The Butkus Award is a prestigious accolade in American football, established in 1985, to honor the most outstanding linebackers at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. Named after the legendary linebacker Dick Butkus, who was inducted into both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, the award is administered by the Butkus Foundation. This non-profit organization also promotes health initiatives, including an anti-steroid program called "I Play Clean".
Initially, the award recognized only collegiate linebackers. However in 2008, following a lawsuit by Dick Butkus that resulted in the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando relinquishing control, the award expanded to include high school and professional players. This change aimed to combat anabolic steroid misuse among young athletes. The selection process involves a committee of 51 experts from various levels of football and sports journalism, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of candidates' performances and character. Over the years, several players have distinguished themselves by winning multiple Butkus Awards. Notably, Manti Te'o and Jaylon Smith from Notre Dame achieved the rare feat of winning both high school and collegiate awards. The list of players who have won both collegiate and professional Butkus Awards includes stars like Patrick Willis, Von Miller, Luke Kuechly, and Roquan Smith. Their accomplishments highlight the award's significance in recognizing excellence across different levels of play.
List of the Dick Butkus award winners year by year
| Year | Player | School |
| 1985 | Brian Bosworth | Oklahoma |
| 1986 | Brian Bosworth | Oklahoma |
| 1987 | Paul McGowan | Florida State |
| 1988 | Derrick Thomas | Alabama |
| 1989 | Percy Snow | Michigan State |
| 1990 | Alfred Williams | Colorado |
| 1991 | Erick Anderson | Michigan |
| 1992 | Marvin Jones | Florida State |
| 1993 | Trev Alberts | Nebraska |
| 1994 | Dana Howard | Illinois |
| 1995 | Kevin Hardy | Illinois |
| 1996 | Matt Russell | Colorado |
| 1997 | Andy Katzenmoyer | Ohio State |
| 1998 | Chris Claiborne | USC |
| 1999 | LaVar Arrington | Penn State |
| 2000 | Dan Morgan | Miami |
| 2001 | Rocky Calmus | Oklahoma |
| 2002 | E. J. Henderson | Maryland |
| 2003 | Teddy Lehman | Oklahoma |
| 2004 | Derrick Johnson | Texas |
| 2005 | Paul Posluszny | Penn State |
| 2006 | Patrick Willis | Ole Miss |
| 2007 | James Laurinaitis | Ohio State |
| 2008 | Aaron Curry | Wake Forest |
| 2009 | Rolando McClain | Alabama |
| 2010 | Von Miller | Texas A&M |
| 2011 | Luke Kuechly | Boston College |
| 2012 | Manti Te'o | Notre Dame |
| 2013 | C. J. Mosley | Alabama |
| 2014 | Eric Kendricks | UCLA |
| 2015 | Jaylon Smith | Notre Dame |
| 2016 | Reuben Foster | Alabama |
| 2017 | Roquan Smith | Georgia |
| 2018 | Devin White | LSU |
| 2019 | Isaiah Simmons | Clemson |
| 2020 | Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah | Notre Dame |
| 2021 | Nakobe Dean | Georgia |
| 2022 | Jack Campbell | Iowa |
| 2023 | Payton Wilson | NC State |
| 2024 | Jalon Walker | Georgia |
FAQ on Dick Butkus Award Winners
A. Luke Kuechly holds the record for most wins by a player with four awards (one in college and three in the pros).
A. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Bears retired his No. 51. Butkus was named to the Big Ten Diamond Anniversary Team in 1970, The Sporting News College Coaches All-Time Team, and the University of Illinois All-Century Team.
A. Stutsman is joined on the list of finalists by Clemson's Barrett Carter, Ole Miss' Chris Paul Jr., UCLA's Carson Scwesinger and Georgia's Jalon Walker. The Butkus Award is named for late National Football Foundation and College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dick Butkus.
