Dick Butkus is mostly remembered for two things. His ferocious playing style that made him the most feared football player who ever lived, and his superb play that made him a Hall of Famer. There's a reason he's the only player that has an award named after him at both the college and pro levels. After presenting Roquan Smith with the former last year, he got to do it again with the latter this year to Khalil Mack.
Mack is the first Bear in history to receive this honor. The award became official back in 2008. This is the second time Mack himself has won it, having claimed it back in 2016 for his Defensive Player of the Year season in Oakland. He is now one behind Luke Kuechly of Carolina who has held it three times. Butkus seemed quite proud of being able to present it to him.
He wasn't done though. After the cameras were off, Butkus had more to say to the team. This about his excitement that the team is back to winning and also setting the level of expectations for the future.
“I’d like to congratulate you guys on the job that you did last year. You made a lot of people, a lot of old Bears fans and a lot of old Bears players, come out of hibernation. And we look forward to this coming year and eventually going to the big one.”
Dick Butkus always seems to surface before the Bears do something big
For a man who was so struck by bad luck during his playing career, Butkus has brought his team good fortune whenever he seems to surface. Back in 2015, he announced their 2nd round pick of the draft. That pick became Eddie Goldman who is now one of the best nose tackles in the NFL. When he went into the Hall of Fame in 1979, the Bears went to the playoffs.
When they retired his jersey in 1994, they went to the playoffs and beat the Vikings in Minnesota. Oh and that Butkus Award? It was created in 1985, the year the Bears won the Super Bowl. It's interesting that he gets a chance to present it to a Chicago player going into this season. One where the team is considered a reasonable contender to go all the way.
