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| No. 80 | |||||||||
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| Position | Cornerback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1927-11-12)November 12, 1927 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died | May 11, 2013(2013-05-11) (aged 85) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Mount Carmel College Seminary (ON) | ||||||||
| College | St. Bonaventure | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1951: undrafted | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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John Bradshaw Butler (November 12, 1927 – May 11, 2013) was an American professionalfootball player who was acornerback for thePittsburgh Steelers of theNational Football League (NFL). In 2012, he was elected into thePro Football Hall of Fame.
Butler was anundrafted free agent whom thePittsburgh Steelers brought onto their roster in 1951 based on a recommendation thatArt Rooney Sr. received from his brother Silas Rooney, who was a priest serving as athletic director atSt. Bonaventure University. Butler would become a defensive back and occasional wide receiver for the Steelers.
As a rookie, Butler intercepted five passes for 142 yards. In 1953, he had nine interceptions and returned two of them for touchdowns. Four interceptions came in a game against theWashington Redskins on December 13, 1953. One of the interceptions resulted in a 35-yard return for a touchdown to win the game for the Steelers 14–13. The following year Butler set a record with two interception returns for touchdowns. In 1957, he led the league in interceptions with a career-best 10.
Offensively, Butler scored a touchdown against theNew York Giants. It was late in the game and Butler had caught the game-winning touchdown pass fromJim Finks.
In 1958, Butler added nine more interceptions to his growing list. During the1959 season after garnering two interceptions, Butler was forced to retire due to a leg injury he received when tight endPete Retzlaff of thePhiladelphia Eagles rolled into Butler's knee.
Butler never made more than around $12,000 as a player with the Steelers. Following his playing career, Butler spent 46 years with the BLESTO Scouting Combine (44 as its director). During this time, his contributions to the NFL included scouting and evaluating over 75,000 college athletes and starting the Combine scouting process that is still in use today.[1]
Butler was named to four straightPro Bowls from 1955 to 1958. He had 52 interceptions during his career and 865 yards.[2] At the time of his retirement in 1959, Jack tied for first with SafetyBobby Dillon in career interceptions, garnering 52 in his 9-year career.
In 2004, he was named to theProfessional Football Researchers Association Hall of Very Good in the association's second HOVG class.[3]
In October 2008, Butler was named as one of the 33 Greatest Pittsburgh Steelers of all time. The Steelers named players to this team as part of their 75th anniversary season celebration.[4] He was named to theNational Football League 1950s All-Decade Team. In the decade of the 1950s, Butler was tied for the 2nd most interceptions withBobby Dillon.[5]
He was named as a senior nominee for thePro Football Hall of Fame for 2012 and was elected as a member on February 4, 2012.[6]
Butler died atUPMC Shadyside inPittsburgh on May 11, 2013. He was admitted for astaph infection around hisartificial knee, a problem that almost killed him in 1959 and recurred every five to seven years since.[7]