads with a single thin bar facemask. He would end a tough game with a broken nose, bloody face, poked out eye, limping, etc. No facemask, headshot, horse collar, roughness calls, It was war. They were paid little, had to work in the offseason to make ends meet, partied hard, and did not workout like today's players. It was a much different game in the '50's and early 60's.
@@tomf429 well said
and no such thing as a QB sliding to avoid being tackled.
The name fit the man…immortal.
If Unitas played under today's rules, he'd have 120,000 yards passing
Excellent!
In my opinion, Johnny U. was the toughest QB I ever saw play in the NFL. The league didn't protect QB's like they do now. I can't imagine some of the QBs that play today ever making it if they tried to play in the era when Johnny played. I am especially thinking about guys like Tom Brady!
As a kid, saw and followed Unitas in his prime and throughout to his final years as a player. He was all " blood and guts ", one " tough as nails " " sum a bitch ". Almost always called his own plays.
Later in his career in a regular season game between the Colts and Jets (talking about after, post, Super Bowl III, after the AFL merged with the NFL), he went toe to toe with ole Broadway Joe Namath, and the two put on a passing clinic, combining for over 1000 yards and multiple TD passes between them. Colts lost that game, if I recall correctly, and Unitas threw for just under 500 yards and Namath went over 500. Namath (several years younger), later paid tribute to Unitas, admitting having idolized him during his high school (?)/college years. So much respect for Unitas, that according to Namath, story goes, that some of his early days (pre-pro) teammates nicknamed him " Joey - U ".
Simply the best!
The Greatest
Makes you wonder what would have happened to the Steelers if they hadn't cut him - paraphrasing Jim Bowen, "look what you could have won."
Nice to hear these stories from NFL history from the perspective of a fellow Brit.
I don't even watch football anymore. It's not the same game. They broke the mold after Johnny U..
Moreover, the footballs that Unitas threw were properly inflated.
How do you know that ?
You said it !!
Johnny Unites was well known as a youngster in his town and he once set a county record by eating a dozen donuts while holding his breath and not swallowing until the food was chewed. He wince took a hard practice chewing out the befitting comment
That's the most acknowledged errors I've ever seen in a published video.
In Baltimore theres Brooksie, Johnny U and then theres everyone else.
Yep, the great Brooks Robinson and the great Johnny U. Don't make em like that anymore.
Saw Robinson vs the Cincinnati Reds (Johnny Bench and company) during their World Serues matchup. The year escapes me (1970, 71 ?), but wow, what a fielding clinic Robibson put on thru the whole series. Unbelievable performance with that glove (!!), reaching, diving, stabbing it out of the dirt. Robbed the Reds of several extra base hits. He was peerless; greatest fielding third baseman of all time.
How could you omit Frank Robinson????
Good stuff
@@Jonesnaltitude 🫡
Louisville had Unitas and Lamar Jackson. Not bad.
We would see Johnny U at Sunday Mass at St. Leo's Catholic Mission when he played for the SD Chargers at the end of his career.
The story I heard years ago is that the coach deciding he wasn't smart enough had something to do with not learning the playback fast enough or something like that.
The coach at Pittsburgh told Unitas , we would let you play, but we could be charged with child molestation.
fortunately, I can pause my computer to digest the visual stats and info offered. Not as quick as I used to be / never was
apologies, I'll try to not cut as quick going forward
Best ever nuf said
Growing up in the 50s, yes, I had a flattop.
@@bruceelting9517 truly a haircut you could set your watch to
Fran Tarkenton changed the game!!!!
THE KING of scramble
@rrampage36 yes, never gave up on a play! Never let those 350 lb. linemen corner him or squash him!
@@guywright-gx9km th-cam.com/video/3CwsfdY5o08/w-d-xo.htmlsi=LNAUTK-9IbjiMVXj
Well, almost never 🤪😜
People in my hometown of Pittsburgh still get angry that the Steelers let Dan Marino get past them in the draft in 1983. But to me, Unitas is far worse. He had one Superbowl title and a Superbowl. Marino never won a title. I'm of Marino's generation, but even with being too young to remember Unitas, I'm certainly not that bad as far as memory is concerned.
I’m noticing a glaring omission in your video library - What about the early 70’s Dolphins? Only undefeated team. Some of the greatest yet least known players. Csonka, the only RB to ever get called for unnecessary roughness. Guy was a bruiser and punished anyone who dared to try and tackle him.
@@psidvicious Larry Csonka has been on my video list for a while. I really need to get a video out on him! You’re right I have not covered the Dolphins, I’ll start with Csonka and then cover their other legends
"Now there's a haircut you can set your watch to."
Graphics and narration diverge...
Johnny U goood
Amen!
Let Johnny Unite Us!!
Did they have QB ratings back then?
Johnny U. The Best!
Don’t know if anyone else caught it, but there is no University of Indiana. It is Indiana University.
@@jbshaka653 somebody did point this out. My mistake as in the UK one University can usually be referred either way. I’ll make sure not make the same mistake going forward 👍
And he was a nice guy too
I got to play in Little League with number 19 on my jersey😊
Sounds like he was the Tom Brady of his era.
There’s a haircut you can set your watch to!
I grew up a Cowboys fan, dyed-in-the-wool.
But one of the football cards arranged on the
bedspread was always a Johnny Unitas card.
I know these guys now work hard, but football
is not the same. Too much show, for one thing.
Don't really watch it anymore.
UNITAS AIRLINES
With a name like "Johnny Unitas" he may as well been a superhero. He was destined for glory.
That'd be like having the name "Tommy Blades" it just sounds made up lol
His family modified a Slavic name so it was made up.
A British accent for the narrator? About an NFL player?
He was somethingelse - if you get my drift.
2:20 NOT University of Indiana. INDIANA UNIVERSITY. GO IU.
Sorry, in the UK one University can usually be referred either way. I’ll make sure not make the same mistake going forward 👍
Lenny moore