CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A special tailgate held Sunday honored legendary Bears linebacker and Hall of Famer Dick Butkus, who passed away on Oct. 5.
Butkus' son, Matt, posed for pictures with fans — with many sporting his father’s No. 51 jersey — at the tailgate and fundraiser for the Team Butkus charity. Butkus got choked up while talking with fans about his father, who was a great dad who always made it to his kids’ games.
“He’s always about giving back and staying humble,” he said. “Remember where you’re from.”
Butkus said his parents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in July.
Paul, a Chicago native who traveled from New Hampshire to watch the game, appreciated the opportunity to honor Dick Butkus.
“He never left the aura of the organization, and that permeates through the whole city,” he said. “He’s a huge part of who people are here.”
Jon Platakis met Dick Butkus more than a decade ago through the National Lithuanian American Hall of Fame.
“He embodies the term ‘Monster of the Midway,’ but when you see him off the playing field, he is the gentlest, the nicest human being you would ever want to meet,” Platakis said.
Matt Butkus said the family charity supports heart screenings, like the one that helped save his father’s life 15 years ago.
“He went to sleep last Wednesday night and never woke up,” he said. “I guess that’s the way to go.”
Butkus said the Bears’ decision to honor his father with a patch on players’ uniforms is a nice move by the team, for which he said his father laid it all on the line.