Khalil Mack seemingly couldn’t have scripted a better way to win the Butkus Award.
The Raiders linebacker received the award, best-known for its collegiate version but also given to a high school and pro linebacker each year, from its namesake in surprise fashion.
Hall of Famer Dick Butkus showed up at the Raiders training facility last week to hand the award to Mack, who called the honor “really special to me.”
“That was amazing, man. I had no clue,” Mack said of the visit. “It was a pleasant surprise, man. In college I wanted to win it, and being like, I won it now, it’s a surreal thing.”
Especially considering the admiration Mack has for Butkus, a former Chicago Bears superstar.
“Coming in and I was walking past him and I was like, ‘Whoa, what’s going on here today?’ Then (he was) introduced,” Mack said. “Walked in and saw the cameras and I’m like, ‘What’s going on today? Coach got something going on today. I’m thinking we’re going back on the go-karts or something today.'”
Mack laughed in delight.
“Out of nowhere, they show us highlights and his highlights are crazy. Dick Butkus highlights are crazy,” Mack continued. “And I’m like, ‘What’s going on today!? We getting a presentation, like what’s going on?’ Out of nowhere he announced it and I was like, ‘What?'”
Mack also shared his appreciation on Instagram…
Raiders coach Jack Del Rio enjoyed seeing Mack so giddy.
“It was awesome,” Del Rio said. “Dick Butkus had his people call and ask if he could come and present. I said, ‘If you’re coming, absolutely. Love to have you.’ It was a big honor to have one of the legends in Dick Butkus come himself and acknowledge a great player for us and a guy who was defensive player of the year last year.”
Another Hall of Fame caliber player congratulated Mack on winning the award…
Congrats to one of my lil bro's https://t.co/EiiuwZtNVO @RAIDERS @52Mack_
— Charles Woodson (@CharlesWoodson) June 15, 2017
