The Butkus Award, instituted in 1985, is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football. The award, named in honor of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker, Dick Butkus, is presented by the Butkus Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports a number of health and wellness activities including the "I Play Clean" anti-steroid program. The award was first established by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, which relinquished control of the award in 2008.

Traditionally, the award was given only to the top collegiate linebacker. The Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to include high school and professional winners as part of a makeover by the Butkus family to help end anabolic steroid abuse among young athletes.

Patrick Willis is the only player to receive the Butkus Award in more than one category. He won the college Butkus Award in 2006 while at Ole Miss. In 2009, he won the professional Butkus Award while with the San Francisco 49ers.

Luke August Kuechly ( /ˈkikli/, German pronunciation: [ˈkʏçlɪ]; born April 20, 1991) is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Boston College, and was a three-time All-American. He was selected by the Panthers with the 9th overall pick of the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Kuechly was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, where he was rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com. As a senior in 2008 he had 130 tackles, a sack, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception as a safety. As a junior in 2007 he had 147 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and a touchdown as a linebacker. He helped his team go 15-0 and win the Division 1 state title in 2007. Kuechly was a two-time All Greater Catholic League selection at St. Xavier, gaining first-team honors in 2008.

Kuechly attended Boston College, where he played for the Boston College Eagles football team from 2009 to 2011.

Rolando Marquise McClain (born July 14, 1989) is an American football linebacker for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Alabama, was recognized as a unanimous All-American and the best college linebacker in the nation, and helped Alabama win the 2010 BCS National Championship. He was selected by the Oakland Raiders with the eighth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

McClain was born in Athens, Alabama. He attended Decatur High School in Decatur, Alabama, where he played linebacker and tight end for the Decatur Red Raiders high school football team. As a senior he was a Orlando Sentinel All-Southern team selection, Parade All-American, and was selected to play in the first Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In high school, he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, though recent tests seemed to indicate that was a misdiagnosis.

McClain received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Alabama, where he played for coach Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide football team from 2007 to 2009. As a true freshman in 2007, he started 8 of 13 games for the Crimson Tide, finishing fourth on the team in tackles with 75. He also recorded two interceptions and a sack and was a freshmen All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection. During his sophomore season in 2008, McClain compiled 95 tackles, three sacks, and an interception, earning Associated Press (AP) third-team All-American honors, and was a first-team All-SEC selection.

Richard Marvin "Dick" Butkus (born December 9, 1942) is a former American football player for the Chicago Bears. He was drafted in 1965 and he is also widely regarded as one of the best and most durable linebackers of all time. Butkus started as a football player for the University of Illinois and the Chicago Bears. He became a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. He played nine seasons in the NFL for the Chicago Bears. Billed at 6 ft 3 in, 245 lbs., he was one of the most feared and intimidating linebackers of his time.

The youngest of eight children, Lithuanian American Richard Marvin "Dick" Butkus grew up in the Roseland area of Chicago's south side. He played high school football for coach Bernie O'Brien at Chicago Vocational High School.

Despite growing up in Chicago, Butkus was not a Bears fan, preferring to attend Chicago Cardinals games at Comiskey Park and watch Thanksgiving games between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.

Butkus played center and linebacker from 1962 through 1964 at the University of Illinois. He was twice a unanimous All-American, in 1963 and 1964. He won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football in 1963 as the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player, and was named the American Football Coaches Association Player of the Year in 1964. Butkus finished sixth in Heisman Trophy balloting in 1963 and third in 1964, a rare accomplishment for both linemen and defensive players.

Von Miller (born March 26, 1989) is an American football linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Texas A&M University, earned All-American honors twice, and was recognized as the outstanding college linebacker in the nation. The Broncos drafted him with the second overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, and he was a Pro Bowl selection and received All-Pro honors as an NFL rookie.

Miller was born in Dallas, Texas to parents Von and Gloria Miller. He attended DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas, where in his junior year he recorded 37 tackles, 7 sacks, 14 tackles for loss (TFL) and 12 quarterback hurries. As a senior, he was named the District 8-5A Defensive MVP after making 76 tackles, 6 sacks, and 14 TFL. He played with future Aggie teammates Tony Jerod-Eddie, Cyrus Gray, and Garrick Williams.

Rivals.com rated him as the 29th-best prospect in Texas and the 15th-best weakside linebacker in the nation. Rivals.com listed his weight as 210 pounds.