Jack Butler never played high school football. He attended a
seminary to
study for the Catholic priesthood. Later, he instead pursued
another
vocation but truly did not foresee what the future held for him.
While
attending St. Bonaventure University in Olean, NY, the Athletic
Director
approached Jack about trying out for the varsity football
squad. The
Director recalled playing sand lot football with Jack’s father
back in
Pittsburgh, PA. He told Jack that his dad was a fine player and
maybe
young Jack had inherited some of that talent from his dad.
That Athletic
Director was Father Silas of St. Bonaventure.
Father Silas -- also known as Dan Rooney -- was the brother of
Art
Rooney, Sr. “The Chief” -- owner of the NFL team The
Pittsburgh
Steelers.
Jack Butler developed into a fine defensive end and receiver.
He was
called by the Steelers for a try-out. At that time, the Steelers
still played
the single wing offense. Butler ended up as a defensive end.
He proved
himself to be a gifted athlete and a very tough one too. Near
the end of
that 1950 season, injuries to a teammate forced Butler to
move into the
defensive backfield. In the short time left to play that season,
number
“80” played so well that he then assumed that position and
prevailed for
the next eight years.
Jack Butler was All Pro, named to the Pro Bowl four times;
intercepted 10
passes in one season, four of them in one game; filled in as a
wide
receiver and scored a couple of touchdowns. He was the
second leading
pass interceptor in the NFL at that time with a total of 52, all
achieved in
only 8 years of play. His brilliant career ended after a crippling
knee
injury in his ninth season. Later, Butler was named to the NFL
1950’s
“Team of the Decade.” He was also named one of the top 300
players to
have ever played in the NFL, the “All NFL First 50-Years” team,
and the
“All-Time Steeler Team.”
Following his playing days with the Steelers, Butler coached
with the
Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers. His leg injury cut
short an NFL
coaching career. He became a Steeler talent scout for a few
years before
joining the newly created Blesto Scouting Group.
This is my “Collector Card” art that I did for Art Rooney, Jr.
featuring my
oil painting of Jack Butler.
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