Chicago Bears: Top 10 draft picks in franchise history

5. Dick Butkus, Linebacker: First Round, No. 3 Overall, 1965

How incredible is it for a franchise to have the third and fourth pick of a draft and hit on both? Not only hit, but also hit a grand slam, choosing two of the greatest players ever? That was the Chicago Bears’ fortune in 1965 when they drafted Gayle Sayers and the menacing Dick Butkus.

Butkus (the name alone sounds scary) was not just one of the greatest linebacker in NFL history, he was probably the most feared players as well. He wasn’t satisfied with just stopping a ball carrier, he wanted to bury him and possibly tear a limb or two.

Players in Butkus’ era were warriors who took and gave huge shots that would make the players of today shudder. Even so, there were some running backs who preferred to go down instead of taking a Butkus hit.

Butkus was a Chicagoan through and through. He was born in the city, went to the University of Illinois, and played professionally in the city. He loved Chicago and hated anyone who wasn’t a Chicagoan and he played football like he hated everyone who didn’t have the “C” on their helmet.

In his nine-year career, Butkus was an eight-time Pro Bowler, a six-time First Team and two-time Second Team All-Pro. Also, he was a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (in consecutive seasons).

Deacon Jones, a Hall of Fame defensive end and a brute himself spoke of Butkus (per NBC Sports):

"Dick was an animal. I called him a maniac. A stone maniac. He was a well-conditioned animal, and every time he hit you, he tried to put you in the cemetery, not the hospital."

When you think of linebackers, you think of Chicago Bears linebackers. The franchise has a history of great linebackers. Butkus is among them.

One interesting note on the Bears 1965 draft. They ended up with two of the greatest players in NFL history but throughout both players’ careers, the Bears didn’t appear in the playoffs. That goes to show you that even if you hit the jackpot in the draft it doesn’t guarantee championship success.