Latest news with #TasteoftheDraft
USA Today
22-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Hall of Fame S LeRoy Butler shares advice for prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft
Hall of Fame S LeRoy Butler shares advice for prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft What could be "cheddar" than this! Get your tickets now using the link below⬇️! — Taste of the NFL (@TasteoftheNFL) April 15, 2025 This week, Touchdown Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Pro Football Hall of Famer and Green Bay Packers legend LeRoy Butler as he shared advice for the safeties class in the 2025 NFL Draft. Butler will be a representative alongside other alums 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. "I think sometimes, safeties get underappreciated; you'll appreciate them. It's the one position on defense where there's nobody behind you. Everybody up there has somebody behind them because the corners are always back there. If somebody gets through them, fine. If somebody gets through us, you'll be on SportsCenter, so it's a very important position," said Butler. "The best thing I can tell any safety is not to let anybody get behind you and be a tackler, not a hitter. A hitter, you play five years if you're a tackler, 12 to 14 (years). Harrison Smith, 'my nephew'. That's not really my nephew, 14 years (in the league); they (Minnesota Vikings) could've said, Nope, go away, nope (instead). Can you come back?" Butler, a Pro Football Hall of Fame safety, was a four-time first-team All-Pro in his 12 seasons with the Packers. He holds numerous accolades, including being the first defensive back in NFL history to join the 20 Sack and 20 Interception Club. "If you play safety the right way, just get him on the ground. You don't need to run through him. You're going to break your neck or break his neck. It's going to be injuries. I tell every safety, Don't let anybody get behind. You can always come up, because every time you line up again, that's another opportunity to get a turnover," said Butler. "I'm just excited that I'm able to say that to some of these safeties. Malachi (Moore) is a safety from Alabama. I will interact with him at the Draft and a few more safeties, and that's what I tell him: Be a tackler if you want to play a long time because of the money they're paying for safeties now; you don't want to mess it up by flying in there. These running backs they're going to avoid you. They don't want to get hit. Barry Sanders never let us hit him, but the running backs trying to run people over didn't play very long. So that's the best advice I got for them."
USA Today
22-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Packers legend LeRoy Butler understands the Chiefs' sacrifices to return to the Super Bowl
Packers legend LeRoy Butler understands the Chiefs' sacrifices to return to the Super Bowl This week, Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Pro Football Hall of Famer and Green Bay Packers legend LeRoy Butler for his take on teams attempting to win multiple Super Bowls and the effects of the grind that makes it difficult, as in the case of the Kansas City Chiefs' recent pursuit of a three-peat. Butler will be one of the many notable figures 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 support the battle against student hunger in collaboration with GENYOUth. "The team ain't the same. You don't have everybody; no team will have all 53 players every year. You keep the core guys, but you don't keep everybody. If we had kept that entire team, we (already) won Super Bowl XXXI. We could've won two more Super Bowls," said Butler, regarding maintaining a championship team. "Things change, and philosophies change. It was fun, though, to go to the Super Bowl again; it really was. It's hard even to get back to, but we played in three straight NFC Championship games." The Packers defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI and lost to the Denver Broncos the following year. Ironically, he was with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid in Green Bay when he was the offensive coordinator during their back-to-back attempt. "Once you get to that top, you can't pay everybody, coaches, leave, players leave; now, you gotta start all over."
USA Today
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
NFL legend LeRoy Butler talks 'Lambeau Leap' legacy, reveals his cooking passion
NFL legend LeRoy Butler talks 'Lambeau Leap' legacy, reveals his cooking passion This week, Touchdown Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Pro Football Hall of Famer and Green Bay Packers legend LeRoy Butler about his passion for cooking. He revealed his favorite meal and the legacy of the Lambeau Leap. Butler will be a representative alongside other alums 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 culinary icons Andrew Zimmern, Mark Bucher, and Paul Bartolotta as part of the commitment to end student hunger and tackle youth food insecurity in Wisconsin. "I'm from the south. I was a special needs kid growing up in special education. So, I love teachers more than anything. I couldn't go outside like the other kids to run, jump, and play, so I stayed inside. When I was inside, I learned how to cook. I didn't know what 'culinary' meant because when you cook all the time down south, you cook, but you develop recipes mentally. It's my best dish, and I have the best mac and cheese ever. I don't want to argue with anybody. I don't want any smoke," said Butler, "This is all me. To the point that NBC chose me to cook for the Packers on Thanksgiving. I was going to do the Turducken. Melissa Stark (asked), are you going to make your mac and cheese? I got to. So when the guys got the Turducken, Josh Jacobs and Jordan Love, say hey man, there goes some mac and cheese." The Lambeau Leap touchdown celebration was popularized after Butler jumped into the Lambeau Field bleachers after scoring a touchdown from scooping a fumble recovery against the Los Angeles Raiders on December 26th, 1993. The tradition continues today as Butler shares his thoughts on the legacy with today's Packers players. "I'm okay with them doing it. I am because the fans love it. I think it's the best celebration because it's with the fans. It's not me doing some weird dance. Our fan base, remember, they're also our shareholders. So once you score and don't do it, they won't boo you, but they're disappointed because it is an intimidating factor when you do it there." said Butler. "But I will say this, and I said this about 15 years ago now. Guys, know that if teams score in Lambeau, they will do it to get back at you. The best way to do that is to prevent them from scoring. That's the best way to do it because that's how you mock any celebration. If I get a pick six or a point return or something, they're going to do it, so it puts the defense under a lot of pressure not to let them score, which is good because they shouldn't score, hold them to field goals, but it's just an awesome celebration."
USA Today
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Hall of Fame DB LeRoy Butler reveals a comment that annoys Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid
Hall of Fame DB LeRoy Butler reveals a comment that annoys Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid This week, Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Pro Football Hall of Famer and Green Bay Packers legend LeRoy Butler about lessons learned from his former coordinator, current Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. 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 brings together top chefs, 20 legendary supper clubs, and Packers greats to raise funds for school nutrition grants for 90 schools throughout Wisconsin, in celebration of the 90th Anniversary of the NFL Draft. Reid worked in several roles for the Packers from 1992 to 1998 before starting his head coaching career. "Andy Reid was a tight ends coach. I used to sit with Andy Reid in meetings because I'm a small guy. I said, Coach, how do I defend tight ends, who are 6'4" -6'5"? I'm too small. He said, No, Stay between him and the ball and don't get in a pushing match." said Butler, "The best advice I got from a tight ends coach. Then, he coached the offensive line. Then he was the offensive coordinator." 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, 20 Interception Club. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022, and he revealed the best way to annoy the Chiefs' all-time winningest head coach. "The only way you get on his nerves is to tell him that Tom Selleck has a better mustache than him. Magnum P.I. guy," said Butler. "Other than that, he's the same guy. And I really was hoping he three-peated because I'm a big fan of Andy Reid, and the players love him. I mean, he's just a smart guy, man. I love the guy." Butler hoped Reid and the Chiefs would complete the three-peat during Super Bowl LIX, but they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. Butler and Reid were champions together in Green Bay, defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI. "That gets under his skin. If you say his mustache isn't the best, I said Burt Reynolds had a better one, too, but I'm biased. Reynolds went to Florida State," said Butler jokingly, "but he's going to be mad that I told people that secret, but it's okay. He'll get over it."
USA Today
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Hall of Famer LeRoy Butler reflects on his career with the Green Bay Packers
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."
