Jarrett Payton, a Chicago-Land native that grew up in Arlington Heights and South Barrington, Illinois, and son of “Sweetness,” Walter Payton, joins the show! Jarrett is a 2001 National Champion, playing running back for the Miami Hurricanes, sports reporter, and host of CLTV’s Sports Feed.

In this episode, host Matt Butkus and Matt Amendola talk with Jarrett about his career playing for the powerhouse Miami Hurricanes, Jarrett’s foundation that he formed back in 2011, and what he’s currently up to in his day-to-day life.

Many football analysts and critics regard the 2001 Miami Hurricanes football team to be the greatest college football team to ever be assembled. Beating Nebraska 37-14 in 2001, that Miami Hurricanes roster would eventually produce 38 NFL draft picks following the next 5 years.

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Connect with:

·        Butkus Beyond The Line: Website

·        Dick Butkus: Twitter // Instagram // Facebook // Website // The Butkus Award

·        Matt Butkus (Butko): Twitter

·        Matt Amendola (Dola): Twitter // Instagram

·        Jarrett Payton: Twitter // Instagram

Alex Cavatton, Italian sports author and sports facilitator of the Chicago Bears Italia Fan Base, joins the show today. Hosts Matt Butkus and Matt Amendola talk to Alex about his book “Chicago Sunday”, which covers the history of the last 100 years of the Chicago Bears franchise. They also talk about his other novels, what inspired him to become involved with the American sports culture, and much more.

Alex has studied American sports culture since he was a kid. He grew up in Milan, Italy, and has been reporting on the Chicago Bears Italia Twitter page since 2017. He continues to write for “Huddle Magazine,” an Italian-American Football magazine and is a part of, “The Cutting Edge”, a live-stream sports show that covers American sports news.

This podcast is brought to you by Americaneagle.com Studios. Follow this podcast wherever you listen to them!

Connect with:

·        Butkus Beyond The Line: Website

·        Dick Butkus: Twitter // Instagram // Facebook // Website // The Butkus Award

·        Matt Butkus (Butko): Twitter

·        Matt Amendola (Dola): Twitter // Instagram

·        Alex Cavatton: Twitter

Jim "Jimbo" Covert joins the show today. He’s a two-time first-team all-pro offensive tackle, two-time pro bowler, a pro football and college football Hall of Famer, and a Super Bowl champion, playing on the 1985 Chicago Bears team.

In Part 2 of this episode, our hosts, Matt Butkus and Matt Amendola, talk to Jim about his current lifestyle and hobbies outside of football. Jim shares his craziest moment on the football field and explains his proudest moment in his football career.

In Covert’s sophomore year in the league, he was elected by his teammates to be one of the Bears Offensive captains alongside Walter Payton. That year in 1985, he was named All-Pro by Sports Illustrated and was ranked by many as one of the best tackles in professional football.

Click here for part 1 of this conversation.

This podcast is brought to you by Americaneagle.com Studios. Follow this podcast wherever you listen to them!

Connect with:

·        Butkus Beyond The Line: Website

·        Dick Butkus: Twitter // Instagram // Facebook // Website // The Butkus Award

·        Matt Butkus (Butko): Twitter

·        Matt Amendola (Dola): Twitter // Instagram

·        Jim Covert: Website

Jim "Jimbo" Covert joins the show today. He’s a two-time first-team all-pro offensive tackle, two-time pro bowler, a pro football and college football Hall of Famer, and a Super Bowl champion, playing on the 1985 Chicago Bears team.

In Part 1 of this episode, our hosts Matt Butkus, and Matt Amendola talk to Jim about growing up in Pennsylvania playing for The University of Pittsburg with Dan Marino, the 1985 Super Bowl season with Mike Ditka as head coach, and sharing a story about playing through injury with a torn rotator cuff in his junior year of high school going into college.

Jimbo Covert was drafted sixth overall in the 1983 draft by the Chicago Bears. He immediately impacted his rookie career starting all 16 games, helping the Bears lead the NFL in rushing yards with Walter Payton in the backfield.

Click here for part 2 of this conversation

This podcast is brought to you by Americaneagle.com Studios. Follow this podcast wherever you listen to them!

 Connect with:

·        Butkus Beyond The Line: Website

·        Dick Butkus: Twitter // Instagram // Facebook // Website // The Butkus Award

·        Matt Butkus (Butko): Twitter

·        Matt Amendola (Dola): Twitter // Instagram

·        Jim Covert: Website

Doug Plank joins the show today, a former NFL Safety that played for the Chicago Bears from 1975 to 1982. He also played for The Ohio State Buckeyes winning three Big Ten Titles and participating in three consecutive Rose Bowls.

In this episode, our hosts Matt Butkus and Matt Amendola talk to Doug about how the Bears used to run their defense when Buddy Ryan was the Defensive Coordinator and how Doug originally had no interest in football at first. Doug shares some memories with old teammate and special guest, Kris Haines.

“The 46 Defense” Defensive Coordinator, Buddy Ryan, dubbed the name after his entire defense from Doug’s jersey number, for his hard-hitting aggressive style. Doug Plank is considered one of the hardest-hitting Safeties of all time. 

This podcast is brought to you by Americaneagle.com Studios. Follow this podcast wherever you listen to them!

Connect with:

·        Butkus Beyond The Line: Website

·        Dick Butkus: Twitter // Instagram // Facebook // Website // The Butkus Award

·        Pete Hassen: Twitter // Instagram

·        Matt Butkus (Butko): Twitter

·        Matt Amendola (Dola): Twitter // Instagram

·        Kris Haines: LinkedIn // Facebook

·        Doug Plank: LinkedIn // Facebook // Website

Kris Haines joins the show today, a former NFL wide receiver that played for the now Washington Commanders, the Chicago Bears, and the Buffalo Bills. He also won a National Championship playing for Notre Dame back in 1977.

In this episode, our hosts Matt Butkus and Matt Amendola talk to Haines about his coaching experience winning the Division III Italian Super Bowl, his upbringing from high school sports to the NFL, and his teammate, Joe Montana, and their long-time friendship.

In the infamous “Chicken Soup Game” Notre Dame vs Houston in the 1979 Cotton Bowl, Joe Montana connected with Haines on an eight-yard touchdown pass just as time expired. Haines made a diving catch in the corner of the end zone to tie the score at 34-34. The ensuing PAT finished a remarkable 35-34 comeback victory for the Fighting Irish.

This podcast is brought to you by Americaneagle.com Studios. Follow this podcast wherever you listen to them!

Connect with:

·        Butkus Beyond The Line: Website

·        Dick Butkus: Twitter // Instagram // Facebook // Website // The Butkus Award

·        Pete Hassen: Twitter // Instagram

·        Matt Butkus (Butko): Twitter

·        Matt Amendola (Dola): Twitter // Instagram

·        Kris Haines: LinkedIn // Facebook

We are joined on the show today by Ed O'Bradovich, Chicago Bears Defensive End from 1962 to 1971. O'Bradovich was selected as one of the 100 greatest’s Bears of All-Time, played on the 1963 NFL Championship team with the Bears, and spent his whole NFL career in Illinois.

In this episode, Dick Butkus is in the studio, alongside our hosts Matt Butkus and Matt Amendola, to talk to Ed about his journey from high school to the NFL, Ed’s takes on the current NFL, and he shares some memorable moments playing alongside The Enforcer himself.

Ed O’Bradovich, better known as “OB”, has spent his whole NFL career with the Chicago Bears. Perhaps the singular memory of O'Bradovich was when he intercepted a short pass in the 1963 NFL Championship game and ran down the field on a key play to help secure the victory for the Bears.

This podcast is brought to you by Americaneagle.com Studios. Follow this podcast wherever you listen to them!

Connect with:

·     Butkus Beyond The Line: Website

·        Dick Butkus: Twitter // Instagram // Facebook // Website // The Butkus Award

·        Pete Hassen: Twitter // Instagram

·        Matt Butkus (Butko): Twitter

·        Matt Amendola (Dola): Twitter // Instagram

We are joined today by former linebackers’ coach for the Dallas Cowboys and the Cleveland Browns. He also previously served as the Indianapolis Colts Defensive Coordinator and is now the new head coach for the Chicago Bears. Matt Eberflus joins the show!

In this episode, Dick Butkus joins us in studio alongside our hosts, Matt Butkus and Matt Amendola, to talk to Coach Eberflus about his expectations for this upcoming season with the Chicago Bears. They also break down his coaching influences that helped him become the coach that he is today.

Before Matt Eberflus was a coach, he was a linebacker when he played at the University of Toledo. He eventually got submersed in the world of coaching for the University of Toledo and the University of Missouri. Prior to Eberflus landing a spot in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns, he also previously served as the Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator.

This podcast is brought to you by Americaneagle.com Studios. Follow this podcast wherever you listen to them!

Connect with:

·        Butkus Beyond The Line: Website

·        Dick Butkus: Twitter // Instagram // Facebook // Website // The Butkus Award

·        Pete Hassen: Twitter // Instagram

·        Matt Butkus (Butko): Twitter

·        Matt Amendola (Dola): Twitter // Instagram

·        Matt Eberflus: Twitter // Instagram // Facebook // Website

We are joined today by former collegiate linebacker for the University of Michigan and the 1991 Butkus Award winner. He also played professional football in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Washington Redskins from '93 to '94. Erick Anderson joins the show.

In this episode, hosts Matt Butkus and Matt Amendola ask Erick what his life has been like after playing football for many years, how he’s helped develop special-ed programs in Ohio with athletics and social skills, and one of his current roles as the Outside linebacker’s coach for Baldwin Wallace University.

Erick Anderson played college football as a linebacker at the University of Michigan from 1988 to 1991. He was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Big Ten Conference and was selected as a first-team All-American. He is the only player in Michigan Wolverines football history to lead the team in tackles for four consecutive years, and his 390 tackles at Michigan ranks third in school history.

This podcast is brought to you by Americaneagle.com Studios. Follow this podcast wherever you listen to them!

Connect with:

·         Butkus Beyond The Line: Website

·         Dick Butkus: Twitter // Instagram // Facebook // Website // The Butkus Award

·         Pete Hassen: Twitter // Instagram

·         Matt Butkus (Butko): Twitter

·         Matt Amendola (Dola): Twitter // Instagram

·         Erick Anderson: Twitter // LinkedIn

In this special episode, we are joined by the fathers of our hosts Matt Butkus and Matt Amendola to celebrate father's day with Dick Butkus and Willie Amendola.

Butko and Dola cross interview each other’s dads, to get the perspective of what they were like growing up, how their relationship with their fathers shaped the way they played sports, and they dive into the generation gap between the past and the current high school athletes with the implementation of the NIL.

Willie Amendola has been in education for over 40 years. He taught and coached in the Houston, Klein and Aldine school districts. He graduated for Northeastern University in Boston and earned a Master of Administration degree from Sam Houston State University.

This podcast is brought to you by Americaneagle.com Studios. Follow this podcast wherever you listen to them!

Connect with:

·         Butkus Beyond The Line: Website

·         Dick Butkus: Twitter // Instagram // Facebook // Website // The Butkus Award

·         Pete Hassen: Twitter // Instagram

·         Matt Butkus (Butko): Twitter

·         Matt Amendola (Dola): Twitter // Instagram