Even for a kicker, Kevin Butler had major swagger back in the 1980s when he became a Georgia legend and went on to ply his wares in the NFL for 13 seasons.
Butler was known for his long-range field goals, his antics and for making clutch kicks. He was widely accepted by his teammates, who nicknamed him “Butthead.”
Fast forward a few decades and three of Butler’s former Chicago teammates are NFL head coaches, and two are looking for a punter.
“If you want somebody who’s been there and knows what to expect of it, Drew falls into that category,” Kevin Butler said of his son, one of the top-rated punters in the NFL draft. “I think [Rams coach] Jeff Fisher and certainly [Panthers coach] Ron Rivera know what kind of person and kicker they are going to get out of my son.”
The Butlers haven’t heard from Leslie Frazier, another ex-Chicago Bear, who is the head coach at Minnesota.
Drew Butler averaged 45.2 yards on 168 career punts for Georgia. He placed 60 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and was not charged with a blocked punt.
All of that, makes Kevin Butler, who became a Bulldogs legend after making a 60-yarder to defeat No. 2-ranked Clemson in 1984, a very proud father.
“As a parent, you are just so very excited for the opportunity that he has put himself in a position for after school,” Butler said. “We’ve been supportive of everything that he’s done, certainly as the draft gets closer, I always just try to keep him balanced and keep his expectations in check.”
Butler was a fourth-round pick (105th overall) in 1985. Times have changed and teams don’t draft punters or kickers that high. However, Drew Butler is projected to be a fifth- or sixth-round pick. Last season, the Falcons made Matt Bosher the only punter drafted, in the sixth round.
“He’s worked his way into a position where a team is not going to bring him in to push somebody,” Kevin Butler said. “Drew has proven that he can kick it long and strong.”
Drew Butler, since punting in the Senior Bowl and at the scouting combine, has had six private workouts.
“They don’t waste the money on visits with kickers, but they do come and see you,” the elder Butler noted.
Drew has worked out for the Jets, Panthers, Rams, Jaguars, Browns and the Texans.
“It’s a very specific job, and they are in high demand every year,” Butler said. “I have to be able to show that I can help a team or maybe upgrade them.”
Butler, a Peachtree Ridge High grad, has leaned heavily on his father for help throughout his career.
“My dad has been my best friend and my coach,” Butler said. “He’s definitely helped me out in college from a mental standpoint and a technical standpoint. He’s been a huge help. He’s already walked in these shoes and to be able kind of pick his brain and see how these things work and these coaches think, and how the business of the NFL goes, has been very helpful.”
The Butlers could become only the second father-son kicking specialists to reach the NFL, joining English place-kickers Bobby (1968-74, Denver, New York Jets) and Ian Howfield (1991, Houston).
In addition to Butler, one of the top kickers in the draft is Blair Walsh, another ex-Bulldog. Walsh struggled last season, making only 21 of 35 field-goal attempts, but his three previous seasons were highly productive. A strong showing at the combine helped his draft status.
Because Drew Butler and Walsh are buddies, the elder Butler has helped mentor Walsh through the process, too.
For the Butlers, it was tough watching Walsh struggle.
“Certainly, all of the Georgia fans, we kind of cried and hurt with him as the year went on,” Kevin Butler said. “He got into a little bit of a jam out there on the field. He never really let it bother him to a point where he became distracted and didn’t keep concentrating.”
After the season, Walsh worked on the leg motion on his kicks.
“He changed his kicking a little bit,” Kevin Butler said. “He worked on it with his coach, and he’s continually working on it. His combine was the best by far of the kickers.”
Walsh believes his woes are over. “We’ve been doing intense training to make sure that I’m in the best shape of my life, and we’re making sure that my technique is fundamentally correct,” Walsh said. “I have to maintain my power and speed.”
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