Butkus Award


The Butkus Award, instituted in 1985 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football. The award, named in honor of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus, is presented by the Butkus Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports a number of health and wellness activities including the "I Play Clean" anti-steroid program. The award was first established by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, which relinquished control of the award in 2008 following a lawsuit by Butkus.
Traditionally, the award was given only to the top collegiate linebacker. The Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to include high school and professional winners as part of a makeover by the Butkus family to help end anabolic steroid abuse among young athletes. Two players have won both the high school and collegiate Butkus Awards: Notre Dame linebackers Manti Te'o and Jaylon Smith. Three players have won both the collegiate and professional Butkus Awards: former linebacker Patrick Willis, Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller, and Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly

Recipients

Collegiate winners

Professional winners

YearPlayerTeam
2008DeMarcus WareDallas Cowboys
2009Patrick WillisSan Francisco 49ers
2010Clay Matthews IIIGreen Bay Packers
2011Terrell SuggsBaltimore Ravens
2011DeMarcus WareDallas Cowboys
2012Von MillerDenver Broncos
2013NaVorro BowmanSan Francisco 49ers
2014Luke KuechlyCarolina Panthers
2015Luke KuechlyCarolina Panthers
2016Khalil MackOakland Raiders
2017Luke KuechlyCarolina Panthers
2018Khalil MackChicago Bears

High school winners