Doug Buffone
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2015) |
Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
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Weight: | 230 lb (104 kg) |
Career information | |
College: | Louisville |
NFL draft: | 1966 / Round: 4 / Pick: 60 |
AFL draft: | 1966 / Round: 9 / Pick: 72 |
Career history | |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Career NFL statistics | |
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Douglas John Buffone (June 27, 1944 – April 20, 2015) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL). Buffone, the son of a coal miner (whose parents were Italian immigrants from the southern province of Cosenza, regione di Calabria), attended high school at Shannock Valley High School in Rural Valley, Pennsylvania.
College career
Born in
NFL career
Following his
In his professional career, Buffone gathered more than 1,200 tackles, going over the 100-tackle mark in seven seasons. He also had the honor of serving as defensive captain for eight seasons, beginning in 1972. Buffone retired with 24 career interceptions to lead all Bear linebackers. The first two pickoffs of his career came off future Hall of Famers Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas. His retirement from football also signaled the end of an era for the Bears as he was the last active Bear to have played for George Halas.
Post-football career
Buffone and his family resided in
Buffone co-hosted "Chicago NFL Live" on "The Score"
In May 2009, Buffone and his longtime Bears post-game partner Ed O'Bradovich left WSCR-AM and joined Chicago Sports Webio. However, in June 2009, the founder of Chicago Sports Webio was charged with operating a Ponzi scheme, and the site was shut down.[1] Buffone and O'Bradovich re-signed with the Score in late August 2009.
Buffone was an entrepreneur, and part owner of several Chicago-area businesses, including "Gibson's Steak House", one of the most popular nightspots in Chicago's Rush Street area, and Digital One, a video production and streaming video company in the Chicago suburbs. Digital One is the creator of ClickStreamTV, an online video platform product that was designed for small to medium-sized businesses.[2] Also, Buffone had a blog on his website where he posted his opinions on sports.[3]
Buffone began broadcasting Chicago Rush Arena Football League games for Comcast SportsNet and WGN in 2010.
Death
Buffone died at his residence in Chicago, Illinois, on April 20, 2015, aged 70.[4]
Records and accomplishments
- Played 186 games as a Bear, the third most among Bears.
- Had a career-high 158 tackles in 1972
- Had 11 solo tackles vs. New Orleans (10/6/74)
- Holds the Bears record for most career interceptions at linebacker (24)
- Was voted into the Louisville Hall of Fame with Johnny Unitas in 1979
- National Italian American Sports hall of fame member since 1992
Notes and references
- ^ "Who's Who In Town Caught In Tangled Webio Deal". NBC Chicago. 18 June 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ^ "The New ClickStreamTV". clickstreamtv.com. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ^ "The Official Blog of Doug Buffone". buffone.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ^ Chicago Tribune (20 April 2015). "Former Bear Doug Buffone found dead at home". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 20 April 2015.