NFL alum Bobby Butler as a player was not known as a slow starter on the field.
The Florida native actually started all four years when he played cornerback in Tallahassee for Florida State.
He was a first round pick by the Falcons in 1981 and started 126 games during his 12-year NFL career as defensive back in Atlanta. He retired after the 1992 season.
Butler left Florida State just eight credits short of a social science degree. While he often thought of returning to campus to get that degree, it was not his top priority. Eventually, Butler finally did return to school for his diploma… just 37 years after leaving FSU.
During that nearly four-decade span, Butler changed priorities and became an assistant pastor for the Destiny Christian Ministries. He also co-founded Kids & Pros with his former Falcons teammate Buddy Curry. The non-profit teaches football fundamentals skills and character lessons to young players.
Butler’s interest in religion and helping others never waned. At age 65, Butler last month earned a master’s degree in ministry from the Luther Rice College & Seminary in Georgia. He completed his online courses in only 2 ½ years.
“I don’t recommend school for 65-year-olds,” Butler says. “It took everything I had. I had a late start, but it was well worth it. I knew I wanted to attend Bible school; I like learning at this point in my life.”
Butler at his age gives new meaning to the term “continuing education”. He is leaning towards learning more about the Bible and continuing his education in religion.
“I feel there’s a need to take some Greek and Hebrew,” says Butler, who also records a daily spiritual message on social media. “We think everything written in the Bible was in English, but it was not. I want to figure out what all those words mean as almost the entire Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament was in Greek.”
We at NFL Alumni salute Bobby Butler who serves as a role model for all of us. It is never too late to return to school for that college degree.
