Johnny Unitas: The Legendary Quarterback with a Turbulent Financial Journey

By Jason Bolton May 30, 2024 09:04

American football quarterback Johnny Unitas is known as one of the best quarterbacks in football history. From a small-town kid to a football hero across the country, this is not just a story of on-field glory but off-field financial turmoil. A life that combines all the clichés of triumphs and setbacks from which champion sportsmen are made.

The Rise of a Legend

Unitas was born in 1933 to parents of Lithuanian descent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and quickly rose to the football scene in high school. College scouts were initially skeptical about his slight frame, but he went on to play college ball at the University of Louisville under a scholarship.

The Professional Football Career of Unitas spanned for 18 seasons, mainly playing with the Baltimore Colts and one season with the San Diego Chargers. His time with the Colts resulted in much success, including three NFL championships and a Super Bowl victory. A record-setting quarterback and three-time NFL Most Valuable Player, he was a legend.

The Financial Ups and Downs

Unitas, while he made significant money during his career, was a financial failure when it came to life after football. Though he was estimated to be worth $10 million in 2002, had bankruptcy issues due to his finances and left behind his greatest legacy.

Chief among them was a wrong-headed attempt to inject money into a circuit board maker in 1984, which sparked years of financial turmoil. The business went belly-up, ultimately sending Unitas into bankruptcy in the '90s owing reported debts of as much as $3.2 million. This was a far cry from the wealth he had amassed earlier — through his real estate investments and highly successful ventures like The Golden Arm Restaurant.

The Man Behind the Legend

Off the field, there were victories and difficulties in Unitas's personal life. He was twice married and had six children. Even with the financial setbacks, he lived in large — various homes and ordinary family pursuits.

Unitas attacked business barriers with the same fierce drive he took to football. Despite all the setbacks, he insisted on paying them back to maintain his honor, which demonstrates great adaptability in the face of hardship. His friends and associates spoke of his determination, likening the way he operated in business to how he played football.

Legacy and Inspiration

Though he struggled financially in his later years, Johnny Unitas' reputation as one of the NFL's greatest quarterbacks is beyond debate. His influence on the game remains immeasurable and his legacy lives on, fostering generations of players and fans as evidence to this day.

This is a human story, not just one reserved for the world of sports that illustrates what Johnny Unitas' life was. At its core, it is a story of both success and hardship, illustrating the complexities of an icon who battled through incredible peaks and valleys in his career. And the story of Unitas as a civilian serves as a stark reminder that when athletes take off their uniforms to step into life, there are no immunities.

Altogether, the legacy of Johnny Unitas reaches well beyond his performance on the field.