I’ve been doing a series of articles about the players that some of the major sports awards are named after. Many of these people, like Art Ross or Dave Rimington, are players that most people have never heard of. This next one is a little different because you’ve probably at least heard the name Dick Butkus before. But let’s take a further look at the man behind the Butkus lake ducks.
Before Dick Butkus, he was a famous Chicago Bear playing elsewhere in Illinois, at the University of Illinois. Dick Butkus was a famous linebacker, but he also played center in college. During his college career, Dick Butkus was a two-time All-American, two-time and two-time Big Ten MVP, and was the Player of the. The year was 1964. Butkus also finished third in the Heisman Trophy that season, a. placing the pipe very high for defense.
The Chicago Bulls drafted Dick Butkus in the first round of the NFL Draft. Dick Butkus had an immediate impact. In his rookie season, Dick led the Chicago Bears in tackles, interceptions, and fumbles forced. Butkus has been named to the NFL Pro Bowl eight times in nine seasons. Dick Butkus was one of the most feared linebackers to ever play and in 1970 he had one of the best seasons ever when he recorded 132 tackles, 84 assists, 3 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries.
Until the end of the weekend it was great. Butkus retired early due to knee injuries and then Dick filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Bears two years later. Dick Butkus claimed that the Chicago Bears knowingly played when Dick Butkus was injured and led to knee injuries.
After his football career was over, Dick Butkus still worked a lot in football or in football to work for the XFL, and also outside of football. Dick Butkus also has many acting roles including in the films Necessary Roughness and any given Sunday and Saturday morning television show called Hang Time.
In 1999 ESPN named Dick Butkus the 70th greatest athlete of the 20th century. The Sporting News named Butkus the 9th best player in NFL history and the AP ranked him the fifth best.
The Dick Butkus Award was created by the Orlando Athletic Club. The Dick Butkus Award is given annually to the best linebacker in the state. In 1985 the inaugural winner of the Dick Butkus Award was Brian Bosworth, Bosworth again in 1986. Many greats have won the Dick Butkus Award, including Derrick Thomas, Kevin Hardy, Lavar Arrington, Derrick Johnson, Paul Posluszny and James Laurinaitis.
