Dick Butkus obituary and details!

Illini and Chicago Bears legend Dick Butkus, considered the greatest defensive player in football history, passed away at his home in Malibu, California, at the age of 80.

During his time at Illinois, Butkus played as Coach Pete Elliott’s center on offense and linebacker on defense, leading the Fighting Illini to the 1963 Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl victory over Washington.

A member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, Butkus was a two-time All-American, a three-time All-Big Ten selection, and was named the 1963 Silver Football Award winner as the Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player. He finished third in the 1964 Heisman Trophy voting and went on to a nine-year Hall of Fame career with the NFL’s Chicago Bears that included six All-Pro selections.

Butku finished his Illinois career with 374 tackles. His 145 stoppages in 1963 remained the school record until 1976. He was named Player of the Year in 1964 by the American Football Coaches Association.

Butkus was named to the Big Ten Diamond Anniversary Team, the Sporting News College All-Time Coaches Team, and the University of Illinois All-Century Team in 1970. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983. Butkus’ No. 50 Illinois jersey was retired in 1986, and he was named to the Walter Camp Foundation All-Century team in 1986. 1989. In 2001, Sports Illustrated ranked Butkus as the best middle linebacker ever. NFL Network named him the most feared tackler of all time and the #10 player in NFL History in 2009 and 2010, respectively. He was named the 6th Big Ten Icon in conference history by the Big Ten Network in 2010, and was ranked 8th in college football history in 2020 as part of the 150th anniversary of college football.

In 2017, Butkus was inducted as a member of Illinois Athletics’ inaugural Hall of Fame Class, and in 2019, a larger-than-life statue of Butkus was unveiled in front of the front entrance of Illinois’ Smith Football Performance Center.

The nation’s best defensive player receives the “Butkus Award” every year.