WASHINGTON — All-Pro defenseman and two-time Washington Super Bowl champion Dave Butz has died. He was 72.
A spokesman for the Washington Commanders confirmed that Butz’s family notified the team of his death on Friday. It was not immediately known where Butz died or the cause of death.
Butz spent 14 of his 16 NFL seasons with Washington after moving up to the league with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he played his first two years (1973 and 1974). One of the tallest players in the league at the time at 6ft 8 and nearly 300 pounds, he was a key part of Washington’s defense for the franchise’s first two Super Bowl-winning teams in the 1982 and 1987 seasons.
Butz was Purdue’s fifth overall pick in 1973, was an All-Pro selection in 1983, and finished second in the AP Defensive Player of the Year pick when he started all 16 games for Washington and had 11½ sacks. He also reached the Pro Bowl that season.
Butz retired after the 1988 season, is a member of the Washington Ring of Fame, and was named one of the organization’s 90 Greatest Players this year as the team celebrated its 90th anniversary.
That the team said on Twitter it was “heartbroken” at the loss of a “Washington legend”.
Former teammate and Washington Quarterback Joe Theismann wrote: “Lost a dear friend today. Dave Butz. Dave, Mark [Moseley] and I used to go to games together. A true gentle giant. Rest in peace my friend.”
Butz recorded 64 sacks in 216 regular-season games with St. Louis and Washington. After his second season with the Cardinals, he became a free agent due to a mistake in his rookie contract. Washington traded two first-round picks and one second-round player to the Cardinals in compensation for his signing.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame made him an all-1980s second-team selection for his play during the decade.
Butz is a member of Purdue’s all-time football team. In 2014 he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.