Chicago Bears all-time Mount Rushmore

LB Dick Butkus (1965-73)

When you think of the prototypical middle linebacker from the classic NFL days, one of the first players to come to mind is Dick Butkus. The Bears’ defense saw Butkus roam the middle of the field for just nine years, but his impact over that time frame was enormous.

Taken with the third pick in the 1965 draft, Butkus opted to take less money than he was being offered by the AFL’s Denver Broncos to play for George Halas and Chicago. The move paid off immediately as Butkus succeeded Hall-of-Famer Bill George at middle linebacker, picking off six passes and recovering five fumbles as a rookie.

Butkus never got a shot at postseason success since the Bears were lousy at the time, but it was hardly due to his efforts. The Bears’ defense would have been significantly less successful without Butkus, who was an 8-time Pro Bowler, 8-time All-Pro (including six first-team appearances) and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

The ferocity with which Butkus played was unrivaled and the fact he never got to play in a playoff game is an absolute shame. Butkus is one of the best linebackers who ever lived and a slam-dunk entrant on the Bears’ all-time Mount Rushmore.