Editor: With the Hall of Fame induction ceremony taking place tonight, we wanted to rerack our article on the two latest Bears to make it to Canton.
Like everything else in 2020, the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony was delayed to become a joint induction ceremony with the 2021 inductees. On August 5-9, 2021, fans will see two former Chicago Bears inducted into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Jimbo Covert and Ed Sprinkle will be inducted with the other 36 former Bears players currently in the Hall.
Covert was drafted with the number six pick in the 1983 draft out of Pitt, and he was an immediate stud on the Bears’ offensive line. In 1982 the Bears were 18th in the league in rushing, then once Covert came to town the Bears were first in the league in rushing (from 1983-1986), thanks to in large part of Jim Covert and also the greatest running back in NFL history, Walter Payton.
In 1984, Covert was named a team captain and was also named an All-Pro that year. 1985 had to be Covert’s finest year in his career, he was an All-Pro, a member of the All-NFL team, a Pro Bowler, Super Bowl champ, and was also named NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year. In 1986, Covert was also named NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year. He was an absolute monster in the 1980s, much like everyone on the Chicago Bears. Arguably the most impressive stat for Covert is that in the 1980s he faced off against Lawrence Taylor and the New York Giants three times, and he held Taylor to zero sacks. In 1990, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors selected him to the NFL All-Decade team.
Unfortunately for Covert, a back injury sat him out for the entire 1991 season, and he was forced to retire much too early in 1992, ending his amazing eight-year NFL career. Jimbo Covert was inducted into the 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame class in January of 2020.
Sprinkle is a member of the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he was signed by the Bears in 1944 by one of the greatest coaches of all time in George Halas. Sprinkle began his NFL career playing both offense and defense where he caught 32 passes for 451 yards and 7 TDs. He and Halas soon realized that Sprinkle was best at rushing the quarterback and Halas made him a defensive player full time.
Sprinkle was known as one of the “dirtiest” players in the NFL during the 1940s and was constantly disciplined for his actions. His greatest achievement was when George Halas said that Sprinkle was, “the greatest pass-rusher I’ve ever seen.” Coming from Halas, that is one of the best things someone can say about a player.
Covert and Sprinkle will be inducted in August of 2021 along with notable players such as Troy Polamalu, Edgerrin James, Payton Manning, Charles Woodson, and Calvin Johnson.