FOOTBALL • 1955-57

Ray Nitschke was a two-way star for Illinois as a linebacker on defense and fullback on offense, where he led the Illini in rushing with 514 yards in 1957. He followed his Illini career with a 15-year NFL Hall of Fame career with the Green Bay Packers. Known for his strength and toughness, Nitschke was recognized as the NFL’s all-time top linebacker by the NFL in honor of the NFL’s 50th Anniversary and was named First-Team on the NFL 75th Anniversary Team. He was the only linebacker to have made both the NFL’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. Nitschke anchored the Packer defense for Vince Lombardi on the way to five NFL Championships and victories in the first two Super Bowl games. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978 and his jersey No. 66 was retired by the Packers in 1983. He was named Second-Team All-Big Ten in 1957 and rushed for 998 yards during his Illini career. Nitschke was named to the Illinois All-Century Team in 1990. Nitschke died in 1998 at the age of 61.