Deacon Jones, a fellow Hall of Famer and former defensive end, famously described two-time Defensive Player of the Year award winner Dick Butkus as a “well-conditioned animal, and every time he hit you, he tried to put you in the cemetery, not the hospital.” However, Fighting Illini and Chicago Bears legend Dick “Monster of the Midway” Butkus breathed his last not within the four walls of an infirmary but swaddled in the comfort of his own bed at his house in Malibu, California.

Dick Butkus has widely been regarded as the greatest linebacker in the history of the NFL. A statement provided by the Butkus family confirmed that he passed away, aged 80, peacefully in his sleep. Dick Butkus’ passing sparked an overflow of love and admiration from fans and fellow athletes, who applauded his contributions as one of the most rugged and formidable linebackers to ever set foot on the football field.

Fighting Illini Community pays homage to Dick Butkus 

Famously known as ‘The Robot of Destruction’, Dick Butkus was inducted into the inaugural Hall of Fame Class of Illinois Athletics, in 2017. Shortly after in 2019, a monumental statue of Butkus was unveiled, proudly standing outside the main entrance of Illinois’ Smith Football Performance Center. The University of Illinois and its football club members paid homage to their deceased icon by leaving bouquets of flowers at the foot of his life-sized statue.

The official handle of the team shared a post on platform X, stating, “We encourage the Fighting Illini community to celebrate what Dick Butkus meant to them by leaving flowers by his statue outside Smith Center.”

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“Dick embodied everything that Illinois football has represented in the past and what we look to represent into the future,” said head coach Head Football Coach Bret Bielema in a statement. While Director of Athletics Josh Whitman said, “Dick Butkus was a giant in a land of giants. In a game built on toughness and tenacity, he stood alone.” 

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The American football linebacker’s contributions to the sport of football exceeded the collegiate level and had taken the world of pro football by storm. He has been widely regarded as one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history.

The Robot of Destruction’s post-collegiate endeavors and achievements 

During his tenure at Illinois, Butkus served as a center on offense and a linebacker on defense under Coach Pete Elliott’s guidance. He played a pivotal role in leading the Fighting Illini to the 1963 Big Ten championship and securing a triumphant Rose Bowl victory over Washington. Dick Butkus was placed third in the 1964 Heisman Trophy voting before embarking on an illustrious nine-year career in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, where he earned six All-Pro selections.

“Dick was the ultimate Bear,” said George McCaskey, Bears’ chairman, in a statement. A knee injury ultimately forced Dick Butkus to retire from football at the age of 31 following the 1973 season. He briefly ventured into acting after his retirement, making notable appearances in films like “The Longest Yard” and “Any Given Sunday.” In acknowledgment of his outstanding accomplishments, the Dick Butkus Award was established in 1985, an annual accolade presented to the top linebacker in high school, college, and professional football.

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“I dreamed of being a great football player as far back as I can remember” Dick Butkus had said in his speech at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Not a dream, but a legend, is how the ‘Robot of Destruction’ shall always be remembered. Our sincere prayers go out to his family and friends.