He also was selected at quarterback for the NFL's All-Time team in 2000 by the 36 Pro Football Hall of Fame voters. He was recently a tutor for Chris Redman, who played at the University of Louisville, Unitas's old school, and is now the starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. Mrs. Unitas volunteered with the Towson Catholic and Calvert Hall high schools' mothers clubs. Reportedly, the 6ft 1in (1.85m) Unitas weighed 145 pounds (66kg) on his first day of practice. Johnny Unitas Net Worth 2023- Salary, NFL Career, and Cause of Death By Michael L. Davis February 8, 2023 1 Johnny Unitas is unquestionably one of the most famous quarterbacks in American football history. He suffered a rough hit during his career that caused him to have trouble in the mid-1990s as he was having issues with the nerves that controlled his hand and fingers. I want you all to remember that. Still, his life after his professional career was battered by physical ailments that didnt allow him to live a healthy fruitful retirement. Unitas was slowed by so many injuries his senior year his 527 passing yards ended second to Jim Houser's 560. But that name and the money that can be made with it is at the center of an ugly dispute that has torn his family apart. [22] He openly complained about having tennis elbow[23] and he threw eight interceptions and only three touchdown passes in the final five games. Unitas finished his 18 NFL seasons with 2,830 completions in 5,186 attempts for 40,239 yards and 290 touchdowns, with 253 interceptions. Unitas Jr. faces plenty of issues. "A man never gets to this station in life without being helped, aided, shoved, pushed and prodded to do better,'' Unitas said at his induction into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 1979. In 1969, when the N.F.L. I think we are right. He hoped to receive league-financed disability payments but learned that because he was receiving a monthly pension, he could not also collect disability because he had not filed for it by age 55, as the pension-fund rules required. The former then- Baltimore Colts quarterback became the gold standard at the quarterback position behind his tremendous success over nearly two decades in the league. Unitas was a prolific passer and a master of the two minute drill. "He had such an impact on me. Unitas also had difficulties in his family life. to his ability in a most unusual way. In Baltimore, he was football. 19 as a professional, had his No. Hollywood writers going on strike over fair pay in streaming era, Missing teens may be among 7 people found dead in Oklahoma, authorities say, Fish contaminated with "forever chemicals" found in nearly every state, Gordon Lightfoot, "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" singer, dies at 84, CBS News Poll: How GOP primary race could be Trump v. Trump fatigue, At least 6 dead after dust storm causes massive pile-up on Illinois highway, Oklahoma governor signs gender-affirming care ban for kids, U.S. tracking high-altitude balloon first spotted off Hawaii, Bob Lee died from three stab wounds, medical examiner says, Gordon Lightfoot, "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" singer, dies at age 84, Met Gala 2023 looks: See photos of the show-stopping red carpet arrivals, Tennis star Serena Williams, supermodel Karlie Kloss unveil baby bumps at the Met Gala. Named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team. Unitas, who is considered by many to be the greatest field general to play the game, is still paying for a hit he took more than three decades ago as a Baltimore Colt. 16 collegiate uniform retired at Louisville, the only number retired by the Cardinals. "There's a big difference between confidence and conceit. The 1954 Cardinals went 36, with their last win at home against Morehead State. Unitas remembered at site of 'Greatest Game', Curry: Unitas was real, but a giant among men, Unitas guided Colts to historic OT win in '58. Unitas-DeNittis and Paige Unitas. Unitas became a backup quarterback and made his debut in the fourth game of the 1956 season. 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 3410 rout in the regular season finale. Unitas underwent emergency triple-bypass surgery in March 1993 after a heart attack. He was popular for being a Football Player. 16 jersey retired by the University of Louisville. She also worked with infants at St. Vincent's Child Care Center, a Timonium group home for children with emotional or behavioral problems. The son worshipped the father. 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 elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. His final victory as a starter came against the Buffalo Bills in week two. The couple was living in Pittsburgh when she received a telephone call in February 1956 from Don Kellett, Colts general manager, asking her husband to sign a contract. Unitas passed away on September 11, 2002, at age 69 due to a heart attack while working out at a physical therapy center in Baltimore. Unitas didn't really look like a football player. [50] Between his death and October 4, 2002, 56,934 people signed an online petition urging the Baltimore Ravens to rename the Ravens' home stadium (owned by the State of Maryland) after Unitas. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 's Genius of the Huddle, Dies at 69, https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/12/sports/johnny-unitas-nfl-s-genius-of-the-huddle-dies-at-69.html. 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. It was the first overtime game in NFL history, and is often referred to as the "greatest game ever played". Unitas completed 106 of 198 passes for 1,540 yards and 12 touchdowns.[7]. . Named "Greatest Player in the First 50 Years of Pro He was selected to 10 Pro Bowls during his career and was named AP NFL MVP in 1964 and 1967. Unitas's survivors include his wife, Sandra; six sons, John Jr., Kenneth, Robert, Christopher, Joe and Chad; and two daughters, Janice Ann Unitas-DeNittis and Paige Unitas. But the starter was hurt, the other backup chose law school over football, and Unitas kept his job. #inline-recirc-item--id-9d313698-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { By now he was bigger (he would eventually weigh 200 pounds) and soon he was a star. He is a former American professional football player. Completed 2,830 passes for 40,239 yards and a record 290 He threw for more than 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns in his first two years, earning the nickname "Mr. Football'' from local sports writers. Sandra Unitas also declined to comment for this story, as did most of the remaining siblings. A total of 39 Colts players from that 1975 team attended said reunion in Indianapolis, including Bert Jones and Lydell Mitchell. Unitas maintained his by taking on a new elective: square dancing. arm or his size, it was what was inside his stomach,'' said Giants John Mackey, the Colts' tight end during the Unitas years, once said of his teammate, "It's like being in a huddle with God.". The Colts won the NFL championship under his leadership on December 28, 1958, by defeating the New York Giants 2317 in sudden death overtime on a touchdown by fullback Alan Ameche. He led the Colts to three N.F.L. Unitas was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. 1954-11-20 NFL quarterback Johnny Unitas (21) . The Colts gave Unitas a $7,000-a-year contract with the condition that he had to survive the entire season to earn it all. }, First published on September 11, 2002 / 6:34 PM. Johnny Unitas' death was caused by heart attack. He also made bad real-estate investments, and he and Sandra Unitas filed for personal bankruptcy protection in 1991. "She was a strong person who allowed her children to make their own choices. He had eight children during the span of two marriages. championship game still regarded by many as the greatest game ever played. In 1971, his Colts beat the Dallas Cowboys, 16-13, in the Super Bowl. He played golf by strapping his gloved right hand to the club shaft with a Velcro strip. Gordon Lightfoot, "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" singer, dies at age 84 16 is the first number retired by the football program at the University of Louisville. Unitas was hurt later in the fourth quarter while trying to run the ball. 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. BALTIMORE -- Johnny Unitas, the Hall of Fame quarterback who general manager Ernie Accorsi, who worked with the Colts in Unitas' He was the namesake. Unitas, who wore No. 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. [41], In 1991, Unitas and his wife filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11. There have been many highly talented quarterbacks in the NFL that have helped set the standard at the position. Without them, I'm nothing,'' he said. After losing the season opener, Unitas was involved in the second and final regular season head-to-head meeting with "Broadway" Joe Namath. Ewbank once told how it happened. [24] He would spend most of the season sitting on the bench. 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. Being confident means you believe you can get the job done, but you know you can't get your job done unless you also have the confidence that the other guys are going to get their jobs done too. In, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 15 April 2023, at 12:08. Its very disappointing, Matte said. touchdown passes during his career. [29][30] After losing four of their first five games, the Colts fired head coach Don McCafferty, and benched Unitas. 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. The long list of accomplishments was quite a reversal of fortune } "I always accused Johnny of writing it.". Unitas completed 49 of 95 passes for 470 yards and three touchdowns. 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 also started 11 games during the Dolphins' perfect. And then it became the first playoff ever to go to sudden death, and you can't have much more drama than that,'' Unitas recalled. championship history. At the age of 21 on November 20, 1954, Unitas married his high school sweetheart Dorothy Hoelle; they lived in Towson[46] and had five children before divorcing. He was not the starter for this game, but the Colts were blowing the Bills out by a score of 280 behind Marty Domres; Unitas entered the game due to the fans chanting, "We want Unitas!!! #4 Johnny Unitas | NFL Films | Top 10 Quarterbacks of All Time NFL Films 1.21M subscribers Subscribe 62K views 6 years ago Johnny Unitas comes in at number 4 on the countdown of the top. The Louisville product got the chance to prove himself with the then-Baltimore Colts as he earned a workout with the team. At least one creditor is coming after him personally and wants payment on a five-figure loan, he said. His 18-year marriage to Dorothy Unitas ended in divorce in 1972. broke nearly every NFL passing record and won three championships Very plain and simply, Johnny Unitas was one of my heroes,'' Ravens senior vice president of football operations Ozzie Newsome said. After his collegiate career, the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL drafted Unitas in the ninth round. ", and a plan devised by head coach John Sandusky to convince Unitas that the starting quarterback was injured. He then engineered an 80-yard drive for the winning touchdown. However, he had also tossed two interceptions before his departure from the game. His first pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. Quotes Conceit is bragging about yourself. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Helped pr. This man is regarded as one of the great players in the NFL. Unitas had a heart attack while working out at a physical therapy center in Timonium, Md., Vivienne Stearns-Elliott, a spokeswoman for St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, told The Associated Press. ''I always accused Johnny of writing it.''. In the 1964 season the Colts returned to the top of the Western Conference. Out of pro football, Unitasby this time marriedworked in construction in Pittsburgh to support his family. say was incorrectly ruled good. I would hope what comes out is a prompt resolution that the company gets what it is entitled to get.. Jimmy Orr, the Baltimore Colts' receiver who teamed with quarterback Johnny Unitas in one of the N.F.L.'s leading passing combinations of the 1960s, died on Tuesday at his home in Brunswick,. Steelers' head coach Walt Kiesling had made up his mind about Unitas; he thought he was not smart enough to quarterback an NFL team,[8] and he was not given any snaps in practice with the Steelers. Eventually, the man who was initially overlooked would become a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a hero to kids everywhere. In 1952, coach Frank Camp switched the team to two-way football. I always will.''. Medication side effects are the #4 leading cause of death in the U.S. annually (JAMA 1998). Unitas married Sandra in 1972, and they had three children together: Francis Joseph, Chad and Alicia Ann Paige. gained passing, most touchdown passes and most seasons leading the Unitas's later years were troubled. The new president at Louisville, Dr. Philip Grant Davidson, reduced the amount of athletic aid, and tightened academic standards for athletes. In June, Sandra Unitas, Mr. Tatelbaum and Mr. Moffet filed a lawsuit that charged John Jr. with mismanagement and questionable spending that forced the company into bankruptcy. He succeeded John Hadl who had requested and was granted a trade to the Rams.[31][32]. The University of Pittsburgh offered a scholarship, but he failed the entrance examination. The Cardinals won their first game against Wayne State, and then Florida State in the second game. "How could I?'' His mother went to night school to become a bookkeeper to support her four children. As a result, 15 returning players could not meet the new standards and lost their scholarships. he asked. after the Pittsburgh Steelers cut him in 1955. He also played football for the Bloomfield Rams, a semipro team in the Pittsburgh area that played on dirt, not grass, and sprayed the field with oil before a game to keep the dust down. Today he barely has use of the hand attached to it. final years on the team. His first pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. The following year, Baltimore beat the Giants 31-16 in the championship game. were questioning his role as a starter after a loss to the Bengals in week three. Unitas had triple bypass surgery in 1993 after a heart attack. display: none; John Constantine Unitas (/junats/;[a] May 7, 1933 September 11, 2002) was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons, primarily with the Baltimore Colts. games, a record not challenged since it was set from 1956-60. [26], Unitas threw for 390 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in AFC playoff victories over the Cincinnati Bengals and the Oakland Raiders. '', Unitas had an uncanny ability to find soft spots in an opposing defense, and his coaches with the Colts, first Weeb Ewbank and later Don Shula, relied on his astute play calling. His worst injury was a torn Achilles tendon, but he also had broken ribs, a punctured lung and knee injuries. Johnny Unitas, American football player. How did Johnny Unitas die? What made Unitas so good and so different, Berry said, ''was his uncanny instinct for calling the right play at the right time, his icy composure under fire, his fierce competitiveness and his utter disregard for his own safety. He also played in the 1969 Super Bowl, a shocking 16-7 loss to Joe Namath and the New York Jets. In 1971, Unitas split playing time with Morrall, throwing only three touchdown passes. Unitas Tower, a dormitory at the University of Louisville, is named for Johnny Unitas. The estate and the company should get what belongs to it. He threw for 376 yards and three touchdowns, but Namath upstaged him again, bombing the Colts for 496 yards and six touchdowns in a 4434 Jets victory their first over Baltimore since the 1970 merger. Tennis star Serena Williams, supermodel Karlie Kloss unveil baby bumps at the Met Gala Plagued by arm trouble in his later seasons, he threw more interceptions (64) than touchdowns (38) in 19681973. display: none; He also was selected at quarterback for the NFL's All-Time team in 2000 by the 36 Pro Football Hall of Fame voters. Unitas made his NFL debut with an inauspicious "mop-up" appearance against Detroit, going 02 with one interception. 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 270. He was the first to throw for 40,000 yards in his career and now ranks seventh, surpassed by a group of quarterbacks who played in an era when the rules made passing easier. Born John Constantine Unitas, his father died when he was four years old and he was raised by his mother, who worked two jobs to support the family. Baltimore Colts quarterback who was known as "The Golden Arm." He was selected to 10 Pro Bowls during his career and was named AP NFL MVP in 1964 and 1967. He said that Mr. Tatelbaum and Mr. Moffet had been involved in his fathers failed business deals in the past, that his father did not want them involved in Unitas Management when it was formed in 1991, and that they long had been seeking to gain control of the company. Louisville ended up losing the game 2221 on a disputed field goal, but found a new starting quarterback. Of the 34-man team, 21 were freshmen. He played for the school from 1998 to 2001 and helped lead the Gamecocks to multiple Outback Bowl wins over Ohio State. Unitas retired after the 1973 season holding 22 NFL records, among them marks for most passes attempted and completed, most yards gained passing, most touchdown passes and most seasons leading the league in TD passes. 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. But the Colts finished with a disappointing 851 record, and missed the playoffs. It has taken two families and ripped them apart. "The drama came from the championship setting rather than the game itself, until we came down to tie it in the final seconds. He Following a career that spanned from 1956 to 1973, he has been consistently listed as one of the greatest NFL players of all time, and is widely considered to be the first "superstar" quarterback in American football history.[3]. Steele had no other details. His worst injury was a torn Achilles' tendon, but he also had broken ribs, a punctured lung and knee injuries. Johnny Unitas began his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 102nd overall pick in the ninth round of the 1955 draft. Born: 7-May-1933 Birthplace: Pittsburgh, PA Died: 11-Sep-2002 Location of death: Towson, MD Cause of death: Heart Failure Remains: Buried, Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, Timonium, MD Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: White Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Football Nationality: United States Executive summary: The Golden Arm . When he finally reached his goal in 1956, Unitas held onto that opportunity for 18 years. The Colts dropped him as a consultant because he handicapped games for a gambling tip sheet. His first start was in the fifth game of the 1951 season against St. Bonaventure, where he threw 11 consecutive passes and three touchdowns to give the Cardinals a 2119 lead. Unitas rebounded quickly from that 5827 loss, leading the Colts to an upset of Green Bay and their first win over Cleveland. He was often seen on the 30-yard line on the Ravens side. And for many celebrities who have passed away, their value has been going up as advertisers have been using their images in marketing campaigns.. He spent that season However, he was released before the season began as the odd man out among four quarterbacks trying to fill three spots. ''We received a letter from a fan telling us there was a player in Bloomfield deserving a chance,'' Ewbank said. President John F. Kennedy appointed her to his Council on Physical Fitness in 1962. Oops, this content can't be loadedbecause you're having connectivity problems, Stay always informed and up to date with our breaking news alerts. Unitas was born in Pittsburgh on May 7, 1933, and was only 4 when his father, who had a small coal delivery business, died of pneumonia. His 47-game consecutive touchdown streak between 1956 and 1960 was a record considered by many to be unbreakable. He remained revered in Baltimore long after his retirement. Unitas himself lost almost total use of his right hand, with the middle finger and thumb noticeably disfigured from being repeatedly broken during games.[49]. Unitas was inducted into the American Football Association's Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987. He guided the team to three NFL championships, a Super Bowl V win, 10 Pro Bowl selections, five First-Team All-Pro nods, and three Second-Team All-Pro nominations, among other accolades. "She was not a celebrity spouse making appearances at galas and balls," said son Kenneth E. Unitas of Bel Air. After dropping their season opener to the Minnesota Vikings, the Colts ran off 10 straight victories to finish with a 122 record. NFL quarterback Earl Morrall, right, seen here with Baltimore Colts teammate Johnny Unitas in 1969, has died at age 79. . Unitas received the honor of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979 while his No. [33] Many[who?] Johnny Unitas, the Hall of Fame quarterback who broke nearly every NFL passing record and won three championships with the Baltimore Colts in an 18-year career, died Wednesday. Biography - A Short Wiki Baltimore Colts quarterback who was known as "The Golden Arm." [6] His surname was a result of a phonetic transliteration of a common Lithuanian last name Jonaitis. Over time, it worsened to him being unable to close his hand. that Unitas put on such a show at the Florida State game that he threw a pass under his legs for 15 yards. Johnny Unitas will always be a legendary name in NFL history, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue declared when Unitas died of a heart attack on September 11, 2002, at 69. Known as "The Golden Arm", Unitas had anything but a golden introduction to . I said, 'That's my hero.' The following year, Baltimore beat the Giants 31-16 in the championship game. John Constantine Unitas ( / junats /; [a] May 7, 1933 - September 11, 2002) was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons, primarily with the Baltimore Colts. That day in 1968, Unitas was [He] was worried that if he came down and the Colts passed on him, it would look bad (to other NFL teams). His 55.6-percent completion mark was a rookie record. 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). After that, Unitas established himself as one of the games greatest players. The last meeting took place on September 24, 1972 at Memorial Stadium. Unitas was never flamboyant or boastful -- yet No. This was a kid who wanted success and didn't have it so long that he wasn't about to waste it when it came.''. In their first rematch with the Jets, Unitas and Namath threw a combined nine interceptions in a 2922 Colts win. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Unitas' enormous talent and ability, combined with his penchant for taking command in the huddle, caused some players to view him as overly cocky and arrogant. Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC. How did Johnny Unitas die? They claimed that John Jr. made substantial unauthorized and improper distributions to himself of cash and caused the payment of his personal obligations to be made by Unitas Management Corporation., They also charged that John Jr., through Unitas Management, borrowed funds from American Express and Wells Fargo and used the money to fund what they called an extravagant lifestyle.. [13] Two weeks later, starting quarterback George Shaw suffered a broken leg against the Chicago Bears. Johnny Unitas was born in Pittsburgh. 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. According to a shareholders agreement between John Jr. and his father, the representatives were supposed to turn the shares back over to John Jr., who owned 10 percent of Unitas Management, in exchange for a $125,000 insurance policy. ''What made him the greatest quarterback of all time wasn't his arm or his size,'' Accorsi said. "The drama came from the championship setting rather than the game itself, until we came down to tie it in the final seconds. In October, Towson University, where three of Unitas children attended school, renamed its stadium Unitas Stadium, a deal that also will include merchandising. They charged that in 1993, John Jr. changed the beneficiary of the life-insurance policy in dispute from Unitas Management to himself, without the knowledge of his father. September 11, 2002 / 6:34 PM Phil Petty was a former football player for South Carolina. He was 69. His Super Bowl victory came in 1971, a 16-13 victory over Dallas in which he played sparingly. Dorothy Jean Unitas, the former wife of Baltimore Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas and a volunteer who helped children at a group home in Timonium, died Saturday after collapsing at her home in the Mays Chapel section of Baltimore County. He then engineered an 80-yard drive for the winning touchdown. Married Life. Unitas' enormous talent and ability, combined with his penchant for taking command in the huddle, caused some players to view him as overly cocky and arrogant. However, he held a news conference after the lawsuit was filed in June and denied the charges. The Colts signed him the following season after getting tipped 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. After leaving the university, he signed with the . 1966-09-18 Baltimore quarterback Johnny Unitas throws 4 touchdown passes in 38-23 win at Minnesota to surpass Y.A. Unitas's second wife was Sandra Lemon, whom he married on June 26, 1972; they had three children, lived in Baldwin,[47] and remained married until his death. Unitas underwent emergency triple-bypass surgery in March 1993 after a heart attack. Robert, Christopher, Joe and Chad; and daughters Janice Ann In 1959, he set an N.F.L. "She was a real lady who raised a wonderful family.". At 6-foot-1, just under 200 pounds, his body was that of an everyday person -- except for the scars, bumps and bruises. When he left football, he had three Most Valuable Player trophies and 10 Pro Bowl trips. "I always accused Johnny of writing it.''. Tittle as NFL's career leader with 212; finishes career with 290 TD passes; It got worse as Unitas fumbled on his next two possessions. '', See the article in its original context from. "It was the best thing that ever happened to me.''. After once again finishing second in the Western Conference in 1966, the Colts rebounded to finish 1112 in 1967 tying the Los Angeles Rams for the NFL's best record. Today in #NFLHistory: HOF QB Johnny Unitas is born in 1933. Johnny Unitas is a 69 years old American football player from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Unitas played his final season for the San Diego Chargers, and his 30-yard completion to Mike Garrett against Cincinnati on Sept. 30 put him over the 40,000-yard mark. Unitas completed 9 out of 19 passes for 73 yards, rushed 9 times for 52 yards, returned six kickoffs for 85 yards, one punt for three yards, and had 86 percent of the team's tackles. "Johnny Unitas will always be a legendary name in NFL history," NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue declared when Unitas died of a heart attack on September 11, 2002, at 69. At season's end, Unitas received the Jim Thorpe Trophy as the NFL's Most Valuable Player by the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA). Ernie Accorsi, the Giants' general manager, was the public relations director of the Colts for Unitas's last three seasons with the team. Johnny Unitas, who rose from a $6-a-game sandlot player to become perhaps professional football's greatest quarterback, died yesterday in suburban Baltimore.

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