The Dick Butkus George Halas relationship has always been one kept largely under wraps. All people knew for sure was that the late Chicago Bears owner sold the South Side native and Illinois All-American on signing with the team in 1965. Then proceeded to stiff him out of some promised money. Nonetheless Butkus became arguably the greatest defender in Chicago football history.
As time has passed though, the man hasn’t lost his memory. With his age advancing it seems he’s no longer interested in protecting the legacy of Halas any longer. That much was apparent during an interview with The Sports Bank at the inaugural Illini Athletics Hall of Fame gala. Butkus spoke about the college and his beliefs regarding the future.
After a time the conversation underwent a surprising shift. It’s no secret that the nine-time Pro Bowler was a little bitter about his NFL career. He never once got a chance to participate in the postseason. Much of the blame for that he leveled on Halas. In fact he once confronted “Papa Bear” about it back in the early 1970s.
Dick Butkus George Halas confrontation almost got physical
“You know what – I don’t think you really want to win here, and I thought he was going to reach over and really take a poke at me.”
“And he said ‘what do you mean?’ I said look who’s in the Super Bowl, Miami and Dallas, two expansion teams, and you’re the one who started the bullshit 50 years ago. Look at us! What are we doing here?”
That would’ve been early 1972 when the Cowboys defeated the Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. The Bears had gone 6-8 for the second-straight year, their third-straight losing season. One can understand Butkus’ frustration. He was practically killing himself with his physical style of play trying to help the team win and it was taking a toll.
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Not only that but Halas both refused to trade him elsewhere where he’d have that opportunity and also had a bad habit of letting good people walk while keeping others out of loyalty. A bad habit that did indeed plague the iconic coach and owner throughout his football life.
“We were the franchise that started it all, c’mon! They were using computers when I was playing, the print-outs of big sheets and stuff. I guess he was just so loyal to a fault that it slipped away,” Butkus said of Halas.
“I think the first big mistake is he let George Allen go, look what he did with Washington. He loved the Bears, but he had an opportunity to take three or four jobs. With the Rams he tried to trade for me every year, Halas wouldn’t do it.”
“It’s embarrassing. I don’t give a damn (about) the draft or whatever; there’s no reason we should be in this situation, one of the best franchises.”
George Allen was defensive coordinator for the 1963 Bears championship team. A unit that finished first both in points and yards allowed. He stayed on through 1965. Halas had a chance to promote him to the job in 1966, but elected instead to continue coaching the team himself at age 71. Something he’d do for another two years. Unwilling to wait any longer, Allen went to Los Angeles and took over the Rams.
For the next 12 years with them and the Redskins, Allen made the playoffs seven times and always had a winning record. That had to sting for Butkus. Just one of several disappointments in an otherwise brilliant career.
