The Greatest Bears by Number (65-69)

Let's get back into it! It's Labor Day and my post is getting up a little late because I got busy yesterday enjoying the long weekend and forgot that even though it's a holiday, WCG never sleeps. So let's take a gander at some of the Bears who labored for the team their entire career while wearing numbers 65-69. There will be at least one current Bear and he's one of the longest tenured ever. Do I really need to tell you who?

65 - Patrick Mannelly, LS (1998-present): Mannelly defines consistency. He plays a position ofter overlooked and he can walk the streets of the city he's played his entire career in with hardly any one bothering him but as long as he goes unnoticed it means his job is getting done right. He's played in 205 games as a Bear and hasn't missed one since 2002!! Of course he has a cult following on here and would get mobbed by WCGers if we saw him on the street but that just goes without saying. Honorable Mention - Noah Jackson, LG (1975-83): Jackson started every game he played in for the Bears (125 to be exact) and that kind of consistency needs to be recognized.

66 - Clyde "Bulldog" Turner, C/LB (1940-52): The guy played two ways his entire career. At center he was a four-time Pro-Bowler and seven-time First-Team All-Pro. At linebacker he led the league with eight INTs in 1942. He also intercepted four passes in five NFL title games.

67 - Jerry Fontenot, C/G (1989-96): Fontenot started 89 games for the Bears at LG and center over his eight season with the team and played in a total of 128 games. He is one of the few players I know of to have played for Ditka as both a Bear and a Saint.

68 - Jim Osborne, DT (1972-84): Osborne played in 186 games with a 154 starts for the Bears. Sacks didn't become an official stat until his 11th season but he picked up 10 and a half of them. He also recovered nine fumbles. Fun fact: Bears DT Jim Flanigan wore number 68 in his rookie season.

69 - Revie Sorey, RG (1975-83): Sorey played in 109 games for the Bears with 77 starts. He played his college ball at Illinois. He was twice a second team All-Conference player and twice a first team All-Conference player.

 

The rest:

Numbers 00-4           Numbers 25-29     Numbers 50-54

Numbers 5-9             Numbers 30-34     Numbers 55-59

Numbers 10-14        Numbers 35-39     Numbers 60-64

Numbers 15-19        Numbers 40-44

Numbers 20-24        Numbers 45-49