Nick Saban always appreciated what Dick Butkus meant to the game of football, especially on the linebacker position.

Alabama’s head football coach remembered Butkus upon learning of the NFL Hall of Famer’s death during his weekly radio show “Hey Coach.”

“He was a great character. A great player. he’s legendary. He was one of the guys that made the linebacker position kind of ‘the man’ so the speak. Made the whole defense what it is, great competitive character. Great toughness.”

Saban said he got to know Butkus over the years as the Chicago Bears legend delivered the Butkus Award — given to the nation’s best linebacker. Tide plays have received it thrice since Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2007: Rolando McClain (2009), C.J. Mosley (2013) and Reuben Foster (2016). Each time, Saban said, Butkus would deliver it personally.

“It was so important to him that whoever was getting the award, it’s not like these other ones, they’re named after somebody, you go to ESPN and you go pick them up on some TV show,” said Saban. “He came personally and sat down with every player and gave him the award. Spoke with him and spent time with him. I just thought that was fantastic. He had so much respect for quality players.”

Butkus died in his Malibu, Calif. home on Thursday. He was 80 years old. Butkus played for eight years and was a two-time defensive player of the year. His jersey is retired by the Bears and his bust is enshrined in Canton, Ohio.

Butkus is survived by his wife, Helen, and three children.