Packers LeRoy Butler talks bullying at Lincoln Middle School

Hall of famer talked of adversity he overcame to land in NFL

LeRoy Butler got a rousing ovation as he stood on stage, and he hadn’t even started talking yet.

The Green Bay Packers hall of famer was at Lincoln Middle School on Wednesday morning with his Butler versus Bullying campaign.

“I grew up with adversity my whole life – African-American, the projects, single-family home, braces on my legs,” Butler said. “Kids picked on me my whole life. To go from that to playing for the Packers, to me, I think is a very impactful story.”

The Jacksonville, Fla., native said he wore those leg braces after being born with a narrow spinal cord.

Butler went on to talk of how important a teacher-student relationship can be.

“Teachers could really help you because they spend the most time with you, if you think about it,” Butler said. “They spend eight hours a day with you. If you go to them, they could help mentor you.”

Along with getting to know your teachers, the Super Bowl champion and inventor of the Lambeau Leap also sought to have students get to know each other.

“If I can get kids to think like that, then there won’t be any negative activity in the school because everybody knows everybody,” Butler said. “You’re never going to bully someone you know. People try to gain off of one weak person, but there is no weak people because we’re all getting to know each other.”