Dick Butkus

Richard Marvin "Dick" Butkus (born December 9, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois) is a former American football player and actor.

Related Topics:
December 9 - 1942 - Chicago, Illinois - American football

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He began playing football as a boy in Chicago. He graduated from Vocational High School in Chicago before continuing his education at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Related Topics:
University of Illinois - Urbana - Champaign

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At Illinois, Butkus was a fearsome linebacker. He was twice named All-American (1962, 1963). Such was his excellence that in 1985, an award for outstanding college linebacker was created in his name.

Related Topics:
Linebacker - All-America

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After his collegiate career, Butkus was drafted in the first round by his hometown team, the Chicago Bears. In Chicago, Butkus became known for wreaking havoc on the opponent's backfield. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 9 seasons. He was all league six times. Butkus recovered 25 fumbles in his career, an NFL record at the time of his retirement. He was forced to retire after multiple knee injuries in 1973.

Related Topics:
Chicago Bears - Pro Bowl - NFL - 1973

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Butkus filed a lawsuit against the Bears in 1975, claiming the Bears knowingly kept Butkus on the field when he should have had surgery on his knees. The Bears denied Butkus and their other players the right to seek second opinions with doctors other than the Bears team doctor, and the team would liberally use painkillers so Butkus, a major gate attraction, would be active.

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Because of the lawsuit, Butkus' relationship with owner George Halas was icy despite the fact the two shared much in common (Chicago born and raised, Illinois alumni, first-generation Americans). Butkus did return to the Bears as a color analyst in 1985, teaming with first-year play-by-play man Wayne Larrivee and former St. Louis Cardinals quarterback Jim Hart. The Bears were a national phenomenon in 1985, running a record of 18-1 and winning the Super Bowl. Butkus' role in the booth was that of "cheerleader," as his devotion to the team appeared to have never waned. Butkus remained in the role of Bears' radio announcer off and on into the mid-90s (Hart was replaced by Pro Football Weekly publisher Hub Arkush in the booth).

Related Topics:
George Halas - Wayne Larrivee - Jim Hart - Hub Arkush

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As a final signal that the acrimony between Butkus and the Halas/McCaskey family (by the 1990s, the team was owned by the family of Virginia McCaskey, George Halas' daughter) had faded, Butkus' #51 was retired by the Bears on Oct. 31, 1994. His longtime teammate Gale Sayers was also honored during a ceremony during halftime of a rain-soaked Monday Night Game between the Bears and Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field.

Related Topics:
Virginia McCaskey - Gale Sayers - Green Bay Packers - Soldier Field

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He was also selected the 70th greatest athlete of the 20th century by ESPN, the 9th best player in league history by The Sporting News, and the fifth best by the Associated Press. The National Football League named him to their all time team in 2000. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

Related Topics:
ESPN - The Sporting News - Associated Press - Pro Football Hall of Fame - 1979

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After his career as a player, Butkus has become a well known celebrity endorser, broadcaster, and actor. He has appeared in films such as Necessary Roughness and Any Given Sunday.

Related Topics:
Necessary Roughness - Any Given Sunday

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Dick is currently coaching the Montour Spartans, one of the many football teams in the W.P.I.A.L. around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Related Topics:
Pittsburgh - Pennsylvania

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