Age: 25
4th
season in pro football & with Packers
College: Florida
State
Height: 6’0” Weight: 200
Prelude:
Butler overcame
a childhood foot condition that had him in a wheelchair and wearing leg braces
until he was eight. He first gained notoriety in college for his role in the
1988 “puntrooskie” trick play against Clemson in which he ran 76 yards out of
punt formation to set up a game-winning field goal. As a senior, he moved from
free safety to cornerback upon the departure of Deion Sanders and intercepted
seven passes. Butler was a multiple first-team All-American and was chosen by
the Packers in the second round of the 1990 NFL draft. After a rookie year as a
nickel back who displayed aggressiveness if not always successful in coverage,
Butler moved into the starting lineup at cornerback in ’91 and was shifted to
strong safety in 1992, accounting for 74 tackles and an interception.
1993 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 6 [7, tied with six others]
Most
interceptions, game – 1 on six occasions
Int. return
yards – 131 [4]
Most int.
return yards, game – 39 (on 1 int.) at San Diego 12/12
Int. TDs – 0
Sacks – 1
Fumble
recoveries – 1
Fumble
recovery TDs – 1
Forced
fumbles – 2
Tackles – 90
Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6
Postseason: 2 G
Interceptions
– 1
Sacks – 1
Fumble
recoveries – 1
TDs – 0
Awards & Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News
1st
team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl
Packers went 9-7
to finish third in the NFC Central and qualified for the postseason as a Wild
Card while ranking second in the NFL in fewest yards allowed (4482). Won NFC
Wild Card playoff over Detroit Lions (28-24). Lost NFC Divisional playoff to
Dallas Cowboys (27-17).
Aftermath:
Butler was
weakened by a bout with pneumonia in 1994 but remained a solid performer and
leader in the defensive backfield. He returned to being a consensus first-team
All-NFL selection for three straight years from 1996 to ’98, as well as gaining
Pro Bowl recognition. He had a 90-yard interception return and accumulated a
career-high 6.5 sacks in ’96 and the Packers won NFC titles in 1996 and ’97,
winning the Super Bowl following the ’96 season. Butler played until 2001 and,
in a twelve-year career played entirely with Green Bay, intercepted 38 passes,
registered 20.5 sacks, and accounted for over 700 tackles. He was a consensus
first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl choice four times. Butler also originated the
“Lambeau Leap” touchdown celebration.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
