The NFL world mourns the late Dick Butkus, legendary Chicago Bears linebacker and intimidator
Dick Butkus, a First-Ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer and perennial All-Pro linebacker for the Chicago Bears, died at the age of 80 on Thursday.
A native Chicagoan, Butkus first rose to prominence as a standout linebacker for the University of Illinois. The Bears would select him at No. 3 overall in the 1965 NFL Draft, hoping he would become a franchise cornerstone. He didn’t disappoint. In nine seasons with his hometown Bears, Butkus qualified for eight Pro Bowls and earned eight different All-Pro selections (five First-Team, three Second-Team).
Beyond the individual accolades, Butkus quickly developed a reputation as the quintessential intimidator. He was both a skilled defender and a manipulator of his opponents’ heads. Teammate and fellow Bears legend Mike Ditka once aptly described Butkus’s distinct style of play, saying, “I think Dick [Butkus] put the fear of God into a lot of people.”
These days, the Bears have a reputation for a special linebacking tradition. It is rare that the NFL’s charter franchise does not have a difference-making star playing linebacker. Said tradition likely never gains traction without Butkus’s trademark individual prowess while manning and terrorizing the middle of the field. He was the face of the position for Chicago — one of the original Chicago sports icons — and someone whose gargantuan footsteps were followed by seemingly countless defenders on any other franchise. As a lifelong Chicagoan, Butkus was, for all intents and purposes, the classic Bears linebacker.
The Bears released a statement from the Butkus family, honoring one of the franchise’s grandest pillars:
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 5, 2023
Bears chairman George H. McCaskey also chimed in with a wonderful and heartfelt message.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 5, 2023
The NFL released a statement mourning the loss of Butkus as well:
The NFL is mourning the loss of legendary Hall of Famer Dick Butkus. Our thoughts are with his family and the Bears organization. pic.twitter.com/arzssONXMB
— NFL (@NFL) October 5, 2023
The sports world poured in their tributes and stories about Butkus in honor of the late football icon.