NFL legend Dick Butkus, one of the greatest linebackers of all time, 'dies aged 80 after medical ..

[aggiesal]

Source: Daily Mail (Online)

NFL legend Dick Butkus has died at the age of 80, according to TMZ News.


Paramedics responded to a medical emergency at Butkus's Malibu residency at 12.51pm Thursday, according to the outlet. The former linebacker was reportedly declared dead at the scene.

The report claims that Butkus was found unresponsive when someone went to check on him at the property.

Butkus is hailed as one of the greatest linebackers of all time and was a defensive standout at the University of Illinois before being taken with the No. 3 overall pick in the 1965 NFL draft by his hometown Chicago Bears.

Butkus, coming in a 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, spent his entire NFL career with the Bears before retiring in 1973.

Breaking. More to follow.

Read more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/nfl/article-12600131/NFL-legend-Dick-Butkus-one-greatest-linebackers-time-dies-aged-80-unresponsive-Malibu-home.html

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One of the best & meanest players ever.

I'm a Bear fan, and I'm sorry to hear this news.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

1. A loss indeed.

He and Bubba Smith were an inseparable pair.

A very funny man and one hell of a Football player.

R.I.P. Dick....

[aggiesal]

2. I see a linebacker wearing 51, I think Dick Butkus ...

That number is synonymous with Butkus.

[CanonRay]

3. R.I.P.

Simply the greatest of all time. A class all on his own.

[iluvtennis]

4. May Dick Butkus Rest in Peace and May his Memory be a Blessing.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Wow.

He's been around forever. Literally one of the legends.

R.I.P.

[gay texan]

6. ABC's television series "Blue Thunder"

RIP mate, you were seriously cool

[Jarqui]

7. I wasn't a Bears fan but I respected Butkus

He was a truly great, dominant player.

[bahboo]

8. another piece of childhood fandom gone...

to be expected I guess. Always watched him and Gayle Sayers on mediocre (at best) Bears teams. It was a part of autumn Sundays growing up.

[aggiesal]

19. I have an autograph Gayle Sayers Bears Helmet, the actual one. ...

I also met his grandson working at a Costco here in San Diego.

[bahboo]

21. that is way cool....

[rsdsharp]

9. I was a Packer fan growing up, but Butkus was amazing.

The Bears were NFL Champions in 1963, drafted Gayle Sayers AND Butkus in the first round of the 1965 draft, and never even came close again during their careers. That’s how important a quarterback was/is in the NFL.

One of his teammates said you could time him in the hundred yard dash with a calendar, but sideline to sideline, and 20 yards back of the line of scrimmage nobody was quicker. Butkus’ highlights will be played forever. The tackle of the Falcons running back (at :47 below) is amazing. Butkus had him off the ground and his legs were still running; he was dead and didn’t know it yet.

[Eyeball_Kid]

40. He didn't tackle as much as he devoured. He played like he owned the field.

I grew up in Chicago. All of my uncles and my dad were Butkus fans. So was I. I always wanted to play like Butkus. I tried, but I could never approach what he did. He was magnificent.

[walkingman]

10. I loved watching Butkus in his heyday. Didn't he have a bar a few blocks

from Wacker Dr.? I thought I remembered going there once? Maybe someone from Chicago will let me know.

[ancianita]

22. That was Mike Ditka's place.

[walkingman]

24. Yeah - thanks, I remember now. I only spent a few weeks in Chicago years

ago but I loved it. The architecture is amazing and I noticed the fact that so many people of different races were out and about having fun. Not something you saw much in Texas at the time. More so today.

[BHDem53]

11. Dick and Gale are the main reasons I became a Bears fan,

and still am 58 years later.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

12. RIP 🏈

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Bummer!

I still loved his spot in Johnny Dangerously. "Boy, the mouth on that guy." His deadpan delivery was priceless.

[underpants]

14. My buddy wore 51 in high school. He loved Butkus.

He got his signature in Vegas.

Very funny tweets.

[SWBTATTReg]

15. I wasn't a pro football fan, stilll isn't, but Butkus is one of the greats that I knew from those

days he was around, along w/ Dawson of the Chiefs, Ken Stabler of the Raiders, along w/ many other greats of the game.

[BidenRocks]

16. Ray Nitschke is looking forward to the reunion.

Listen to the audio from the line. So much cussin and spittin.
I love old timey football!

[kacekwl]

26. Butkus and Nitschke two of

the baddest SOB's in football. Old timey football.

[LudwigPastorius]

17. "One of the best & meanest players ever."

Deacon Jones said of Butkus, "Every time he hit somebody, he wasn't trying to put them in the hospital...he was trying to put them in the cemetery".

[area51]

18. RIP

[Rhiannon12866]

20. Oh, a sad loss!

[dai13sy]

23. Bear Fan

Became a fan in 1970 when I was pregnant with my Daughter and we moved to Gary, IN and Butkus and the other 4 horsemen were awesome to watch. Damn they were good and I became a fan the first time I saw Da Bears. We'll miss you

[aggiesal]

30. I grew up in Hammond ...

Cousins lived in Gary and attended West Side HS.

[AnrothElf]

25. Gotcha. Dead celebrity. Check. Moving on to important things now...

[rubbersole]

28. What does that mean?

[BeyondGeography]

29. This thread should give you an idea what he meant to people

And yet you lifted your leg on it anyway.

[raising2moredems]

36. Eh...

He probably lives in his mom's basement and nothing better to do today, yesterday, tomorrow...

[aggiesal]

31. Looks like I got you ...

And I wouldn't consider him a celebrity, he was a FOOTBALL PLAYER supreme.

[Skittles]

33. what an ugly sentiment

why even chime in?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

35. No one validated his generational anger in another thread.

[Skittles]

39. I remember my dad (gone 38 years now) was a fan

why would someone assume their own apathy should apply to everyone - very selfish indeed

[NBachers]

37. Thanks- Now I know to put you on ignore

And I'm not even a football fan. But you deserve it.

[LudwigPastorius]

38. Thanks for taking your valuable time to stop in and comment!

[The Wizard]

27. He defined the middle linebacker position

[Moostache]

32. Bears first half tonight has been awesome...

Butkus is a legend in Chicago amongst the fans...he was special. RIP

[sybylla]

34. This Packer Fan is pretty sad to hear it.

I adored everything he did post-NFL and was too young to know about him when he played.

He oozed charm when he wasn't picking scabs off his nose.

RIP Mr. Butkus. Sorry to see you go.

[Fresh Water Falling]

41. Chris Berman reflects on the impact Dick Butkus had on the Chicago Bears & NFL

[world wide wally]

42. Sometimes I wasn't sure if Butkus "could" die.

Peace