One of the greatest ever.
When I was a kid in the 1960’s, we’d argue about who was better. Starr v. Unitas. Nitschke vs. Butkus. Etc., etc. We always picked the Packer player.
Ray was fantastic. But Dick Butkus was better. Easily top 10 player of all time, IMO top three on defense.
RIP.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Having a brew with Nitschke and laughing about how QB’s are protected now.
Truly part of American lore and culture. You can’t say that about many people.
I wonder if he died of sadness because the Bears fan legacy now consists of putzes like Objective Bears Fan.
Brilliant.
He was on Twitter just a few weeks ago busting on the Packers.
Nitschke was great...
Butkus was better.
RIP - Middle Linebacker 🏈
He should be buried with those shoulder pads. Iconic
@Jelly posted:
That was football.
Nitschke was great; Butkus was other-worldly. He was nasty.
According to an article in The Athletic: He once told an interviewer, “I sometimes have a dream where I hit a man so hard his head pops off and rolls downfield.”
Gale Sayers said the hardest hit he ever took was from Butkus in practice. “Dick hit you with his head and shoulder, and that gave you enough of a jolt,” Sayers said. “But then he’d rake you over with his whole body, elbows, knees — nothing dirty, mind you — it was just great tackling form.”
RIP, Butkus. You were a Bear, but much respect. 
He always knew he hit a guy hard enough when he could hear the breath expelled from his victim. Scary dude.
