Toughest football player ever?
- Thread starter the ringo kid
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AJ
US Veteran
Alex Karras said the toughest he saw was Jim Brown. Mongo couldn't be mistaken could he?
Rpg
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The Manster, Randy White.
twodog max
Member
Lots of really tough guys from years past. Ray Nitschke was my first thought but Butkus was right behind. There are lots of tough ones still playing but they have so many more protective rules these days the old guys had to endure a lot. Add into it outdoor stadiums, cold, rain, snow and heat. They endured a lot to play a hard game. I read a book by Jerry Kramer an offensive guard for the Packers in the 60's. He thought Alex Karras was the toughest but then he was not taking those linebacker hits.
TheHobbyist
Member
Ray Nitschke doesn't care what Burt Reynolds thinks...I can pretty much assure you that. Coming from Wisconsin, I can honestly say that the "old timers" in my family and older friends STILL talk about him. How much is that a testament to his legacy as a tough guy. Those guys in the early years were just plain tough and mean. There was no 7 figure mansion and Bentleys in the picture (although I'm sure they wouldn't turn it down). The fact is that men were tough and the folks that played pre-1980s football were just simply tough men. Not to say the others aren't nowadays, but training for the NFL at 14 wasn't a thought back then.
I have relatives that played in the NFL and for a time when i was a young boy it was a goal of mine. I will say that no matter what decade there is serious talent, discipline, and plain ol' luck.
I have relatives that played in the NFL and for a time when i was a young boy it was a goal of mine. I will say that no matter what decade there is serious talent, discipline, and plain ol' luck.
MCorps0311
US Veteran
I'm a Steelers fan and loved Jack Lambert,but there is only one Lawrence Taylor he's my pick.
I may be a bit biased, being a lifelong Miami Dolphins fan, but Larry Czonka was pretty tough. Remember when he KO'ed that DB who was coming in for a tackle?
Marshwheeling
Member
Never met Gary Larson, but I knew Page and Marshall a little bit, and drank with Eller a couple of times.
Page was in my law school class. I played some racquetball with him, and actually beat him a couple of times on my home court under the seats of Memorial Stadium, where the walls weren't square and there were no ceilings. I think he was a little miffed because I was not a jock at all. When we got on a regulation court, the guy was so big and moved so fast it was hard even to find a place to stand much less compete.
Marshall was the toughest of that bunch, I think. He was pretty adventurous. Once he crashed a hang glider into a power pole. He went on a snowmobile excursion near Yellowstone where they ran into some weather and had some trouble getting out. One member of their party died. His approach to life made him very entertaining to drink with.
Nobody has forgotten those guys in Minnesota.
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Bob Kuechenberg. 14 years against some of the toughest head slapping D line players at the time including some Purple People Eaters in Super Bowl VIII playing with a 10 inch rod in his arm he broke late in the season. Toughest player I've personally seen play.
Players then were so tough they needed a job during the off season to get by.
My dad would point out Dick Butkus getting a running start at the long snapper during punts and place kicks.
Players then were so tough they needed a job during the off season to get by.
My dad would point out Dick Butkus getting a running start at the long snapper during punts and place kicks.
snowman
Member
My first thought was, "Define 'tough'." I'm sure the dictionary has more than one definition. I tend to associate the term with bearing up under adversity of some sort(pain, hardship, exhaustion, etc.). Viewed this way, I'm sure there were/are a number of very tough individuals who have played the game. In the present era I think of Ben Roethlisberger and Tony Romo, who have played many games with significant injuries. But then quarterbacks are more often in the public eye; I'm sure there are many linemen who fit the bill also. I seem to recall generations past when men would play with broken ribs -that's something hard for me to imagine.
Andy
Andy
Targets Guy
US Veteran
I'd have to go with Butkus but that is a tough one.
garddogg56
Member
LT #56
OF THE New York GIANTS
OF THE New York GIANTS
Kramer said Karras was tough, but also that if the game was out of hand Alex would slack off. Merlin Olsen didn't have quite the same rep, but Kramer said whenever he went against Merlin he knew it was going to be a long, long day as Olsen never took a play off. No matter the score he'd always go full out.
Reminds me of a guy from my home town: William "Refrigerator" Perry. Wikipedia says his was the largest Superbowl ring evah - size 25 (inch-and-quarter inside diameter).
Step N. Mud
Member
I remember watching Czonka during their undefeated season carrying the entire defense team across the goal line for several yards for a touch down. He was what I'd call a punisher full back that no one seems to use these days.
GRIZZLYBEAR
US Veteran
I think the meanest *** to come up the pike played for the Bears .
Yes there was a Bronko Nagurski
Yes there was a Bronko Nagurski
That's a tough one. Have to agree with Butkus.
But there's Rocky Bleier who played with half a foot for 11 years. Got it blown off in Vietnam.
And Deacon Jones, Joe Green, Earl Campbell, Mike Ditka, Sam Huff, Bob Lilly, John Unitas and????
But there's Rocky Bleier who played with half a foot for 11 years. Got it blown off in Vietnam.
And Deacon Jones, Joe Green, Earl Campbell, Mike Ditka, Sam Huff, Bob Lilly, John Unitas and????
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