It’s criminal that LeRoy Butler @leap36 has yet to be inducted into the HOF, and here’s why (a thread)

Butler was a first team all pro 4 times (1993, 1996, 1997, & 1998) during his career. That is the third highest total ever for a DB, tied with names like Brian Dawkins, Herb Adderly, Darrel Revis, and Troy Polamalu.

Butler was the first player in NFL history to get 20 career sacks and 20 career interceptions. To this day he is one of only 15 players to accomplish this feat and one of 4 to get at least 35 interceptions and 20 sacks in his career.

According to Pro Football Reference, Butler’s HOF monitor (a measure of a player’s chances to make the HOF) score was 97.33, 20th all time among DBs. Of the top 26 DBs in this metric, he’s the only one not in the HOF who is eligible (Woodson & Revis are not eligible).

Butler was selected as first team all decade for the 1990s. He is the only offensive or defensive player chosen to the first team 1990s all decade team that isn’t currently in the HOF.

Butler was an integral part of Green Bay’s 1996 championship. During that season, he was a first team all pro as he grabbed 5 interceptions, had a career high 6.5 sacks, led the team to be the best scoring defense in the NFL, and recorded a sack in the super bowl.

That 1996 season also saw Butler get an approximate value (AV) of 21 for the year. This is tied for 45th all time, 23rd all time for a defensive player, and 2nd all time for a safety. In addition, Butler’s 1993 season was also top 10 for a safety all time with an AV of 19.

In addition to stats and accomplishments, the HOF is about impact on the game. Butler left a lasting impact by inventing perhaps the most famous TD celebration in the NFL, the Lambeau leap, after scoring a defensive TD in 1993.

In conclusion, there is no excuse. Butler belongs in the HOF this year!