Kevin Butler

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Butler was born in Savannah, Georgia. He attended Redan High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where he played football and soccer. During his senior year, he kicked a 44-yard field goal to win the state championship, which led to a conversation with Georgia head coach Vince Dooley. At the University of Georgia, Butler was a two-time All-American and four-time All-SEC player. He kicked a school-record 60-yard field goal to beat Clemson in 1984, set an NCAA record with 27 multiple field-goal games, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December 2001. In his 11 seasons with the Bears, he became the team's all-time leading scorer with 1,116 points, surpassing Walter Payton's record. He was part of the 1985 Super Bowl XX championship team and set a rookie scoring record with 144 points. Upon his release after the 1995 season, he was the last remaining holdover from the Super Bowl XX team. He finished his NFL career with 1,208 total points.

In Their Own Story

In a defining moment during his rookie season with the Chicago Bears, Butler orchestrated a historic offensive performance that set an NBA-style scoring record for a kicker. He accumulated 144 points on 31 field goals and converted all of his 51 extra point attempts, leading the team to the pinnacle of the sport. The climax arrived in Super Bowl XX, where he kicked three field goals to secure the championship. Famously, while at training camp in Platteville, Wisconsin, Butler called his fiancée with news that shifted their personal lives: "we're going to have to change the date of our wedding, because we're going to the Super Bowl and it's on January 26th." This call marked the transition from a promising rookie to a champion, solidifying a legacy that would see him hold the Bears' scoring record for decades.

Reader's Guide

Butler played for the Chicago Bears from 1985 to 1995 and the Arizona Cardinals from 1996 to 1997. He kicked 31 field goals and all 51 extra point attempts as a rookie, and kicked three field goals in Super Bowl XX. His rookie scoring record stood until 2014. He was released by the Bears after the 1995 season. After retiring, he worked for UgMo Technologies and later returned to the University of Georgia to complete his undergraduate degree, graduating in May 2018. He served as an undergraduate assistant for the Bulldogs in 2016 and 2017.

Did You Know?

• Butler is the first kicker ever inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
• He set an NCAA record with 27 multiple field-goal games.
• He kicked a 60-yard field goal to beat Clemson in 1984, a school record.
• Upon his release after the 1995 season, he was the last remaining holdover from the Super Bowl XX team.