The Chicago Bears are doing their part to honor legendary linebacker Dick Butkus for the remainder of the 2023 season. The team announced on Friday they will wear a special patch on their jerseys beginning this weekend to honor Butkus, who passed away at the age of 80 on October 5th. The patch consists of Butkus’ No. 51 inside a football.
For 51 đź’™ pic.twitter.com/6uTlcLi1gf
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 13, 2023
Bears chairman George McCaskey told team senior writer Larry Mayer that he wants the team to think about Butkus and his legacy every time they put on the uniform. “The purpose of the patch is, every time they pull on the pads, they’ll take a moment to think about Dick and his approach to the game,” McCaskey said.
Butkus was drafted in the first round of the 1965 NFL Draft, played eight seasons with the Bears, and is regarded as one of the greatest linebackers of all time. Butkus made the Pro Bowl in every season, earned five First-Team All-Pro selections, was named to the 1960 and 1970 All-Decade Teams, and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979 during his first year of eligibility.
Since 1994, no player has worn the No. 51 on their jersey once it was retired, but now every player will play with that number, beginning Sunday when the Bears welcome the Minnesota Vikings to town. Fans were also happy to see the team acknowledge Butkus and think the patch is fitting for what he did both on and off the field.