Greg Buttle
Encyclopedia
Gregory Ellis Buttle is a retired American football
linebacker
for the New York Jets
. He played college football
at Penn State University. He was named a Consensus All-American in 1975. In 2005, he was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame
.
. While attending Mainland Regional High School
in Linwood. Buttle not only excelled as a 4-sport letterman in football
, basketball
, baseball
and track and field
but also was a champion oarsman
while on the Margate City
Beach Patrol as well as participating in musical theatre. He is a member of the Ocean Rowing Hall of Fame.
"as fine a linebacker as any prospect produced by this school," he still holds the school records for tackles in a game (24), and season (165). He stood atop the Penn State career tackles list for over 30 years (until Paul Posluszny
surpassed his mark of 343 versus Wisconsin
on November 4, 2006). In 2000 Buttle was honored with the Butkus Silver Anniversary Award, which honors the top college linebacker from 25 years ago. He has been named a Penn State All-Time NFL Player.
by the New York Jets
for whom he would play 9 seasons
(1976–1984) Buttle helped the Jets as starting outside linebacker. He had two interceptions to key a big comeback, which ultimately fell short, in the Jet's 1981 playoff game against Buffalo
. This was their first playoff game since the 1969 season. He was a key member of defensive coordinator Joe
Gardi's Swarm defense which included fellow Nittany Lion
Lance Mehl
, as well as the famed “New York Sack Exchange
” defensive line. Buttle was cut in August 1985 by Joe Walton
.
in New York City
, alongside play-by-play man Ian Eagle
, for Jets preseason games, and hosts Jets Gameday on the Jets Radio Network and 1050 ESPN Radio
alongside Don LaGreca. He also serves as an analyst on the SportsNet New York
studio show Jets Nation.
in general arts and sciences from Penn State University. He lives in Northport, New York
with his wife, Rita, son Greg Jr. and two daughters, Christina and Allegra.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Penn State University. He was named a Consensus All-American in 1975. In 2005, he was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame
Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame
The Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame honors elite athletes who have roots in Nassau County, New York. The Hall of Fame presentation takes places at the Nassau County Sports Commission "Salute to Champions" Awards Dinner annually every April.-Inductees:...
.
High school
Buttle grew up in Linwood, New JerseyLinwood, New Jersey
Linwood is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 7,092.Linwood was originally incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 20, 1889, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, based on the...
. While attending Mainland Regional High School
Mainland Regional High School (New Jersey)
Mainland Regional High School is a regional public high school and school district serving students in grades nine through twelve from the communities of Linwood, Northfield and Somers Point in Atlantic County, New Jersey, serving a total population of over 25,000 in the three communities. The high...
in Linwood. Buttle not only excelled as a 4-sport letterman in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
but also was a champion oarsman
Watercraft rowing
Watercraft rowing is the act of propelling a boat using the motion of oars in the water. The difference between paddling and rowing is that with rowing the oars have a mechanical connection with the boat whereas with paddling the paddles are hand-held with no mechanical connection.This article...
while on the Margate City
Margate City, New Jersey
Margate City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 6,354.Margate City was originally incorporated as the borough of South Atlantic City by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on September 7, 1885, from portions of Egg Harbor...
Beach Patrol as well as participating in musical theatre. He is a member of the Ocean Rowing Hall of Fame.
Penn State
A 1975 Consensus All-American, Buttle was also the captain of the Nittany Lions that year. Considered by Penn State coach Joe PaternoJoe Paterno
Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with...
"as fine a linebacker as any prospect produced by this school," he still holds the school records for tackles in a game (24), and season (165). He stood atop the Penn State career tackles list for over 30 years (until Paul Posluszny
Paul Posluszny
Paul Michael Posluszny , commonly known as "Poz", is an American football linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
surpassed his mark of 343 versus Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
on November 4, 2006). In 2000 Buttle was honored with the Butkus Silver Anniversary Award, which honors the top college linebacker from 25 years ago. He has been named a Penn State All-Time NFL Player.
New York Jets
Buttle was selected in the 3rd round (#67 overall) of the 1976 NFL Draft1976 NFL Draft
The 1976 National Football League Draft was an annual player selection meeting held on April 8–April 9, 1976. It lasted 17 rounds, with the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks making the first two selections. The expansion teams were also given a pair of extra picks at the end of...
by the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for whom he would play 9 seasons
(1976–1984) Buttle helped the Jets as starting outside linebacker. He had two interceptions to key a big comeback, which ultimately fell short, in the Jet's 1981 playoff game against Buffalo
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. This was their first playoff game since the 1969 season. He was a key member of defensive coordinator Joe
Gardi's Swarm defense which included fellow Nittany Lion
Nittany Lion
This article is about the Penn State mascot. For the Penn State fight song see "The Nittany Lion ".The Nittany Lion is the mascot of the Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania, USA and its athletic teams. It refers to the mountain lions that once roamed near the school, and...
Lance Mehl
Lance Mehl
Lance Alan Mehl is a former professional American football player. He played 8 seasons for the New York Jets of the National Football League from 1980-1987. He was an All-American at Penn State University....
, as well as the famed “New York Sack Exchange
New York Sack Exchange
The New York Sack Exchange is a nickname given to the New York Jets defensive line of the early 1980s, consisting of Mark Gastineau, Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam.-Origins:...
” defensive line. Buttle was cut in August 1985 by Joe Walton
Joe Walton
Joseph Frank Walton is an American football coach and former player who is currently the head coach of Robert Morris University. Walton played eight seasons in the National Football League and served as head coach of the New York Jets for seven seasons...
.
Broadcasting
Buttle serves as an on-air analyst for WCBS-TVWCBS-TV
WCBS-TV, channel 2, is the flagship station of the CBS television network, located in New York City. The station's studios are located within the CBS Broadcast Center and its transmitter is atop the Empire State Building, both in Midtown Manhattan....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, alongside play-by-play man Ian Eagle
Ian Eagle
Ian Eagle is an American sports announcer calling National Football League games on CBS, New Jersey Nets games on the YES Network and hosts Full Court Press, a basketball talk show with former player Kenny Smith on Sirius Satellite Radio...
, for Jets preseason games, and hosts Jets Gameday on the Jets Radio Network and 1050 ESPN Radio
WEPN
WEPN is a 24-hour sports talk formatted radio station in New York City featuring national and local sports talk programs and live broadcasts of sports matches. It is the New York affiliate for ESPN Radio...
alongside Don LaGreca. He also serves as an analyst on the SportsNet New York
SportsNet New York
SportsNet New York is a New York City-based regional sports cable network which airs in the New York metro area and all of New York state, and nationwide via satellite. It is owned jointly by the New York Mets, Time Warner Cable, and NBCUniversal...
studio show Jets Nation.
Personal
Buttle has received numerous honors and awards in recognition of his commitment to the community including National Spokesman for the United Way. He holds a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in general arts and sciences from Penn State University. He lives in Northport, New York
Northport, New York
Northport is a village in Suffolk County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the village population was 7,606. Students attend the Northport-East Northport Union Free School District....
with his wife, Rita, son Greg Jr. and two daughters, Christina and Allegra.
Hosted Events
Buttle, alongside Larry Mallia, hosts an annual Labor Day Bocce Tournament at the Mallia's house in Northport, New York. This tournament was started on Labor Day in year 2000. Buttle was the champion in 2000 but has yet to reach the finals since.External links
- Career statistics at databasefootball.com
- Greg Buttle on the MSG Network and SNY.tv