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Bill Butler (safety)

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Bill Butler
No. 22, 20
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born: (1937-07-10) July 10, 1937 (age 87)
Berlin, Wisconsin, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:189 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:Berlin
College:Chattanooga
NFL draft:1959 / round: 19 / pick: 217
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:75
Interceptions:11
Stats at Pro Football Reference

William R. Butler (born July 10, 1937) is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings. He also was a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Early years

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Butler attended Berlin High School. He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

In 1988, he was inducted into the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame.[1]

Professional career

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Green Bay packers

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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 led the team in kickoff (21 returns - 22.5-yard avg.) and punt returns (18 returns - 9.1 average).[2] He returned a punt for a 61-yard touchdown in a 28-17 loss against the Chicago Bears.

Dallas Cowboys

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Butler 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.[3] He ranked second in the league in punt returns (10.1-yard avg.) and also had 20 kickoff returns with a 19.1-yard average.[4]

On December 21, he was traded along with offensive tackle Dick Klein to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for safety Dick Moegle.[5]

Pittsburgh Steelers

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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.[6]

Minnesota Vikings

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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-yard avg.) and punt returns (12 returns - 14.1-yard avg.).

In 1963, he repeated as the team leader in kickoff (33 returns - 21.6-yard avg.) and punt returns (21 returns - 10.5-yard avg.). In 1964, for the third season in a row, he led the team in kickoff (26 returns - 23-yard avg.) and punt returns (22 returns - 7.1-yard avg.).

Saskatchewan Roughriders

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On August 20, 1965, Butler signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).[7] He was a two-way player and appeared in 12 games. He registered 44 carries for 138 yards (3.1-yard avg.), 16 receptions for 139 yards, one touchdown and 9 kickoff returns for 206 yards (22.9-yard avg.). He announced his retirement the following year.[8]

Coaching career

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In 1967, Butler was hired as an assistant football coach at Lakeland College—known now as Lakeland University—in Plymouth, Wisconsin to serve under John Thome, head football coach.[9]

Butler lives in Berlin, Wisconsin and is the defensive coordinator for the Ripon High School football team and an assistant track and field coach.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Current Hall of Fame Members". Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  2. ^ "Packers Hall of Fame announces donation of Lombardi-era team apparel pieces". Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  3. ^ "1960 NFL Expansion Daft". Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  4. ^ "Speedster Strengthens Defense". Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  5. ^ "Cowboys Swap 2 For Moegle". Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  6. ^ "Vikings Obtain Butler From Steelers". Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  7. ^ "Bed-Ridden Backs". Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  8. ^ "Riders Sign Four". Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  9. ^ "John Thome New Lakeland Grid Coach". Wausau Daily Herald. Wausau, Wisconsin. Associated Press. April 8, 1967. p. 12. Retrieved November 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  10. ^ "Ripon Tigers On-Line Media Guide". ripontigerfootball.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
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