CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A special tailgate, held before Sunday’s Chicago Bears game, honored hall of famer Dick Butkus, who died earlier this month.
Matt Butkus posed for pictures with fans — with many sporting his father’s number 51 jersey — at the tailgate and fundraiser for the Team Butkus charity. Butkus, who got choked up while talking with fans about his father, told WBBM the legendary linebacker 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 and 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 and says he was a chameleon.
“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.
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