He also became a linebackers coach and was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame … He had instinct, strength, leadership and, maybe most important of all, anger. It always worked for me." He played as the Chicago Bears' middle linebacker for nine years with only one goal in mind – to be the best, and from the very start, he was just that. At the same time, I feel very sorry that George Halas who was his coach at the Bears the entire time Dick play there is unable to be here because I know how much it would mean to him. Dick had drive, meanness, a consuming desire to pursue, tackle, and manhandle – anything he could do to thwart the enemy on every play. I decided to take one step at a time and wouldn't settle for less. I love the game.”. The mission of the Mississipi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum is to preserve, protect and promote Mississippi’s … I knew God had given me the physical aspects needed, now it was up to me. © 2018 Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame | Privacy Policy, About the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Van Chancellor to Speak at the C Spire Gillom and Howell Awards, Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Selects Class of 2021. The men who have led the Mets, and the men who helped them. For she and my father, who passed away several years ago, were always beside me. It was immediately evident to me that this is a superior football player, but it didn't take a coach to know that he was a superior football player. Pierzynski Chad Qualls Chris Perez Randy Wolf Chad Tracy Jimmy Yacabonis Thurman Munson Gavin Floyd A.J. Jon Kitna (43), 4. • All-Time NFL Team (selected in year 2000) Presenter: Pete Elliott, Butkus’s head coach at Illinois Other Members of the Class of 1979: Yale Lary, Ron Mix, Johnny Unitas Schmidt was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000. For Butkus, it was a serious right knee injury in 1970 that didn't respond completely to surgery. I was very proud to be a Chicago Bear and I would certainly like to thank Mr. Halas along with Abe Gibson, Don Shrinnick, George Allen, Joe Fortunato, Bill George and many other of their organization who helped and understood me during those nine years. I suoi genitori divorziarono quando aveva 8 anni; cresciuto a Hicksville, Long Island, ha iniziato a suonare nel primo complesso a quattordici anni (The Echoes), dopo avere visto un concerto dei Beatles alla trasmissione televisiva Ed Sullivan Show. I would like to send along my regrets that Mr. Halas couldn't make it here today and hope for a speedy recovery and I understand he is leaving the hospital today and he will be home and I hope he will be able to watch this. That same year Butkus was named first-team All-NFL, an honor he would record five more times. So, I began to follow my career and my dream first at Chicago Vocational High School and after meeting and being coached by Mr. Bernie O'Brien I knew I had meant, something special. Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls, Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic. Still he was a clean player, totally devoted to his career, a man who by his own admission played every game as though it were his last one. In his rookie season, Butkus, a first-round draft choice, had only one challenger for National Football League Rookie of the Year honors, teammate Gale Sayers. Biografia Creedence Clearwater Revival. • [1st] Most Opponents Fumbles Recovered, Season – 6 (1965), Team Statistical Championships Over a thousand player transactions -- in chronological order! • 1970s All-Decade Team The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates the Magnolia State’s incredibly rich history of producing world-class athletes and teams. He even figured in the career statistical columns with 22 interceptions and 27 opponents' fumble recoveries. Dick played the game like it ought to be played, all out, all the time, every game, every practice. My sisters, Alberta and Lenore, my brothers John, Ron, Don, and Dave also I felt were my greatest fans. Finally, after eight years of preparation, my opportunity was before me. Dick Butkus is a yard stick, a yard stick for linebackers of all type. Hybrid halfback-flanker Lenny Moore, another future Hall of Famer, combined for … (And Jane Jarvis too!) [71] [72] He was credited with revolutionizing the linebacker position with his speed, doing the job formerly performed by middle guards in stopping the run game while also taking the load off the defensive backs on pass defense. I thank you Bernie O’Brien for your guidance as a coach and most of all your friendship. The first play that I ever saw Dick Butkus make was against a bootleg pass which is the hardest playing middle linebacker has to play against. Billy Joel è nato a New York, nel Bronx, il 9 maggio 1949, figlio di Rosalind e del pianista tedesco di origine ebraica Helmut Joel. To be truthful, I dreamed of being a great football player as far back as I can remember. • 1969 NFL Defensive Player of the Year (NEA) Perfect for … • [Tied for 3rd] Most Total Fumbles Recovered, Season – 7 (1965 - 1 own; 6 opponent), • [1st] Most Opponents Fumbles Recovered, Career – 25 Carriera. (Also drafted in 2nd round in 1965 AFL Draft by Denver Broncos). I have a new vision and a new goal now and that is simply to be a better husband and a better father and a better person. 34.7k Followers, 0 Following, 2,982 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Street One (@mystreetone) Future Hall of Famer Raymond Berry led the league with 66 receptions and 14 TDs. Butkus had the speed and agility to make tackles from sideline to sideline and to cover the best tight ends and running backs on pass plays. Butkus also played in the Pro Bowl following his rookie season and in each of the next seven years. Dick Butkus's Career Capsule. As I say, Dick never practiced with us, never worked on the play. All-NFL: 1965 (AP, NEA, NY), 1967 (UPI, NEA), 1968 (AP, UPI, NEA, PW), 1969 (AP, UPI, NEA, PW, NY), 1970 (AP, PFWA, NEA, PW), 1972 (AP, PFWA, NEA), All-NFL Second Team: 1965 (UPI), 1966 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY), 1968 (NY), 1971 (PFWA, NEA), All-Western Conference: 1966 (SN), 1969 (SN), All-Pro: 1968 (PFWA), 1969 (HOF, PFWA, NEA), All-NFC: 1970 (AP, UPI, SN PW), 1971 (AP, UPI, PW), 1972 (AP, UPI, SN), (8) – 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, • [1st] Most Opponents Fumbles Recovered, Career – 25 Then I went up to the University of Illinois. Boomer Esiason (45), 4. The biggest thank you co1n es to my wife, Helen. She was always there waiting for me with that open love that I really needed. Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Hall of Fame, and more. I knew my family, coaches, fans and also first of all, my God was counting on me. The quarterback then wheels and as he turns and runs the other way, he throws the ball to the crossing end who goes in the area where the linebacker vacated. I consider being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the top of my dream. Play pro football. So, I tried to meet each problem intelligently and each difficulty courageously while I played as a Chicago Bear. The mission of the Mississipi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum is to preserve, protect and promote Mississippi’s rich sports heritage for this and future generations. Thank you very much. In eight straight Pro Bowls ... Born December 9, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois. Anxiety and apprehension would fill my mind. Anyone who ever saw Dick Butkus play knows he was a superior player immediately. “If someone on the other team was laughing, I'd pretend he was laughing at me or the Bears. So, thank you Helen for being my greatest fan and most of all my best friend. I am extremely honored to be the presenter for Dick Butkus. Everyone seems to be made for something, and I’ve always felt that playing football was the thing I was supposed to do. “When I went out on the field to warm up, I would manufacture things to make me mad,” he once said. Thank you, Bill Taylor and Pete Elliot, for being an important part of my life. I sincerely thank you, Pete Elliott, for giving me the honor of being my presenter, and secondly for the instrumental part you played as coach at the University of Illinois. I am so happy that my beautiful mother is he e to be able to share with us this meaning of today. The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates the Magnolia State’s incredibly rich history of producing world-class athletes and teams. On Monday, Hall of Fame linebacker Kevin Greene has passed away at 58. He played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1948 to 1960, the … The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. Dave Krieg (47), 3. For only on the top can I see the whole view. I felt good, I felt my goal and my dream was in sight when I entered professional football. His tackling was devasting, his instincts were absolutely unbelievable but the thing that sets him apart from every other athlete I have known is his great, great intensity. Drafted: 1st round (3rd player overall) in 1965 by Chicago Bears. • 1970 NFL Defensive Player of the Year (NEA, PW), Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 20, 1979, Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: July 28, 1979, Presenter: Pete Elliott, Butkus’s head coach at Illinois, Other Members of the Class of 1979: Yale Lary, Ron Mix, Johnny Unitas. Full Name: Richard Marvin Butkus Birthdate: December 9, 1942 Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois High School: Chicago Vocational Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 20, 1979 Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: July 28, 1979. 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