(Chicago) Dick Butkus, terror of the quarterbacks who faced Chicago, died Thursday at age 80, the Bears announced.
According to a statement released by the team, the linebacker’s family confirmed that he died in his sleep overnight at his home in Malibu, California.
A Hall of Famer, Butkus made his name with hard-hitting tackles, becoming one of the most intimidating players in NFL history.
He was the modern linebacker of choice who left a trail of battered opponents all over the field.
PHOTO ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dick Butkus in November 1970
He made the Pro Bowl in eight of his nine seasons before knee injuries forced him to retire at age 31.
Despite a short career, Butkus managed to define his position. He is often ranked among the 100 greatest players in NFL history.
Accepting roles that reflected his tough-guy image, Butkus went on to star in films, television shows, and commercials — for example, for beer or antifreeze.
We saw it particularly in The Longest Yard (1974) among a dozen films, over around fifteen years.
The youngest of eight children, Butkus grew up on the South Side of Chicago.
A star player at Chicago Vocational high school, he then shone with the University of Illinois.
“He was the son of Chicago,” Bears CEO George McCaskey said in a statement about the ultimate “Monster of the Midway.”
“He exuded the essence of our great city and also what George Halas wanted to see in a player: toughness, intelligence, instinct, passion and leadership. He refused to accept anything less from himself or his teammates. »
Butkus is survived by his wife Helen and their children Ricky, Matt and Nikki.