Chicago, Illinois—Dick Butkus, an iconic figure in the Chicago Bears’ history and a Hall of Fame middle linebacker, has sadly passed away at the age of 80.
The Butkus Family issued a statement confirming the news: “The Butkus Family sadly announces the peaceful passing of football and entertainment legend, Dick Butkus, who passed away in his sleep at his home in Malibu, California. The Butkus family is currently gathering with Dick’s beloved wife, Helen, and they deeply appreciate the thoughts and prayers from everyone.”
“Dick was the quintessential Bear and one of the greatest players in NFL history,” stated Bears chairman George H. McCaskey. “He was not just a football legend but also Chicago’s own. He embodied the spirit of our great city and embodied the qualities that George Halas valued in a player: toughness, intelligence, instincts, passion, and leadership. He held himself and his teammates to the highest standards. When we unveiled the George Halas statue at our team headquarters, we asked Dick to speak at the ceremony because we knew he represented Papa Bear.”
Butkus, who hailed from Chicago, was the embodiment of a local success story. He rose to prominence at Chicago Vocational High School and the University of Illinois before being selected by the Bears as the third overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft, just one spot ahead of his long-time teammate and fellow Hall of Famer, Gale Sayers.
Dick Butkus played all eight of his NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears from 1965 to 1973 and remains an enduring icon in the franchise’s history. His intimidating and relentless style of play, characterized by talent, aggression, and tenacity, left an indelible mark on the sport.
“If I had to choose, I’d rather face a grizzly bear one-on-one,” quipped Green Bay Packers running back MacArthur Lane. “I pray that I can get up after every time Butkus hits me.”
“Dick was a beast,” remarked Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones. “I called him a maniac, an absolute maniac. He was a well-conditioned beast, and every time he hit you, he aimed to put you in the cemetery, not the hospital.”
Butkus earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first eight NFL seasons and received All-Pro recognition in seven of his nine years. He garnered two NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979 during his first year of eligibility.
He also earned spots on the NFL All-Decade Teams for the 1960s and 1970s, had his No. 51 jersey retired by the Bears, and was named to the NFL’s 75th and 100th Anniversary Teams.
Butkus possessed exceptional ball-handling skills, setting an NFL record with 26 fumble recoveries, and his 22 career interceptions are tied for 11th in Bears history, alongside fellow Hall of Fame middle linebacker Brian Urlacher.
In the 2019 Chicago Bears Centennial Scrapbook, esteemed writers Dan Pompei and Don Pierson ranked Butkus as the second greatest player in franchise history, behind only the legendary Walter Payton.
Speaking at the Bears100 Celebration in Rosemont in 2019, Butkus expressed his gratitude for playing in his hometown: “It’s kind of a unique position because I don’t think many players actually have done that. I feel very lucky. My parents got to see probably 95 percent of the games that were in Chicago, so it was good for my family, and I liked it. Playing for someone who was involved in football since I can remember, who’s better to play for than a guy like George Halas that started it all? I just felt that everything happened for a reason.”
Reflecting on the ferocity and intensity for which he was renowned, Butkus remarked, “I thought that was the way that everybody should have played. But I guess they didn’t because they were claiming that I had a special way of playing. You try to intimidate the person that you’re playing against and hit him hard enough so that sooner or later he’s going to start worrying about getting hit and forget about holding the ball. If it stood out, I guess no one else was doing it as much.”
One of the most memorable moments of Butkus’ career occurred during an extra point attempt late in a 1971 game against Washington. The Bears were trailing 15-15 when Bobby Douglass, the quarterback, managed to salvage a bad snap, rolled to his left, and lofted the ball into the end zone, connecting with Butkus for a dramatic 16-15 victory.
Following his retirement from the NFL, Butkus transitioned into a successful acting career, featuring in numerous movies and television shows, often alongside fellow former football star Bubba Smith. His notable TV appearances included shows like “My Two Dads,” “Vega$,” “MacGyver,” and “Hang Time,” while his film credits encompassed “Brian’s Song” (in which he played himself), “The Longest Yard,” “Johnny Dangerously,” “Necessary Roughness,” and “Any Given Sunday.”
Butkus also endorsed various products, notably appearing in Miller Lite commercials alongside other former professional athletes.
Throughout his adult life, Butkus was deeply committed to charitable causes. He founded and operated The Butkus Foundation, which established the Butkus Award, recognizing the nation’s best linebacker in professional, college, and high school football. Additionally, the Hall of Famer initiated the Dick Butkus Center for Cardiovascular Wellness, a non-profit organization based in Orange County, California. The center runs a cardiac screening program employing specialized testing to identify individuals at risk of heart disease and sudden cardiac death.
Furthermore, the Butkus Foundation spearheads the “I Play Clean Campaign,” educating and encouraging high school athletes to train and eat healthily without resorting to illegal steroids and other performance-enhancing substances. Dick Butkus’ contributions to the sport, entertainment, and philanthropy will continue to leave an enduring legacy.