John Constantine `` Johnny '' Unitas ( ; May 7 , 1933 -- September 11 , 2002 ) , nicknamed `` Johnny U '' , or `` The Golden Arm '' , was an American professional American football player who played from the 1950s through the 1970s .
John Constantine `` Johnny '' Unitas ( May 7 , 1933 -- September 11 , 2002 , often called `` Johnny U. '' ) , was a professional American football player in the 1950s through the 1970s .