RIP All-Time great Dick Butkus
Dick Butkus leaves this world @ the age of 80. One of the greatest defensive players of my childhood, he was emblematic of the ferocity of the Chicago Bears defense of his era. Prior to being signed by the Bears, Butkus starred as a two-way player (linebacker and center) at Illinois, leading them to the 1963 Rose Bowl.
Rest in peace to a great one.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38577860/dick-butkus-hall-fame-linebacker-chicago-bears-dies
October 5th, 2023 at 10:06 PM ^
RIP Mr. Butkus and condolences to his family. You were one of the toughest and most feared players on the field. Off the field you had a heart of gold.
October 5th, 2023 at 10:14 PM ^
Big Ten Network just a moment ago came on the air with a special edition show dedicated to Dick Butkus. It started about 10:10pm after a soccer match.
October 6th, 2023 at 6:25 AM ^
I'm really impressed how the BTN is able to whip out quality shows like that on short deadlines. The Journey is another example.
October 5th, 2023 at 11:57 PM ^
RIP to a legend
October 6th, 2023 at 12:08 AM ^
RIP to the best name in the history of names
October 6th, 2023 at 1:46 AM ^
Mr Butkus made me a young fan just by signing an autograph for me at a promo for a golf tourney up in Anchorage when I was a kid. Very cool to meet a legend at that age. RIP
October 6th, 2023 at 1:53 AM ^
About 30 years ago I had to pay a ticket of some kind in Oak Park. I arrive at the police station, walk in the designated door and a moment later a cop with a very familiar face greets me.
I look at him. Then I look at his badge. Then his face.
"Are you related to....."
"Yes"
It was Officer Dave Butkus. One of Dick Butkus' older brothers. Absolute spitting image too.
October 6th, 2023 at 8:12 AM ^
Among my favorite players growing up. RIP sir
October 6th, 2023 at 8:32 AM ^
2-way at center and linebacker is pretty incredible...one of the greats from a different era
October 6th, 2023 at 8:53 AM ^
I don’t think anyone has ever looked as intimidating in those big shoulder pads as he did. Good lord. He was a human freight train.
He was truly one of the greatest of all time.
October 6th, 2023 at 9:15 AM ^
Never part of a team that beat Michigan or Ohio State. Still, that does not detract from his greatness as an individual player.
October 6th, 2023 at 10:26 AM ^
As a grad student, I watched the game between Illinois and Michigan in 1964. I recall Timberlake saying complimentary things about his play afterwards. He earned them the hard way.
October 6th, 2023 at 12:52 PM ^
I had a neighbor who was related to Butkus. The neighbor really disliked Michigan because of the Illinois connection
October 6th, 2023 at 1:39 PM ^
Definitely one of my favorites growing up, even as a Lions fan. Collected FB cards back in the day and still love his horizontal "in action" card in the 1973 Topps set. He's side-stepping a GB Packer blocker with the relentlessness - with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind, as we'd say about Harbs. I bet Jim and John H loved a guy like Butkus.
My first Lions game in person was Dec 1973 in Tiger Stadium vs. a really bad Bears team. Butkus may have been there that day but was recovering from surgery (or preparing for it). His last game came in Nov 1973.
He wisely signed a no-cut contract for good money that the Bears later tried to get out of but he won a settlement.
When you think of hard-nosed B1G FB, this guy was it!