Bears legend, Hall of Famer Dick Butkus dies at 80

The Hall of Famer Butkus is one of the most legendary football figures of all time. He played for the Bears from 1965-73, making eight Pro Bowls and eight All-Pro teams. Butkus also won two NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards and was widely seen as the standard bearer of excellence at the middle linebacker position. He is the namesake of the Butkus Award, given every year to the top linebacker at the high school, college and professional football levels.

Although forced to retire early due to injuries, Butkus remained an outspoken figure well into his twilight years. He entertained many fans with his shady tweets about Bears rivals, even as recently as this season. Butkus, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979 and had his No. 51 jersey retired by the Bears in 1994, is survived by wife Helen and three children.