In 1994, actor Tom Hanks starred in the movie Forrest Gump.
Hank’s character overcame long odds as a young boy whose mobility was limited due to leg braces.
After breaking the bonds of those braces, Forrest spent the rest of his life accomplishing amazing feats.
Coincidentally, Forrest Gump could have been a story about Leroy Butler.
Before he was a Hall of Fame safety, Butler began life wearing leg braces due to a birth defect.
Years later, Butler literally ran out of his braces by accident and into a life of sports.
The NFL season is Leroy Butler days away! pic.twitter.com/BPZR1u8HgX
— Packers Nation (@PackersNationCP) August 2, 2023
A great prep career led to a stellar run at Florida State and stardom in the NFL.
During his 12 years in Green Bay, Butler became the first defensive back in history to record at least 20 interceptions and 20 sacks in his career.
The safety is also credited with creating the infamous Lambeau Leap.
This is the story of Leroy Butler.
Overcoming Long Odds
Leroy Butler III was born in Jacksonville, Florida on July 19, 1968.
Happy Birthday, LeRoy Butler!#Packers strong safety 1990-2001
• Super Bowl XXXI Champion 🏆
• All-'90s Team (First-Team)
• 4 Pro Bowls, 4x First-Team All-Pro
• 38 career INT, 20.5 career sacks pic.twitter.com/Wsb9enwnDp— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) July 19, 2019
He was one of five children to a single mother who raised her kids in the rough Blodgett Homes area of Jacksonville.
When he was only eight months old, doctors had to purposefully break Butler’s feet because of a severe birth defect.
He was born pigeon-toed and the condition left him almost immobile.
“I was extremely pigeon toed,” Butler said while turning his two hands toward each other forming a triangle. “My feet were turned like this. And they gotta get ’em like this and they weren’t cooperating.”
Even after the doctors (mostly) corrected his condition, the next several years for Butler were spent wearing leg braces and being confined to a wheelchair.
Many days were spent watching hopelessly out the window as his siblings and other children in the neighborhood played games that he couldn’t participate in.
Then, when he was eight, one of Butler’s older sisters accidentally knocked him off his feet as she ran outside to play.
“It was just like Forrest Gump,” Eunice Butler said. “All of a sudden, he could run like the wind.”
Instead of pouting and struggling in agony to get to his feet, Butler found strength in his legs that he didn’t recognize.
My mans @leap36 grew up in the same hood as my mom. A real DUVAL legend. Congrats LeRoy Butler straight out of Blodgett Homes!! pic.twitter.com/7L10i4QJ9U
— Kenney B (@KenneyBTheDream) February 11, 2022
Without realizing it, his feet had healed to the point where Butler could stand and walk on his own.
At that moment, and for the first time in his life, Leroy Butler ran outside and joined in a game of Kickball.
“Once I hit the ground, I was gone,” Butler said. “I kicked the first inside-the-park home run in the history of the projects, and people were saying, ‘I can’t believe this.’ They thought maybe I was faking it all those years”
Butler Shines for the Generals
Now that he was up and running, Butler had to make up for lost time.
Two years after literally running out of his braces, Butler was already making a name for himself while playing for neighborhood football teams.
He continued to play through middle school and then was heavily recruited to play for the Robert E. Lee High School (renamed Riverside in 2021) Generals.
Emmitt Smith. LeRoy Butler. 40 years ago, Lee-Escambia high school football was epic https://t.co/yJSXDkWtrt via @jaxdotcom, @CFreemanJAX
— Steve Patterson 🐘 (@StevePatTU) November 21, 2024
By then, Butler’s plan for his future was simple and to the point.
“There was no Plan B for me except football,” said Butler. “If you think there’s a Plan B, you might not work as hard,” added Butler. “I pushed all my chips into the middle of the table at 9 years old. I just always thought [football] was going to work out. Plan A was to play in the NFL to get my mom out of poverty. There was no something else to fall back on.”
For the next four years, Butler put in time as a three-sport star for the Generals and kept his eye on the prize, not allowing himself to be detoured by the mean streets outside his door.
“To make it out of the Blodgett Homes at that time was remote,” Butler said. “Every time you went to sleep, you’d hear the next day about a drive-by shooting. It was a horrible time. This street had more chalk lines marking dead bodies than hopscotch lines.”
Although he kept busy as a letterman in football, basketball, and track, Butler still felt the effects of his childhood malady and he would continue to suffer from a slightly pigeon-toed left foot as a pro football player.
“After high school games at Lee, they’d have to drag me to the bus sometimes because my feet were killing me,” said Butler. “It probably wasn’t until eighth grade that I felt I was going to be a good football player.”
The pain in his feet didn’t deter Butler from becoming a pain in the posterior of opposing ball carriers.
During his prep career, the linebacker had 139 tackles and carried the ball as a wingback, tallying 388 yards on only 18 carries.
As a senior, Butler was a unanimous All-American with college offers from every big-name program in the country.
He was later hailed as one of the best 33 prep football players in state history and inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Association in 2007.
A Seminole
Some of the biggest programs in college football courted Butler with fantastic promises of playing time and a future in the NFL.
However, there was one school in particular that Butler wanted to attend.
At the time, Florida State University was coached by Bobby Bowden and considered a powerhouse.
Bowden’s ‘Noles already had a reputation for producing pro-level defensive backs, so Butler gravitated toward FSU.
When the infamous coach announced that he was visiting Butler’s home, the youngster had to coordinate a meeting place down the road from Blodgett.
He warned the coach not to enter the area without him present.
Otherwise, Bowden might never return to his own home.
Happy 55th birthday to former FSU star LeRoy Butler! Born July 19, 1968, Butler is known as the executor of the “puntrooskie” and originator of the “Lambeau Leap”. A Consensus All-American as a senior in 1989, Butler finished his FSU career with nine interceptions and two TDs. pic.twitter.com/2WgGFGEkKS
— FSU History (@ThisDayFSU) July 19, 2023
Thankfully, the recruiting pitch went off without a problem and Butler became a Seminole.
After seeing no playing time in 1986, Butler got on the field in 1987 and recorded 41 total tackles as a safety.
That year, while the ‘Noles went 11-1 and beat Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl, Butler played in the same secondary as corners Deion Sanders and Martin Mayhew.
The “Puntrooskie”
In 1988, FSU started the year on the wrong foot, losing to in-state rival Miami 31-0.
Two weeks after losing to the Hurricanes, Florida State was in another battle, this time against Clemson.
With barely a minute and a half remaining in the contest, the score was tied at 21 and the ‘Noles were backed up to their 21-yard line on fourth down.
Coach Bowden chose that moment to play like there was nothing to lose.
Instead of the ball being snapped to the punter, it went to up back Dayne Williams.
Williams, in turn, shuttled the rock to Butler who sprinted 78 yards before being tackled.
OTD 1988#FloridaState #Clemson
LeRoy Butler’s 78 yard puntrooskie @leap36
24-21 #FSU
pic.twitter.com/GZPtDTCCJZ— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) September 17, 2024
That set up the 19-yard winning field goal by kicker Richie Andrews.
“I wanted somebody to win,” Bowden said. “If we don’t make the first down, they’re going to kick a field goal and beat us.”
From then on the Seminoles tore through the rest of the season including a huge victory over the Florida Gators and a 13-7 win against Auburn in the Sugar Bowl.
Butler had 59 tackles, two interceptions and a pick-six for the year.
Then, as a senior in 1989, Bowden moved Butler from safety to corner to replace the departed Sanders.
“Coach Bowden would tell scouts he may not run fast like Deion [Sanders], but he knows where the ball is and how to get to it,” said Butler in 2024.
He responded with 94 tackles, a sack, and interceptions against Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Miami.
In total, Butler hauled in seven picks for the season, still good for fourth all-time in program history.
On this date in 1988: Puntrooskie. FSU 24 Clemson 21. Instead of snapping the ball to the punter, the ball was snapped to the up back, who gave the ball between his legs to LeRoy Butler, who raced 90 yds to the 1-yd line. #Seminoles #CollegeFootball @ClintKPoppe @FilmHistoric pic.twitter.com/l48Pfa8243
— History of College Football (@HistColFootball) September 17, 2022
When the ‘89 season concluded, he was named a first-team All-American by several media outlets.
During his college career, Butler had 194 combined tackles, one sack, nine interceptions for 202 return yards and two pick-sixes.
He was elected to the FSU Hall of Fame in 2001.
Green Bay Selects Butler
In 1989, the Green Bay Packers finished 10-6 under then-head coach Lindy Infante.
The franchise missed the playoffs partially due to a defense that was ranked 18th in the NFL.
32 years ago today I received my first ever phone call from Green Bay, Wisconsin. The @Packers were calling me to tell me they wanted me to play football for the greatest franchise in the NFL! My life has been forever blessed by that call! S/O to Lee Remmel,a hero to me!! pic.twitter.com/kRwC4AxDWA
— leroy butler (blue check) (@leap36) April 22, 2022
During the 1990 NFL Draft, Green Bay used seven of its picks on defensive players including selecting Butler with the 48th overall pick in the second round.
That season, the Packers lost 10 games while Butler was a backup who still intercepted three passes in spot duty and made 19 combined tackles.
Infante was fired after a 4-12 season in 1991 when Butler became the team’s starting right cornerback.
Packers safety LeRoy Butler 🔥🧀pic.twitter.com/f0uAOeVjpC
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) July 1, 2024
In 16 games, he accounted for 53 tackles and three interceptions.
Before the 1992 season, former San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Holmgren was hired to be the new coach of the Packers.
Ray Rhodes was Holmgren’s defensive coordinator and one of the coach’s first decisions was moving Butler to strong safety.
The change proved to be a boon for Butler’s career and led him to 74 tackles, one interception, and a reputation as one of the league’s best young players.
Butler “Invents” the Lambeau Leap
The 1993 season would prove to be the beginning of a great stretch of football for Green Bay.
Holmgren’s crew went 9-7 and beat the Detroit Lions in the wild-card round, 28-21.
It was the franchise’s first playoff victory since 1982.
In the midst of a Pro Bowl season in which he had a team-best (and career-high) six interceptions for 131 return yards, one sack and 90 tackles, Butler made a play that made him a Packers’ immortal.
During a bone-chilling contest against the Los Angeles Raiders in Week 17, the safety let loose a massive hit on LA running back Randy Jordan and caused a fumble.
Teammate Reggie White scooped up the loose ball and rumbled a few yards before a gaggle of Raiders caught up to him.
Just as White was heading to the turf, he lateralled to Butler who was trailing the play.
LeRoy Butler's favorite @Packers memory?
Inventing the Lambeau Leap ⬆️ @leap36 pic.twitter.com/iQ7J9ZfbXF
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) February 29, 2024
He then raced the final 25 yards into the endzone and then did an impromptu leap into the stands with the celebrating fans.
That act created what is now known as the “Lambeau Leap.”
“He’s kind of defined by that Lambeau Leap,” said Hall of Fame defensive back Charles Woodson. “When you think of the Green Bay Packers you think of the Lambeau Leap. And then immediately you think of LeRoy Butler. Those two things are synonymous.”
Butler’s score helped lead to a 28-0 shutout of the Raiders.
Following the season, Butler was also named a first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career.
Butler and the Pack Win a Super Bowl
In 1994 and 1995 Green Bay returned to the postseason and advanced as far as the NFC Championship game in ‘95 before falling to Dallas.
Meanwhile, Butler pulled down eight combined interceptions, two sacks, and 102 tackles in ‘95 alone during that two-year span.
Then, in 1996, everything fell into place for the Pack.
Behind the play of quarterback Brett Favre, White, and Butler, Green Bay had the NFL’s best offense and defense, leading to a 13-3 record.
Hopefully the next Packers DC can scheme ways to get the most out of his top talents. "No Blitz Fritz" blitzed Leroy Butler a ton in 1996. After having 3 sacks in his first six years, Butler had 6.5 in 1996 and another in SB XXXI. It remains one of the highest totals ever by a DB pic.twitter.com/ika3IjYpjr
— Eric Drews (@GreenGold4Ever) January 24, 2024
Butler was unleashed to attack behind the line of scrimmage and responded with a career-high 6.5 sacks (a half sack short of the single season record by a defensive back) to pair with five interceptions and his only career pick-six.
“He’s a huge playmaker,” defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur says. “A lot of safeties in this league are never around the ball. You hardly know they exist. The best description of LeRoy is that if the ball is there, he’s near it.”
Those stats led to All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods after the year.
Green Bay took care of business in the playoffs, defeating San Francisco and Carolina for the right to meet the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI.
During the contest, Butler laid the wood on Pats quarterback Drew Bledsoe for a sack on a third-down play.
On this day! Years ago! THIS HAPPENED! (Super bowl 31) the @packers will be in this game again soon! #in12wetrust pic.twitter.com/MhGrZi6WNt
— leroy butler (blue check) (@leap36) January 26, 2020
That moment set the tone for the rest of the day as the Packers would beat New England, 35-21.
It was the storied franchise’s first world title since 1967 and Super Bowl II.
“We had LeRoy Butler back there who is really the quarterback of our defense,” defensive tackle Gilbert Brown said. “He put in the time, the work, the film. If he says go left, we’re going left; if he says right, we’re going right. We trusted in each other.”
A Foiled Repeat, but More of the Same from Butler
The Packers continued to roll in 1997, repeating their 13-3 record from the year before and beating Tampa Bay and San Francisco in the playoffs.
Reggie White and LeRoy Butler
Two individuals who revolutionized their respective positions https://t.co/rbZLLQ80Jo pic.twitter.com/6FV8kO0ZxR
— Packers History (@HistoricPackers) November 17, 2023
Butler, who was playing with a specially designed shoe from a team doctor to help correct his partially clubbed left foot, snagged five picks for the third year in a row and also made a career-best 103 tackles.
“Blitzes. Sacks. Exceptional run player. Makes interceptions,” Shurmur said at the time. “More than anything, he has such a big influence on wins. I’m not sure I’ve been around another safety with such a capacity to make plays.”
Green Bay advanced to Super Bowl XXXII and met quarterback John Elway and the Denver Broncos.
Unfortunately, a repeat was not in the cards as the Broncos’ defense thwarted a furious, Favre-led scoring drive late in the game.
🚨 Super Bowl XXXII is on YouTube 🚨
Watch it in its entirety » https://t.co/44KHryu2Sz pic.twitter.com/c2VjaoMD90
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) March 15, 2020
The result was a 31-24 loss for the Pack.
In 1998, Green Bay was prevented from a third title game trip after San Francisco beat the visiting Packers in the wild-card round.
For the third year in a row, Butler was voted a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler after intercepting three passes and netting 89 tackles and four sacks.
Butler Retires
Butler continued to be the backbone of the Green Bay defense, especially after White retired following the ‘98 season.
In 1999 and 2000, he had two interceptions both seasons and hammered ball carriers 92 times during the 2000 season.
“Everybody talks about Reggie White, but let me just say something,” said general manager Ron Wolf. “That was LeRoy Butler’s locker room on the defensive side of the ball. LeRoy Butler was a great player on this team. If there ever was an offensive defensive player in the time frame that LeRoy played, it’s Butler.”
The Packers missed the playoffs both years with coaches Ray Rhodes and Mike Sherman, respectively.
Happy Leap Day to Green Bay's one and only @leap36 himself, LeRoy Butler! pic.twitter.com/MSB1IkHHWC
— Love is in the Airing it Out (@mattilladahun) February 29, 2024
Then, in 2001, after nine starts and 40 tackles, Butler broke his shoulder while making a tackle in a game against the Atlanta Falcons.
That would be his final play in the NFL and he retired before the 2002 season.
“Just knowing I can retire today and all my football cards are that green-and-white jersey, that is priceless,” he said. “This is a celebration for me. I don’t want people to be sad. You have not seen the last of LeRoy Butler.”
During his career, Butler had 38 interceptions for 533 return yards and one pick-six.
He also had 13 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, 889 combined tackles and 20.5 sacks.
Butler’s career interceptions and sacks made him the first defensive back in the history of the NFL to make the 20 Sacks/20 Interceptions Club.
He was a four-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro, and a Super Bowl champion.
Butler was later added to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team and the Packers Hall of Fame.
Leroy Butler… your @ProFootballHOF bust is finally here. 🙌@leap36 | @packers
📺: #PFHOF22 Enshrinement on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/FnjlwYQIoH
— NFL (@NFL) August 6, 2022
In 2022, Butler was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Life After Football
Since retiring from the NFL, Butler has been active in the Jacksonville community as a catalyst for several outreach programs.
They include an anti-bullying campaign, a wellness and mental health summit, and helping to curb the tide of homelessness in the Jacksonville area.
“It was easy for me…because when you’re living paycheck to paycheck and you depend on the government and you have anxiety about feeding your kids and that check may not come, you could be homeless,” Butler told First Coast News when asked about his motivation for giving back.
It’s also fitting that someone who struggled as a youth with health problems has a son who has battled his own issues.
Butler and his wife, Genesis, have six kids and their only son, Leroy IV, was diagnosed with autism when he was four.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Leroy Butler shares his journey as a father.https://t.co/z42iQj58DD
— Adriana Mendez (@AdrianaMendez) April 30, 2024
Initially, Leroy IV was nonverbal but has made great progress through the work of teachers and specialists.
Eventually, Butler’s son was drawn to sports and has even followed in his father’s footsteps by playing football
“I see other grown people, autistic, they work. They get married, just like everybody else,” said Butler. “My grandmother said, God made everybody good at something, but you got to figure out what it is, but he made you good at something. He’s going to be great at being there for people!”
References
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/ButlLe00.htm
https://seminoles.com/news/2014/6/17/leroy-butler-bio
https://www.packers.com/history/hof/leroy-butler
https://nolefan.org/football/butler_leroy.html
https://www.firstcoastnews.com
https://www.profootballhof.com/players/leroy-butler/
https://www.leroybutlerinc.com/about-leroy/
https://fhsaa.com/hof.aspx?hof=191
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