Butler Did It: Packers Legend Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame

Butler was a driving force behind Green Bay’s rise to perennial powerhouse. During the decade, he was a four-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler (1994 and 1997 through 1999) and intercepted 36 passes, second-most among safeties in the decade. He was a superb playmaker with athleticism, a nose for the football, underrated toughness and charisma. He was the total package.

Before 2017, only seven pure safeties were in the Hall of Fame. Playing catch-up, Hall of Fame voters selected seven over the previous five classes: Kenny Easley (2017), Brian Dawkins (2018), Ed Reed (2019), Johnny Robinson (2019), Troy Polamalu (2020), Steve Atwater (2020), Cliff Harris (2020) and John Lynch (2021). Easley and Harris were senior candidates and Reed was one of the greats of all-time.

Butler’s career compared favorably to Dawkins, Polamalu, Atwater and Lynch. Overall, Butler was No. 1 in that group with 38 interceptions and No. 2 with 20.5 sacks (Dawkins had 26).

Where Butler really shines is when the numbers are put out over a per-game basis. Here is how they rank in four key defensive categories.

Tackles: Atwater, 7.2; Dawkins, 5.2; Polamalu, 5.0; Butler, 4.9; Lynch; 4.7.

Sacks: Dawkins, 0.116; Butler, 0.113; Polamalu, 0.0769; Lynch, 0.058; Atwater, 0.030.

Interceptions: Polamalu, 0.203; Butler, 0.201; Dawkins, 0.165; Atwater, 0.144; Lynch, 0.116.

Forced fumbles: Dawkins, 0.161; Polamalu, 0.089; Butler, 0.072; Lynch, 0.071; Atwater, 0.036.

Combined ranking: Dawkins, 7; Polamalu, 9; Butler, 11; Atwater, 15; Lynch, 18.

While Butler finished third in the group and wasn’t No. 1 in any area, he was just a scant distance behind Dawkins in sacks per game and Polamalu in interceptions per game.

Production-wise, Butler had a better career than Atwater, who was voted to the Hall of Fame in 2020, and Lynch, who was elected in 2021. Atwater’s clock as a candidate was running out and Lynch had been a finalist eight consecutive years. So, perhaps the voters wanted to get them in the Hall of Fame before making it Butler’s turn.

This is Butler’s 16th year of eligibility. Players get 20 years to be considered modern-era candidates before they fall into the seniors pool.

A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Butler will be enshrined on Saturday, Aug. 6. That’s just a couple weeks after he celebrates his 54th birthday on July 19.

LeRoy Butler scored on a lateral from Reggie White and scored a touchdown to a clinch a 28-0 victory over the Raiders on Dec. 26, 1993. The first Lambeau Leap propelled Green Bay to its first playoff berth in 11 years.

All photos in this gallery are from USA Today Sports Images

LeRoy Butler picks off a pass intended for Nate Lewis in the Packers' 20-13 win over San Diego on  Dec. 12, 1993, at Jack Murphy Stadium.

Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler sacks Buffalo Bills quarterback Rob Johnson during the first quarter of their game on Sept. 10, 2000.

LeRoy Butler races to the end zone following a fumble recovery against Detroit on Sept. 6, 1998.

LeRoy Butler returns an interception against Minnesota on Sept. 21, 1997.

Leroy Butler intercepts Detroit Lions quarterback Charlie Batch on Sept. 19, 1999,  at the Pontiac Silverdome.

Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler sacks Tampa Bay quarterback Trent Dilfer during the second quarter of their game on Sunday, Jan. 4, 1998, at Lambeau Field.

LeRoy Butler hits Panthers quarterback Steve Beuerlein to force a fumble during the second quarter of their game on Monday, Nov. 27, 2000, in Charlotte, N.C.

Green Bay Packer safety LeRoy Butler celebrates a sack of Buccaneers quarterback Brad Johnson on Nov. 4, 2001.

LeRoy Butler runs with the football during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 1996 opener. Butler had two interceptions in a 34-3 rout.

LeRoy Butler grabs Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe with one hand to record a sack during Super Bowl XXXI.

Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler hits Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe as he releases the ball during Super Bowl XXXI at the Superdome. Reggie White was also on the scene on Jan. 26, 1997.

After their 29-3 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 24, 2000, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., Packers safety LeRoy Butler celebrated with fans.