RIP Dick Butkus

[GatorJ]

One of my favorite linebackers as a kid. Legend.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

 

[Concrete Helmet]

Is it just me or did he singlehandedly destroy every Lions offense player in the 1960's

 

[B52G8rAC]

On the Tonight show. "Well Johnny, I want them to know, without ever looking, that it was Dick Butkus that hit them." With regard to quarterbacks. He also bit the finger of a ref who threw a flag and pointed at him.

 

[AuggieDosta]

RIP Dick

 

[GatorFL]

RIP

 

[AuggieDosta]

Loved watching him play.

But in retrospect, from this video, I sense he was hitting them ruthlessly because he was mad at them for making him run after them.

 

[78]

Grew up 12 miles west of downtown Chicago with the Bears on WGN every Sunday afternoon. I always imagined I was Butkus when we played neighborhood football. That was war and a good way to get your ass kicked good. I learned.

I'm real sad tonight.

 

[Okeechobee Joe]

If there was ever a "Monster of the Midway" it was Number 51.

 

[78]

'65 NFL Draft. Bears did okay, huh?

 

[GatorJ]

he retired by the time I was born. But as a kid growing up in the 80s, one of us would always pretend to be Butkus and try to kill each other playing sandlot.

 

[DarksideGator]

My pops was good friends with 1 of Butkus’ buddies in college. He would tell my pops how him and Dick got in trouble all through college. My dad was like, “ what did Dick end up doing with his life?” Too damn funny when he told my pops “not much, just became the greatest MLB in the NFL and a Hall of Famer, you might remember him from beer commercials too!” My pops almost fell over dying laughing, he said I never put it together that Dick, was Dick Butkus!

 

[TN G8tr]

Played with an intense fury and was a bad azz. Always loved Butkus. I wore #51 as well and wanted to play like him.

We lost a good one today and too many of our heros. RIP #51. It still "tastes great and less filling".

 

[Lake Gator]

Is it just me or did he singlehandedly destroy every Lions offense player in the 1960's

Everyone's highlight film features Lions getting abused for the past 60 years.

 

[Lake Gator]

RIP Mr. Butkus. First team All-American at Illinois. Played both ways...center and middle linebacker. Football at its best.

 

[Spectator]

After he retired he lived in DeLand for many years. He defined the game and the LB position when he played. Football legend, Hall of Fame player

 

[Theologator]

He was huge for a MLB in his era, 6’3”, 245, fast and played with extraordinary intensity. I’m 62, just old enough that he was still playing when I started watching football as a kid. He was to defense what Jim Brown was to offense. Freakishly great.

God bless and keep him.

 

[deuce]

There are just a few men who can honestly be labeled, "He was a Bad Man" on the football field" but was very nice in his private life.

RIP #51

 

[Gator By Marriage]

RIP Mr. Butkus. Truly one of the all-time greats.

 

[URGatorBait]

May he rest in peace......still one of the most unfortunate names in all of sports