Dick Butkus, Bears Legend and Hall of Famer, Dead at the Age of 80
Shocking news. One of the greatest players to ever wear Navy and Orange, the legendary Dick Butkus, died this afternoon. He was found in his home unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No additional information is available at the present time.
The quintessential Bear, Butkus was drafted in the first round in 1965, one pick ahead of Gale Sayers. He was the most dominant middle linebacker in the 60s. He was named to the Pro Bowl eight times and named a first-team All-Pro six times. He was voted Defensive Player of the Year twice.
A true Chicagoan, Dick played his entire football career in his home state of Illinois. Born in Chicago, he played football at Chicago Vocational High School. He attended the University of Illinois and played Center and Middle Linebacker. The Fighting Illini won the Rose Bowl in 1963. Butkus earned several awards at Illinois, including Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten, in 1963.
Butkus set a record (since broken) for fumble recoveries with 27 in the NFL. He also amassed 22 interceptions from 1965 through 1973.
Butkus “was a well-conditioned animal, and every time he hit you, he tried to put you in the cemetery, not the hospital.”
Deacon Jones, Los Ageles Rams
Butkus was enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame in 1979 and the College Hall of Fame in 1983. The University of Illinois retired his jersey number 50 in his honor. The Bears retired number 51 in his honor.