Nick Saban reflects on life, legacy of NFL legend Dick Butkus

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Although his NFL career was cut short due to a chronic knee injury, Dick Butkus transformed the linebacker position with the Chicago Bears. An eight-time Pro Bowler during his nine-year career, he was known for his ferocious playing style and ability to knock down opposing players right away.

Butkus passed away Thursday at the age of 80. The Pro Football Hall of Famer left his mark on the game as one of the all-time greats. His award is a big part of his legacy, and three Alabama players — Rolando McClain, C.J. Mosley and Reuben Foster — have won it since Nick Saban took over the program in 2007.

While he didn’t know Butkus well, Saban knows how much he meant to the game. That’s what made it even more special that he’d personally give the Butkus Award to the winner. It also gave him a chance to talk with one of the game’s greatest players and personalities.

“One of the things I loved about Dick is we’ve had several Butkus Award winners here. He always came and personally gave the guy the award,” Saban said on Hey Coach and The Nick Saban Show Thursday night. “It was so important to him that whoever was getting the award — it’s not like these other ones that are named after somebody, you go to ESPN and pick them up on some TV show. He came personally, aight? And sat down with every player and gave them the award and spoke with them and spent time with them.

“I just thought that was fantastic that he had so much respect for quality players — and quality players at his position — that he would make a special trip, and I think we’ve had two or three guys that he came to see. That was really special, and it was my opportunity to get to know him a little bit. He was a special person.”

Off the field, Butkus was known for his fun personality. His 1979 Miller Lite commercial with Bubba Smith is iconic and showcased that. But on the field, Butkus changed the way people looked at the linebacker position as he became one of the most feared players ever.

That was part of Saban’s initial thoughts when he first heard the news of Butkus’ passing from Eli Gold.

“He was a great character,” Saban said. “Great player, great person. And he’s legendary. He was one of the guys that made the linebacker position kind of ‘the man,’ so to speak, that made the whole defense be what it is. Great, competitive character, great toughness.”