Dick Butkus Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Dick Butkus

Butkus in 1984

No. 51

Position:

Linebacker

Personal information

Born:

December 9, 1942
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Died:

October 5, 2023 (aged 80)
Malibu, California, U.S.

Height:

6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)

Weight:

245 lb (111 kg)

Career information

High school:

Chicago Vocational (IL)

College:

Illinois (1962–1964)

NFL Draft:

1965 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3

AFL draft:

1965 / Round: 2 / Pick: 9

Career history

Chicago Bears (1965)

Career highlights and awards

2× NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1969, 1970)
5× First-team All-Pro (1965, 1968–1970, 1972)
3× Second-team All-Pro (1966, 1967, 1971)
8× Pro Bowl (1965–1972)
George Halas Award (1974)
NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
Chicago Bears No. 51 retired
100 greatest Bears of All-Time
UPI Lineman of the Year (1964)
Big Ten Most Valuable Player (1963)
Unanimous All-American (1963)
Consensus All-American (1964)
Illinois Fighting Illini No. 50 retired

Career NFL statistics

Interceptions:	22
Fumble recoveries:	27
Player stats at NFL.com

Player stats at PFR

Pro Football Hall of Fame

College Football Hall of Fame

Richard "Dick" Marvin Butkus (born December 9, 1942 – died October 5, 2023) was a famous American football player. He was a linebacker for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL). Butkus played from 1965 to 1973.

He was known as one of the toughest and most feared players in football history. He was invited to eight Pro Bowl games. He was also named a first-team All-Pro six times. Twice, he was chosen as the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year.

Butkus played his entire football career in his home state of Illinois. This included high school, college, and professional football. He was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His jersey number 51 was retired by the Bears. After football, he worked as a sports commentator and actor. He also helped with many good causes through the Butkus Foundation.

Early Life and High School Football

Dick Butkus was born in Chicago, Illinois. He was the youngest of eight children. He was a very big baby, weighing about 13 pounds when he was born. His father worked as an electrician, and his mother worked at a laundry. Dick grew up in the Roseland neighborhood of Chicago.

He played high school football at Chicago Vocational High School. He played as a fullback, linebacker, punter, and placekicker. He loved playing linebacker the most. In his first year on the varsity team, his team allowed very few points. In 1959, he was named Chicago's high school player of the year.

College Football Career

Butkus decided to go to the University of Illinois. He played both center and linebacker for the Illinois Fighting Illini football team from 1962 to 1964. In 1963, his team had a great record. They won the 1964 Rose Bowl game.

Butkus was named the team's most valuable player that season. He was also chosen as the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference. He was recognized as an All-American in both 1963 and 1964. In 1964, he was named the college football Lineman of the Year. He finished high in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, which is rare for a defensive player.

Professional Football with the Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears chose Dick Butkus as the third overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft. He also had an offer from the Denver Broncos in the rival American Football League. Butkus chose to play for his hometown team, the Bears. He signed a contract worth $200,000.

He quickly became a star player for the Bears. He was known for forcing turnovers. In his first year, he intercepted five passes and recovered six fumbles. He was named a first-team All-Pro and went to his first Pro Bowl.

Playing Style and Reputation

Butkus was known for his incredible strength and speed. He was 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighed 245 pounds. He was also very dedicated to staying in shape. He could tackle players from one side of the field to the other.

He was famous for being one of the toughest players in the NFL. Opposing players often feared him. He was known for his fierce tackles. One player said Butkus "tried to put you in the cemetery, not the hospital." In 2009, the NFL Network called him the most feared tackler ever.

Butkus played with a lot of anger and intensity. He would sometimes try to make himself mad before games. He felt this gave him an advantage. He was known for ripping the ball away from players. He recovered 27 fumbles in his career, which was an NFL record when he retired.

Butkus displayed on a 1969 Topps card

Later Career and Retirement

In 1969 and 1970, Butkus was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. This award was voted on by other NFL players. In 1970, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The magazine called him "The Most Feared Man in the Game."

Butkus played through many injuries during his career. He had knee problems that got worse over time. In 1973, his season was cut short after nine games because of his right knee. Doctors told him his knee was in very bad shape. This injury forced him to retire in May 1974 at age 31.

Legacy and Honors

Dick Butkus is considered one of the greatest linebackers in football history. Many people say he set the "gold standard" for how middle linebackers should play. He inspired future Bears linebackers like Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher.

He received many honors for his college career. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983. His No. 50 jersey is one of only two retired by the Illinois Fighting Illini football team.

Butkus was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. This was his first year of eligibility. The Hall of Fame also named him to the NFL's 1960s All-Decade Team and 1970s All-Decade Team. This means he was one of the best players of both decades.

On October 31, 1994, the Bears retired Butkus's No. 51 jersey. A sculpture featuring Butkus and other Bears legends was unveiled at Soldier Field in 2004. He has been ranked among the top players in NFL history by many sports organizations.

In 1985, the Butkus Award was created. This award is given every year to the best linebacker at the high school, college, and professional levels. The Butkus Foundation now manages this award.

Life After Football

After retiring from football, Dick Butkus became a well-known actor and sports commentator. He appeared in many movies and TV shows. Some of his movies include The Longest Yard and Any Given Sunday. He also had regular roles on TV shows like My Two Dads and MacGyver.

He also appeared in many commercials. He was a commentator for Bears radio games and for CBS's The NFL Today show.

Butkus married his high school sweetheart, Helen Essenberg, in 1963. They had three children: Ricky, Matt, and Nikki. His son Matt played college football. His nephew, Luke Butkus, is also a football coach in the NFL.

Over time, the injuries from his playing career caused him health problems. He had knee surgery and other issues. However, Butkus always said that football had a positive impact on his life. He passed away in his sleep on October 5, 2023, at the age of 80.

Philanthropy

Dick Butkus was very active in charity work through The Butkus Foundation. This foundation helps manage funds for his charitable causes. These causes include:

The Butkus Award: This award recognizes top linebackers who also serve their community.
The Dick Butkus Center for Cardiovascular Wellness: This organization helps identify people at risk of heart disease.
The I Play Clean Campaign: This campaign teaches high school athletes about the dangers of steroids. It encourages them to train and eat healthy without using illegal performance-enhancing drugs.