Golden Greek's journey led him through Notre Dame, NFL and Hollywood
Red Zone Hall of Fame
An assistant coach from national collegiate power Notre Dame traveled to Connecticut to scout Zilly, and not having seen enough of the 6-foot-2, 200 pound end during practice, the coach requested that headlights be turned to the field so he could run him through some more individual drills.
"Then at the end of a couple of drills, the guy asked my dad if he wanted to go to Notre Dame," said Zilly's oldest son John. "He said, 'Hey, it won't cost you anything.' It was a handshake deal, no paperwork. The guy said, 'Hey, a promise is good enough.' That was how he got his scholarship to Notre Dame was on a handshake."
That was the start of an incredible life's journey that involved one of the greatest college football programs, the NFL, World War II service, Hollywood and an eventual business career in New England.
Zilly ultimately turned that handshake at Cheshire Academy into a brilliant All-America career that earned him two national championships with Notre Dame in 1943 and 1946. Beyond that there were three NFL championship game appearances with the Rams, including a victorious 1951 world championship game.
His national spotlight wasn't limited to the football field, either, as the stature and good looks that earned him the nickname the "Golden Greek" also landed him bit parts in a half dozen Hollywood movies including "Twelve O'Clock High" with Gregory Peck.
Zilly didn't just play an officer on the big screen, however. He became one in real life, interrupting his Notre Dame career to serve in the Navy in the South Pacific for 34 months during World War II. After being discharged as a lieutenant junior grade, he returned to Notre Dame to start at offensive and defensive end for the 1946 national championship team.
"As far as picking the outstanding player, you got the right guy in Jack Zilly," said Notre Dame teammate Terry Brennan, who later became the Irish head coach and hired Zilly as an assistant. "He was a very good athlete. The son-of-a-gun could pole vault. A guy his size had to be very coordinated to do that. He was quick. He was tough and strong and all those things, and he was a smart player. He was always where he was supposed to be."
Brennan said that as a senior at Notre Dame, Zilly mentored a young end named Leon Hart and helped shape him into the eventual Heisman Trophy winner he became. Zilly also made his own mark as a player, however, as he became an All-American at Notre his senior year.
While he was still in the Navy he became draft eligible and was selected by the NFL champion Cleveland Rams in the fourth round (32nd overall pick) of the 1945 NFL draft. The Rams moved to Los Angeles by the time he joined the team in 1947.
Zilly played five seasons with the Rams having his career essentially come to an end when he broke his leg during the summer of 1951. He was replaced as the Rams' starting right defensive end by another Connecticut native, Andy Robustelli, who used the break to launch his own NFL career that ultimately earned him 10 All-Pro honors. Zilly played one more year with the Eagles in 1952 but then moved on to coaching.
By the time his life resume was complete ? Zilly died in 2009 at age 88 ? it was as impressive and well-rounded as any that a Connecticut athlete ever produced. Arguably the best all-around athlete to ever come out of Southington, he was certainly the town's first superstar.
A member of the first class of inductees into the Southington Hall of Fame, Zilly was the town's first All-American, first professional athlete, first national champion, first world champion and the first to speak in a Hollywood movie.
Despite all his success, Zilly remained humble as he lived out the later stages of his life first as a real estate broker in Narragansett, R.I., and then in retirement.
"He was never one to throw his accomplishments out there," his son, Patrick, said. "He wasn't a person who bragged about his career. Most people didn't even know he played in the NFL. A lot of people in Rhode Island knew he played for Notre Dame because there is a big fanbase there, but he was very low key about it.
"But he was proud about what he accomplished, and he loved football. Believe me, he loved football. It was his life."
Source: http://www.rep-am.com/sports/redzone/754808.txt
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