The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Athletes 2023
Dick Butkus
- Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Athletes 2023
- Embed from Getty Images
- Sport(s): Football
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Statistics:
2 Defensive Player of the Year Awards (1969 & 1970)
5 First Team All-Pro Selections (1965, 1968, 1969, 1970 & 1972)
8 Pro Bowls (1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 & 1972)
1-Time All-American (1963 & 1964)
1 Big Ten MVP (1963)
22 NFL Interceptions
Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Member of the College Football Hall of Fame
Number retired by the Chicago Bears
Number retired by the University of Illinois
Named to the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
Named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
Named to the NFL 75th Anniversary Team
Named to the NFL 100th Anniversary Team -
A beast at the University of Illinois, Dick Butkus was a two-time All-American who won the Big Ten MVP in 1963. Butkus stayed close to home as a pro, as he was taken with the third overall pick in 1965.
Chicago was not a powerhouse when Butkus played, but he was the reason to pay attention to the team. One of the most punishing tacklers in football history, offensive skill players were quaking with the knowledge that they could be on the end of a Butkus tackle. Butkus would define the middle linebacker position, and his versatility became a standard that only a few have come to match.
Butkus played in the NFL for nine seasons, and was a pro bowler for the first eight and a first team all-pro for five of them. He is also one of a handful of people who won the Defensive Player of the Year twice.
After Butkus retired, he would become a successful actor.
We are proud to nominate Dick Butkus for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.
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