 His surname was a result of a phonetic transliteration of a common Lithuanian last name "Jonaitis".Attending St. Justin's High School in Pittsburgh, Unitas played halfback and quarterback.In his younger years, Unitas dreamed about being part of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, but when he tried out for the team, coach Frank Leahy said that he was just too skinny and he would "get murdered" if he was put on the field.