Podcast Summary: Greatest Sports Thrill xxxxxx 079 – Johnny Unitas

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Air Date: October 10, 2025
Host: Harry Wismer
Guest: Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts Quarterback
Featured Segment: A retelling of Johnny Unitas’s rise to NFL stardom and the story of his greatest sports thrill—the 1958 NFL Championship Game.

Episode Overview

This episode revisits the Golden Age of Radio format with a spotlight interview featuring NFL legend Johnny Unitas. Through narrative storytelling and Unitas’s own recollections, listeners are treated to the dramatic ascent of Unitas from overlooked rookie to superstar quarterback, culminating in his reflections on “the greatest sports thrill” of his career: defeating the New York Giants in the legendary 1958 NFL Championship Game.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Rise of Johnny Unitas

• Context: Harry Wismer details Unitas’s journey—his early setbacks, including being cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers and working blue-collar jobs while playing sandlot football for $6 a game ([01:42]–[05:16]).
• Breakthrough: Colt’s GM Dan Kellett notices Unitas’s name during draft review, invites him for a tryout, and signs him for a higher offer than the Steelers’ ([05:16]–[06:15]).
  • “The call cost Kellett 80 cents. Johnny was invited to come for a tryout … Needless to say, the Colts never regretted it.” — Harry Wismer ([06:04])

2. Unitas’s Record-Breaking Streaks and Injury

• Statistical Achievements: Unitas led the NFL in passes and touchdowns in 1957; continued with a touchdown pass streak into 1958, approaching Cecil Isbell’s record.
  • “He completed 172 for a 57.1 percentage. That ranked him third in the league … His passes gained 2,550 yards or a mile and a half, another league leading accomplishment.” ([03:08])
• Setback and Resilience: Sustains cracked ribs against Green Bay, misses pivotal Giants game but later returns to break Isbell’s record with 25 consecutive games with touchdown passes ([07:40]).

3. The 1958 NFL Championship—Unitas’s Greatest Sports Thrill

• Game Details: Baltimore Colts vs. New York Giants, first-ever NFL sudden death playoff at Yankee Stadium; Unitas’s remarkable performance led the Colts to victory, setting a championship passing record ([08:03]).
  • “Johnny Unitas completed 26 of 40 passes, good for 349 yards and a new championship record.” — Harry Wismer ([08:03])
• Historic Significance: The win is painted as one of the defining moments in both Unitas’s career and football history.

4. Interview: Personal Reflections with Johnny Unitas

a. Greatest Sports Thrill

• “My greatest sports thrill, Harry, was just winning the championship game in New York against the New York Giants.” — Johnny Unitas ([09:26])

b. Perseverance After Rejection

• On being cut from the Steelers and staying in shape:
  “I had my mind made up to go on with professional football the next year anywhere that I could.” ([09:42])

c. Quarterbacking Techniques & Strategy

• Holding the Ball:
  “I don't think I hold the ball any more than three seconds at the most ... the longer you hold the ball, the more apt you are to be able to complete the pass because it gives your ends more time to get open.” ([10:07])
• Importance of Center:
  “The offensive center is very, very important. He has to get the ball to the quarterback ... so that the play can continue on … where the quarterback doesn't have to break his stance too much to get underneath him. It's very good to have a man like this.” ([10:31])

d. First Game with the Baltimore Colts

• Honest recollection of early struggles:
  “Yes, I do. I can't forget that one since it was a very, very bad one ... I fumbled about three times in which they recovered and went in to score. And I threw a couple pass interceptions which they scored on. So it's pretty hard to forget a bad ball game like that.” ([11:00])

e. Play Calling and Audibles

• Basic approach:
  “I just give actually the formation and a play number and then we break out into the line of scrimmage.” ([11:44])
• Checking off:
  “If checking off is necessary, I would holler a secret number or a code which everyone knows...” ([11:56])

f. Turning Point in the 1958 Championship Game

• “The play that hurt the Giants the most … actually a flare pass to Alan Ameche … kept us alive with the ball.” ([12:43])

g. Sudden Death Overtime Decisions

• On why they went for a touchdown instead of a field goal:
  “As long as you give the ball to your best ball carriers, your most sure ball carriers, there's not too much of a chance on fumbling ... we knew that they weren't going to stop us from that close.” ([13:24])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “My greatest sports thrill, Harry, was just winning the championship game in New York against the New York Giants.”
  — Johnny Unitas ([09:26])

• “I had my mind made up to go on with professional football the next year anywhere that I could.”
  — Johnny Unitas ([09:42])

• “I can't forget [my first game] since it was a very, very bad one… So it's pretty hard to forget a bad ball game like that.”
  — Johnny Unitas ([11:00])

• “The play that hurt the Giants the most … actually a flare pass to Alan Ameche … kept us alive with the ball.”
  — Johnny Unitas ([12:43])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Unitas Introduction & Early Career Recap: [01:42]–[05:16]
• Colts Tryout and NFL Career Starts: [05:16]–[06:15]
• Recap of 1958 Title Run: [06:15]–[08:03]
• Championship Game Glory & Statistics: [08:03]–[09:22]
• Unitas Interview – Greatest Sports Thrill: [09:22]–[09:26]
• Career Motivation & Perseverance: [09:33]–[09:58]
• Quarterback Strategy & Teamwork: [10:07]–[11:40]
• Recollection of First NFL Game: [11:00]
• Key Play in 1958 Championship: [12:43]
• Sudden Death Overtime Decisions: [13:24]

Conclusion

This episode blends rich storytelling and direct conversation to capture both the public persona and authentic voice of Johnny Unitas. It highlights his perseverance through setbacks, his technical mastery as a quarterback, and his humility in describing both his failures and triumphs. For fans of sports history—or those unfamiliar with the legendary 1958 NFL Championship—this episode offers both a primer on football history and a compelling portrait of an enduring American sports icon.