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Illinois Football: The legend of Dick Butkus will never be forgotten

By Rees Woodcock

Oct 5, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Chicago Bears players stand on the sidelines as a moment of silence is observed to mourn the passing of football hall of fame member and Bears linebacker Dick Butkus prior to the game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 5, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Chicago Bears players stand on the sidelines as a moment of silence is observed to mourn the passing of football hall of fame member and Bears linebacker Dick Butkus prior to the game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Illinois football team, the Chicago Bears, and the football world as a whole lost a legend on Thursday.

In what was supposed to be a time of celebration, as the Bears broke a 14-game losing streak, there was a somber feeling that swept over the football world on Thursday Night Football. The passing of Dick Butkus, the former Illini great, was announced right before kickoff. He was 80 years old.

Butkus was active with the Bears. The top pinned post on his social media account has him standing on Solider Field for the first game of the season against the Packers. In true Butkus fashion, the caption reads, “Somebody give me some pads and a QB to tackle.”


The Bears ended up taking the game to the Washington Commanders, 40-20. As mentioned above, it broke a 14-game losing streak by the franchise. Fittingly, the Bears defense also showed up. The 20 points allowed was the fewest by the franchise since its last win on October 24, 2022.

Dick Butkus was a legend for the Illinois football program before having a Hall of Fame Chicago Bears career

Butkus spent nine seasons in the NFL, eight of which were Pro Bowl years. He amassed 1,020 tackles, 25 fumble recoveries, and 22 interceptions during his stint with the Bears. The most impressive stat for me might be the fact Butkus was in the top six in MVP voting for four straight seasons.

Before Butkus’ Hall of Fame career with the Bears, he was a legend with the Illinois football program. In the three seasons in Champaign, Butkus would earn consensus All-American honors for his final two years with the program. He was also a three-time member of the All-Big Ten team and led Illinois to a Rose Bowl win in 1963.

As someone who was born 17 years after Butkus’ last game in the NFL, I never got to truly appreciate what he brought to the football field. The mean tackling, and the joy he brought to the game, are the things that don’t show up on the stat sheet. Butkus was a legend on and off the field. Let’s never forget the impact he had on the sports world. Rest in peace to one of the GOATs. You are gone but will never be forgotten.

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