John Constantine Unitas (/juːˈnaɪtɨs/; May 7, 1933 – September 11, 2002), known as Johnny Unitas or "Johnny U", and nicknamed "The Golden Arm", was an American professional American football player in the 1950s through the 1970s. He spent the majority of his career playing for the Baltimore Colts. He was a record-setting quarterback, and the National Football League's most valuable player in 1959, 1964 and 1967. For 52 years he held the record for most consecutive games with a touchdown pass (which he set between 1956–1960), until New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke his long standing record on October 7, 2012. Unitas was the prototype of the modern era marquee quarterback with a strong passing game, media fanfare, and widespread popularity. He has been consistently listed as one of the greatest NFL players of all time.
Francis Joseph Unitas, Chad Unitas, Janice Unitas, John Unitas Jr., Robert Unitas, Kenneth Unitas, Alicia Ann Paige Unitas, Christopher Unitas
Parents
Francis J. Unitas, Helen Superfisky
Siblings
Leonard Unitas, Shirley Unitas
Movies
The Last Season: The Life and Demolition of Baltimore's Memorial Stadium, Any Given Sunday, Gus
Star Sign
Taurus
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Trademark
1
Crewcut hair. High-top black shoes
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Fact
1
He often worked on pass plays in his backyard with his favorite receiver, Raymond Berry.
2
Indianapolis Colts All Time Passing Yards Leader (39,768).
3
First Colts Quarterback to pass for over 400 yards - 401 vs. Atlanta Falcons on 9/17/67.
4
The football field at Towson University will be renamed Unitas field in his honor.
5
Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning had four pairs of high-top black shoes made, which he planned to wear in the Colts 15 September 2002 game as a tribute to Unitas. But the NFL threatened to slap Manning with a $25,000 fine if he wore the shoes. Further, it declared that only the Baltimore Ravens would have the sole right to honor Unitas with a patch or armband on their uniforms that Sunday.
6
Married second wife, Sandy Lemon, 1 hour after divorcing his wife of 18 years, Dorothy.
Voted Most Valuable Player in the National Football League in 1967.
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Was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1955 and released. Hitchhiked home from training camp even though the Steelers had given him bus fare.
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Held the all time NFL record for most consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass with 47. Until Drew Brees broke it on October 7,2012.
11
Requested that his name be deleted from the Colts' record books when the team moved to Indianapolis in 1984.
12
Played with a Pittsburgh semipro team, the Bloomfield Rams, before signing on with the Colts.
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Is of Lithuanian descent.
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Held the NFL record for most career touchdown passes until Fran Tarkenton broke it.
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Graduated from the University of Louisville.
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Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
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Played quarterback for the National Football League's Baltimore Colts (1956-1972) and San Diego Chargers (1973).
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Any Given Sunday
1999
Opposing Coach - Game 5
The Simpsons
1995
TV Series
Johnny Unitas
MASH
1970
Football Player - 325th Evac. (uncredited)
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Last Season: The Life and Demolition of Baltimore's Memorial Stadium
2002
Documentary
Himself
ESPN SportsCentury
2001
TV Series documentary
Himself
Unitas
1999
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Coach
1992
TV Series
Himself
The Adventures of Pete & Pete
1992
TV Series
Himself
Greatest Sports Legends
1983
TV Series
Himself
The NFL on CBS
1960-1976
TV Series
Himself - Baltimore Colts Quarterback / Himself - Color Commentator
Gus
1976
Himself
Super Bowl X
1976
TV Special
Himself
Super Bowl
1976
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The NFL Today
1975
TV Series
Himself - Color Commentator
The Way It Was
1975
TV Series
Himself
The Superstars
1973
TV Series
Himself - Football
The NFL on NBC
1970-1973
TV Series
Himself - Baltimore Colts Quarterback / Himself - San Diego Chargers Quarterback
1971 AFC Championship Game
1972
TV Special
Himself - Baltimore Colts Quarterback
Plimpton! The Great Quarterback Sneak
1971
TV Movie
Himself
NFL Monday Night Football
1970-1971
TV Series
Himself - Baltimore Colts Quarterback
The David Frost Show
1971
TV Series
Himself
Super Bowl V
1971
TV Special
Himself - Baltimore Colts Quarterback
1970 AFC Championship Game
1971
TV Movie
Himself - Baltimore Colts Quarterback
Super Bowl III
1969
TV Special
Himself - Baltimore Colts Quarterback
1964 NFL Championship Game
1964
TV Special
Himself - Baltimore Colts Quarterback
The Ed Sullivan Show
1963
TV Series
Himself
1959 NFL Championship Game
1959
TV Special
Himself - Baltimore Colts Quarterback
Omnibus
1958
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
NFL Films Presents
2015
TV Series documentary
Himself
Namath
2012
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Lombardi
2010
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Greatest Game Ever Played
2008
TV Movie
Himself - Colts Quarterback
Super Bowl XLI
2007
TV Special
Himself (uncredited)
ESPN 25: Who's #1?
2007
TV Series documentary
Himself
Rated 'R': Republicans in Hollywood
2004
TV Movie documentary
Himself
ESPN SportsCentury
2000
TV Series documentary
Himself
The NFL's Greatest Games: '58 Championship
1998
Video documentary
Himself (Baltimore Colts Quarterback)
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
1977
TV Series
Johnny Unitas
Known for movies
Gus (1976) as Himself
The NFL on CBS (1960-1976) as Himself - Baltimore Colts Quarterback / Himself - Color Commentator
Unitas (1999) as Himself
1971 AFC Championship Game (1972) as Himself - Baltimore Colts Quarterback
$950,000
