Kevin Butler is a former American football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. He was born on July 24, 1962, in Savannah, Georgia, and attended the University of Georgia, where he played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs.
Butler was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 1985 NFL Draft and played for the team for 11 seasons. He was a key player in the Bears' Super Bowl XX victory in 1986, scoring 10 points in the game. He also set a Super Bowl record by kicking a 46-yard field goal in the second quarter.
During his time with the Bears, Butler became one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history. He made 243 of 321 field goal attempts, giving him a career field goal percentage of 75.7%. He also made 372 of 377 extra point attempts, giving him a career extra point percentage of 98.7%.
Butler was named to the Pro Bowl in 1985 and 1991 and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 1985. He was also named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team.
In 1996, Butler signed with the Arizona Cardinals and played for the team for two seasons. He made 47 of 60 field goal attempts and 63 of 64 extra point attempts during his time with the Cardinals.
Butler retired from the NFL after the 1997 season. He finished his career with 1,208 points scored, which ranks him 35th on the NFL's all-time scoring list.
After retiring from football, Butler became a golf professional and worked as a golf instructor. He also worked as a football analyst for ESPN and the SEC Network.
In 2019, Butler was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the University of Georgia's Circle of Honor, which recognizes former student-athletes who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic program.
Overall, Kevin Butler had a successful career as an NFL kicker, earning numerous accolades and helping his team win a Super Bowl. He is remembered as one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history and a key player for the Chicago Bears during their dominant 1985 season.
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