I worked hard at becoming a professional football player, just like society says you should. It said you had to be fierce. I was fierce. Tough. I was…

- Dick Butkus

We're a big check mark on everybody's schedule. I told them it's just another challenge; let's go after it.

- Dick Butkus

If I was smart enough to be a doctor, I'd be a doctor. I ain't, so I'm a football player.

- Dick Butkus

Anything that happens that's good, they think, Oh, it's an accident, when is the roof caving in? You've got to get them out of that mental framework.

- Dick Butkus

My thing is trying to convince them they can win.

- Dick Butkus

Some parents were nervous about how they would portray everything, ... At a picnic the moms put on for the team and coaches, I said that all the real…

- Dick Butkus

When I played pro football, I never set out to hurt anyone deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something.

- Dick Butkus

I want to be recognized as the best-no doubt about it. When they say all-pro middle linebacker, I want them to mean Butkus!

- Dick Butkus

Few people get to earn a living at what they like to do and there are hazards in any profession. Football is something I was made for. I gave the gam…

- Dick Butkus