Johnny Unitas - 1933-2002

[hds428]

BALTIMORE — Johnny Unitas, the Hall of Fame quarterback who broke nearly every passing NFL record and won three championships with the Baltimore Colts in an 18-year career, died Wednesday. He was 69.

Unitas died of a heart attack, according to Baltimore Ravens spokesman Chad Steele.

Steele had no other details of Unitas' death.

Unitas underwent emergency triple-bypass surgery in March 1993 after suffering a heart attack.

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. 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 completed 2,830 of 5,186 passes for 40,239 yards and 290 touchdowns. He completed at least one touchdown pass in 47 straight games, a record that no one has come close to matching since it was set from 1956-60.

Unitas was Most Valuable Player three times and played in 10 Pro Bowls. He led Baltimore to the NFL championship in 1958 and 1959 and the Super Bowl in 1970. He was inducted into the football Hall of Fame in 1979.

On the NFL's 50th anniversary, Unitas was voted the greatest quarterback of all time.

[Traceman]

I remember reading about him as a young kid (I LOVED sports biographies) and he was considered the greatest QB ever at that time. He probably is still considered the greatest QB ever. Sad day...