If any athlete is lucky, there will be one play that defines their career and has them remembered by at least one fan base. But for former Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler, well, he is more than lucky. While playing for the Green Bay Packers, Butler created one of the most iconic celebrations in sports history once he got to the National Football League.
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Though he began his life wearing leg braces and spent his childhood in a wheelchair, Butler created some of the most influential moments of any football player throughout the 1980s and 90s.
And now, more than twenty years after he hung up his cleats, Butler will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. As current NFL players are suiting up for training camp and prepping for preseason games, the football world will honor the contributions the Super Bowl champion gave to the great game we all love.
As a cornerback, it wouldn't be a common thing for Butler to have a football in his hands, but perhaps the most memorable play of his career ended with him doing more than just catching the ball.
One Small Step for a Defensive Back, One Giant Leap for Green Bay
Photo by Brian Bahr via Getty Images
The Green Bay Packers are one of the most famous American sports franchises in the world. And though the cheese heads, yellow helmets and star quarterbacks are widely known, it may be a creation of Butler's that is the most famous.
NFL referees have cracked down on a ton of end zone celebrations, but the Lambeau Leap is not one of them. In fact, it was Butler who began the tradition of jumping into the first row at Lambeau Field after scoring a touchdown.
This is the story of the first Lambeau Leap.
The day after Christmas in 1993, head coach Mike Holmgren and the Packers hosted the Los Angeles Raiders. In the fourth quarter, with Green Bay leading, 14-0, Butler forced a fumble by Randy Jordan. The ball was picked up by defensive end Reggie White, who then lateraled the ball back to Butler at the Raiders' 25-yard line.
The LeRoy Butler story:
▪️Born with deformed feet, had to use wheelchair and leg braces
▪️At 8, found out he could walk when his sister accidentally knocked him out of his wheelchair
▪️Became All-American and 4-time All-Pro
▪️Invented Lambeau LeapHappy birthday @leap36! pic.twitter.com/nyd7CGR13I
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) July 20, 2019
After scoring his first defensive touchdown of his NFL career, Butler pointed to some fans in the south end zone and jumped up towards them, though he didn't actually get into the stands. The leap only reached outstretched arms of the fans, beginning what is now one of the best and most famous touchdown celebrations in football history, which Packers players still use today.
After scoring his first touchdown of his NFL career, Butler pointed to some fans in the south end zone and jumped up towards them, though he didn't actually get into the stands. The leap only reached outstretched arms of the fans, beginning what is now one of the best and most famous touchdown celebrations in football history, which Packers players still use today.
Photo by Kena Krutsinger/Getty Images
Butler's only other Lambeau Leap came during the 1998 season.
Butler finished the 1993 season with 90 tackles, six interceptions, and two forced fumbles. That earned him his first Pro Bowl selections and First-Team All-Pro, something he would do three more times each. He was also part of Hall-of-Fame quarterback Brett Favre's team that won Super Bowl XXXI in 1996. Butler forced 13 fumbles during his 12-year career with the Packers and had 10 fumble recoveries. He was named to the 1990s NFL All-Decade Team.
As the first defensive back in NFL history to enter the 20 sack and 20 interception club, it is no surprise he was elected into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 2007, just five years after he was forced to retire from a shoulder injury after tackling Atlanta Falcons running back Jamal Anderson.
The Wisconsin Assembly declared February 29, 2020 "LeRoy's Leap Day" to honor the man gave Packers fans the ultimate celebration back in 1993.
It was an eventful night as we held our last Council meeting in the Current Council Chambers.
The Mayor presented a number of proclamations including one for LeRoy's Leap Day- to support LeRoy Butler in his efforts to raise funds for @HebronHouse. #Waukesha pic.twitter.com/yWguPHkpOi
— cityofwaukesha (@CityofWaukesha) February 21, 2020
The former Packers star was one of the best FSU and Green Bay defenders to ever play, but it's two plays, and one iconic celebration, that define Butler's legacy.
Nowadays, it's commonplace to see Green Bay Packers Players leap into a sea of green and yellow jerseys after a big play in a preseason, regular season or playoff game. Regardless of when it happens, the Lambeau Leap is always an ESPN highlight reel moment.
This post was originally published on June 24, 2020.
