in full John Constantine Unitas
born May 7, 1933, Pittsburgh, Pa., U.S.
died Sept. 11, 2002, Timonium, Md.
U.S. football quarterback.
After playing for the University of Louisville, he was selected in the NFL draft, though he played semiprofessionally before signing with the Baltimore Colts. From 1956 to 1972, he led the Colts to five league championship games (1958, 1959, 1964, 1968, 1970) and two Super Bowl games (1969, 1971); the Colts won titles in 1958, 1959, and 1971. After one season with the San Diego Chargers (1973), Unitas retired with 22 NFL records to his name. Considered by many to be the league's greatest quarterback, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.