Former Bears linebacker Dick Butkus, who became one of the NFL’s greatest players during a nine-year career, died at age 80, the Bears announced Thursday.
The Hall of Fame defender died peacefully in his sleep at his Malibu, Calif., home, according to his family. A Chicago native, Butkus spent his entire career with the Bears and quickly emerged as a dominant presence in the game. He was the rare player to land on two All-Decade teams, being voted to both the 1960s and 1970s’ squads. Although he arrived during a down period for the Bears, never playing for a playoff-bound team, Butkus forged an unassailable legacy that left him in the conversation for greatest off-ball linebacker in NFL annals.
“Dick was the ultimate Bear, and one of the greatest players in NFL history,” Bears chairman George McCaskey said in a statement (via ESPN.com). “He was Chicago’s son. He exuded what our great city is about and, not coincidentally, what George Halas looks for in a player: toughness, smarts, instincts, passion and leadership.
“He refused to accept anything less than the best from himself, or from his teammates. … His contributions to the game he loved will live forever and we are grateful he was able to be at our home opener this year to be celebrated one last time by his many fans.”
His career spanning from 1965-73, Butkus made eight Pro Bowls and earned five first-team All-Pro honors. Knee trouble stemming from a 1970 injury plagued Chicago’s 245-pound middle linebacker during his final seasons, leading to a retirement after his age-31 season. But a combination of ferocity, instincts and athleticism placed him in rarefied air.
Tackles and and forced-fumble counts are not available from that era, but in addition to being one of the most intimidating presences in NFL history, Butkus also was among the greats at creating turnovers. He finished his career with 22 interceptions and 27 fumble recoveries. When Butkus retired, that recovery total was tops in NFL history.
Selecting Butkus third overall in the 1965 draft, the Bears enjoyed one of the greatest rounds in NFL draft history. Chicago chose Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers fourth overall; that selection was the franchise’s own pick. The Butkus pick came courtesy of the Steelers, who made a seminal trade with the Bears during the 1964 draft. Held in November 1963, the ’64 draft involved Pittsburgh sending its 1965 first-rounder to Chicago for 1964 second- and fourth-round picks (Nos. 28 and 51 overall). That first-rounder becoming No. 3 overall gave the Bears a legendary duo. Sayers, who died in September 2020, remains the youngest player enshrined in the Hall of Fame, getting there at age 34 in 1977.
While the Bears could not effectively build around Butkus and Sayers, both became Chicago icons. Starring at the University of Illinois, Butkus carried a head start on the elusive running back en route to that status. Sayers earned Rookie of the Year acclaim in 1965, before the Associated Press handed out separate awards to offensive and defensive players, but severe knee trouble sidetracked the running back’s career. During Butkus’ first eight seasons, he only missed two games. Butkus finished in the top five in MVP voting in 1968 and 1970, despite the Bears respectively finishing 7-7 and 6-8 in those seasons. Butkus played for just two winning teams as a pro.
“Playing in an era when middle linebacker became one of the game’s glamour positions — and several of Dick’s contemporaries also would end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame — his name most often was cited first as the epitome of what it took to excel at the highest level,” Hall of Fame president Jim Porter said in a statement.
A no-doubt inclusion on the NFL’s 100th anniversary team in 2019, Butkus ended up 10th on a 2010 NFL Network project ranking the greatest players in league history. No off-ball ‘backer checked in higher on that list. College football established the Butkus Award, which is given to Division I-FBS’ best linebacker, in 1985.
Butkus remained in the public eye for decades after his retirement, serving as an announcer, commercial pitchman and actor. He appeared in numerous television shows, including in regular roles (My Two Dads and Hang Time), and in a number of movies. Butkus, who attended the Bears’ home opener last month, is survived by wife Helen and three children.
RIP to the GOAT MLB #51
My absolute favorite football player of all time. He played on some of the worst teams of all time and never took a play off. He played on Special Teams and did it well. Butkus 1- Payton 2- Sayers 3. Sadly now none are left. RIP. Maybe the greatest defensive player of all time. At least he was to me.
I know people usually pick Taylor as the best linebacker of all time, my answer has always been Butkus. Absolutely terrifying to play against. This is no disrespect to LT-he was an unstoppable force and absolutely electric-but Butkus was a ferocious machine the likes of which haven’t been seen since. Unlike Taylor, Butkus never got to play for a great team, which probably hurts him a bit in peoples’ memories. The fact that he is as recognized as he is, despite that fact, should indicate how titanic his career truly was. He looked like a madman on the field, which is funny considering how thoughtful he was off of it in his later years. Truly a remarkable player.
RIP to one of the toughest men to ever play the game.
He truly was one of the all-time NFL greats but I remember him best in the excellent Miller Lite commercials from the mid 70’s through the 80’s. The commercials he shared with Bubba Smith and Rodney Dangerfield were true classic comedy when commercials were actually good and funny. RIP.
Losing two of footballs greatest legends (Brown & Butkus) in the same year is a real gut punch. These were the guys I pretended to be when I was 10 years old playing with the other kids on the neighborhood playground. I know for certain that if the good Lord didn’t have an unbeatable team in heaven before…he definitely does now.
No worries, you’ll be joining that team in the sky soon enough. When one’s icons start to drop, the timer has started. Où sont les neiges d’antan…
♫ You load sixteen tons, whattaya get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don’cha call me, ’cause I can’t go
I owe my soul to the company store ♫
This is my favorite photo of Butkus. Even the game officials were terrified when he was on the field…lol.
link to images.saymedia-content.com
That’s a great image. I’m a part-time sports photographer and that photo made my day, Lemon.
RIP
“The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long” aptly applies here – as Butkus was a terror on the field before injuries and the effect of thousands of collisions took their toll.
Thanks for the memories.
Loved how he played the game of football and the way he lived his life after football. Met him for 5 minutes wished it could have been 5 hours. Rest in Peace #51!!! Da Bears!!
RIP Mr. Butkus…..
Another childhood hero gone. RIP #51
2 sacks in the 1st 4 games and then 5 sacks on the night he passes?! That game was for Dick