Dick Butkus Cause Of Death: Questions Surrounding The NFL Legend’s Death!!

Butkus spent all of his sports career in Illinois, from his days as a high school star in Chicago to his years as a two-time All-American for the University of Illinois and a legendary player for the Chicago Bears.

Dick Butkus Cause Of Death

The death of Chicago Bears legend Dick Butkus occurred on Thursday, Oct. 5. He was 80 years old. The NFL veteran was reportedly discovered comatose in his Malibu home, but the circumstances surrounding his death are unclear.

At 3:51 p.m. ET, Butkus apparently had a medical issue at his home. The coroner arrived and pronounced him dead shortly after. In the coming days, an autopsy will be conducted. However, the NFL community was eager to send its honors to Butkus.

Many football fans considered Butkus to be among the sport’s most fearsome players ever. When he played for the University of Illinois, he was 6’3″ tall and weighed 245 pounds. Butkus reportedly had an estimated $8 million in assets at the time of his death. Football was the primary source of his wealth.

In addition to his film and television roles, Butkus also appeared in a number of advertisements. His filmography includes such titles as “Any Given Sunday,” “Hang Time,” and “The Last Boy Scout.” After his football career ended, Butkus joined CBS as an analyst. Butkus leaves behind a wife and kids (Helen and Matt and Nikki and Richard).

Bears Release Statement Following Dick Butkus’ Death

After Butkus’ death, Chicago Bears chairman George H. McCaskey issued a statement. According to NFL.com, this is what was said in the release:

“Dick was the ultimate Bear, and one of the greatest players in NFL history. He was Chicago’s son. He exuded what our great city is about and, not coincidently, what George Halas looked for in a player: toughness, smarts, instincts, passion and leadership.”

“He refused to accept anything less than the best from himself, or from his teammates. When we dedicated the George Halas statue at our team headquarters, we asked Dick to speak at the ceremony, because we knew he spoke for Papa Bear… “We extend our condolences to Helen, Dick’s high school sweetheart and wife of 60 years, and their family.”

Dick Butkus Career

Richard Marvin Butkus was born on December 9, 1942, in Chicago. He attended the University of Illinois from 1962 to 1964, where he played middle linebacker. In 1964, he finished third in voting for the Heisman Trophy.

“All I ever wanted to do was to play football. It was a human factor that got me to come here to Illinois,” Butkus said in 2016 after the University of Illinois retired his number. “I’m very proud to be a former Illini. I’ll always be an Illini.”

Butkus was drafted by the Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos for the 1965–1966 season. He signed with his local team and promptly earned the first of eight straight Pro Bowl nods. He picked off five passes in his rookie year.

He became known as the “Maestro of Mayhem,” “The Enforcer,” “The Animal,” and “The Robot of Destruction” during the course of the next eight seasons for his ability to strip the ball from opponents during tackles.

Butkus reflected on his “unique position” as a lifelong Bears player on the team’s website in 2019. “I feel very lucky,” he exclaimed. It was great for my family and me because my parents were able to attend nearly all of the games played in Chicago.

He had 1,020 tackles, 22 interceptions, and 27 fumble recoveries in his career as a linebacker for the team before retiring in 1973. After five years, in 1979, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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In addition to being selected for the NFL’s All-Time Teams for both the 75th and 100th anniversaries, Butkus was also honored by being named to the league’s All-Decade teams for each decade of his career. Butkus was a part of the 1985 Bears Super Bowl winning team from the radio booth, despite not being a player on the team.

“I loved doing that. The Bears were so good and when we went to the Super Bowl,” Butkus told WGN last year. “It was a great year to broadcast because you knew they were going to win, and you just make it exciting. They were something else. That team was really something, man.”

After he retired, the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando started honoring the best linebacker in college football with the annual Butkus Award. In 2008, The Butkus Foundation took over the award and began recognizing players at the high school, university, and professional levels. The Player’s charity actively opposed teen steroid use and donated regularly to numerous organizations.