Buffone was an entrepreneur, and part owner of several Chicago area businesses, including "Gibson's Steak House", one of the most popular nightspots in Chicago's Rush Street area, and Digital One, a video production and streaming video company in the Chicago suburbs. I was fortunate to meet him a few times at autographing sessions and was in awe of how he handled everyone with a smile, joke and even a story. You played the game with unmatchable passion! Paramedics and police were summoned to Buffone's home on Chicago's West Side and found a 70-year-old man dead due to natural causes, said police spokesman Thomas Sweeney. He served as an unofficial ambassador for the team he loved and the game he devoted himself to, earning legions of friends and admirers through his unfailing graciousness and good-hearted nature. "There was no one tougher on Sundays than Doug Buffone." In retirement, Buffone owned restaurants and was a studio host and football analyst for a Chicago radio station. Very sorry for your loss Doug will be missed by friends,family and the sports world my heart goes out to his family. "It's the RIP Our prayers to your family! What a guy! Remember Doug "Dike" from my days at U of L. He was a star (I was nobody---Just a regular student) but he always took the time to talk. (Reuters) - Doug Buffone, a linebacker who played 14 seasons for the National Football League's Chicago Bears before retiring in 1980 as the franchise's all Rest in peace with all the angels and saints. "I don't know," he said. Dana and family, be assured of my prayers. 2 Alabama mounts massive comeback amid ejections to beat Auburn, claim SEC title, Ravens GM says he's 'optimistic' team can get a deal done with QB Lamar Jackson, Aaron Rodgers offers vague update on his NFL future: 'All the answers are right inside me'. I met Buz at the Bears training camp in Rensselaer, Indiana in 1969, through his teammate and my best friend, Willie Holman. with funeral mass to follow at 6 pm. the former Bears linebacker who died A native of Yatesboro, Pennsylvania, Buffone was a fourth-round draft pick by the Bears. He attended Shannock Valley High School. Doug will be missed but not forgotten. He was always engaging, wore his heart on his sleeve, and was a conduit to the Bears fans through the great Doug and OB Post Game shows. He was 70. Your legacy will live forever in my heart and mind.. Bear Down! Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Great Player----Better Person. 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. He will be missed. Doug Buffone will be missed. Dougs passion for the game of football and the Chicago Bears was unmatched and he will be missed. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. only met a couple times.. truly a class act .. Condolences to his friends and family. A savage warrior with a heart of gold. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. He played the game with passion and conviction. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. My prayers and condolences for his family and dear friends. Doug, God has brought you home for the rest and comfort of a life well lived. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1966 NFL draft out of Louisville. Beyond my incredible respect for him he was a guy I loved, just like everybody I know who ever met him. "Sending our heartfelt condolences to family & friends of ex-#Bears LB Doug Buffone, who has passed away at age 70,"the Chicago Bears tweeted. A visitation service for Buffone will be held at Old St. Pat's Church on Friday from 2-6 p.m. A funeral service will follow. ", "His special relationship with Bears fans continued beyond his playing days, first through founding the Bear Report and later as one of the pioneers and long-time contributors to Chicagos first sports radio station, WSCR. For some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. Doug has already entered the gates of Heaven. After his playing days were over , had a great career doing radio with OB. Thank you for your friendship. And they've made it a very big deal now. A true friend. Chicago Bears linebacker Doug Buffone. Former Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher tweeted about Buffone's death Monday. I never had the honor and privilege of meeting Doug but I listened to him on the radio religiously. Buffone's 14 seasons in Chicago are tied for second most in club history. the former Bears linebacker who died April 20th at age 70 of natural causes. Buffone retired after the 1979 season with 24 career interceptions to lead all Bears linebackers. My father Ernie Poulos enjoyed your company so much. There was no one tougher on Sundays than Doug Buffone.". Sympathy to your family. But Butkus never gives it extended thought. May you find comfort in knowing that suffering and death will end here on earth. I have so much inspiration from his work ethic, his authenticity, approach to life, and he has helped me find strength in difficult times with his outlook, wisdom, laughs, and smiles. Buffone, a fourth-round draft pick whose 24 interceptions remain the most in club history for a linebacker, was found dead in his Chicago home, the coroners office said. ", "His was a life really well lived," WSCR-AM broadcaster Dan Bernstein said. The pride Doug brought to the community in which he grew up could never be measured. and Love. [1] Buffone and O'Bradovich re-signed with the Score in late August 2009. There was no one tougher on Sundays than Doug Buffone.". Buffones team record for games played was ultimately eclipsed by former long snapper Patrick Mannelly, who now holds the mark with 245. Doug was one of the best partners I ever had on the air, a treat to listen to on his own, an outstanding football player and a better man. The Bears selected him in the fourth round of the 1966 NFL draft and he chose the team over a better contract offer from San Diego in the old AFL. He was a great player and even better person after football. We are praying for you and family. Paramedics and police were summoned to Buffone's home on Chicago's West Side and found a 70-year-old man dead due to natural causes, said police spokesman Thomas Sweeney. Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. It seemed to me he was lucky that he never had any serious injuries while he played with me, Dick Butkus said. ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Paramedics were called to Buffone's Chicago home Monday afternoon, where they found the popular linebacker-turned-broadcaster unresponsive, police said. CHICAGO -- Former Bears linebacker Doug Buffone, whose reputation for being a passionate football player carried over into his career as a sports broadcaster, WebAge, Biography and Wiki. There was no one tougher on Sundays than Doug Buffone. "That bitterness never, ever was there with Doug ever," he said. We partied and danced Disco there frequently after ball games. All the accolades he received, he deserved, and then some. Postgames will never be the same without him. "It's the old syndrome," Butkus said Tuesday. Buffone, a fourth-round draft pick whose 24 interceptions remain the most in club history for a linebacker, was found dead in his Chicago home, the coroner's office said. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Who's Who In Town Caught In Tangled Webio Deal", "Former Bear Doug Buffone found dead at home", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Doug_Buffone&oldid=1140680500, Players of American football from Pennsylvania, People from Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from April 2015, All articles needing additional references, Articles using infobox templates with no data rows, NFL player missing current team parameter, Infobox NFL biography articles missing alt text and caption, Infobox NFL biography articles with old NFL.com URL, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Career Powered by . His retirement ended a link to our founder as he was the last active player to play for George Halas. 500) as one of seven children. He will be deeply missed. Could the Cowboys look at a running back in first round again? My condolences to the Buffone family. And he proved it each week over his 14-year career, a tenure record he shared with another great, Bill George, for 33 seasons. No cause of death was released. Jr.(Harry) Paul, Bill, John and Doug were always together. So admired, and deservedly so. He was 70. Doug was also a successful businessman dating back to his playing career, a restaurateur and bar owner and the founder of what is now known as the Bear Report. "You didn't get the exposure like you do today," Butkus said. He left an indelible impression on the market's young, aspiring broadcasters, including former colleague and current co-host of ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike program, Mike Greenberg. Chicago Bears legend Doug Buffone, who played in 186 games for the organization and is considered to be one of the greatest players to ever wear the teams to laugh at yourself. You never gave up on the field and you always wished the best for the Bears. Gonna miss him. Heartfelt sympathy to the Buffone family from an old Yatesboro neighbor and friend. "People talk about all that. CHICAGO -- Former Bears linebacker Doug Buffone, whose reputation for being a passionate football player carried over into his career as a sports broadcaster, Buffone played collegiate football for Louisville. thank you Doug for making the Bears watchable , your news radio great God Bless rest in peace >>>AMEN. "His was a life really well lived," WSCR-AM broadcaster Dan Bernstein said. I hope that Doug and Norm Van Lear reunite and I can just hear the 2 of them. Always enjoyed watching Doug play LB alongside Butkus and Brubacher, the 3 B's. Godspeed to all concerned. RIP. Doug Sr was a man of honor and humor, and will be missed by many. (CBS) Legendary Chicago Bear and 670 The Score Bears postgame co-host Doug Buffone has died at 70. Choice is: Ex: Ray Lewis, Junior Seau. Doug Buffone will be missed.". Today is a sad day for Bears nation, former Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher posted on Twitter. Douglas John Buffone (June 27, 1944 April 20, 2015) was an American football linebacker in the National Football League. Doug Buffone will be missed." Loving brother of Sam, Dennis, Joseph, Debbie, Donna Jeanne and Tina. ~Ps. "That bitterness never, ever was there with Doug, ever," he said. Buffone in recent years hosted a Bears postgame radio show on WSCR-AM with former teammate Ed O'Bradovich. ", "For 15 seasons, Doug Buffone's play on the football field brought fear to his opponents but joy to his legions of fans here in Chicago," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. (Chicago Tribune historical photo). It's funny how we strangers can call him Doug, but that's who he was to us. Former Chicago Bears linebacker Doug Buffone's legacy stretches far beyond the football field. The first two interceptions of his career came off future Hall of Famers Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas. "He was a very special guy.". Buffone, a fourth-round draft pick whose 24 interceptions remain the most in club history for a linebacker, was found dead in his Chicago home, the coroners office I never met Mr. Dougbut I loved to listen to him and his buddy OB, after a Bears win/loss, AND learned alot about football. Doug was very passionate about the Bears and how they played! His rebound downs Marian Catholic. I send my sympathy and prayers to Doug's (Dyke's) family. Great player, sportscaster and Chicagoan. Paramedics were called to Buffone's Chicago home Monday afternoon, where they found the popular linebacker-turned-broadcaster unresponsive, police said. I was 10 when I attended tha bobby Douglas football camp at moose heart in the suburbs I remember Doug I got his autograph and recall was very nice and happy to be there rip go bears, My condolences on the painful loss of Doug Buffone. To me, I loved the game and it was all about playing football and to get drafted and lo and behold play for your home city and have a guy like (defensive end Ed) O'Bradovich that I used to watch at Illiinois and Gale. "We lost one of our greats. Tribune reporter Carlos Sadovi contributed. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. He channeled his passion for the team and sport into a successful career as a Chicago sports radio personality. He spoke at the Fenwick Fathers' Club several times about how much he enjoyed his own high school football days. "It drove him nuts when we didn't play well, and we always appreciated that he wore his heart on his sleeve because we knew how much he cared," McCaskey said. In a statement, Hall of Famer Dick Butkus, who played alongside Buffone on the Bears for seven years, said a "great man" was lost. DOUG YOU REMIND ME OF MY BROTHER WHO DIED MANY YEARS AGO. Following his collegiate career, Buffone was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 1966 NFL Draft and the eighth round of the American Football League Draft by the San Diego Chargers. RIP Doug Buffone. Buffone played in 186 games for the Bears, making 1,257 tackles and going over the 100-tackle mark in seven seasons. Butkus said he had been planning to call Buffone to check in last week but never did. Doug was my football hero. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. Doug gave much pleasure and smiles to all of Chicago once he came aboard his Rookie year. "But that kind of floored me when my son called me and said what had happened. The (NFL) has just done a great job of marketing the game. He was married to Dana. You will be greatly missed old friend. Gone but never forgotten. 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