Richard Butkus, 78 , Born In 1942 – Chicago Bears Star

Even by modern standards, Richards Butkus is regarded as one of the most feared and fearsome tacklers in the history of the NFL. Through his short, nine-year career, Butkus was an eight-time Pro Bowl selected player and was also named defensive player of the year twice.

Even before his NFL career, he was a prolific player at the University of Illinois, who he helped to Rose Bowl victory. Butkus was also named MVP in the Big 10 Conference and was inducted into the  College Football Hall of Fame in 1983. He also dabbled in acting and had a notable role in the football film Any Given Sunday.