PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame defensive back Jack Butler died Saturday morning following a lengthy battle with a staph infection. He was 85.
Butler’s son John said his father’s heart stopped suddenly. Butler had been hospitalized for several months while dealing with a staph infection that had plagued him off and on since he retired in 1959.
A Pittsburgh native, Butler made the Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent out of St. Bonaventure in 1951. He developed into one of the top defensive backs of his era. He played nine seasons with the Steelers, collecting 52 interceptions. He made the Pro Bowl four times and was named to the All-NFL first team three times.
Butler was elected to the Hall of Fame by the senior committee in 2012.
