Two-time Super Bowl champion and College Football Hall of Famer Dave Butz dies at 72 - with former teammate Joe Theismann paying tribute to 'gentle giant'

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All-Pro defensive lineman and two-time Washington Super Bowl champion Dave Butz has died aged 72. 

A spokesman for the Washington Commanders confirmed to AP that Butz's family informed the team about his death Friday. It is not immediately known where Butz died or the cause of his death.

'We're heartbroken over the loss of Washington Legend Dave Butz,' the team said via Twitter.

'Gentle giant' Dave Butz, 72, passed away on Friday, according to his former NFL franchise

'A 2x Super Bowl champion and member of our Ring of Fame and 90 Greatest list. Sending our deepest condolences to Dave's family and friends.'

Butz spent 14 of his 16 NFL seasons with Washington after breaking into the league with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he played his first two years in 1973 and 1974. 

As one of the league's biggest players at the time at 6-foot-8 and nearly 300 pounds, he was a key part of Washington's defense for the franchise´s first two Super Bowl-winning teams in the 1982 and 1987 seasons.

The Commanders confirmed the news with the wider public in a statement on Twitter Friday

The fifth overall pick out of Purdue in 1973, Butz was an All-Pro selection in 1983 and finished second in voting for AP Defensive Player of the Year when he started all 16 games for Washington and had 11.5 sacks. He also made the Pro Bowl that season.

Butz retired after the 1988 season, is a member of Washington's Ring of Fame and was chosen as one of the organization's 90 greatest players earlier this year when the team commemorated its 90th anniversary.

Former teammate and Washington quarterback Joe Theismann posted: 'Lost a dear friend today. Dave Butz. 

The Commanders and quarterback Joe Theismann paid their respects to Butz on social media

'Dave, Mark (Moseley) and I used to ride to games together. A true gentle giant. Rest In Peace my friend.'

Butz recorded 64 sacks in 216 regular-season games with St. Louis and Washington. He became a free agent after his second season with the Cardinals due to an error in his rookie contract. 

Washington gave up two first-round picks and a second-rounder to the Cardinals as compensation for signing him. 

Butz was a second-team all-1980s selection by the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his stellar play

The Pro Football Hall of Fame made him a second-team all-1980s selection for his play during the decade.

Famously, he checked himself out of hospital for an illness, so he could play the New York Jets during the 1987 season. 

Butz is a member of Purdue's all-time football team. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

The 'gentle giant' sits third on the all-time sacks list (59.5) for the Washington franchise. 

Butz is famously remembered for checking himself out of hospital for an illness, so he could play the New York Jets during the 1987 season