Dick Butkus was an American football legend who played as a linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) from 1965 to 1973. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest and most intimidating players of all time, earning the nickname “The Animal” for his ferocious style of play. He was also a successful actor, sports commentator, and philanthropist after his retirement from football. He died at the age of 80 on October 5, 2023.
Early Life and Education
Dick Butkus was born on December 9, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois as the youngest of eight children of John and Emma Butkus, who were Lithuanian immigrants. He grew up in the Roseland neighborhood of Chicago’s South Side, where he attended Chicago Vocational High School. Dick was a star athlete in football, basketball, and baseball, and was named Chicago’s high school player of the year by the Chicago Sun-Times in 1959.
He received many scholarship offers from colleges, but he chose to stay close to home and attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He played as a center and a linebacker for the Fighting Illini football team from 1962 to 1964, under coach Pete Elliott.
Butkus led his team to a Rose Bowl victory in 1964 and was named the MVP of both the Fighting Illini and the Big Ten Conference. He also won several national awards, including the American Football Coaches Association Player of the Year and the UPI Lineman of the Year. He graduated from Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1965.
Dick Butkus Wiki
| Name | Dick Butkus |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Richard Marvin Butkus |
| Date of Birth | December 9, 1942 |
| Place of Birth | Chicago, Illinois |
| Date of Death | October 5, 2023 |
| Place of Death | Malibu, California |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Position | Linebacker |
| College | Illinois |
| Draft | Chicago Bears (3rd overall, 1965) |
| NFL Debut | September 19, 1965 |
| Last Game | November 18, 1973 |
| Jersey Number | 51 |
| Pro Bowls | 8 (1965–1972) |
| All-Pro Teams | 6 (1965–1970) |
| Career Stats | Tackles: 1,020; Interceptions: 22; Fumble Recoveries: 27; Safeties: 2; Touchdowns: 1 |
| Net Worth | $10 million (estimated) |
| Spouse | Helen Essenhart (m. 1963–2023) |
| Children | Ricky Butkus, Matt Butkus, Nikki Butkus |
| Grandchildren | Nine |
Professional Career
Butkus was drafted by both the NFL’s Chicago Bears and the AFL’s Denver Broncos in 1965. He decided to sign with his hometown team, the Bears, for less money than the Broncos offered. He played under coach George Halas, who had also coached his idol Bill George.
He made an immediate impact as a middle linebacker for the Bears, earning a reputation as a fierce and relentless tackler who would often strip the ball from his opponents or force them to fumble. Dick Butkus was selected to eight consecutive Pro Bowls from 1965 to 1972 and was named to six All-Pro teams. He was also voted as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice by The Associated Press in 1969 and 1970.
Butkus played for nine seasons with the Bears until he suffered a career-ending knee injury in 1973. He underwent several surgeries to repair his damaged ligaments, but he never fully recovered. He retired from football in 1974 with 1,020 tackles, 22 interceptions, and 27 fumble recoveries.
He also scored two safeties and one touchdown in his career. Dick is widely considered as one of the best linebackers in NFL history and one of the greatest players ever to wear a Bears uniform. His jersey number 51 was retired by the Bears in 1994.
Post-Football Career
After retiring from football, Dick pursued a career in acting, sports commentating, and philanthropy. He appeared in dozens of movies and television shows, such as Brian’s Song (1971), The Longest Yard (1974), Gremlins (1984), My Two Dads (1987-1990), Hang Time (1995-2000), and Blue Mountain State (2010-2011). He also worked as a color analyst for CBS Sports and NBC Sports, covering NFL games and college football games. He also hosted several radio shows and podcasts on sports topics.
Butkus was also involved in various charitable causes, especially related to health and education. He founded the Butkus Foundation in 1987 to support programs that promote health awareness among children and adults.
He also established the Butkus Award in 1985 to honor the best linebackers at the high school, college, and professional levels. Dick Butkus also donated money and equipment to his alma mater Illinois and his high school Chicago Vocational.
Personal Life
Dick Butkus married Helen Essenhart in 1963. They had three children: Ricky (born in 1964), Matt (born in 1966), and Nikki (born in 1970). They also had nine grandchildren. They lived in Malibu, California for many years until Butkus died peacefully in his sleep on October 5, 2023, at his home. His family released a statement saying that they appreciated the prayers and support from his fans and friends.
Butkus was a devout Catholic who attended Mass regularly. He was also an avid golfer who enjoyed playing at various courses around the country. He was known for his sense of humor and his love for his family and his dogs.
Awards and Honors
He received many awards and honors for his achievements in football and beyond. Some of them are:
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (1979)
- College Football Hall of Fame (1983)
- Illinois Sports Hall of Fame (1984)
- Chicago Sports Hall of Fame (1988)
- NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team (1994)
- NFL 1960s All-Decade Team (1994)
- Walter Camp Man of the Year Award (1995)
- NFL Alumni Career Achievement Award (1997)
- Pro Football Weekly All-Time All-NFL Team (1999)
- Sporting News All-Century Team (1999)
- Sports Illustrated NFL All-Century Team (1999)
- ESPN NFL All-Time Team (2000)
- Walter Camp Distinguished American Award (2001)
- NCAA Silver Anniversary Award (2002)
- National Football Foundation Gold Medal Award (2008)
Trivia
Some interesting facts about Dick Butkus are:
- He was named after his father’s favorite detective novel character, Dick Tracy.
- He was nicknamed “The Animal” by his teammates and opponents for his aggressive and violent style of play.
- Butkus was also called “Killer” by his fans and the media for his ability to intimidate and dominate his opponents.
- He was the first player in NFL history to have two fumble recoveries in one game, which he did twice in 1965 and 1968.
- He was the first player in NFL history to have a safety, an interception, and a fumble recovery in one game, which he did in 1967 against the Los Angeles Rams.
- Dick also made history after having more than 100 tackles in a season, which he did seven times in his career.
- He has more than 20 tackles in a game, which he did twice in 1969 and 1970.
- He has more than 10 interceptions and more than 20 fumble recoveries in his career.
- Dick Butkus was the first player in NFL history to have his jersey number retired by two teams, the Bears and the Fighting Illini.
- He was the first one who was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated twice in one year, which he did in 1970.
- He was named as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice by The Associated Press, which he did in 1969 and 1970.
- Dick was named as the MVP of both his college team and his conference, which he did in 1964.
- Butkus was the first player in NFL history to be named as a consensus All-American three times, which he did from 1962 to 1964.
- He was the first player in NFL history to be named as a unanimous All-Pro six times, which he did from 1965 to 1970.
