“He’s a damn good football player and I’m glad he’s on our side,” said Shurmur of Butler in the Wisconsin Capital Times on Oct. 26, 1998.
Known for inventing the “Lambeau Leap” after scoring a 25-yard fumble return touchdown against the Raiders on Dec. 26, 1993, Butler was voted to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team with fellow safety Steve Atwater.
Butler remembers telling his mom, “That means I might be in the Hall of Fame one day.” Eunice encouraged her son but also cautioned Butler to remain patient and recognize how few individuals receive that prestigious honor.
“Me and my mom had a discussion and she was saying at the time, how many players won’t ever get this opportunity,” Butler said. “When I was a semifinalist, she said, ‘OK, this is great,’ but she always taught me to be a patient person.”
Eunice’s plea for patience proved prophetic, as Butler turned out to be the final offensive or defensive player from the 1990s All-Decade Team to be voted to Canton.
Pro Football Hall of Fame voters have steadily worked to reduce the logjam of safeties waiting for enshrinement into Canton, beginning with the induction of Seattle’s Kenny Easley in 2017 as a senior nominee.
Since then, Dawkins (2018), Ed Reed (2019), Butler’s fellow 1990s All-Decade member Atwater (2020) and 2000s All-Decade selectee Troy Polamalu (2020) have been enshrined. San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, who never appeared on an All-Decade team, also was voted in last year. Former Packers cornerback/safety Charles Woodson also was enshrined this past summer in his first year of eligibility.
Butler remained graceful throughout his 16-year wait. During his news conference on Thursday evening, Butler praised everyone from the Hall of Fame voters to late All-Pro linebacker Sam Mills, who was voted in during his final year of modern-era eligibility. He also offered words of encouragement the other 10 finalists who were not selected this year, including former Miami linebacker Zach Thomas.
“There’s under 400 guys in the Hall of Fame and I think only 170 still living. So, I’m telling to all the guys, it’s worth waiting on,” Butler said. “Trust me, it’s going to feel amazing when you get in this year, two years from now, three years from now. I just tell the guys just be patient and one day it will pay off. God’s got a plan for everybody, everything will be OK.”
Butler is the fourth member of Green Bay’s Super Bowl XXXI championship team to be voted into Canton, alongside Reggie White (2006), former general manager Ron Wolf (2015) and Brett Favre (2016). The Packers’ 28 Hall of Famers rank second among all NFL franchises, behind only the 30 claimed by the Chicago Bears.
“It is wonderful that the premier safety of the ’90s is getting his just reward by entering pro football’s sacred chamber, the Hall of Fame,” Wolf said. “It is well earned due to his passion for the game and his dedication to the Green Bay Packers along with his superb play.”
In addition to thanking his former teachers and coaches, Butler took time to credit Favre and White for helping pave the way to his own enshrinement in Canton. In closing, Butler also paid tribute to the Packers fans with whom he developed such a deep connection during his 12 seasons in Green Bay.
“I love the fans,” Butler said. “They’re the DNA of me and of the state of Wisconsin.”
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