Chicago Bears News: Dick Butkus passed away at age 80

The Chicago Bears have had a lot of legendary players in franchise history. There have been some Hall of Famers and amazing people who came to play over the course of their century-long history. Few have been as notable as Dick Butkus.

On Thursday, the news came out that Butkus had passed away at the age of 80 years old. He died peacefully in his sleep overnight. It is the life lost of someone who was one of the greatest players in the history of the Chicago Bears.

Not only was Butkus one of the greatest Bears of all time, but he was also one of the greatest linebackers who ever lived. The league was better thanks to his presence for a long time. A lot of prominent linebackers that came after idolized him.

This is a player who is a lifetime Illinois football player. He was born in Chicago, attended high school in the state at Chicago Vocational, and then played at the University of Illinois for college before playing for the Bears later in his life. It was an outstanding career for him as he made himself into one of the best players ever.

The Chicago Bears had an all-time great player in Dick Butkus for 9 years.

The Chicago Bears drafted Butkus with the third overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft. The Denver Broncos also drafted Butkus when they were in the AFL but he wanted to play for his hometown Bears which was one of the greatest decisions he ever made. That allowed him to be in the NFL and become an all-time state legend.

Over the course of his NFL career, Butkus was a Pro Bowler 8 times and a five-time All-Pro. He played 119 career games (all with Chicago) and he had 22 career interceptions while being one of the great tacklers of his generation.

He was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 1979. After all of his career accomplishments, it was a well-deserved honor.

A lot can be said about his football career but it should be stated that he was an incredible human being in addition to all of that. He was a Hall of Fame human being just as much as he was a Hall of Fame football player. That is significantly more important.

Butkus has been a fan favorite in Chicago for his entire adult life. Now, he has passed away and the whole football world mourns. We wish his family and friends nothing but peace and love as this legend will be missed by many.