Unitas was a Man’s Man. Tough as frikking nails.
(Alex) Sandusky tells me the story that during the 49er game in 1958 here in Baltimore, Unitas kept calling Lenny Moore's number in the huddle, and Moore kept slashing through the San Francisco defense. So after about half a dozen straight runs by Moore, Lenny came back to the huddle and told John, "Hey, man, cool it. I'm getting tired." Whooaa. Nobody tells John Unitas to "cool it." (Jim) Parker says Unitas's face turned into a flinty stare, and his eyeballs nearly burned a hole through Lenny's head. "Listen -------, nobody tells me to cool it," Unitas said. "I'll run your --- till you die." He put the fear of God in him, and by this time Lenny's stammering, "Forget it , John. Forget I said anything. Give me the ball, please. Give me the ball on every play."