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 the Colts to four championship titles; three in the pre-merger era in 1958, 1959, and 1968, and one in the Super Bowl era in Super Bowl V. His first championship victory is regarded as one of the league's greatest games and credited with helping popularize the NFL. Between 1956 and 1960, he set the record for most consecutive games with a touchdown pass at 47, which held for 52 years.
Nicknamed "Johnny U" and the "Golden Arm", Unitas was considered the prototype of the modern era marquee quarterback. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
After his collegiate career, the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL drafted Unitas in the ninth round. However, he was released before the season began as the odd man out among four quarterbacks trying to fill three spots. Steelers' head coach Walt Kiesling had made up his mind about Unitas; he thought he was not smart enough to quarterback an NFL team, and he was not given any snaps in practice with the Steelers. Among those edging out Unitas was Ted Marchibroda, future longtime NFL head coach. Out of pro football, Unitas—by this time married—worked in construction in Pittsburgh to support his family. On the weekends, he played quarterback, safety and punter on a local semi-professional team called the Bloomfield Rams for $6 a game.
In 1956, Unitas joined the Baltimore Colts of the NFL under legendary coach Weeb Ewbank, after being asked at the last minute to join Bloomfield Rams lineman Jim Deglau, a Croatian steelworker with a life much like Unitas, at the latter's scheduled Colts tryout. The pair borrowed money from friends to pay for the gas to make the trip. Deglau later told a reporter after Unitas's death, "[His] uncle told him not to come. [He] was worried that if he came down and the Colts passed on him, it would look bad (to other NFL teams)." The Colts signed Unitas, much to the chagrin of the Cleveland Browns, who had hoped to claim the former Steeler quarterback.
Unitas made his NFL debut with an inauspicious "mop-up" appearance against Detroit, going 0–2 with one interception. Two weeks later, starting quarterback George Shaw suffered a broken leg against the Chicago Bears. In his first serious action, Unitas's initial pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. Then he botched a hand-off on his next play, a fumble recovered by the Bears. Unitas rebounded quickly from that 58–27 loss, leading the Colts to an upset of Green Bay and their first win over Cleveland. He threw nine touchdown passes that year, including one in the season finale that started his record 47-game streak. His 55.6-percent completion mark was a rookie record.
In 1957, his first season as the Colts full-time starter at quarterback, Unitas finished first in the NFL in passing yards (2,550) and touchdown passes (24) as he helped lead the Colts to a 7–5 record, the first winning record in franchise history. At season's end, Unitas received the Jim Thorpe Trophy as the NFL's Most Valuable Player by the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA).
Unitas continued his prowess in 1958 passing for 2,007 yards and 19 touchdowns as the Colts won the Western Conference title. The Colts won the NFL championship under his leadership on December 28, 1958, by defeating the New York Giants 23–17 in sudden death overtime on a touchdown by fullback Alan Ameche. It was the first overtime game in NFL history, and is often referred to as the "greatest game ever played". The game, nationally televised by NBC, has been credited for sparking the rise in popularity of professional football during the 1960s.
In 1959, Unitas was named the NFL's MVP by the Associated Press (AP) for the first time, as well as United Press International's player of the year, after leading the NFL in passing yards (2,899), touchdown passes (32), and completions (193). He then led the Colts to a repeat championship, beating the Giants again 31–16 in the title game.
As the 1960s began, the Colts' fortunes (and win totals) declined. Injuries to key players such as Alan Ameche, Raymond Berry, and Lenny Moore were a contributing factor. Unitas's streak of 47 straight games with at least one touchdown pass ended against the Los Angeles Rams in week 11 of the 1960 season. In spite of this, he topped the 3,000-yard passing mark for the first time and led the league in touchdown passes for the fourth consecutive season.
After three middle-of-the-pack seasons, Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom fired Weeb Ewbank and replaced him with Don Shula, who at the time was the youngest head coach in NFL history (33 years of age when he was hired). The Colts finished 8–6 in Shula's first season at the helm, good enough for only third place in the NFL's Western Conference, but they did end the season on a strong note by winning their final three games. The season was very successful for Unitas personally, as he led the NFL in passing yards with a career-best total of 3,481 and also led in completions with 237.
In the 1964 season the Colts returned to the top of the Western Conference. After dropping their season opener to the Minnesota Vikings, the Colts ran off 10 straight victories to finish with a 12–2 record. The season was one of Unitas's best as he finished with 2,824 yards passing, a league-best 9.26 yards per pass attempt, 19 touchdown passes and only 6 interceptions. He was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player by the AP and UPI for a second time. However, the season ended on a disappointing note for the Colts as they were upset by the Cleveland Browns in the 1964 NFL Championship Game, losing 27–0.
Unitas resumed his torrid passing in 1965, throwing for 2,530 yards, 23 touchdowns and finishing with a league-high and career-best 97.1 passer rating. But he was lost for the balance of the season due to a knee injury in a week 12 loss to the Bears. Backup quarterback Gary Cuozzo also suffered a season-ending injury the following week, and running back Tom Matte filled in as the emergency quarterback for the regular season finale and in a playoff loss to the Packers. The Colts and Packers finished in a tie for first place in the Western Conference and a one-game playoff was played in Green Bay to decide who would be the conference representative in the 1965 NFL Championship Game. The Colts lost in overtime 13–10 due in large part to a game-tying field goal by Don Chandler that many say was incorrectly ruled good.
Unitas, healthy once more, threw for 2,748 yards and 22 touchdowns in 1966 in a return to Pro Bowl form. However, he posted a league-high 24 interceptions.
After once again finishing second in the Western Conference in 1966, the Colts rebounded to finish 11–1–2 in 1967 tying the Los Angeles Rams for the NFL's best record. In winning his third MVP award from the AP and UPI in 1967 (and his second from the NEA), Unitas had a league-high 58.5 completion percentage and passed for 3,428 yards and 20 touchdowns. He openly complained about having tennis elbow and he threw eight interceptions and only three touchdown passes in the final five games. Once again, the season ended in loss for the Colts, as they were shut out of the newly instituted four-team NFL playoff after losing the divisional tiebreaker to the Rams, a 34–10 rout in the regular season finale.
In the final game of the 1968 preseason, the muscles in Unitas's arm were torn when he was hit by a member of the Dallas Cowboys defense. Unitas wrote in his autobiography that he felt his arm was initially injured by the use of the "night ball" that the NFL was testing for better TV visibility during night games. In a post-game interview the previous year, he noted having constant pain in his elbow for several years prior. He would spend most of the season sitting on the bench. The Colts still marched to a league-best 13–1 record behind backup quarterback and ultimate 1968 NFL MVP Earl Morrall. Although he was injured through most of the season, Unitas came off the bench to play in Super Bowl III, the famous game where Joe Namath guaranteed a New York Jets win despite conventional wisdom. Unitas's insertion was a desperation move in an attempt to retrieve dominance of the NFL over the upstart AFL. Although the Colts won an NFL Championship in 1968, they lost the Super Bowl to the AFL Champion New York Jets, thus becoming the first-ever NFL champions that were not also deemed world champions. Unitas helped put together the Colts' only score, a touchdown late in the game. Unitas also drove the Colts into scoring position following the touchdown and successful onside kick, but head coach Don Shula eschewed a field goal attempt, which (if successful) would have cut the Jets' lead to 16–10. Despite not playing until late in the third quarter, he still finished the game with more passing yards than the team's starter, Earl Morrall.
After an off-season of rehabilitation on his elbow, Unitas rebounded in 1969, passing for 2,342 yards and 12 touchdowns with 20 interceptions. But the Colts finished with a disappointing 8–5–1 record, and missed the playoffs.
In 1970, the NFL and AFL had merged into one league, and the Colts moved to the new American Football Conference, along with the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He threw for 2,213 yards and 14 touchdowns while leading the Colts to an 11–2–1 season. In their first rematch with the Jets, Unitas and Namath threw a combined nine interceptions in a 29–22 Colts win. Namath threw 62 passes and broke his hand on the final play of the game, ending his season.
Unitas threw for 390 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in AFC playoff victories over the Cincinnati Bengals and the Oakland Raiders. In Super Bowl V against the Dallas Cowboys, he was knocked out of the game with a rib injury in the second quarter, soon after throwing a 75-yard touchdown pass (setting a then-Super Bowl record) to John Mackey. However, he had also tossed two interceptions before his departure from the game. Earl Morrall came in to lead the team to a last-second, 16–13 victory.
In 1971, Unitas split playing time with Morrall, throwing only three touchdown passes. He started both playoff games, a win over the Cleveland Browns that sent the Colts to the AFC Championship game against the Miami Dolphins, which they lost by a score of 21–0. Unitas threw three interceptions in the game, one of which was returned for a touchdown by safety Dick Anderson.
The 1972 season saw the Colts declining. After losing the season opener, Unitas was involved in the second and final regular season head-to-head meeting with "Broadway" Joe Namath. The first was in 1970 (won by the Colts, 29–22). The last meeting took place on September 24, 1972 at Memorial Stadium. He threw for 376 yards and three touchdowns, but Namath upstaged him again, bombing the Colts for 496 yards and six touchdowns in a 44–34 Jets victory – their first over Baltimore since the 1970 merger. After losing four of their first five games, the Colts fired head coach Don McCafferty, and benched Unitas.
One of the more memorable moments in football history came on Unitas's last game in a Colts uniform at Memorial Stadium, in a game against the Buffalo Bills. He was not the starter for this game, but the Colts were blowing the Bills out by a score of 28–0 behind Marty Domres; Unitas entered the game due to the fans chanting, "We want Unitas!!!", and a plan devised by head coach John Sandusky to convince Unitas that the starting quarterback was injured. Unitas came onto the field, and threw two passes, one of which was a long touchdown to wide receiver Eddie Hinton which would be his last pass as a Colt. The Colts won the game by the score of 35–7.
Unitas was traded from the Colts to the San Diego Chargers on January 20, 1973, in a transaction that originally had future considerations returning to Baltimore. The deal's only obstacle was the personal services contract he had signed with the Colts in 1970 which would've kept him employed within the organization on an annual salary of $30,000 over ten years once his career as an active player ended. The pact had been signed when the ballclub was owned by Carroll Rosenbloom who subsequently acquired the Los Angeles Rams on July 13, 1972, in a franchise swap with Robert Irsay. The deal was completed when the Chargers purchased that contract. Eager to sever all ties with the Colts, Unitas signed a new two-year contract with the Chargers on June 8, 1973. He succeeded John Hadl who had requested and was granted a trade to the Rams.
Unitas started the season with a 38–0 loss to the Washington Redskins. He threw for just 55 yards and 3 interceptions, and was sacked 8 times. His final victory as a starter came against the Buffalo Bills in week two. Unitas was 10–18 for 175 yards, two touchdown passes, and no interceptions in a 34–7 Chargers rout. After a loss to the Bengals in week three, many were questioning Unitas' role as a starter. Two weeks later, he threw two first-half interceptions, passed for only 19 yards, and went 2-for-9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was then replaced by rookie quarterback, future Hall of Famer Dan Fouts. After having posted a 1–3 record as a starter, Unitas retired in the preseason of 1974.
Unitas finished his 18 NFL seasons with 2,830 completions in 5,186 attempts for 40,239 yards and 290 touchdowns, with 253 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,777 yards and 13 touchdowns. Plagued by arm trouble in his later seasons, he threw more interceptions (64) than touchdowns (38) in 1968–1973. After averaging 215.8 yards per game in his first 12 seasons, his production fell to 124.4 in his final six. His passer rating plummeted from 82.9 to 60.4 for the same periods. Even so, Unitas set many passing records during his career. He was the first quarterback to throw for more than 40,000 yards, despite playing during an era when NFL teams played shorter seasons of 12 or 14 games (as opposed to today's 17-game seasons) and prior to modern passing-friendly rules implemented in 1978. His 32 touchdown passes in 1959 were a record at the time, making Unitas the first quarterback to hit the 30 touchdown mark in a season. His 47-game consecutive touchdown streak between 1956 and 1960 was a record considered by many to be unbreakable. The streak stood for 52 years before being broken by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees in a game against the San Diego Chargers on October 7, 2012.
After his playing days were finished, Unitas settled in Baltimore where he raised his family while also pursuing a career in broadcasting, doing color commentary for NFL games on CBS in the 1970s. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. After Robert Irsay moved the Colts franchise to Indianapolis in 1984, a move known to this day in Baltimore as "Bob Irsay's Midnight Ride," he was so outraged that he cut all ties to the relocated team (though his No. 19 jersey is still retired by the Colts), declaring himself strictly a Baltimore Colt for the remainder of his life. Some other prominent old-time Colts followed his lead, although many attended the 1975 team's reunion at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in 2009. A total of 39 Colts players from that 1975 team attended said reunion in Indianapolis, including Bert Jones and Lydell Mitchell. Unitas asked the Pro Football Hall of Fame on numerous occasions (including on Roy Firestone's Up Close) to remove his display unless it was listed as belonging to the Baltimore Colts. The Hall of Fame has never complied with the request. Unitas donated his Colts memorabilia to the Babe Ruth Museum in Baltimore; they are now on display in the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards.
Unitas was inducted into the American Football Association's Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
Unitas actively lobbied for another NFL team to come to Baltimore. After the Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996 and changed their name to the Ravens, he and some of the other old-time Colts attended the Ravens' first game ever against the Raiders on Opening Day at Memorial Stadium. He was frequently seen on the Ravens' sidelines at home games (most prominently in 1998 when the now-Indianapolis Colts played the Ravens in Baltimore) and received a thunderous ovation every time he was pictured on each of the huge widescreens at M&T Bank Stadium. He was often seen on the 30-yard line on the Ravens side. When the NFL celebrated its first 50 years, Unitas was voted the league's best player. Retired Bears quarterback Sid Luckman said of Unitas, "He was better than me, better than Sammy Baugh, better than anyone."
Unitas lived most of the final years of his life severely hobbled. Due to an elbow injury suffered during his playing career, he had only very limited use of his right hand, and could not perform any physical activity more strenuous than golf due to his artificial knees.
In 1991, Unitas and his wife filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11. Their court filings showed that the couple owed creditors as much as $3.2 million but had assets of about $1.4 million. His financial problems arose in part from a business venture in which he and two partners took out loans to buy National Circuits Inc., a maker of printed circuit boards, and the firm subsequently failed.
Sources
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/
https://www.profootballarchives.com/index.html
https://americanfootballdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Football_Wiki
https://www.gridiron-uniforms.com/GUD/controller/controller.php?action=main
https://www.profootballhof.com/hall-of-famers/
"Bio". johnnyunitas.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
"Johnny Unitas". lithhof.org. Archived from the original on November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
Clayton, John (January 19, 2010). "Playoffs raise historical stakes". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on November 25, 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
Nack, William (May 7, 2001). "The Wrecking Yard". Sports Illustrated.
Mark Bowden (2008). The Best Game Ever. Atlantic Monthly Press. p. 46. ISBN 978-0-87113-988-7.
DeMarco, Donald (October 20, 2002). "Faith Made Johnny Unitas the Best There Ever Was". National Catholic Register. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
Sahadi, Lou (2004). Johnny Unitas America's Quarterback. Triumph Books. pp. 27–33. ISBN 1-57243-610-7.
"Johnny Unitas Dead At 69". University of Louisville Athletic. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
"Hall of Fame QB Unitas dead at 69". sportsillustrated.cnn.com. September 11, 2002. Archived from the original on October 2, 2002. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
Eisenberg, John (October 20, 2002). "Youngster's drive couldn't be sacked". Baltimore Sun.
Callahan, Tom (2006). Johnny U, The Life & Times of John Unitas. Crown. pp. 34–35. ISBN 978-1-4000-8139-4.
Sahadi, Lou (2004). Johnny Unitas America's Quarterback. Triumph Books. pp. 36–37. ISBN 1-57243-610-7.
Morgan, Jon (September 18, 2002). "We won't see another Johnny Unitas". Baltimore Sun.
Abdo, Mike; Davies, Bob (November 7, 1959). "Unitas 'Started' Career at St. Bona". Olean Times Herald.
Callahan, Tom (2006). Johnny U, The Life & Times of John Unitas. Crown. pp. 38–41. ISBN 978-1-4000-8139-4.
"Louisville Football 2011 Media Guide". Guide.provations.com. July 1, 2011. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
"Reflecting on Johnny Unitas' Louisville career". Louisville Cardinals On SI. May 7, 2020. Archived from the original on May 24, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
Dan Rooney: My 75 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL, ISBN 0-306-81569-9; p. 62.
MacCambridge, 2005 pg. 124
Cavanaugh, 2008 pg. 166
"Youngster's drive couldn't be sacked". dailypress.com. October 20, 2002. Archived from the original on February 23, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
"Unitas set the QB gold standard". Pittsburgpost-gazette.com. September 17, 2002. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
"Unitas' first pass wasn't a Bears' TD". Baltimore Sun. October 21, 2006. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
Gregory, Sean (December 29, 2008). "The Football Game that Changed It All". Time. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
"Unitas Named Player Of Year In Pro Football". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. December 24, 1959. p. 10. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
"AP NFL Most Valuable Player Winners". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
Lee, Brenden; Gellerman, Jacob; King, Robert, eds. (2015). 2015 Official NFL Record and Fact Book (PDF). National Football League. p. 524. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
"National Football League MVPs By The Associated Press". Gadsden Times. Associated Press. January 8, 1991. p. B2. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
Sell, Jack (December 28, 1959). "Colts Destroy Giants for Pro Crown, 31–16". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 20. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
Murray Olderman, "Johnny Unitas Makes the Colts Click," Pro All Stars 1960 Pro Football. New York: Maco Magazine Corporation, 1960; p. 9.
"Baltimore Colts – Sports Ecyclopedia". Sports Ecyclopedia. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
"profootballresearchers.org" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 5, 2010.
Klingaman, Mike (December 27, 2022). "In 1962, the Colts suffered one of the most lopsided losses in NFL history. But there was a silver lining". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
Lamers, Ben (March 26, 2015). "Throwback Thursday: John Unitas' 1964 Season". Stampede Blue. Archived from the original on November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
Steadman, John (November 3, 1996). "Chandler's admission helps take sting out of 31-year-old bad call". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
"Colts-Packers Playoff Remains Etched In Lore". www.packers.com. Archived from the original on January 28, 2025. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
"1966 NFL Passing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
"Unitas surprised them all". ESPN Classic. Espn.go.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
Maule, Tex (October 2, 1967). "It's Johnny U. Again". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
"1969 Baltimore Colts Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
"1970 Baltimore Colts Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
"Johnny Unitas Playoffs Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 15, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
"Super Bowl V – Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Colts – January 17th, 1971". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
"Super Bowl V". Lines.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
"1970 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
"1971 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
Stellino, Vito (July 23, 1991). "49ers try to avoid half-baked turnover". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
Sun, Baltimore (September 29, 1991). "MEMORIAL STADIUM: OUR COLTS". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
Wallace, William N. (January 23, 1973). "Unitas Is Traded to Chargers, But Says He May Not Report". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
"Gabriel Is Traded To Eagles by Rams; Unitas Signs Pact". The New York Times. June 9, 1973. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
"San Diego Chargers at Washington Redskins - September 16th, 1973". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
"Box Score, Buffalo Bills at San Diego Chargers, September 23, 1973". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
"Johnny Unitas | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Archived from the original on November 1, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
Michael, Ryan. "50 years since Unitas' last pass: Some things you might not know about No. 19". pfhof. Archived from the original on November 2, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
"NFL Fourth Quarter Comebacks Year-by-Year Leaders (since 1950)". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
Godzinevski, Boris. "The Greatest Individual Streaks in Sport". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
Rovell, Darren (October 7, 2012). "Drew Brees breaks Unitas' mark". ESPN.com. Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
"Dead Ball Era career passer rating leaders". coldhardfootballfacts.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2013.
"Unitas QBs NFL Team". Tampa Tribune. September 7, 1969. p. 34. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
"ESPN Classic - Unitas dies of heart attack at 69". www.espn.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
WENDLANT, MIKE (September 10, 2012). "Three rules that changed the way the NFL is played". The Times-Delphic. Archived from the original on September 14, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
Holder, Stephen (November 26, 2021). "Making sense of NFL stats in the 17-game era: 'The highest does not mean the best'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
"All-Time Passer Rating | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Archived from the original on October 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
Cunningham, Sean (November 30, 2017). "How NFL Rule Changes Created a Golden Era of Quarterback Stats". InsideHook. Archived from the original on December 9, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
Zimmerman, Paul (September 23, 2002). "Talking Football In an interview more than two decades after his last game, the old pro showed the passion of an All-Pro still in his prime". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
Bell, Upton (2017). Present At The Creation. University of Nebraska Press. pp. 298–299.
Klingaman, Mike (February 1, 2007). "It was brutal". Baltimore Sun.
Gilden, Jack (2018). Collision of Wills, Johnny Unitas, Don Shula, and the Rise of the Modern NFL. University of Nebraska Press. p. 86. ISBN 9781496206916.
Berry, Raymond; Stewart, Wayne (2016). All the Moves I Had. Lyons Press. p. 64. ISBN 978-1-4930-1780-5.
"Doug Atkins Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
Sahadi, Lou (2004). Johnny Unitas America's Quarterback. Triumph Books. pp. 192–194. ISBN 1-57243-610-7.
Donahue, Ben (April 30, 2022). "The Life And Career Of Johnny Unitas (Complete Story)". Pro Football History. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
Alvarez, Rafael (October 6, 2016). "Johnny Unitas Threw His First NFL Pass 60 Years Ago". Baltimore Magazine. Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
"Ray Didinger: A Farewell To My Hero". www.philadelphiaeagles.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
"HBO's 60-Minute documentary chronicles Unitas' storied career". Baltimore Sun. December 10, 1999. Archived from the original on June 11, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
"Johnny Unitas Archives". The Saturday Evening Post. Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
"Scratch These Colts : Unitas and Matte Don't Think About How Their Former Team Is Doing, Because They Don't Consider Indianapolis Their Former Team". Los Angeles Times. January 13, 1996. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
"Hall of Fame listing" (PDF). americanfootballassn.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 22, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
Rosenthal, Ken (April 17, 2000). "Fallen QB Redman provides uplifting moment for Ravens". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on September 11, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
"Ravens, others plan Unitas tributes". Philly.com. September 13, 2002. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
Steadman, John (January 20, 1995). "Old-time fete shows how far NFL has come". Baltimore Sun.
Carter, Bob. "Unitas surprised them all". espn.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
Litsky, Frank (September 12, 2002). "Johnny Unitas, NFL's Genius of the Huddle, Dies at 69". New York Times. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
"Johnny Unitas' Former Home To Hit the Market". Towson, Maryland Patch. January 25, 2012. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
"BSO Decorators' Show House highlights Johnny Unitas' home". WBALTV.com. WBAL. October 24, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
"Towson To Immortalize Johnny Unitas By Naming Football Stadium After Former Colts QB". PatriotLeague.org. May 1, 2003. Archived from the original on November 23, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
"Video". CNN. May 7, 2001. Archived from the original on October 24, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
Nack, William (May 7, 2001). "The Wrecking Yard". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
"Johnny Unitas: The NFL's Blue-Collar Hero". The Carolina Journal. November 13, 2002.
"Unitas Files for Bankruptcy". Chicago Tribune. February 27, 1991. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
"Bankrupt Unitas Is $3.2 Million in Debt". Los Angeles Times. April 12, 1991. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
Singletary, Michelle (February 26, 1991). "Johnny Unitas files for bankruptcy". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
Morgan, Jon (September 18, 2002). "'We won't see another Johnny Unitas'". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
Hensley, Jamison (October 5, 2002). "Ravens to honor Unitas, ex-Colts". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
"Hall of Fame". americanfootballassn.com. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
"Johnny Unitas (1933-2002) — College of Arts & Sciences". louisville.edu. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
"Big East gameday traditions: Louisville". ESPN. March 3, 2010. Archived from the original on September 19, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
Sahadi, Lou (2004). Johnny Unitas America's Quarterback. Triumph Books. pp. ix–xi. ISBN 1-57243-610-7.
"Football's 100 Greatest Players". Archive.sportingnews.com. Archived from the original on June 1, 2008. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
Joyce, C. Alan (January 5, 2007). ""Unbreakable" Sports Records". The World Almanac. Archived from the original on August 2, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
Drew Brees breaks Johnny Unitas' TD pass record Archived September 19, 2024, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved October 20, 2012.
Mortensen, Chris (September 17, 2002). "NFL thwarts Manning in attempt to honor Unitas". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
Vecsey, Laura (September 16, 2002). "NFL has laces tied too tight, banning Colt's high-top tribute". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
Sessler, Marc (April 6, 2013). "Joe Flacco will portray Johnny Unitas in upcoming film". National Football League. Archived from the original on April 8, 2013. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
"PRESS RELEASE: Lithuanian American Legends, Dick Butkus, Ruta Lee, Johnny Unitas Enter The National Lithuanian American Hall of Fame 2013". lithhof.org. Archived from the original on November 12, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
"August 24, 2013, The National Lithuanian American Hall of Fame Welcomes Dick Butkus, Ruta Lee, and Johnny Unitas". lithhof.org. Archived from the original on November 12, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
"Johnny Unitas wins Bracketology as greatest QB of all time". NFL.com. April 7, 2014. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
"Johnny Unitas Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
"Unitas, Turner Classic Movies". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on July 12, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
Weyer, Michael; Mocella, Stefano (April 7, 2022). "NFL Players Who Made Cameos In Movies". TheSportster. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
"Point Break (1991) Garry Busey: Pappas" – IMDb, archived from the original on April 29, 2024, retrieved April 28, 2024
"The Adventures of Pete & Pete" Space, Geeks and Johnny Unitas (TV Episode 1992) – IMDb, archived from the original on May 24, 2024, retrieved May 11, 2023
"Gus". TVGuide.com. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
Deford, Frank (2002). The Best There Ever Was. Sports Illustrated.
Staff (2010). The Steak that changed football. Sports Illustrated.
Zimmerman, Paul (2002). Talking Football. Sports Illustrated.
Bell, Upton. Present At The Creation. Lincoln, NE: U. of Nebraska Press, 2017.
Berry, Raymond and Wayne Stewart. All the Moves I Had. Guilford, CT: Lyons Press, 2016.
Bolus, Jim, and Billy Reed. Cardinal Football. Champaign, IL: Sports Pub Inc., 1999.
Bowden, Mark. The Best Game Ever. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2008.
Callahan, Tom. Johnny U: the life and times of John Unitas. New York: Crown Publishers, 2006.
Gilden, Jack. Collision of Wills. Lincoln, NE: U. of Nebraska Press, 2018.
Lazenby, Roland. Johnny Unitas: the best there ever was. Chicago: Triumph Books, 2002.
Sahadi, Lou. Johnny Unitas America's Quarterback. Chicago: Triumph Books, 2004.
Schaap, Dick (1999). "Johnny Unitas: Sunday's Best". In ESPN SportsCentury. Michael MacCambridge, Editor. New York: ESPN-Hyperion Books. pp. 154–65.
Cavanaugh, Jack (2008), Giants Among Men. New York: Random House. ISBN 978-1-58836-697-9
MacCambridge, Michael (2005), America's Game. New York: Anchor Books. ISBN 978-0-307-48143-6
No comments:
Post a Comment