Dick Butkus.Photo:Cindy Ord/Getty

Dick Butkus

Cindy Ord/Getty

Dick Butkus, NFL Hall of Fame linebacker, died as a result of a “cerebrovascular accident,“CBS Sportssaid on Wednesday, according to his death certificate from the Los Angeles Department of Public Health. The condition is more commonly known as a stroke.

PEOPLE confirmed with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office that the Chicago Bears legendpassed awayat the age of 80 on Oct. 5.TMZ Sportswas first to break the news.

The Bears organization also shared a statement from Butkus’ family that the retired athlete “died peacefully in his sleep overnight.”

“The Butkus Family confirms that football and entertainment legend Dick Butkus died peacefully in his sleep overnight at home in Malibu, Calif.,” the statement said. “The Butkus family is gathering with Dick’s wife Helen. They appreciate your prayers and support.”

His professional football career began in college where he was a linebacker at the University of Illinois from 1962 to 1964. One of his most defining moments during that time was winning the Heisman Trophy.

Dick Butkus.AP Photo

Dick Butkus

AP Photo

“All I ever wanted to do was to play football. It was a human factor that got me to come here to Illinois,” Butkus said in 2016 after theUniversity of Illinoisretired his number. “I’m very proud to be a former Illini. I’ll always be an Illini.”

When the pro baller retired in 1973, he left the sport with an enviable record — 1,020 tackles, 22 interceptions and 27 fumble recoveries. Butkus was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

Though he was no longer running plays, Butkus remained close to the game. He worked as a sports commentator, still rooting for his home team.

“I loved doing that. The Bears were so good and when we went to the Super Bowl, it was a great year to broadcast because you knew they were going to win, and you just make it exciting,” Butkus toldWGNlast year. “They were something else. That team was really something, man.”

Dick Butkus as Ed Klawicki on ‘My Two Dads’.getty/nbc

Former football great Dick Butkus rehearses his role of Klawicki, the proprietor of an all-night diner in New York’s Greenwich Village, for an upcoming episode of the NBC situation comedy “My Two Dads.” Butkus, whose name is synonymous with football, has also done a pilot for his own show for NBC.

getty/nbc

He didn’t stop there.

Butkus also caught the acting bug onMy Two Dads, which ran from September 1987 to April 1990. He had a recurring role on the sitcom as diner owner Ed Klawicki, who was also a former football player.

source: people.com