The news that Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will play Johnny Unitas in an upcoming film has revealed an unfortunate rift within the family of the late Hall of Fame quarterback.
Joe Unitas (pictured), Johnny’s son by his second marriage, co-wrote the script for the movie and is delighted to have Flacco on board. But John Unitas Jr., Johnny’s son by his first marriage, ripped the choice of Flacco in an interview with USA Today.
“They’re trying to do anything on the coattails of my father’s name,” John Jr. said. “It’s like prostituting yourself. My father would have nothing to do with it. It makes me angry, but there’s nothing I can do about it until they slip up. If they start selling some things with Johnny Unitas on it, then I have legal recourse.”
John Jr. also called his half-brother “a turd” and called Flacco a “goofball.” That’s probably not the kind of publicity Flacco was hoping for when he agreed to play the part of one of the greatest players in NFL history.