1942 – 2023

Dick Butkus

American football player (1942–2023)

American football player

Born

1942-12-09, Chicago

Died

2023-10-05

Birthplace state

Illinois

Biography

Dick Butkus was born in Chicago on December 9, 1942, and died on October 5, 2023. He played as a linebacker for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League from 1965 to 1973, earning eight Pro Bowl invitations across nine seasons and five first-team All-Pro selections. His peers named him the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year twice during his career. Beyond football, he worked as a sports commentator and actor.

Occupation

Dick Butkus is recorded as a American football player, born in Illinois (1942–2023).

Connections to Illinois

Dick Butkus was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1942. Explore other notable figures from Illinois, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Illinois›Illinoishistory ›Historic sites in Illinois›

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Overview

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The Land

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Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

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More notable figures from Illinois

Other historical figures born in Illinois, ranked by historical prominence.

Ronald Reagan

president of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and actor (1911-2004)

Walt Disney

American animator, producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor and entrepreneur, founder of The Walt Disney Company (1901–1966)

Ernest Hemingway

American author and journalist (1899–1961)

Robin Williams

American actor and comedian (1951–2014)

Ray Bradbury

American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)

Bobby Fischer

American chess player (1943–2008)

James Watson

American molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist and Nobel Laureate (1928–2025)

Frequently asked about Dick Butkus

Who was Dick Butkus?

Dick Butkus was American football player (1942–2023), born in Illinois (1942 – 2023).

When and where was Dick Butkus born?

Dick Butkus was born on 1942-12-09 in Chicago.

When did Dick Butkus die?

Dick died on 2023-10-05.

What was Dick Butkus known for?

Dick Butkus is recorded as a American football player.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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