Hall of Famer LeRoy Butler reflects on his career with the Green Bay Packers

USA Today

20-04-2025

Hall of Famer LeRoy Butler reflects on his career with the Green Bay Packers
This week, Touchdown Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke with Pro Football Hall of Famer and Green Bay Packers legend LeRoy Butler about his 12-year career and his appreciation for the Green Bay, Wisconsin, community.
Butler will be an ambassador for the Packers at the Taste of the Draft on Wednesday, April 23rd, from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM CT at Schreiber Food Headquarters, 400 N. Washington Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin. The event will feature a unique gathering of legendary Wisconsin supper clubs, serving iconic signature dishes such as relish trays, popovers, meat and seafood specialties, curated spirits, and after-dinner ice cream drinks, including Grasshoppers and Pink Squirrels.
"Wisconsin saved my life. I'm African American in the South. I attended Robert E. Lee High School (Now Riverside High School in Jacksonville, Florida). I was a prop 48 at Florida State, and my condolences go out to the young men and women who had to go through the tragic shooting. I didn't think I would get an opportunity, but I only needed one 'yes'. When I got that phone call talking to Bob Harlan (President), Tom Braatz, that was the GM (General Manager), and Lindy Infante, my head coach, and rest in peace, Dick Jauron (Defensive Coordinator), I said I'd never leave this place, and I meant that. Having an event like this in your backyard, no exaggeration, means a lot, because I can now share my story with a national audience. After all, we're gonna raise a lot of money. Still, for what GENYOUth does, I was one of the beneficiaries, so it almost came full circle. I'm just super excited."
Taste of the Draft is the ultimate supper club experience, gathering culinary and gridiron talent, including top chefs Andrew Zimmern, Mark Bucher, and Paul Bartolotta. Packers greats joining Butler include Jerry Kramer, James Lofton, Dave Robinson, and Ahman Green.
"I was playing for Florida State for three years. We always won games and bowl games. So I'm used to winning all the time," said Butler, "I come to the Packers, and in 1990, we weren't very good. Then somebody said we got a new head coach; who was this guy? Mike Holmgren. That wasn't like the Internet back then. You couldn't like Google stuff. It's all word of mouth, which is sometimes pretty good. I never heard of Mike Holmgren. I come back up to meet him. He's amazing. He'll be a Hall of Famer one day."
Green Bay clinched its first playoff appearance in eleven years in 1993 due to several key additions, including future Hall of Famers Brett Favre and Reggie White.
"I'm just talking about the gradual climb because we weren't very good, and somebody said we're getting a new quarterback. I said, Wait, our quarterback is Don Majkowski, blonde mullet, the best mullet since Joe Dirt, the magic man," said Butler. "I'm so nosy; I'm the nosiest guy in America. Trust me, I heard another rumor. We're getting Reggie White. I said I don't believe it. Reggie White is not coming to the smallest market. He sued the league to become a free agent because there weren't any free agents, and they protected around six or eight players. That was a big deal, and I heard he was heading to San Francisco. But again, God is good, comes to the Packers, and we started climbing. You can see it in 1994, 1995, and 1996; something's coming. In 1996, we won the Super Bowl. That meant a lot to me because I saw a sign that said 30 years of misery has ended with going to the Super Bowl."
Butler was a four-time first-team All-Pro in his 12 seasons with the Packers. He was the first defensive back in NFL history to join the 20 Sack and 20 Interception Club. He was enshrined in the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame, but believes his life in Wisconsin is the actual prize.
"It just changed my life from going to, at one point, being in a wheelchair to doing the Lambeau leap, then winning a Super Bowl. Normal guys can run and jump, but don't win the Super Bowl," said Butler, "God is good to get in the Hall of Fame. My number is 357, and at the time, there were only 362 guys in there. I did it with one team that means the most to me. The loyalty the Packers have shown me in Wisconsin is something I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. My career is platinum because when they put my name up at my (Packers Hall of Fame) ceremony, I had all my teammates come who could make it. I said, before you clap for me, can you give my teammates a round of applause? And then my son's autistic. He's now 14. He said, Dad, your name is up in the stadium. I said, No, that's your name. That's the difference between legacy and history. Legacy means a lot on the back of the jersey. The front typically features the team's logo and your number, but everybody in your family is on the back. "
Butler maintains his commitment to Wisconsin well beyond his playing career. He is proud to share his Hall of Fame member status and appreciates the many who help others in the community.
"To do it with the Packers meant the world to me." said Butler "I tell every teacher, every police officer, fire department, doctor, whoever, help people they don't know, charity, mentally, I want you to remove my name and put your name up there because, without you (none of this is possible), that's what it's all about. My grandmother told me that real heroes help people. Anybody can help, including friends and family, but can you help somebody you don't know? And be that one yes for them, and that one yes for me was the Green Bay Packers."