LeRoy Butler

LeRoy Butler
refer to caption
LeRoy Butler at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.
No. 36
Position: Strong Safety
Personal information
Born: (1968-07-19) July 19, 1968
Jacksonville, Florida
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight: 204 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school: Jacksonville (FL) Lee
College: Florida State
NFL Draft: 1990 / Round: 2 / Pick: 48
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles: 889
Interceptions: 38
Sacks: 20.5
Forced fumbles: 13
Player stats at NFL.com

LeRoy Butler III (born July 19, 1968) is a former American football strong safety who played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers (1990–2001). He won Super Bowl XXXI with them over the New England Patriots. He spent his childhood in Jacksonville, Florida, challenged by physical problems that forced him to wear leg braces and use a wheelchair at times while undergoing therapy.[1] In 2007, he was named to the Florida High School Association All-Century Team, which selected the "Top 33" players in the 100-year history of Florida high school football.

High School career

Butler attended Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Florida, and played under the direction of the all-time wins leader for a high school football coach in the state of Florida's history, Corky Rogers. Rogers has coached at both Robert E. Lee High School from 1972–1988, where he coached Butler and fellow NFL star Edgar Bennett, and from 1989–present at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, now having won a total of 8 football State Championships. Before moving onto Florida State, Butler was an outstanding player for the Robert E. Lee High School Generals football program.

College career

Butler played under head coach Bobby Bowden at Florida State University. He was a three-year starter, collecting 194 tackles and 9 interceptions, but he's most remembered by FSU fans for his role in the, "puntrooskie."[2] In 1988, against rival Clemson, FSU was backed up to its own 21-yard line, on fourth down, with a minute and 30 seconds left to play and the score tied at 21. Bowden called the famous trick play, a fake punt. The snap went to upback Dayne Williams and he slipped the ball to Butler, who ran 78 yards to set up the game-winning field goal.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Ht Wt Arm length Hand size 40-yard dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert jump Broad BP
6 ft 0 in
(1.83 m)		 193 lb
(88 kg)		 29 2⁄5 in
(0.75 m)		 9 1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 4.56 s 1.61 s 2.68 s 4.29 s 32 1⁄2 in
(0.83 m)		 10 ft 2 in
(3.10 m)		 9 reps
All values from NFL Combine[3]

The Green Bay Packers selected Butler in the second round (48th overall) of the 1990 NFL draft. Butler was the third safety drafted in 1990.[4]

He played in 181 games, earned a Super Bowl ring, for Super Bowl XXXI, following the 1996 season, was selected as an All-Pro four times and was selected to the Pro Bowl four times (1993, 1996, 1997, and 1998). He was named to the 1990s NFL All Decade Team, by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and was later inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, in 2007.

On November 6, 1997, the Green Bay Packers signed Butler to a five-year, $15 million contract extension that includes a signing bonus of $5 million.[5]

On October 7, 1999, the Green Bay Packers signed Butler to a three-year, $21.50 million contract extension that includes a signing bonus of $1.63 million.[6]

After being selected to his first Pro Bowl, the emphasis of his first name was questioned by sports commentator John Madden, who was told by Packers running back Edgar Bennett that his name is pronounced ("LEE-Roy"); but, after hearing a broadcast, Butler's mother sent an e-mail to Madden describing the emphasis as ("L'ROY"). During his 12 seasons with the Packers, he recorded 953 tackles, 38 interceptions, 553 return yards, 12 fumble recoveries, 3 defensive touchdowns and 20½ sacks. He led or tied for the team lead in interceptions in five different seasons. He was the first defensive back in NFL history to gain entrance in the 20 Sack/20 Interception Club.

A broken shoulder blade sustained while tackling Atlanta Falcons running back Jamal Anderson in the 2001 season forced him into retirement just before the 2002 season when it was discovered it had not healed properly.[7]

On November 21, 2017, Butler was announced as one of 27 semi-finalists for the 2018 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[8] The nomination was not Butler's first to the Hall of Fame, but marked the first time he was named a semi-finalist for the honor.[9]

Lambeau Leap

Butler is credited with inventing the Lambeau Leap[10] - a touchdown celebration in which the scoring player leaps into the arms of awaiting fans in the stands near the end zone. On December 26, 1993, the Packers were playing the visiting Los Angeles Raiders. On a second-down swing pass to running back Randy Jordan, Butler forced a fumble that was recovered by Reggie White at the Raiders' 35-yard-line. After running with the ball for 10 yards, White lateraled to Butler, who ran the remaining 25 yards into the end zone and then made a spontaneous leap into the arms of fans in the south bleachers. The Packers went on to win 28-0 to clinch what would be the first of six consecutive playoff berths. The move was later popularized by wide receiver Robert Brooks, who carried it a step further by leaping completely into the stands. This move is called the Lambeau Leap and now is used after most Packer touchdowns scored at Lambeau Field.

NFL statistics

YearTeamGamesCombined TacklesTacklesAssisted TacklesSacksForced FumblesFumble RecoveriesFumble Return YardsInterceptionsInterception Return YardsYards per Interception ReturnLongest Interception ReturnInterceptions Returned for TouchdownPasses Defended
1990GB160000.0000342142800
1991GB160000.0010362600
1992GB150000.0010100000
1993GB168973161.021061312239023
1994GB136347161.0100368235105
1995GB1610082181.010051052176013
1996GB168765226.511051493090114
1997GB1610270323.01005412010
1998GB168661254.03203313015
1999GB166749181.0010200006
2000GB169267252.0210225132207
2001GB9403191.0000000002
Career18172654518120.51180385331490195

[11]

LeRoy Butler Ford

From 2009 to 2012, Butler owned a Ford dealership named LeRoy Butler Ford in Waupaca, Wisconsin. However, it was sold in 2012.

References

  1. ↑ FSU.com :: The star of the greatest play since 'My Fair Lady' turns author Archived 2006-05-11 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ ESPN Classic - Bowden finally gets national title
  3. ↑ "NFL Combine Results: LeRoy Butler". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  4. ↑ "1990 NFL DRAFT TEAM-BY-TEAM". TulsaWorld.com. April 24, 1990. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  5. ↑ "PLUS: PRO FOOTBALL; Packer Safety Signs". New York Times. November 7, 1997. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Packers upgrade Butler's contract". Chippewa.com. October 7, 1999. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "LeRoy Butler named a Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist". Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  9. ↑ "Semifinalists announced for 2018 Hall of Fame class". NFL.com. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  10. ↑ Packers.com » Fan Zone » Fan Clubs Archived 2005-04-03 at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ "LeRoy Butler Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
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