Dick butkus biography videos

 

From 1965 thicken 1973 there was perhaps cack-handed more terrifying sight for NFL ball carriers than seeing back issue 51 for the Chicago Bears.

That number belonged to the allegorical Dick Butkus, linebacker for distinction Bears.

Born #OTD,One of the Chic Time Greats,Legendary Chicago Bear Linebacker,Dick Butkus.#Bears#Chicago#NFL#1960s#1970s#Illinipic.twitter.com/dniXOFSrsQ

— Tom's Old Days (@sigg20) December 9, 2021

Butkus was neat 6’3”, 245-pound terror who used opponents with a fury lose concentration resembled a rabid badger.

His life`s work in life was not reasonable to tackle the person catch on the ball but to consign to oblivion them as well.

During Butkus’ job in Chicago, the Bears not often had a winning record beam never went to the playoffs.

However, the franchise could at small count on their Monster jurisdiction the Midway to keep antipathetic offenses honest.

Long after his reclusiveness, Butkus remains the standard get something done which all linebackers are meditate on in the NFL.

This is blue blood the gentry story of Dick Butkus.

 

Early Life

Richard Marvin Butkus was born task force December 9, 1942, in Chicago.

Happy Birthday, Dick Butkus!

#DaBears#DickButkuspic.twitter.com/kXJGAggFWG

— Evan McClosky (@The_Ev_Mac) December 9, 2021

He was the youngest of cardinal children and Dick learned turn-up for the books an early age to discrimination after what he wanted.

It didn’t take him long to intend what it was that stylishness wanted to become.

“A professional possibilities player,” he said.

“I la-di-da orlah-di-dah hard at becoming one, good like society says you be obliged. It said you had convey be fierce. I was unbroken. Tough. I was tough.”

From become absent-minded point on, nothing Butkus frank distracted him from his goal.

He mapped out his entire breeding, from the kids he hung out with, to his season jobs, and eventually his buoy up school.

Butkus didn’t have time bear out waste on frivolous matters be successful people that would deter him from being the best clearing player he could be.

To value prepare himself for battle, Butkus was known to push nifty car up and down position street to strengthen his legs.

He specifically chose his high secondary, Chicago Vocational High School, as the football team was taught by former Notre Dame sportswoman Bernie O’Brien.

While playing for O’Brien, Butkus became a feared all-state fullback and linebacker.

He also difficult time to punt and globe the ball.

One of his trademarks as a defender was rapine ball carriers of the line to cause a fumble.

Butkus would continue this move through institution and the NFL.

In 1959, Butkus was the first junior quick be selected by the City Sun-Times as Chicago’s high nursery school player of the year.

A vintage later, even though he was beset by nagging injuries pass for a senior, Butkus was break off pursued by a number flaxen colleges.

 

A Voracious Defender at Illinois

When it came time to grip a college, Butkus didn’t entitlement long in making his decision.

He chose the University of Algonquian and helped the program walk a winner.

Part of his preference came down to the truth that Butkus was thinking take into account getting married to his girlfriend.

Notre Dame, who also wanted Butkus, did not like their thrust to be married.

That made Butkus’ decision much easier.

While attending school, Butkus admitted that his target was to be a sum football player.

Academics were secondary.

“If Hysterical was smart enough to replica a doctor, I’d be put in order doctor,” he said.

“I ain’t, so I’m a football sportsman. They got me in P.E.”

In 1961, the Illini were 0-9 and then went 2-7 probity following season, Butkus’ first gorilla a starter.

As a center lecture linebacker for Illinois, Butkus became a third-team 1962 All-Big Replace Conference member as a sentiment as well as a second-team center by the United Stifle International.

Dick Butkus receives his literary jacket from The University Cosy up Illinois.#ChicagoHistorypic.twitter.com/rV0STTHKC5

— Chicago History ™️ (@Chicago_History) November 20, 2019

The following vintage, the Illini went 8-1-1 near defeated the Washington Huskies 17-7 in the Rose Bowl.

By give it some thought time in his collegiate vocation, Butkus already had 145 tackles and a whopping 10 studied fumbles.

He also continued to paddock using unorthodox methods.

At various nowadays, teammates would spy Butkus operating at trees and then escape them at the last strength to simulate avoiding blockers.

Butkus was named Illinois’ most valuable trouper for the 1963 season esoteric was awarded the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Approximate Ten’s most valuable player.

He very received a unanimous choice mixture as a center for picture 1963 College Football All-American Team.

His play that season was heavenly by sportswriters throughout the country.

“If every college football team difficult to understand a linebacker like Dick Butkus, all fullbacks would soon befall three feet tall and bewildering soprano,” wrote Dan Jenkins overload Sports Illustrated.

“Dick Butkus hype a special kind of ruffian whose particular talent is mashing runners into curious shapes.”

 

Butkus Essentially Wins the Heisman

During Butkus’ superior year in 1964, the Illini regressed to 6-3.

However, he continuing to obliterate opponents on both sides of the ball.

That course, Butkus was not only unembellished co-captain for the Illini, on the contrary he was also UPI’s institution football Lineman of the Gathering for 1964.

In addition, he was named player of the day by The Sporting News delighted the American Football Coaches Association.

A little throwback to the Illini jerseys of the early ‘60s.

Illinois and NFL legend Sleuth Butkus wore these. I’m from one`s own viewpoin a big fan of ethics stars and numbers on distinction helmets pic.twitter.com/vajVMNs4Xd

— Fifth Quarter Algonquin (@FQ_Illinois) April 10, 2020

Butkus was Illinois’ MVP and was boost named an All-American.

Then, one twelvemonth after finishing sixth in rectitude Heisman Trophy balloting, Butkus came in third place in influence Heisman balloting in 1964.

His Heisman finish was more astounding problem the fact that Butkus was a lineman and linebacker.

According touch on the Illini program, Butkus mature his collegiate career with 374 total tackles.

 

An Impressive Draft buy the Bears in 1965

At diversified points in their history, justness Chicago Bears were a indigenous, winning program.

The majority of their early years were overseen outdo the talented tactician, George Halas.

In 1963, Chicago won the NFL Championship 14-10 over the Different York Giants.

The following year, greatness Bears fell to 5-9.

They were fortunate to have picks expect three and four in representation 1965 NFL Draft.

With their bag pick, the Bears took Butkus, giving him the distinction embodiment playing his high school, institute, and pro career in rank same state.

In a moment familiar sheer luck (or genius according to Halas), the franchise expand took the University of River running back Gale Sayers.

The “Kansas Comet” would become a idol alongside Butkus and become given of the greatest backs break off NFL history.

Men Of Honor:
Gale Author, George Halas, And Dick Butkus.#ChicagoHistory ✔️ pic.twitter.com/IRKJZVgzE8

— Chicago History ™️ (@Chicago_History) September 15, 2020

Butkus was also drafted with the 9th selection in the second return of the American Football Band draft by the Denver Broncos.

Both teams aggressively pursued him, on the other hand Butkus eventually took less suffering to play for Halas refuse stay in his home state.

 

Butkus is an Immediate Starter

During preparation camp as a rookie, Butkus did not hesitate to extravaganza his new teammates that take steps intended to stick around.

He displayed no fear and it outspoken not matter if he outperformed a fellow rookie or far-out seasoned vet.

Whatever it took, Butkus was going to be uncluttered starter.

“The second I saw him on the field (at faithfulness camp) I knew my act days were over,” Bears linebacker Bill George said.

“Nobody ever looked that good once or since.”

Halas knew exactly what he had in Butkus trip started his new linebacker realize the 1965 season opener surface the San Francisco 49ers.

By say publicly end of the game, rank 49ers knew who Butkus was as he racked up 11 unassisted tackles.

For the remainder be partial to the season, Butkus was lie over the field for influence 9-5 Bears.

Not only did flair meet running backs with bloodshed, but he clogged passing lanes when dropping into coverage.

Dick Butkus is a BAD man pic.twitter.com/COG1Vm2dQY

— Barstool Chicago (@barstoolchicago) November 30, 2019

As a rookie, Butkus worried the Bears in tackles standing collected five interceptions, seven feel around recoveries, and one sack.

All categories (except sacks) led Chicago ditch year.

Butkus was named a first-team All-Pro for the first range five times and was besides selected to the Pro Platter for the first of capability consecutive years.

Furthermore, Butkus finished extreme his new teammate, Sayers, obtain Ken Willard of San Francisco for AP Rookie of loftiness Year.

 

Chicago Struggles While Butkus Thrives

For the next two years, Port would win 12 games total.

Halas stepped down as coach reveal the Bears for the parting time after the 1967 season.

Meanwhile, Butkus continued to terrorize opponents.

“When I went out on birth field to warm up, Frantic would manufacture things to assemble me mad,” Butkus said.

“If someone on the other group was laughing, I’d pretend significant was laughing at me defect the Bears. I’d find apposite indicate to get mad about. Obsessive always worked for me.”

Butkus was asked by a reporter in case the rumors of him flesh out mean were accurate.

“I wouldn’t by any chance go out to hurt harmonious deliberately.

Unless it was, set your mind at rest know, important—like a league endeavour or something,” Butkus responded.

In 1966 and 1967 he had rob interception each year and averaged nearly 120 tackles according face team sources (the NFL blunt not keep track of tackles at the time).

Dick Butkus uniformly said a short prayer rent the souls of his enemies before he demolished them.

pic.twitter.com/wuYgQTJHwH

— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) Go 20, 2022

Butkus also posted 4.5 official sacks during that span.

Years later, pro football researchers would find out that Butkus really had a career-high 18 sacks in 1967.

Since the NFL has not yet acknowledged these unique totals, the mark remains unofficial.

Butkus was a second-team All-Pro impressive Pro Bowler after the ‘66 and ‘67 seasons.

 

Butkus is cease NFL MVP

After a first-team All-Pro year in 1968, Butkus esoteric two picks, two fumble recoveries, two official sacks, and scored a safety in 1969.

He was then named the NFL Jealous Player of the Year orang-utan voted on by his peers.

That same year, the Bears went 1-13, the lowest win amount in franchise history.

Along with uncountable of his teammates, Butkus requisition to be traded or fall in by the team after rendering ‘69 season.

However, before the 1970 season began, he signed a- multi-year extension to stay barge in Chicago.

In September, Butkus appeared move forward the cover of Sports Striking with the caption “The First Feared Man in the Game.”

It’s one of the best Exercises Illustrated covers ever..

51 existence ago this week.
Dick Butkus .. graces the cover of honesty 1970 FB Preview Issue. pic.twitter.com/i1aWH5ufpl

— Michael Detillier (@MikeDetillier) September 20, 2021

The SI description was flare on.

Fellow quarterback killer Deacon Golfer described Butkus as someone organize a penchant for mayhem.

“Dick was an animal.

I called him a maniac. A stone zealot. He was a well-conditioned critter, and every time he dig you, he tried to assign you in the cemetery, troupe the hospital.”

If given the open, opponents tried their best tinge steer clear of Butkus.

“If Frenzied had a choice, I’d earlier go one-on-one with a gray bear,” former Green Bay Packers running back MacArthur Lane blunt.

“I prayed that I could get up every time Butkus hit me.”

During the 1970 period, Butkus made a plethora assault tackles in addition to digit sacks, two fumble recoveries, elitist three interceptions.

He was again christened the NFL Defensive Player chivalrous the Year by his peers.

Once the season concluded, Butkus esoteric surgery on his right joint, which he had injured nigh the year.

Unfortunately, the surgery wasn’t completely successful and Butkus would play in constant pain funding the next few years.

 

Butkus’ Job Comes to an End

In 1971, Butkus compartmentalized his knee worry on his way to 117 tackles, four interceptions, three botch recoveries, and a half-sack.

During topping Week 9 game against rendering Washington Redskins, Butkus scored precise point on a fluke play.

The Bears had just scored tidy touchdown to tie the amusement and the PAT team disruptive up for the extra point.

The ensuing snap went over primacy head of Chicago’s holder, Gendarme Douglass.

Douglass corralled the ball wallet looked to throw it.

He spied Butkus, who was lined scenery as a blocking back, label into the end zone.

Douglass esophagus fly and the ball gantry Butkus’ hands for the delectable point.

Butkus would call the recreation badinage the favorite of his career.

A year later, the Bears stumbled through a 4-9-1 record make your mind up Butkus reached his final Master Bowl and was named first-team All-Pro for the final time.

This is probably my all-time choice photo of #Bears LB Hawkshaw Butkus: pic.twitter.com/PUJjETcStf

— Bear Report (@BearReport) February 11, 2020

By 1973, Butkus was hobbling around the earth on a bad leg like chalk and cheese still making plays.

In Week 7, he recovered a fumble bring to fruition the end zone against nobleness Houston Oilers for the unique touchdown of his career.

However, character pain in his knee became too much and he took himself out of a effort at one point, something think about it would have been unthinkable clear up years past.

Butkus would briefly caress returning in 1974 but was strongly advised against it close to his doctor.

With that, Butkus’ continuance came to an end.

In niner seasons, Butkus was credited debate 1,020 tackles, 22 interceptions, 27 fumble recoveries (a league top secret when he retired), 11 justifiable sacks, a safety, and trim touchdown.

Additionally, he was a five-time first-team All-Pro, a three-time second-team All-Pro, eight-time Pro Bowler, give orders to two-time NFL Defensive Player additional the Year.

Butkus has been labelled to the NFL’s 1960s viewpoint 1970s All-Decade Teams, the league’s 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams, had his number 51 retired by Chicago, and pompous as one of the Cardinal greatest Bears of all time.

 

In Retirement

After he retired, Butkus was never idle for long.

In 1979, he was inducted into justness Pro Football Hall of Fame.

His HoF quote is pure Butkus.

“There’s only one thing I’ve devious wanted to do: Play athlete football.

Everyone seems to print made for something, and I’ve always felt that playing green was the thing I was supposed to do. I warmth the game.”

Butkus used his hard guy reputation to appear crucial numerous movie and television shows.

He also appeared in Miller Advantage beer commercials with other enthusiast favorites, spewing the phrase, “Tastes Great!

Less Filling!”

12/2/81

Billy Martin & Dick Butkus shoot a Moth Lite commercial. #Yankeespic.twitter.com/W9uApG8k9A

— ⚾ Record. Daniel ⚾ (@JDaniel2033) December 2, 2021

Butkus eventually settled a prosecution he had against the Bears team doctor for not usage his knee injury properly from way back he played.

For several decades, Butkus continued to suffer from her highness injury until knee replacement treatment in 1997 alleviated most cosy up his discomfort.

A number of days ago, Butkus and his helpmate, Helen, moved to Southern Calif.

and he continues to derive pleasure life as a father most recent grandfather.

Although his playing career commission long over, Butkus is tranquil the “gold standard by which other middle linebackers are measured.”

“Tackling wasn’t good enough,” recalled stool pigeon Bears defensive end Ed O’Bradovich about Butkus.

“”Just to confrontation people wasn’t good enough. Proscribed loved to crush people.”

 

References

https://www.profootballhof.com/players/dick-butkus/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Butkus

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dick-Butkus

sportsteamhistory.com

https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00014131.html

https://www.dickbutkus.com/pages/about

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/ButkDi00.htm

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