Born into a large Lithuanian blue-collar family on Chicago's South Side, Butkus knew by the fifth grade he was going to be a professional football player. He chose his high school, his summer employment and his friends with the goal in mind of becoming a pro player. Favoring the program developed under new coach, Pete Elliott, Butkus chose to attend the University of Illinois after graduating from Chicago Vocational High School.

At Illinois, Butkus was a formidable linebacker and center. He was a two-time unanimous All-America choice, a three-time All-Big Ten selection, the American Football Coaches Association's 1964 "Player of the Year," and he finished third in the 1964 Heisman Trophy voting. So great was his playing ability, that the award for outstanding college linebacker was created in his name. Since 1985, the Dick Butkus Award has been presented annually to the top linebacker in college football by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando. In honor of his legendary performance as a college player, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983, and his jersey number, 50, was retired by Illinois in 1986.

Following his graduation, Butkus was selected by the Chicago Bears with the third overall pick in the 1965 draft. In his rookie year, he made an immediate impact and led the team in tackles, interceptions, and fumble recoveries. During his nine-year career with the Bears, Butkus was elected to eight consecutive Pro Bowl teams and seven All-NFL teams. He was twice named NFL Defensive Player of the Year and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979 in his first year of eligibility.

Although he had drive, meanness and a consuming desire to do anything he could to stop the opposition on every play, Butkus was a clean football player who was extremely devoted to his career. By his own admission, he played every game as though it were his last. It was inevitable that injuries would eventually come to someone who played so intensely. In 1970, Dick suffered an injury to his right knee and underwent surgery for reconstruction of loose ligaments. The surgery was only partially successful, and he played in pain for the next two seasons.

Despite the discomfort, Butkus made 117 tackles and had 68 assists, recovered three fumbles and intercepted four passes. In 1973, for the first time ever, he took himself out of a game because the pain was too unbearable. A few weeks later, he limped off the NFL field for the last time. Butkus retired with 1,020 tackles, 489 assists and 22 interceptions. His 25 recoveries of fumbles by opponents are now third on the all-time list. If records were kept of fumbles forced, Butkus would undoubtedly be one of the all-time leaders.

Butkus couldn't run, jump or stand for any lengthy period without suffering severe pain until he had his knee reconstructed in November 1997. Earlier that year, he wrote Butkus: Flesh and Blood, an autobiography depicting his life from his beginnings as a nearly-impoverished Chicago youth to his glory days as one of the formidable members of the Monsters of the Midway.

In tribute to his life off the field, Dick has been presented with the "Life Achievement Award" from Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and he is the recipient of the "Pope John Award," which recognizes outstanding achievement towards humanity. In 1990, he was named to the Walter Camp All-Century Team. Since his retirement, Butkus has provided insight as a TV commentator, hosted a national golf tournament to raise money for treatment of cystic fibrosis and appeared in numerous television commercials, television series and feature films.

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