Dick Butkus, a bears legend, passes away
Dick Butkus, a renowned middle linebacker in the Bears Hall of Fame who was born in Chicago and was still widely regarded as the most aggressive defensive player in NFL history, has gone away. He was 80.
The Butkus Family issued the following statement: “The Butkus Family confirms that Dick Butkus, a legend in the worlds of football and entertainment, passed away quietly in his sleep at home in Malibu, California, tonight. Together with Helen, Dick’s wife, the Butkus family is present. They value your prayers and encouragement.
George H. McCaskey, the owner of the Bears, said in a statement that “Dick was the ultimate Bear and one of the greatest players in NFL history.” He was a native of Chicago. He embodied everything that makes our great city great, as well as everything that George Halas valued in a player: toughness, intelligence, instincts, enthusiasm, and leadership. Neither from himself nor his teammates, he would settle for anything less than their very best. We requested Dick to speak at the dedication of the George Halas statue at our team headquarters because we knew he would be speaking on behalf of Papa Bear.
“Dick had a stern demeanor, which would have discouraged some individuals from approaching him, but he actually had a tender touch. He left a charitable legacy that included a commitment to eliminating performance-enhancing drugs from sports and advancing heart health. We are thankful he was present at our home opener this year to be honored one more time by his devoted supporters because his contributions to the game he loved will endure forever.
We offer our condolences to Helen, Dick’s wife of 60 years and high school sweetheart, as well as to their family.
Butkus was the epitome of a hometown kid who succeeded. He excelled at Chicago Vocational High School and the University of Illinois while growing up in Chicago’s South Side before being chosen by the Bears with the third overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft, one spot ahead of longtime colleague and future Hall of Famer Gale Sayers.
From 1965 to 1973, Butkus spent all eight of his NFL seasons with the Bears and is now regarded as one of the team’s most beloved players. He was a talent, assertiveness, and hostile force that was unrelenting and terrifying.
Green Bay Packers running back MacArthur Lane once stated, “If I had a choice, I’d rather go one-on-one with a grizzly bear.” Every time Butkus hits me, “I pray that I can get up.”
Deacon Jones, a defensive end in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, once described Dick as “an animal.” “I referred to him as a stone crazy. Every time he hit you, he attempted to put you in the cemetery rather than the hospital since he was a well-trained animal.
In each of his first eight NFL seasons, voters selected Butkus for the Pro Bowl. He was also chosen as an All-Pro in seven of his nine seasons. In 1979, his first year of eligibility, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame after winning two NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards.
Butkus had his No. 51 jersey retired by the Bears, was selected for the NFL’s 75th and 100th Anniversary Teams, and was named to both the 1960s and 1970s All-Decade Teams.
Butkus also had exceptional ball skills. With 26 fumble recoveries, he set an NFL record that has since been surpassed, and his 22 career interceptions equal fellow Hall of Fame middle linebacker Brian Urlacher for the 11th-most in Bears history.
Butkus was named second best player in franchise history in the Chicago Bears Centennial Scrapbook, authored by Hall of Fame writers Don Pierson and Dan Pompei, behind only legendary running back Walter Payton.
At the Bears100 Celebration in Rosemont in 2019, Butkus told ChicagoBears.com that he felt lucky to have achieved success in his hometown.
It’s somewhat of a special position since, according to Butkus, “not many players have actually done that.” I feel incredibly fortunate. It was beneficial for my family and I enjoyed it that my parents were able to attend approximately 95% of the games that were played in Chicago.
Who better to play for than someone who started it all, like George Halas, who has been involved in football since I can remember? I just had the impression that everything had a purpose.
Butkus said when asked about the ferocity and intensity he was renowned for: “I thought that was the way that everybody should have played. However, judging by their assertion that I had a unique style of playing, I guess they didn’t. You want to scare the player you’re playing against by hitting him hard enough that eventually he will stop caring about holding the ball and start worried about getting hit. I suppose no one else was doing it as much if it stood out.
It’s interesting to note that Butkus’ most famous performances did not include defense. The Bears were trying to score an extra point to break a 15-15 draw in the closing minutes of a 1971 game against Washington when it happened. In an exciting 16-15 victory for the Bears, Bobby Douglass lofted the ball into the end zone to Butkus after scrambling to recover a poor snap. Butkus grabbed the pass.
After leaving the Bears, Butkus rose to fame as an actor and appeared in numerous films and TV series, frequently with Bubba Smith, another former football hero. On TV sitcoms like “My Two Dads,” “Vega$,” “MacGyver,” and “Hang Time,” Butkus played recurrent roles. He appeared as himself in “Brian’s Song,” “The Longest Yard,” “Johnny Dangerously,” “Necessary Roughness,” and “Any Given Sunday,” among other films.
Butkus promoted a number of goods, most notably appearing in a number of Miller Lite commercials with other former professional players.
Butkus financially sponsored several philanthropic causes all of his entire life. The Butkus Award, which recognizes the country’s top linebacker in professional, collegiate, and high school football, was established by him and the Butkus Foundation, which he founded and ran. The Hall of Famer also founded the nonprofit Dick Butkus Center for Cardiovascular Wellness, which has a cardiac screening program that uses sophisticated testing to help detect people at risk of heart disease and sudden cardiac death. The organization is situated in Orange County, California.
The “I Play Clean Campaign,” which educates and motivates high school athletes to workout and eat healthfully without turning to illicit steroids and other performance-enhancing substances, is another initiative operated by the Butkus Foundation.