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Doug Buffone, a former Bears linebacker who made a seamless transition from a prominent football career to a successful second life as a popular Chicago sports radio personality and businessman, was found dead in his Chicago home Monday, according to police. He was 70.
Paramedics were called to Buffone’s home in the 1200 block of West Lexington Street around 1:30 p.m. Monday, according to police and fire officials. He died of natural causes, they said.
Buffone played 14 seasons for the Bears — tied for second most in franchise history — making 1,257 tackles and surpassing the 100-tackle mark in seven seasons.
He was selected in the fourth round of the 1966 NFL draft out of Louisville. Buffone retired after the 1979 season with 24 career interceptions to lead all Bears linebackers. The first two interceptions of his career came off future Hall of Famers Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas.
Born on June 27, 1944, in Yatesboro, Pa., Buffone was the son of a coal miner. He attended Shannock Valley High School. At Louisville, Buffone played center and linebacker for coach Frank Camp. He led Louisville in tackles three straight years and remains third on the all-time career list for tackles made with 479.
Former Bears teammates remembered Buffone as an affable, fun-loving athlete with an engaging personality.
“He was a great player and a great friend,” former Bears tight end and coach Mike Ditka said. “I have nothing but great memories about him.”
“Doug was a Bear. Besides being a hell of a football player, he was a hell of a guy.”
According to Bears media guides, Buffone also had 10 fumble recoveries, nine forced fumbles and 37 sacks.
“It seemed to me he was lucky that he never had any serious injuries while he played with me,” Dick Butkus said. “He had like bird legs but a developed upper body. He was just a good guy and we had a lot of fun.”
Many believe Buffone’s accomplishments on the field were overshadowed because he played next to a Hall of Fame teammate in Butkus.
“I never heard him gripe,” Butkus said. “He was a Pro Bowler in my eyes on my team.”
In recent years, Buffone hosted a Bears postgame radio show on WSCR-AM 670 with Ed O’Bradovich. In a statement, O'Bradovich said: “Being with Doug the last 49 years, I know that no one person could love a family more than Doug. I know that no one person that played the game of football loved it more than Doug did. The bottom line is he was true and loyal to his family, to football and to his friends. I cannot tell you how much I will miss him.”
Former Bears running back Ronnie Bull recalled the challenge of having to practice against the likes of Buffone, O'Bradovich and Butkus.
“We kept saying, 'This is practice. Don't take it out on us,'“ Bull said
Mitch Rosen, WSCR operations director, called Buffone “a Chicago original.”
“Not only a great football player, a great person on the radio but more than anything, just a great individual,” Rosen said. “Somebody that everybody loved. When you met Doug Buffone you fell in love with him, and that's how we feel.”
At the time of his retirement, Buffone was the Bears' all-time leader in games played with 186.
“We are terribly saddened to hear of Doug’s passing,” Bears Chairman George McCaskey said in a statement. “He will always be celebrated as one of the Bears greats for his contributions to his team and the fans who loved him. There was no one tougher on Sundays than Doug Buffone. And he proved it each week over his 14-year career, a tenure record he shared with another great, Bill George, for 33 seasons. His retirement ended a link to our founder as he was the last active player to play for George Halas.”
Buffone is survived by his wife, Dana, and twin daughters Heather and Hailey.
RIP Doug. Thanks for the memories
Paramedics were called to Buffone’s home in the 1200 block of West Lexington Street around 1:30 p.m. Monday, according to police and fire officials. He died of natural causes, they said.
Buffone played 14 seasons for the Bears — tied for second most in franchise history — making 1,257 tackles and surpassing the 100-tackle mark in seven seasons.
He was selected in the fourth round of the 1966 NFL draft out of Louisville. Buffone retired after the 1979 season with 24 career interceptions to lead all Bears linebackers. The first two interceptions of his career came off future Hall of Famers Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas.
Born on June 27, 1944, in Yatesboro, Pa., Buffone was the son of a coal miner. He attended Shannock Valley High School. At Louisville, Buffone played center and linebacker for coach Frank Camp. He led Louisville in tackles three straight years and remains third on the all-time career list for tackles made with 479.
Former Bears teammates remembered Buffone as an affable, fun-loving athlete with an engaging personality.
“He was a great player and a great friend,” former Bears tight end and coach Mike Ditka said. “I have nothing but great memories about him.”
“Doug was a Bear. Besides being a hell of a football player, he was a hell of a guy.”
According to Bears media guides, Buffone also had 10 fumble recoveries, nine forced fumbles and 37 sacks.
“It seemed to me he was lucky that he never had any serious injuries while he played with me,” Dick Butkus said. “He had like bird legs but a developed upper body. He was just a good guy and we had a lot of fun.”
Many believe Buffone’s accomplishments on the field were overshadowed because he played next to a Hall of Fame teammate in Butkus.
“I never heard him gripe,” Butkus said. “He was a Pro Bowler in my eyes on my team.”
In recent years, Buffone hosted a Bears postgame radio show on WSCR-AM 670 with Ed O’Bradovich. In a statement, O'Bradovich said: “Being with Doug the last 49 years, I know that no one person could love a family more than Doug. I know that no one person that played the game of football loved it more than Doug did. The bottom line is he was true and loyal to his family, to football and to his friends. I cannot tell you how much I will miss him.”
Former Bears running back Ronnie Bull recalled the challenge of having to practice against the likes of Buffone, O'Bradovich and Butkus.
“We kept saying, 'This is practice. Don't take it out on us,'“ Bull said
Mitch Rosen, WSCR operations director, called Buffone “a Chicago original.”
“Not only a great football player, a great person on the radio but more than anything, just a great individual,” Rosen said. “Somebody that everybody loved. When you met Doug Buffone you fell in love with him, and that's how we feel.”
At the time of his retirement, Buffone was the Bears' all-time leader in games played with 186.
“We are terribly saddened to hear of Doug’s passing,” Bears Chairman George McCaskey said in a statement. “He will always be celebrated as one of the Bears greats for his contributions to his team and the fans who loved him. There was no one tougher on Sundays than Doug Buffone. And he proved it each week over his 14-year career, a tenure record he shared with another great, Bill George, for 33 seasons. His retirement ended a link to our founder as he was the last active player to play for George Halas.”
Buffone is survived by his wife, Dana, and twin daughters Heather and Hailey.
RIP Doug. Thanks for the memories
