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Dick Butkus

What is dick butkus?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

Full name Richard Marvin Butkus[1]
Born December 9, 1942[1]
Died October 5, 2023[1]
Position Linebacker[1]
NFL team Chicago Bears[1]
NFL seasons 1965–1973[1]

Dick Butkus was a legendary American football linebacker for the Chicago Bears, renowned for his dominance and formidable play.

Context

Dick Butkus is considered one of the best linebackers in football history and one of the most dominant defensive players of his era. He was honored in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame [4].

Documented claims

  • Dick Butkus was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. [5]
  • He was drafted No. 3 overall in the 1965 NFL Draft. [3]
  • He played middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears. [5]
  • He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice. [1]
  • He was invited to eight Pro Bowls. [1]

Questions and answers

Who was the meanest linebacker?

Dick Butkus was often regarded as one of the meanest and most formidable linebackers of his era [2].

Why did Butkus retire?

Dick Butkus retired from professional football after the 1973 season due to injuries [6].

Did Ditka and Butkus play together?

Yes, Dick Butkus and Mike Ditka played together on the Chicago Bears during the 1960s and early 1970s [5].

Sources

  1. Dick Butkus (1983) - Hall of Fame — footballfoundation.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Dick Butkus — profootballhof.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Bears legend Dick Butkus passes away — chicagobears.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. Butkus, Dick | Encyclopedia.com — encyclopedia.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. Dick Butkus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Wikipedia (2006 ... — wikipedia2006.classicistranieri.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  6. Dick Butkus Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College — pro-football-reference.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Sports