Name Bill Butler Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Role American football player | Weight: 189 lb (86 kg) Positions Safety College: Chattanooga | |
Date of birth: (1937-07-10) July 10, 1937 (age 78) NFL draft: 1959 / Round: 19 / Pick: 217 Education Escambia High School, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | ||
Place of birth: Berlin, Wisconsin | ||
William R. Butler (born July 10, 1937 in Berlin, Wisconsin) is a former American football safety in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers (1959), the Dallas Cowboys (1960), the Pittsburgh Steelers (1961) and the Minnesota Vikings (1962–1964). He played college football at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Contents
- Early years
- Green Bay packers
- Dallas Cowboys
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Personal life
- References
Early years
Butler attended Berlin High School (Wisconsin), before moving on to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
In 1988, he was inducted into the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame.
Green Bay packers
Butler was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 19th round (217th overall) of the 1959 NFL Draft. Although he was initially waived in training camp, he was re-signed after the team cut fellow rookie Tim Brown.
He would end up leading the team in kickoff (21 returns - 22.5 average) and punt returns (18 returns - 9.1 average). He returned a punt for a 61-yard touchdown in a 28-17 loss against the Chicago Bears.
Dallas Cowboys
He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft and was moved to defense, becoming the first starting free safety in franchise history. He led the team in punt returns (13 returns - 10.1 average) and also had 20 kickoff returns with a 19.1 yards average.
On December 22, he was traded along with offensive tackle Dick Klein to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for safety Dick Moegle.
Pittsburgh Steelers
In 1961, he had 3 interceptions, while playing 10 games as a backup safety. On April 7, 1962, he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a sixth round draft selection, completing a previous transaction.
Minnesota Vikings
In 1962, he started 12 games at safety and posted 5 interceptions (second on the team), returning one for a touchdown. He also led the team in kickoff (26 returns - 22.6 average) and punt returns (12 returns - 14.1 average).
The next year, he repeated as the team leader in kickoff (33 returns - 21.6 average) and punt returns (21 returns - 10.5 average). In 1964, for the third season in a row, he led the team in kickoff (26 returns - 23 average) and punt returns (22 returns - 7.1 average).
Personal life
Butler currently lives in Berlin Wisconsin, where he is the defensive coordinator for the Ripon High School football team as well an assistant track and field coach.