Butkus was one of the Bears' two 1st-round picks in 1965 (along with Gale Sayers), and was their starting middle linebacker from 1965 to 1973, starting every one of the 119 games he played during that span. (He missed 1 game in each of 1968 and 1969, and 5 games in 1973, all due to injury.)
He was the 1965 Rookie of the Year runner up (behind his teammate Sayers), and made the Pro Bowl every season but the injury-shortened 1973.
After his playing career, Butkus appeared in several movies, and notably in Miller Lite TV commercials with other athletes. He also broadcast Bears' games.
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