 In 1956, Unitas joined the Baltimore Colts of the NFL under legendary coach Weeb Ewbank, after being asked at the last minute to join Bloomfield Rams lineman Jim Deglau, a Croatian steel worker with a life much like Unitas, at the latter's scheduled Colts tryout.The pair borrowed money from friends to pay for the gas to make the trip.Deglau later told a reporter after Unitas's death, "[His] uncle told him not to come.