| Butkus established himself as an outstanding football player in Chicago before even entering the NFL, twice earning All-American honors at the Universtiy of Illinois, and eventually having an award for the best linebacker in the nation named after him. He was drafted in the 1st Rd. of the NFL by his hometown Chicago Bears and excelled in the NFL, constantly wreaking havoc in opponents' backfields. His aggressive, hard-nosed play earned him 9 Pro Bowl births and 6 All League selections. Selected as the 70th greatest athlete of the 20th Century by ESPN and the 9th best player in league history by The Sporting News, Butkus was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. This Bears throwback mini helmet was signed by Butkus and comes with a certificate of authenticity. |
