Per a report by TMZ, legendary Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus has passed away. He was reportedly found unresponsive in his home in Malibu.
The Bears and the Butkus family confirmed the news shortly after.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 5, 2023
A Chicago native, Butkus was selected by the Bears in the first round of the 1965 NFL Draft, after a very successful career at Illinois. Known for a ferocious energy on the field, Butkus was an 8x Pro Bowler and totaled over 1,000 career tackles, and an incredible 27 fumble recoveries through just 119 games, a record at the time he retired.