Before the modern passing game, before Super Bowl Sundays became global events, there was Johnny Unitas. Cut by his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers without throwing a pass, he ended up playing semi-pro football for $6 a game. A year later he was a Baltimore Colt, and within three seasons he had won the game that made America fall in love with pro football.
The Golden Arm threw a touchdown pass in 47 straight games, a record that stood for more than half a century. Find more gridiron greats in our American football collection.
Johnny Unitas Fact File
| Full name | John Constantine Unitas |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 7 May 1933 |
| Place of birth | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Died | 11 September 2002, near Baltimore, Maryland (aged 69) |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Position | Quarterback |
| Nationality | American |
| Teams | Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers |
| Shirt number | 19 (retired by the Colts) |
| Nicknames | Johnny U, The Golden Arm |
Career History
| Years | Team | Games | Passing yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951–1954 | Louisville Cardinals (college) | – | – | – |
| 1956–1972 | Baltimore Colts | 206 | 39,768 | 287 |
| 1973 | San Diego Chargers | 5 | 471 | 3 |
| Total | 18 seasons | 211 | 40,239 | 290 |
Regular-season figures from Pro-Football-Reference. Unitas was the first player in NFL history to pass for 40,000 career yards.
Early Years: From Pittsburgh to the Bloomfield Rams
Unitas grew up in Pittsburgh, starred at St. Justin's High School and went on to the University of Louisville, where he threw for more than 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns in his first two seasons. The Steelers picked him in the ninth round of the 1955 draft, then cut him before the season. Undeterred, he worked construction and played semi-pro ball for the Bloomfield Rams for $6 a game.
Honour the Colts great with our Johnny Unitas Colts American Football Icon Frame Men's Hoodie.
The Breakthrough: The Greatest Game Ever Played
Baltimore signed him as a free agent in 1956, and he took over as starter when George Shaw broke his leg. On 28 December 1958, in the NFL Championship Game against the New York Giants, Unitas trailed 17–14 with about two minutes left. He completed seven straight passes to set up the tying field goal, then led the drive that won it 23–17 in sudden-death overtime. It is still known as the Greatest Game Ever Played.
A year later the Colts beat the Giants again, 31–16, for back-to-back titles. Relive it with our Johnny Unitas Colts American Football Icon Frame Men's T-Shirt.
Peak Years and Records
Between 1956 and 1960 Unitas threw a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games. Drew Brees finally broke the record on 7 October 2012, more than 50 years later. Unitas was named league MVP in 1959, 1964 and 1967, picked for ten Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pro squads, and became the template for every pocket passer who followed. Wrap up in our Johnny Unitas Men's Hoodie for game day.
Super Bowl V and the Final Chapter
Unitas got his Super Bowl ring on 17 January 1971, when the Colts beat the Dallas Cowboys 16–13 in Super Bowl V. He spent one last season with the San Diego Chargers in 1973 before retiring, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. He was later named to the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Honours
Championships
- NFL champion: 1958, 1959
- Super Bowl V champion (1970 season)
Individual
- 3× NFL MVP (1959, 1964, 1967)
- 10× Pro Bowl
- 5× first-team All-Pro
- NFL Man of the Year (1970)
Legacy
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (1979)
- NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
Off the Field
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award has been presented every year since 1987 to the top senior quarterback in college football. In Baltimore, a statue of Unitas stands at the heart of Unitas Plaza outside M&T Bank Stadium, dedicated in October 2002.
FAQs
How old was Johnny Unitas when he died?
Unitas was 69 when he died on 11 September 2002. He was born on 7 May 1933.
Where was Johnny Unitas born?
He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
How tall was Johnny Unitas?
He stood 6 ft 1 in, about 1.85 m.
What teams did Johnny Unitas play for?
He played for the Baltimore Colts from 1956 to 1972 and the San Diego Chargers in 1973, after college at Louisville.
What was Johnny Unitas's touchdown streak record?
He threw a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games between 1956 and 1960, a record broken by Drew Brees in 2012.
What was Johnny Unitas's most famous game?
The 1958 NFL Championship Game, when he led the Colts past the Giants 23–17 in overtime in what is called the Greatest Game Ever Played.
Shop the Johnny Unitas Collection
Made to order in the UK, these designs salute the original Golden Arm.
Explore our American football collection and the Baltimore Colts range, or create a custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Peyton Manning Career Story and Joe Montana Career Story.
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