"Double O" starred for Wausau East, but even after college was considered I mean, they used to tease me that instead of having the quarterback go "Hut one, hut two," they'd have a little bell, ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling, you know, and Otto, you go on the third ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling, like a punch-drunk fighter or something --. It came from the relations with the game, yes. 801,422 12. I got upset. The artificial surfaces are much harder than grass. Wausau High School and University of Miami, American Football League All-Star players, American Football League All-League players, http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/U/UpshGe00.htm, Hall of Famer Jim Otto recovering after having right leg amputated, Jim Otto profile at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 10 All-AFL selection (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969). NAPA, Calif. -- Hall of Fame center Jim Otto recently had his right leg amputated and is recovering in a hospital in Utah. And Nitschke, it was right toward the end of his career, and he was I guess letting Carter get some time in there. He said, Football is tough. Now, the NFL average is about 300, and increasing. Did you ever have that happen to you? The highs an athlete gets from the highly selective field makes it hard for them to settle into another pursuit. The scouts also found out that Otto had suffered some shoulder injuries, and that Otto loved the contact that football provided and destroyed anyone on the opposing team looking to get past him. WebAs a result of injuries sustained during his playing career, he has endured more than 70 surgeries, including nearly 30 knee operations. 30. But you're saying there are issues? WebAs a result of injuries sustained during his playing career, he has endured more than 70 surgeries, including nearly 30 knee operations. And it's a good hit. He has played through numerous injuries such as a separated right clavicle, an infected right shoulder, a dislocated ring finger on his right hand, torn cartilage in his right knee, a strained calf, a hip pointer, a ruptured disk, back spasms, strained rib cartilage, severely bruised ribs, a left knee sprain, an MCL sprain, a left ankle sprain, severe turf toe, a cracked bone spur in his left ankle, a bone spur in his toe, and a severely bruised sternum. He needed 74 surgeries for his football injuries, including the amputation of one of his legs. If we were fighting a war, the linebackers would be the first guys to get killed. Jim Strub wrote from a mountainside in Colorado. It becomes quite a shock.. There's a battle, and that battle is going on. I think if you were to look at me and evaluate me, it was a matter of pride. During the 1980s, Otto was involved in numerous business ventures. His joints became riddled with arthritis, and he developed debilitating back and neck problems. Well, in some cases guys are heroes, and all of a sudden they're not heroes. The psychological high and its addiction is parallel to people who become addicted to cocaine or a smoker who has a dependency on cigarettes. He's going to make some trash out of me. In 1999, he was ranked number 78 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. Lewis is one of the greatest playmakers and natural team leaders the game has ever seen. I mean, he'd figure out a way to beat you, and so would Jim Otto. Steve Sabol, President of NFL Films, once stated, There are so many definitions of toughness. Tell me about that. Twenty-three, 22, you lose count after a while, said Otto, the former Oakland Raiders center. I mean, we battled in there, and this is the result of it right here, sitting here, looking at you. You got your nose broken, right? And that's why Sally and I came to the forefront Did anybody do anything for Mike Webster with Pittsburgh? The gladiator goes until he can't go anymore. His right leg was eventually amputated in 2007. And so yes, he broke my helmet; he broke my face mask in here, which broke my nose and set it over here. Some play with injuries because they fear they might lose their job or position and their self-concept and identity. After no National Football League team showed interest in the undersized center, Otto signed with the Oakland Raiders of the new American Football League. And Baltimore Colts Hall of Fame quarterback John Unitas once-golden right arm has a restructured right hand. The content here may be outdated or no longer functioning. Now, when you're telling, I guess it was maybe in your book, that you talked about the hit that you took from Ray Nitschke, when you -- I guess it was your nose. And then there's the players below who contain all of these qualities. And I think if you were to evaluate Mike Webster, it was a matter of pride. I said why isn't there somebody taking care of him? Going across the middle against Dick Butkus was considered attempted suicide. Then we go back in. There were so many times that I would walk off the field and my eyes would be crossed. And then tell me about a good solid head hit that you remember from the NFL as well. He then went on to play collegiate football at Miami. And everything is actually true to my heart, to my mind. WebJim Otto, Mr. Football has given me so many memories that money cant buy, he said. The Cowboys won the game, earned home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, and captured the Super Bowl title. These guys constantly live on the edge, and the same behavior they once used to achieve notoriety on the field they exhibit off the field.. There is a new level of information, and they've done some good studies on it, which are very important. 8. And anything that we would do, it was part of our lineage, part of our genes, part of what our family had given us, the will to be the best. So you were saying it was war out there. The Rock Island fans were so angered that a rock-throwing mob chased him from the field. Bavaro's play inspired the Giants, who went on to win the game, and the Super Bowl. Back then, owners would do anything to maximize their payrolls to win the war games. Raider played and played and played constantly proving wrong several coaches who in high school, college and the pros considered him undersized to hold up against defensive linemen and linebackers. He also fought off three life-threatening bouts of infections due to his artificial joints, and during one six-month stretch, was without a proper right knee joint because he had to wait for the infection to clear up before another artificial one could be implanted. Football is a contact sport, and injuries are a part of the game. Perhaps the most painful of Jim Ottos 23 surgeries occurred five years ago. No. Hardy Brown, Linebacker, Brooklyn Dodgers & Chicago Hornets & Baltimore Colts & Washington Redskins & San Francisco 49ers & Chicago Cardinals & Denver Broncos (1948-1956, 1960). So I'm figuring now he's going to ask for the doctor, and he may have to go to the hospital because this thing could get infected, and he says, Give me some tape. So they throw him some tape and he just starts taping this huge ball. As the size increases, so does the force of the collisions. There have been problems with steroids. Tommy McDonald, Wide Receiver, Philadelphia Eagles & Dallas Cowboys & Los Angeles Rams & Atlanta Falcons & Cleveland Browns (1957-1968). It was really bad. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Since then, only three players have been suspended for the minimum four weeks for a first offense. Below is a look at some of Jim Ottos career accomplishments and highlights. OK. I'm against all that. Mark Bavaro, Tight End, New York Giants & Cleveland Browns & Philadelphia Eagles (1985-1990, 1992-1994). And that is the bad thing. But still, you led with your head, and that was part of football; that was what we learned. When the Minneapolis contigent decided to move forward with an NFL franchise, Jim Ottos rights defauted to the AFLs Oakland Raiders. 4. He played five more games before the loose bone mass was removed. Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. Otto's body was punished greatly during his NFL career, resulting in nearly 74 operations, including 28 on his knee (nine of them during his playing career) and multiple joint replacements. Ronnie Lott, Cornerback & Safety, San Francisco 49ers & Los Angeles Raiders & New York Jets & Kansas City Chiefs (1981-1995). When you looked at your wife and you didn't know who she was, like, who's this chick? As a rookie, he was notorious for threatening veterans and starting fights in training camp. But many former players are experiencing health problems after the spotlight dims, the celebrity fades and they cease to be larger than life. In one game, he was knocked unconscious by a 49er defender. You wouldnt believe the number of divorces when the big money stops coming in. They're suing everybody for a lot of money, which I don't like because that's going to hurt football in high school, Little League and in pros. And with your head traumas, with the head injuries, tell me about one in particular. Giants lineman Al DeRogatis once accused Kilroy of biting him on the nose. He led the Eagles to championships in 1949 and 1960. But I'm still going at my age, and --. Why? Coaches had a way of making you feel less manly if you didnt play. In the 1973 regular season, Oakland scored 292 points (20.9 points/game), 10th of 26 teams in the NFL and avenged their defeat at the hands of the Steelers during the 1973-74 NFL playoffs before losing to the Dolphins. Csonka also broke his nose 10 times in his career, causing it to be permanently deformed, and would remain in the game despite blood pouring out of it. He ended the career of MVP quarterback Joe Theismann with a compound leg fracture in a Monday Night game in 1985. He was also named the starting center on the AFL All-Time Team. The FRONTLINE Interview: Jim Otto | League of Denial: The NFL's And I'm sure there's a lot of studies going on with regard to what was going on with him prior to this. He became homeless, those stories. And he hung with me. Injuries; Super Bowl LVII; Coaches; Football Power Why? Among Doblers principal offenses were biting, gouging, punching, kicking, and grabbing the face mask. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980, the first year he was eligible. You're the tackler, and you get fined. He retired from the Arena Football League in 1992. In 1974, he used a cast on his broken left hand as a weapon. Five years later, in 2002, Otto was stricken with prostate cancer, though the cancer is currently in remission. Double-zero recalls stories about all of his famous Raider teammates, his most memorable opponents, and the behind-the-scenes life of an NFL Hall of Famer. Contact FRONTLINE There's so many things psychologically that can affect each and every person in this world, not just football players. 27. I'm going to be just like you, Pops." It was Dave Dalby. Since 1995, Otto has worked for the Raiders in the department of special projects and is active in the business world. I would say that suicide has been in the past one of the least spoken about things among players, among owners, among the NFL of anything. And then there's the injured tough, which is no-regard-for-your-body-and-play-with-broken-bones tough. We will take steps to block users who repeatedly violate our commenting rules, terms of use, or privacy policies. He finally returned after a three-year absence. WebInducted 1998. Editors note: Sadly, Class of 52 correspondent Joan Boffa Gaul passed away on April 11, 2023.This column, her final one, was written in February. There wasn't anybody. Now, nobody in America knows that, like they know about the guy who had a concussion, like the guy who is in class-action suits, suing the National Football League because they had a concussion. He underwent surgery to have 30 inches of his intestines removed, and returned for the second game of the season. WebJim Otto is generally recognized as one of the greatest and most durable centers the game of football has ever seen. Im not out for revenge or anything, but I do think they took advantage of my loyalty.. I played football because I loved the game, and I did everything I could to win, and people knew that, Jim said. What about these memory issues or anything like that involving your thinking? Jim Marshall, Defensive End, Minnesota Vikings (1960-1979). By submitting comments here, you are consenting to these rules:Readers' comments that include profanity, obscenity, personal attacks, harassment, or are defamatory, sexist, racist, violate a third party's right to privacy, or are otherwise inappropriate, will be removed. In 14 seasons of play for the Oakland Raiders, Jim Otto played had a punishing history of injuries. But I don't think you can blame it -- I don't know. Mike Curtis, Linebacker, Baltimore Colts & Seattle Seahawks & Washington Redskins (1965-1978). He hasnt jogged since January 1989. Namaths famously fragile knees are so painful that he cant carry his children down steps. 18. But a knee injury that was treated with repeated shots of cortisone and steroids forced him to end a 15-year playing career after 1973. FactSnippet No. I've had over 20 concussions myself, and I don't like them. I don't want anybody to be hurt from football. I think, why am I thinking this? When Lotts finger didnt heal properly, he told the doctors to cut it off, and they amputated his pinkie at the third knuckle. They dont want to believe that someone put them in a position to make them look like idiots., Former Colts quarterback Bert Jones, 45, said: Everybody goes into the game realizing that two things are going to happen: Either one day youre going to be cut because youre no longer good enough, or an injury is going to cut short your career. WebJim Otto was born in Wausau, WI. It came from the game. What were your first thoughts when you started hearing those stories after his retirement? He played a game against the Saints with a dislocated shoulder. In his book, "The Pain of Glory" Otto described near-death experiences from medical procedures, including fighting off three life-threatening infections due to complications from his artificial joints Hall of Fame linebacker Sam Huff said, Hardy Brown was a designated hitter. Bob Lilly, Defensive Tackle, Dallas Cowboys (1961-1974). When asked why he played through the pain, instead of watching from the sidelines, Smith calmly responded, This is why they pay me., 19. Yes, Id do it all again. I know that in my mind, in Jim Otto's mind -- and I'll be honest with you right now -- that thoughts of suicide have gone through my head at different times. You did though, that was during practices they would do that? I don't know what other players are thinking. Well, I'm very fortunate that I can do that, because there are times that I can't remember people's names. His last game, up in Cleveland, he came out of the hospital to play with a broken rib, a punctured lung, and pneumonia. It was a matter of pride in the way we did things. No. In the 1970 regular season (1st year of the NFL-AFL merger), Oakland scored 300 points (21.4 points/game), 9th of 26 teams in the NFL, beating the Miami Dolphins in the 1970-71 NFL playoffs before losing to the Colts. I think that everything that has caused my body to be a problem has been from football, you know? Doctors can pressure players who dont think they will ever get hurt or the ones who think they have only a few years left to make money.. Told by doctors that he would never play football again, Bleier, recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, spent two full years attempting to return to the NFL. Dobler, in an ESPN poll, was named the dirtiest professional athlete of all time. WebJim Otto This article was written by Rich Shmelter For 15 seasons, the 00 on Jim Ottos uniform stood out like a beacon. But Jim suffered greatly for that glory. To break a helmet, split it right here in front, to have it then break your nose and the face mask that you have there, so --. Now, the amnesia one, that was before the NFL, is that right? I think I'm going and continuing to do the best I can with what I had, and I'm going to do that till I can't. Garrison wrapped his thumb in tape and played the next day, rushing for over 100 yards. 35. To this day, Otto embodies the toughness and determination the Raiders began to ferment in the mid-1960s, after Al Davis took control of the team and later hired John Madden as head coach. His first words: Did we score? Believe it or not, Plasman suffered from blindness and post-concussion syndrome until his death at age 67 in 1981. Raider," Jim Otto - Sports Over his 14-year career, which included Pro Bowl selections at safety, cornerback, and linebacker, Lott endured many injuries, including a broken leg and torn knee cartilage. . In addition to playing offensive center at UM, he also played linebacker on defense. 28. Players rarely give much thought to life after football. He tells a very straightforward biography of himself, deals out very little dirt but tells it as he sees it. It's the way we were taught to hit. I love everybody, and I love to know them; I love to remember their names, but sometimes if I can't remember a name, I'm not going to fret over it and get upset. It has been 20 years since Otto retired after a Hall of Fame career. He endured torn-up knees, broken hands, broken ribs, and an acutely-painful hamstring tear but never missed a game. Losing my leg didn't bother me one bit other than I wanted to make sure that my wife still loved the guy with one leg. 32. FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation. But in this particular case, it was pretty good blows he was hitting me with to break my nose, break my cheekbone and my zygomatic arch bone up here. Do you associate Dalby and Webster's post-career declines and troubles with the hard-hitting nature of the game? Krueger endured as many as 50 procedures in which bloody fluid was removed from his swollen knee and replaced with steroid compounds. I have issues, yes, I have issues. 12x Bucko Kilroy, Guard, Philadelphia Eagles (1943-1955). That is my complete and honest feeling. I can't perform like I used to for a lot of different things physically, but I don't think it's directly connected to the brain. Nicknamed The Brute, Trafton broke the leg and ended the career of halfback Fred Chicken by throwing him into a fence. The Raiders missed the playoffs for the first time in 5 years in 1971, despite scoring 344 points (24.6 points/game), 2nd of 26 teams in the NFL. In 1975, he was replaced by Dave Dalby. "If you want Otto to respond, just ring a bell. It is filled with sights and sounds of collisions that are sometimes startling and other times frightening. I don't have knees anymore. They're no longer heroes. But in my heart, I'm leaning to very possibly doing it, donating my brain, because if there is something there that can help others, that's what I should be doing.