LeRoy Butler

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Butler was born in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was challenged by physical problems which forced him to wear leg braces and use a wheelchair at times during his childhood. He overcame his disability and excelled at high school football; he was named one of the 33 best Florida High School football players of all time in 2007. He went on to be a three-year starter playing college football for the Florida State Seminoles, and after a successful college career, he was selected in the second round (48th overall) of the 1990 NFL draft by the Packers. In his 12 seasons with the Packers, Butler was a four-time first-team All-Pro. Butler recorded a sack in the Packers' Super Bowl XXXI win over the New England Patriots, and he is recognized as the creator of the Lambeau Leap touchdown celebration. Butler was named a member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team and was enshrined in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

In Their Own Story

December 1993. The air at Lambeau Field bit through wool and down, freezing breath in the lungs of thousands. Against the Rams, the stadium hummed with tension until LeRoy Butler's eyes locked onto the quarterback's intent. Seeing the seam before it existed, he stepped into the passing lane, snatching the ball from thin air. The roar that followed was a physical force as he sprinted toward the end zone, the goal line rushing closer. But there was no kneeling, no pointing to the sky. With a surge of pure adrenaline, Butler veered left, launching himself off the turf and into the sea of green-and-gold arms waiting in the front row. For a split second, suspended between earth and crowd, he vanished into a human tidal wave of celebration. In that frozen moment, the game ended, but a new tradition was born, echoing through every touchdown that followed.

Reader's Guide

Butler attended Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Florida, and played under coach Corky Rogers. He played college football at Florida State University under head coach Bobby Bowden from 1986–1989. He was ineligible his freshman year due to academics. He played safety his first two seasons and moved to cornerback for his third season to replace Deion Sanders. He was a three-year starter, collecting 194 tackles and 9 interceptions. He is remembered for his role in the 'puntrooskie' trick play against Clemson in 1988. In the NFL, Butler was drafted in the second round (48th overall) of the 1990 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers. He began his rookie season as a backup cornerback, making his debut on September 9, 1990 against the Los Angeles Rams. He finished his rookie season with 24 solo tackles, six pass deflections, and three interceptions in 16 games with zero starts. In 1991, he started all 16 games, recording 63 combined tackles, three interceptions, and one fumble recovery. In 1992, he moved to strong safety after the Packers drafted cornerbacks in the first round of the previous two drafts. He signed a two-year, $1.36 million contract extension on October 13, 1992.

Did You Know?

• Butler created the Lambeau Leap touchdown celebration.
• He was a four-time first-team All-Pro.
• He recorded a sack in Super Bowl XXXI.
• He was named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.
• He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.