By Darin Dave Butz commanded the trenches as a dominant defensive tackle for the Purdue Boilermakers before conquering the NFL as a two-time Super Bowl champion.
Football Bio
June 23, 1950 – Lafayette, Alabama – Dave Butz, who was a Purdue Boilermaker defensive tackle from 1970 to 1972, was born.
According to the NFF, Butz earned Consensus First-Team All-American honors as a senior in 1972; he took home the Zipp Award as college football’s most outstanding player, and he was also named a finalist for the Lombardi Award.
The senior team captain participated in the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl, where he was named Defensive MVP.
Dave Butz received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
After school ended, he was drafted fifth overall in the 1973 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Butz played 14 of his 16 seasons with the Washington Redskins, leading them to victories in Super Bowls XVII and XXII.
The NFL’s “ironman,” he missed only four games his entire career.
He retired in 1989 having played in more games than any other Redskin in team history.
Conclusion
Dave Butz intimidated opponents with his massive frame and relentless motor, securing a legacy as one of football’s greatest interior defensive linemen. He proved his unmatched durability over 16 grueling NFL seasons, overcoming endless battles in the trenches. His enshrinement in the College Football Hall of Fame solidifies his legendary status among the sport’s all-time greats.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2014.
- Super Bowl Champion: Won Super Bowls XVII and XXII with the Washington Redskins.
- Consensus First-Team All-American: 1972.
- Zipp Award Winner: 1972.
- Lombardi Award Finalist: 1972.
- NFL 1980s All-Decade Team: Selected as a premier player of the era.
- Pro Bowl Selection: 1983.
- Senior Bowl Defensive MVP: 1973.
- First-Team All-Pro: 1983.
- Franchise Ironman: Missed only four games across his entire career and retired having played in a then-record 216 games for Washington.