Dick Butkus was a legendary linebacker who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) from 1965 to 1973. He was also a successful actor, sports commentator, and philanthropist after his football career. He died on October 5, 2023, at the age of 80.
But how much was he worth at the time of his death? And how did he earn his fortune from his various endeavours? Here is a breakdown of Dick Butkus’s earnings and assets.
How Much Was Dick Butkus’s Net Worth When He Died?
American football player Dick Butkus had a $10 million fortune at the time of his passing. From 1965 until 1973, Dick Butkus was a middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears in the NFL. He played collegiate football for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign before that and was a star player.
Butkus pursued acting, sports commentary, and philanthropy after he stopped playing. In 1979, he was admitted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Butkus was chosen for eight Pro Bowls and six times was named all-league. On October 5, 2023, Duck Butkus passed away at the age of 80.
Former Chicago Bears linebacker and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dick Butkus has died at the age of 80 https://t.co/tB8IJ6OXG4
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) October 5, 2023
When Did Dick Butkus Start His Career?
Butkus received significant recruiting after high school but ultimately chose to enrol at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. From 1962 to 1964, he was a member of the Fighting Illini football team where he played centre and linebacker.
When he guided his team to an 8-1-1 record and a Rose Bowl victory in 1963–64, Butkus had his best season at the University of Iowa. As a result, he received the Big Ten and Fighting Illini MVP awards. As a senior, Butkus won the Illini MVP award once more. He was also selected the American Football Coaches Association’s Player of the Year and UPI’s Lineman of the Year.
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Chicago Bears, 1965-1973
Butkus was drafted in 1965, first by the Chicago Bears of the NFL and then by the Denver Broncos of the AFL. He turned down a higher salary offer from the Broncos in order to play for his hometown Bears and new coach, George Halas. Butkus then made his Bears debut as the middle linebacker, where he nearly immediately made an impression.
Success led to his first of eight straight invitations to the Pro Bowl. Butkus continued to excel in 1966, earning spots on many All-Pro squads. In a 38-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in November of 1969, Butkus got his first points as a professional football player.
He made 25 tackles and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Week thanks to his stellar safety play. The Bears concluded the season with a worst-ever 1-13 record, so this was their only victory. Despite this poor showing, Butkus became one of the league’s best players and was twice awarded NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the NEA (1969, 1970).
At Soldier Field in Chicago, the Bears’ new permanent home, they played their inaugural game in September of 1971. The game saw one of Butkus’ best efforts to date as he overcame a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Steelers.
With 117 tackles and four interceptions as season totals, he led the club in both categories. In the final seconds of a game against the Washington Redskins, Butkus also scored the game-winning point, which he later dubbed his favourite career play. Butkus attended his eighth and last Pro Bowl in 1972.
In 1973, Butkus played in his final season of football. Despite having a recurrent knee ailment that forced him to abandon his season after nine games, he still managed to score his only career touchdown by leaping on a fumble in the end zone during a game against the Houston Oilers. Butkus was ultimately forced to retire due to his injuries, which he did in May 1974.
Film and Television Career
Butkus went on to appear in a large number of movies and television programs after his playing career. Among the movies he has acted in are “The Longest Yard,” “Gus,” “Cracking Up,” “Johnny Dangerously,” “Necessary Roughness,” and “Any Given Sunday.” Butkus played the lead on TV shows like “Blue Thunder” and “My Two Dads,” and he also made guest appearances on “Vega$,” “MacGyver,” and “Murder, She Wrote.”
As well as that, Butkus has provided commercial endorsements for a number of companies, such as Prestone, Miller Lite, and Echo Tools. For radio and television, Butkus has also provided color commentary and analysis. He joined Wayne Larrivee and Jim Hart in 1985 to broadcast Bears games on the radio.
Later on in the decade, he worked as a stand-in analyst on the CBS pregame show “The NFL Today.” In addition to his prior appearances, Butkus had a cameo on the 2005 ESPN reality series “Bound for Glory,” when he was shown coaching the football team at Robinson, Pennsylvania’s Montour High School.
