From being released to being a hall of fame QB
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After the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Johnny Unitas in 1955, they released him before the start of the regular season. The head coach of the Steelers considered Unitas too dumb to play quarterback and never gave Unitas any snaps during preseason. So, with no other NFL offers, he went to work in construction and played during the weekends on the Bloomfield Rams, a semi-pro team in his hometown of Pittsburgh. There, he honed his skills and caught the attention of the Baltimore Colts, who signed him as a backup quarterback the next year.
Unitas got his first chance to play after an injury to the Colts' starting quarterback. And when he did, he never looked back. He set the passing percentage completion rookie record at 55.6%. In 1957, his first entering the season as a starter, Unitas led the league in passing yards and touchdowns. The following year, he helped the Colts win the NFL championship.
Over the course of his career, Unitas would go on to win two more NFL championships and three MVPs and earn a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But it was his determination and perseverance that truly set him apart.
Quotes
He’ll never amount to anything.
Walt Kiesling
The most important thing of all about Unitas, is that he had a real hunger. This was a kid who wanted success and didn't have it so long that he wasn't about to waste it when it came.
Weeb Ewbank
References
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Unitas surprised them all
Notre Dame thought Johnny Unitas was too small. The Pittsburgh Steelers thought he wasn't smart enough. The Baltimore Colts got it right. Unitas, 6-feet and 145 pounds in high school, became a nowhere-to-somewhere story, a backup who kept getting opportunities to succeed at every level. Give me a chance, the crew-cut quarterback would say, and I'll show you. He went from semi-pro dirt fields to stardom with the Colts in the National Football League.
ESPN
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Training Camp Nightmares: Steelers Release Hall Of Famer Johnny Unitas In 1955
A testament to never giving up, Unitas wrote to every team begging for a tryout. The Baltimore Colts were looking for a backup to their high-profile rookie QB George Shaw and decided to give Unitas a try. He made the team and when a knee injury ended Shaw’s season in 1956, Unitas got the call. The rest is history.
Steeler Nation
