LeRoy Butler

NFLretired

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caption=LeRoy Butler at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.
position=Cornerback / Safety
number=36
birthdate=birth date and age|1968|7|19
Jacksonville, Florida
deathdate=
debutyear=1990
finalyear=2001
draftyear=1990
draftround=2
draftpick=48
college=Florida State
teams=
* Green Bay Packers (1990-2001)
stat1label=INT
stat1value=38
stat2label=INT yards
stat2value=533
stat3label=Sacks
stat3value=20.5
nfl=BUT467190
highlights=
* 4x Pro Bowl selection (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
* 4x All-Pro selection (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
* 1x Super Bowl champion (XXXI)
* NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
* 20/20 Club
HOF=

LeRoy Butler, III (born July 19, 1968) is a former American football strong safety who played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers (1990-2001). He spent his childhood in Jacksonville, Florida, challenged by physical problems that forced him to wear leg braces and use a wheelchair at times while undergoing therapy [ [http://www.fsu.com/pages/2003/12/19/leroy_butler.html FSU.com :: The star of the greatest play since 'My Fair Lady' turns author ] ] . In 2007 he was named to the Florida High School Association All-Century Team which selected the Top 33 players in the 100 year history of high school football in the state of Florida's history.

College career

Butler played under head coach Bobby Bowden at Florida State University. He was a three-year starter, collecting 194 tackles and 9 interceptions, but he's most remembered by FSU fans for his role in the "puntrooskie [ [http://espn.go.com/classic/s/2005/0804/2124731.html ESPN Classic - Bowden finally gets national title ] ] ". In 1988, against rival Clemson, FSU was backed up to its own 21-yard line on fourth down with 1:30 left to play and the score tied at 21. Bowden called the famous trick play, a fake punt. The snap went to upback Dayne Williams and he slipped the ball to Butler, who ran 78 yards to set up the game-winning field goal.

NFL career

Accolades and Accomplishments

Butler was selected by the Packers in the second round of the 1990 draft. He played in 181 games, earned a Super Bowl ring after the 1996 season, selected All-Pro 5 times, and was selected to the Pro Bowl four times(1993, 1996, 1997, and 1998). He was named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and later inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 2007.

After being selected to his first Pro Bowl, he changed the emphasis on his first name from Leroy (LEEroy) to LeRoy (l'ROY) because it sounded classier. During his 12 seasons with the Packers, he recorded 953 tackles, 38 interceptions, 553 return yards, 12 fumble recoveries, 3 defensive touchdowns and 20 1/2 sacks. He led or tied for the team lead in interceptions in five different seasons. He was the first defensive back in NFL history to gain entrance in the 20 Sack/20 Interception Club.

A broken shoulder blade sustained while tackling Atlanta Falcons running back Jamal Anderson in the 2001 season forced him into retirement just before the 2002 season when it was discovered it had not healed properly [ [http://www.nfl.com/ce/multi/0,3783,5528979,00.html] ] .

Lambeau Leap

Butler is credited with inventing the Lambeau Leap [ [http://www.packers.com/fans/faq/ Packers.com » Fan Zone » Fan Clubs ] ] - a touchdown celebration in which the scoring player leaps into the arms of awaiting fans in the stands near the end zone. On December 26, 1993, the Packers were playing the visiting Los Angeles Raiders. On a second-down swing pass to running back Randy Jordan, Butler forced a fumble that was recovered by Reggie White at the Raiders' 35. After running with the ball for 10 yards, White lateraled to Butler, who ran the remaining 25 yards into the end zone and then made a spontaneous leap into the arms of fans in the south bleachers. The Packers went on to win 28-0 to clinch what would be the first of six consecutive playoff berths. The move was later popularized by wide receiver Robert Brooks, who carried it a step further by leaping completely into the stands. This move is called the Lambeau Leap and now is used after many Packer touchdowns.

Teammates

LeRoy Butler and Green Bay Packer teammate Edgar Bennett had been teammates and friends since high school at Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Florida, graduating in the class of 1987. From there, they went on to play for Florida State together. When Edgar signed with the Chicago Bears they were no longer teammates.

Notes and references