Card: 1966 Philadelphia Football Card #31

Team/Position: Chicago Bears / The Middle Linebacker

Cost: $45.00

Dick Butkus was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979 and is without a doubt, the greatest linebacker to ever put on a pair of shoulder pads. Butkus was, and always will be, the meanest sunnabitch to ever play football.

Butkus’ numbers, as great as they may be, still pale in comparison to his relentless style of play.  Butkus struck fear into the hearts of anyone that lined up across from him.  It was as if Butkus was protecting his family from an armed intruder on every play. Butkus played on sheer animal instinct and there was little doubt that he exhibited “fight” rather than “flight”.

I wouldn’t ever set out to hurt anyone deliberately unless it was, you know, important; like a league game or something. — Dick Butkus.

Butkus’ tenacious style eventually caught up to him as his knees gave out on him in the early 70′s.

Butkus played through the pain, but eventually had to retire after only 9 years in the NFL.

In those 9 years, Butkus was voted to 8 Pro Bowls and 6 First Team All Pro teams.  For his efforts, Butkus was voted to both the 1960′s and the 1970′s NFL All-Decade teams.

With Butkus’  and Gale Sayers’ Rookie Card in the same set, Philadelphia ’66 is one of the best football sets out there.