The NFL world is mourning a legend following the death of Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus at age 80 on Thursday.
Butkus, a two-time consensus All-America selection at Illinois, was selected with the No. 3 pick in the 1965 NFL draft by the Bears and went on to become one of the most feared players in league history. He was named to eight Pro Bowls in nine seasons, only missing out during the injury-shortened final year of his career, and voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1979.
But he wasn’t just a standout on the football field. Later in life, he appeared in movies such as Any Given Sunday and Necessary Roughness, as well as several television shows and commercials.
He also boasted a big personality and sharp wit, evidenced by his humorous missives on Twitter, now known as X, in recent years. Indeed, his takeover of the Bears’ official account in September 2022 was fairly awesome.
With all that in mind, here are nine of our favorite tweets by the great Dick Butkus.
50 cent looked like he was hit by inflation
— Dick Butkus (@thedickbutkus) February 14, 2022
ill try not to dissappoint any of you but if i do its too damn bad
— Dick Butkus (@thedickbutkus) January 21, 2022
i think its great giselle let @TomBrady retire
— Dick Butkus (@thedickbutkus) February 1, 2022
hopefully shell let him keep @RobGronkowski in the yard
hey @AaronRodgers12 help me get verified or more than your toe will be hurting
— Dick Butkus (@thedickbutkus) January 14, 2022
All you need to do is score more points than the other team to win. Sports are not that hard people.
— Dick Butkus (@thedickbutkus) September 10, 2022
Everyone says you have to be an Engineer to be successful. I am a Physical Education Major and it worked out ok, right?
— Dick Butkus (@thedickbutkus) March 29, 2022
thank you everyone who sends notes saying how your dad loved me dont need to hear how your grandpa loved me im not that old damnit
— Dick Butkus (@thedickbutkus) January 14, 2022
Throwback to this epic Dick Butkus exchange
— John Hasson (@SonofHas) October 5, 2023
RIP to a great one pic.twitter.com/ck9m6FLZWy
Somebody give me some pads and a QB to tackle. @chicagobears pic.twitter.com/DWPq1L3yv1
— Dick Butkus (@thedickbutkus) September 10, 2023
