Jack Butler (American football)
Encyclopedia
Jack Butler is a former American football cornerback
for the Pittsburgh Steelers
of the National Football League
.
Butler was an undrafted free agent whom the Steelers brought onto their roster in 1950
. In 1953, he had nine interceptions and returned three of them for touchdowns. In 1957, he led the league in interceptions with ten, four of which came in one game. He was named to four straight Pro Bowl
s from 1956–1959. He was forced to retire from the NFL due to a knee injury following the 1959 season
. He had 52 interceptions during his career.
In October 2008, Butler was named as one of the 33 Greatest Pittsburgh Steelers of all-time. The Steelers named players to this team as part of their 75th anniversary season celebration. He was named to the National Football League 1950s All-Decade Team. He was named as a senior nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
for 2012.
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Butler was an undrafted free agent whom the Steelers brought onto their roster in 1950
1950 NFL season
The 1950 NFL season was the 31st regular season of the National Football League. The merger with the All-America Football Conference expanded the league to 13 teams. Meanwhile, television brought a new era to the game. The Los Angeles Rams became the first NFL team to have all of its games – both...
. In 1953, he had nine interceptions and returned three of them for touchdowns. In 1957, he led the league in interceptions with ten, four of which came in one game. He was named to four straight Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
s from 1956–1959. He was forced to retire from the NFL due to a knee injury following the 1959 season
1959 NFL season
The 1959 NFL season was the 40th regular season of the National Football League. Tragedy struck as NFL Commissioner Bert Bell died of a heart attack on October 11 at Philadelphia's Franklin Field while watching the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers play...
. He had 52 interceptions during his career.
In October 2008, Butler was named as one of the 33 Greatest Pittsburgh Steelers of all-time. The Steelers named players to this team as part of their 75th anniversary season celebration. He was named to the National Football League 1950s All-Decade Team. He was named as a senior nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
for 2012.