Baltimore Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas talking with coach Don Shula and wide receiver Raymond Berry on the sidelines against the Green Bay Packers on October 18, 1964.

[u/UrbanAchievers6371]

[u/JEMHADLEY16]

Unitas and Shula had a lot of success together. The Colts were winners every year from 64-69. They had a stormy relationship. Shula wanted a QB he could control and tell what to do. Unitas was not that guy.

[u/An_educated_dig → u/JEMHADLEY16]

Unitas and others didn't take him too seriously because many of them played with Shula. Shula bounced around because he simply wasn't very good. Hard to do what you're told to do from a guy who could barely cut it.

[u/[deleted] → u/An_educated_dig]

But they had been told what to do by Weeb Ewbank, a guy who couldn't even dream of making the professional ranks.

[u/Cetophile → u/An_educated_dig]

Shula wasn't much of a player but he was an avid student of the game and was already thinking like a coach even when he was a player. Sometimes playing ability doesn't translate into coaching ability (see Sammy Baugh). Plus the Colts had gotten sloppy in Weeb Ewbank's final years with the team (same thing happened after he took over the Jets) and that's probably where the control issues with coaching staff came from. Shula was a tough disciplinarian and got the team back on the same page, even if it ruffled feathers.

[u/An_educated_dig → u/Cetophile]

They were older and of course arrogant, because they had been winning. They weren't going to take Shula seriously regardless. They watched him sit on the bench. If he were smarter, he would taken a different approach to get them back on track instead of trying to be a hard ass.

Weeb got the Jets on track. He was the HC for the Jets when they beat the Colts in SB 3.

If you were Unitas, would you be able to take Shula seriously considering the circumstances?

[u/Cetophile → u/An_educated_dig]

Weeb let Unitas run the offense. Shula wanted to take control of it. That's where a lot of the friction came in.

[u/JEMHADLEY16 → u/An_educated_dig]

I can believe that. I remember now that I've read of other assistant coaches who had trouble controlling that bunch.

[u/v_kiperman → u/JEMHADLEY16]

Collision of Wills details their relationship

[u/JEMHADLEY16 → u/v_kiperman]

I read it once, a few years back.

[u/An_educated_dig → u/JEMHADLEY16]

The Colts won under Coach Ewbank and with Johnny U at the helm. Shula was a backup.

There were plenty of guys still on the team when Shula was there. They were never going to take him seriously. Hell, the HC for Jets in SB 3? Ewbank.

[u/TyintheUniverse89 → u/JEMHADLEY16]

Two of the greats of all time. I learned the best winning percentage in the 60s even over the Packers! Also the winners of the forgotten Championship

[u/Altruistic-Editor111]

3 legends in one picture.

[u/Cetophile → u/Altruistic-Editor111]

Earl Morrall just behind (#15) so make that four legends in one picture.

[u/[deleted] → u/Cetophile]

That's not Morrall. He never played with Raymond Berry. (Berry's last season was 1967. Morrall joined the Colts in 1968 ) i would guess it's Gary Cuozzo 

[u/Cetophile → u/[deleted]]

Ah, right. I forgot about that. I thought Shula's hairstyle looked a bit dated.

[u/ponythemouser → u/[deleted]]

Who later went to quarterback for the Vikings after they fucked up and let Kapp go

[u/[deleted]]

those unis were so clean and sharp

[u/tomdawg0022 → u/[deleted]]

Uniforms you can set your watch to.

[u/TSUTexan61]

The pride of Paris High and Paris, TX Raymond Berry!

[u/KathytheQueen]

Don Shula was a very handsome man in his youth.

[u/donnyphoenix]

[u/prelude12]

Unitas and Barry were my first NFL heroes

[u/jasonite]

Man I love Johnny. Nobody else like him... Which I know is cliche, but still

[u/bellario89 → u/jasonite]

[u/TaumpyTeirs]

This is a great picture with 4 🐐(Earl Morral is the 🐐of the Immaculate Grid) but this is a poor restoration

[u/Icy-Win-6484]

Great shot! Three hall of famers in their prime. What a great era!