The Monster of the Midway during the 40's. Drafted by the Bears along with Gale Sayers, Butkus Dominated every game with is superior athletesism.

Butkus was pretty much the best middle linebacker of all-time but didn't had it all, Ray Nitschke had size and strength which physically hurted the opposing team player but not speed which made him a little slow (the big guy is SLOW), Butkus on the hand had speed and quickness and a very good tackler to take down QB and the ball carrier. but he didn't have great speed like Mike Singletary did.

The greatest LB in history.

What in the world is this bum doing on this list? My little sister could knock this guy out. What about Ray Nitcshke or Deacon Jones? This guy is a disgrace to this this list of great players.

As was Jim Brown was on the offensive side, Dick Butkus was truly a man among boys when it came to defense. Without question the meanest, most intimidating, and toughest s.o.b. ever to play the game. He is what the game of football is all about. Even when he was reduced by his terrible knee injuries to a hobbling shell of his former self, he was still the most terrifiing presense on the field and continued to strike fear in the hearts of his opponents long after both he and they had retired. To paraphrase former Baltimore Colt center Bill Curry, "If they were to call the game of football anything else, they should call it Dick Butkus."

aweosme player, one of the best MLB's of all time but RAY LEWIS is better(RAVENS FAN)

A monster hitter and intimidator on the field.He would make you pay every play.Once called a timeout so he could hit one more time!

They say that Shaft is a Baaad Mother - Shut your mouth! But I'm talkin' bout Butkus!

As ferocious a linebacker who ever played, and perhaps the best at the position. He hit like Ehrlacher wishes he could, and was one of the few players, who really inspired fear in his opponents. I always figured that one day the Bears would be playing an evening game with a full moon in the sky, and Butkus would kill some running back. And eat him.

The best tackler ever. He'd make grown men cry he hit so hard. just the ammount of injuries he posted for opposing teams is enough to get him the title of best defensive player in nfl history.

Best tackler in the history of the game. He would hand out concussions like nothing. Its a shame that, that one guy doesn't know who he is.

mean nasty and an animal.

Joe Greene spit on him, he did nothing.

As a high school player, he was not allowed to practice contact because he injured too many of his teammates, he only played games. Played both ways at Univ. Illinois (Center & Linebacker) winning several All-American designations. He played in the NFL (replacing All-Pro MLB Bill George) with what we called passion, in those days, today it would be referred to as psychotic, violent aggression worthy of a felony charge. Jim Brown (whom I still regard as the truly greatest running back in NFL history) hated him more than anyone else in the league. That alone earns him the designation of greatest linebacker of all time.

I have no idea who this is but I'd certainly change my name if I were him.

Overrated. Was not as good as some others in dropping back into pass coverage.

Dick Butkus was the greatest MLB ever. Played like a great white with blood in the water. There will never again be a defensive player that hit as hard or played as hard as Butkus period.

dick butkus the greatest middel linebacker of all time

Best middle linebacker to ever play the game. Always knew where the ball was. Was one of the toughest players in NFL history...

butkus was if not the greatest middle linebacker, instilled the most fear into the people he played against, all of the h.o.f.ers i've met

This man was a one-man weapon of mass destruction. Even though his Bear teams never made the playoffs, Butkus kept them in games with his ferocious defense.

t-rex in cleats

Todays fans remember him as a name and a legend, but he's one of the few greats that's UNDERhyped.

TO YOUNG TO REMEMBER ,LOVE WATCHING THE OLD CLIP'S ONE OF THE BEST!!!!!

A raging animal,No one comes close to him.

2nd Best middle linebacker of all time behind Nitschke.

Oh my God, this guy is the greatest defensive player of all time. perhaps one day urlacher will be as good, but butkis is a hard act to follow.

The best of the best ,simply a football player who played with guts ,whom we will never see the likes of again .Creme de la creme ,of course wouldn't be allowed to play today.....with candy politically correct.

Kiss my but, dick!

Was not the best on the team of the elephants.

chicago is his kind of town

i love how he played so hard and didn't do every thing for the money like everyone else

HE WAS THE MEANEST AND TOUGHEST LINBACKER EVER!! THERE HAVE BEEN MANY GREATS AT THE POSITION BUT NONE QUITE LIKE BUTKUS.

Loved the way he greeted the ball carrier. Even the ball carrier "stopped". I think it was to appreciate the moment.

by the way, I wonder if he won the Dick Butkis award when he played....

The best LB of all time, with the best team back then, the Chicago Bears. He was mean, big and strong, all a LB needed to be back then. True Hall of Famer.

His name says it all. The man kick ass and he is a dick. His play by play analyzes in football games today are the best and no one can compare. He was also a great football player.

The meanest person ever to put on the pads. This man was tuff. When he hit, he hit to kill. The best linebacker of all time, and that is why he is a Hall of Famer.

He is the epitome of toughness when it comes to football. He looked so intimidating and strong on the field. He never looked down from anyone and redefined the position of linebacker. A good leader.

Dick Butkus was the best NFL linebacker in the 60's. His heart and hard hits was one of a kind. Dick raised the level of hits and hate in the league. He lived off hitting people. Hit or die was his code.

A football animal. Showed an entire league how defense was supposed to be played. Put fear into opposing players.

Good player, unfortunate name.

No Fear, a total Brute, Awesome.