Today in Packers history: Butler moves to safety

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Jan 26, 1997; New Orleans, LA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Green Bay Packers defensive Leroy Butler (36) and Brian Williams (51) hit New England Patriots tight end Ben Coates (87) as Mike Prior (39) looks on during Super Bowl XXXI at the Superdome. The Packers defeated the Patriots 35-21. Mandatory Credit: US PRESSWIRE

The recent talk of moving cornerback Charles Woodson to safety is not without precedent as we see and remember with this post from the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

For it was 10 years ago on this date that the Packers announced they would be moving LeRoy Butler to safety after he started his career at cornerback.

Though he moved to safety during the early days of his career and the proposal to move Woodson to the position in the twilight of his career are the differences, the Butler move certainly paid dividends for the team. Many feel moving Woodson would also help the team and prolong his career.

Anyway, here is the posting announcing Butler’s move and the reaction by GM Ron Wolf.

LeRoy Butler Moved to Safety

LeRoy Butler

May 8, 1992 - LeRoy Butler, a right cornerback in his first 32 games with the Packers, is switched to strong safety in order to make room for first-round draft choice Terrell Buckley. Butler begins learning his new position at a three-day minicamp. “He’s an interesting guy,” Packers general manager Ron Wolf says. “I think he can play every position in the secondary. He can play both corners. He can play strong safety.” Playing safety isn’t completely foreign to Butler as he manned that position during his first two seasons at Florida State. As a Packer, Butler plays 10 seasons at safety before a broken shoulder blade ends his playing career midway through the 2001 season.