NFL Legend Dick Butkus Dead At 80

NFL legend Dick Butkus — one of many biggest linebackers of all time — has died, TMZ Sports has discovered. He was 80 years previous.

We’re instructed somebody went to verify on Butkus at his residence on Thursday … and he was discovered unresponsive.

Our sources inform us … paramedics responded to a name for a affected person in cardiac arrest at Butkus’ residence in Malibu at 12:51 PM. He was pronounced lifeless on the scene.

Butkus is among the many most intimidating gamers to ever step onto a soccer subject — coming in at 6’3″, 245 kilos, he was a defensive standout on the University of Illinois earlier than becoming a member of his hometown Chicago Bears in 1965 … going No. 3 general within the NFL Draft.

He performed his total skilled profession with the Bears from 1965 to 1973 … racking up each particular person award possible — six All-NFL choices, two Defensive Player of the Year honors and eight Pro Bowls.

Butkus earned many nicknames as a result of his fashion of play .. together with The Maestro of Mayhem, The Enforcer, The Animal and The Robot of Destruction.

Butkus was named to the league’s All-Decade groups within the ’60s and ’70s … in addition to the seventy fifth and one hundredth Anniversary groups.

Butkus — whose profession was shortened as a result of accidents — had 1,020 tackles, 22 interceptions and 27 fumble recoveries over the span of 9 seasons. He was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979, his first 12 months of eligibility.

In 1985, the Butkus Award was established to honor the highest linebackers at the highschool, faculty {and professional} ranges.

The Bears retired his No. 51 jersey in 1994.

Off the sector, Butkus was identified for starring in commercials for Miller Lite, Prestone, Schick and Visa … in addition to dozens of movies and TV reveals, together with “Any Given Sunday,” “Hang Time,” and “The Last Boy Scout.” He was additionally an analyst for CBS.

Butkus continued to observe the NFL in retirement — in truth, he posted his weekly picks on his Instagram simply hours in the past.

Butkus is survived by his spouse, Helen, and three kids.