“Will Live Forever”: Tragic Loss Hits Chicago Bears as an Iconic NFL Legend Passes at 80

The world of the NFL lost one of its legendary heroes today. Introduced in Sports Illustrated’s 1970 NFL preview with the headline, ‘The Most Feared Man in the Game’, he was a driving force behind Chicago Bears for a long time.

Some players leave an everlasting legacy when they retire and their names are etched into the history of the sport for as long as the sun will shine. Regarded as the NFL’s greatest linebacker, the ‘Monster of the Midway’, Dick Butkus is a name that will live on forever.

Dick Butkus and his tragic passing

On the 6th of October, 2023, it was announced that the iconic Dick Butkus passed away in his sleep at his Malibu home. The news comes with a wave of sadness as he was truly one of the legends of the sport. And while the community mourns for his loss and sends wishes to his family, the NFL will never be the same.

The 80-year-old NFL Hall of Famer was the Chicago Bears‘ pride back in the years between 1965 and 1973. He was truly a force to be reckoned with who would tackle players in a split second, granting him the famous nickname the ‘Monster of the Midway.’ A terrific athlete whom players wouldn’t usually want to encounter face-to-face. In a statement, Deacon Jones said, “Dick was an animal. I called him a maniac. A stone maniac. He was a well-conditioned animal, and every time he hit you, he tried to put you in the cemetery, not the hospital.”

Butkus leaves behind a legacy to live up to as the world mourns his demise

The 80-year-old NFL Hall of Famer was the Chicago Bears’ pride back in the years between 1965 and 1973. He was truly a force to be reckoned with who would tackle players in a split second, granting him the famous nickname the ‘Monster of the Midway.’ A terrific athlete whom players wouldn’t usually want to encounter face-to-face.

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In a statement, Deacon Jones said, “Dick was an animal. I called him a maniac.” A favorite among the league of his time, Butkus was a player who dominated on the field as well as the hearts. Thus, while the tackled players can certainly look back and laugh as they reminisce the times they locked horns with Butkus, their eyes won’t be dry for a long time definitely.

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