Hall of Fame Professional Football Player. For nine seasons (1951 to 1959), he played at the defensive back (corner-back) position in the National Football League with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Born John Bradshaw Butler, he attended Mount Carmel High School in Niagara Falls, Canada and played collegiate football at St. Bonaventure. He was signed as a non-drafted player by the Steelers and during the course of his career, Butler established himself as one of the NFL's greats at his position from his era. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection (1955 to 1958) and earned First-Team All-Pro honors three-times (1957 to 1959). He totaled 52 interceptions for 827 yards for which included his league-leading 10 takeaways in 1957. In 1954, he yielded 2 interception returns for touchdowns which was a then-league record. He played in 103 consecutive regular season games (career total), prior to suffering a career-ending knee injury during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1959. A staph infection from the injury nearly became fatal. After retiring as a player, he worked for BLESTO, a company which scouts collegiate football players. He was named to the 1950s NFL All-Decade Team and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012. Butler endured several knee operations during his post football life for which included knee replacement. Ironically, he would succumb from complications of a staph infection from the same knee which ended his career in 1959.
Hall of Fame Professional Football Player. For nine seasons (1951 to 1959), he played at the defensive back (corner-back) position in the National Football League with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Born John Bradshaw Butler, he attended Mount Carmel High School in Niagara Falls, Canada and played collegiate football at St. Bonaventure. He was signed as a non-drafted player by the Steelers and during the course of his career, Butler established himself as one of the NFL's greats at his position from his era. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection (1955 to 1958) and earned First-Team All-Pro honors three-times (1957 to 1959). He totaled 52 interceptions for 827 yards for which included his league-leading 10 takeaways in 1957. In 1954, he yielded 2 interception returns for touchdowns which was a then-league record. He played in 103 consecutive regular season games (career total), prior to suffering a career-ending knee injury during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1959. A staph infection from the injury nearly became fatal. After retiring as a player, he worked for BLESTO, a company which scouts collegiate football players. He was named to the 1950s NFL All-Decade Team and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012. Butler endured several knee operations during his post football life for which included knee replacement. Ironically, he would succumb from complications of a staph infection from the same knee which ended his career in 1959.
Bio by: C.S.
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