Butkus Award & History

The Butkus Award goes to the nation's best linebacker.

Butkus Award

Nation's Top Linebacker

History and Watch Lists
- Bednarik | Biletnikoff | Butkus | Davey O'Brien | Doak Walker
- Lou Groza | Lombardi | Mackey | Maxwell | Nagurski | Outland
- Ray Guy | Rimington | Thorpe | Walter Camp

Ranking the All-Time Winners
- The 25 Greatest Heisman Winners | No. 26 to 50 | No. 51 to 77

Heisman Winners - Top 5 Races, Player to Not Win, and More
- 2010 to Present | 2000 to 2009 | 1990 to 1999 | 1980 to 1989
- 1970 to 1979 | 1960 to 1969 | 1950 to 1959 | 1940 to 1949 | 1930 to 1935

Butkus Award Winners

2012	Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
2011	Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2010	Von Miller, Texas A&M
2009	Rolando McClain, Alabama
2008	Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
2007	James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
2006	Patrick Willis, Ole Miss
2005	Paul Posluszny, Penn State
2004	Derrick Johnson, Texas
2003	Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma
2002	E.J. Henderson, Maryland
2001	Rocky Calmus, Oklahoma
2000	Dan Morgan, Miami
1999	LaVar Arrington, Penn State
1998	Chris Claiborne, USC
1997	Andy Katzenmoyer, Ohio State
1996	Matt Russell, Colorado
1995	Kevin Hardy, Illinois
1994	Dana Howard, Illinois
1993	Trev Alberts, Nebraska
1992	Marvin Jones, Florida State
1991	Erick Anderson, Michigan
1990	Alfred Williams, Colorado
1989	Percy Snow, Michigan State
1988	Derrick Thomas, Alabama
1987	Paul McGowan, Florida State
1986	Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma
1985	Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma