Windy City Gridiron - WCG’s Top 100 Chicago Bears Players A Chicago Bears communityhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49985/windy-fav.png2020-02-01T14:15:46-06:00http://www.windycitygridiron.com/rss/stream/184016602020-02-01T14:15:46-06:002020-02-01T14:15:46-06:00Bears 100: This day in Chicago Bears’ History is a wrap!
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<img alt="SUPER BOWL XX - Chicago Bears v New England Patriots" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8rSbgKM5nJSgPYTujmsuYh-0jug=/18x0:3600x2388/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65246392/56403619.jpg.100.jpg" />
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<p>Over on Jeff Berckes’ Twitter account he’s sharing a <em><strong>“This day in Bears’ history”</strong></em> moment every day this season, but we wanted to share them here at WCG too for everyone to see. </p> <p id="7FCbTI"><em><strong>Even though we’re updating and refreshing this article every Saturday this year so you guys never miss any of Jeff’s Bears’ historical nuggets, you should still probably scroll through his </strong></em><a href="https://twitter.com/gridironborn/status/1168535831717523458"><em><strong>Twitter thread</strong></em></a><em><strong> to see all the wonderful pictures he’s sharing each day. </strong></em></p>
<p id="SMQspa">With this being the 100th anniversary of the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a>, we have a bunch of cool historical stuff planned for you guys here at WCG. We’ve already dropped our <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/6/2/18637619/top-100-chicago-bears-players-wcg-windy-city-gridiron-walter-payton-dent-hampton-ditka-halas-sayers">Top 100 Bears’ Players of All-Time</a> list, Jeff Berckes and WhiskeyRanger recently kicked off their fantastic <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/9/12/20708814/chicago-bears-championship-belt-part-1-red-grange-george-halas-trafton-sid-luckman-bronko-nagurski">Championship Belt</a> series, and as always, we share all our historical content in our <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/chicago-bears-history-nfl">Bears History section right here</a>. </p>
<p id="oM6i8h">Jeff plans on sharing a <em>This Day In Bears’ History</em> Tweet each day of the NFL’s 2019 season on his Twitter feed (<a href="https://twitter.com/gridironborn/status/1168535831717523458">@gridironborn</a>), but since not all of you guys do the social media thing, we wanted to share them here as well. </p>
<h2 id="PJJ4s8"><strong>Enjoy!</strong></h2>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A quick visual for regular season winning percentage for each 100 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bears100?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bears100</a> seasons. The darker the blue the better the record, darker orange the worse the record, white squares are .500. Upper left square is 1920, lowest right square is 2019 <a href="https://t.co/TA6TVkvyMV">pic.twitter.com/TA6TVkvyMV</a></p>— JB (@gridironborn) <a href="https://twitter.com/gridironborn/status/1222938466981466117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2020</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">That's it folks! <br>150 days of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bears100?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bears100</a> history covering 145 games including at least 1 from all 100 Bears seasons. We also covered at least 1 win against 30 active franchises & more than 10 defunct teams plus great coaches & players along the way. Thanks for following! ⬇️ </p>— JB (@gridironborn) <a href="https://twitter.com/gridironborn/status/1222160665533612032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2020</a>
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<p id="hIM3nC"><strong>January 28 -</strong> In 1975, the Bears drafted the GOAT Walter Payton 4th overall. The 5- time 1st Team All-Pro broke the career rushing record, won an MVP, & had the league’s Man of the Year Award named after him. Sweetness is #1 in our . #Bears100</p>
<p id="mqXc5c"><strong>January 27 - </strong>Hall of Fame: The Bears have more HOF inductees than any franchise (30). From Papa Bear & the Galloping Ghost to the Kansas Comet & Iron Mike to Sweetness & Danimal to the newest inductees, Jimbo Covert & Ed the Claw Sprinkle</p>
<p id="dzviN1"><strong>January 26 -</strong> In 1986, the Bears went down to New Orleans & dismantled the Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. The defense recorded 7 sacks & 6 turnovers to complete the most dominant defensive performance in an NFL playoff ever. </p>
<p id="fh8aQJ"><strong>January 25 - </strong>2010s recap: The Bears finished the ‘10s w/a record of 76-84 with 2 division championships . </p>
<p id="UuzPJX">Best player? Give me the CB who changed the game with his Peanut Punch, Charles Tillman, ’10-’13: 20 FF, 14 INTs, & 5 TDs!</p>
<p id="XfG6yr"><strong>January 24 - </strong>2000s recap: The Bears finished the ‘00s w/a record of 81-79 with 4 division championships . </p>
<p id="X1Yt8y">Best player? The 9th overall pick in the 2000 draft made 4 1st Team All Pros & named a 1st ballot HOFer. Brian Urlacher.</p>
<p id="zwJ29M"><strong>January 23 - </strong>In 1999, the Bears hired Dick Jauron as their 12th Head Coach in franchise history. Jauron’s record of 35-45 over 5 years was highlighted by the magical 2001 season (13-3), the most fun team since the 80s. </p>
<p id="pI8UyQ"><strong>January 22 - </strong>1990s recap: The Bears finished the ‘90s w/a record of 73-87 with 1 division championship . </p>
<p id="DxdFcU">Best player? Late career Richard Dent was still a force. 43.5 sacks between ‘90-’93</p>
<p id="yY9AwZ"><strong>January 21 - </strong>In 2007, the Bears dominated the Saints in<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfc-championship-game"> the NFC Champio</a>nship 39-14. Thomas Jones led the way w/123 yards & 2 TDs. The defense forced 4 turnovers including a 4th quarter strip sac<span>k by Adewale Ogu</span>nleye. </p>
<p id="yGYS5e"><strong>January 20 - </strong>In 1982, the Bears hired Mike Ditka to be the 10th Head Coach in franchise history. Iron Mike racked up 106 wins against 62 losses, 6 division titles, a<a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">nd a Super</a> Bowl victory in the ‘85 season. </p>
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<p id="gqbphc"><strong>January 19 - </strong>In 1993, the Bears hired Dave Wannstedt as their 11th Head Coach in franchise history. Despite a world class mustache, Wanny compiled a 40-56 record over 6 seasons. A 1995 playoff win against the Vikings was a rare highlight.</p>
<p id="Md08LW"><strong>January 18 - </strong>In 1951, the Bears drafted Bill George 23rd overall out of Wake Forest. The Demon Deacon would be credited with creating the MLB position, earning 8 1st Team All-Pro honors & a HOF bust in Canton.</p>
<p id="ccD3n4"><strong>January 17 - </strong>In 1952, the Bears drafted Joe Fortunado 80th overall. The OLB played 12 seasons, earni<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">ng 5 Pro</a> Bowls, 3 1st Team All-Pros, & a championship in ‘63. He’s the only defender on the 1950s All-Decade team not enshrined in Canton.</p>
<p id="i2ot4h"><strong>January 16 - </strong>In 2011, the Bears dominated the Seahawks in the divisional round 35-24. Greg Olsen went over 100 yards including a 58 yard TD strike & Jay Cutler ran in 2 scores, building a 35-10 lead with 4 minutes left. </p>
<p id="NpIAjg"><strong>January 15 - </strong>In 2004, the Bears introduced Lovie Smith at their 13th Head Coach at a press conference. Lovie was the ultimate players coach, amassing an 81-63 record, 3 division titles, & 1 conference championship in 9 seasons.</p>
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<img alt="Football - NFL - Bears vs. Panthers" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FNjqJc2yHUl-jAMUErc5W0EXZ-M=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19609205/576886388.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Warren Wimmer /Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="Fbm5ba"><strong>January 14 - </strong>In 2007, the Bears knocked off the Seahawks 27-24 in overtime to advance to the NFC Championship game. Thomas Jones led the way with 2 scores while Bernard “B-Twice” Berrian topped 100 yards receiving including a 68 yard TD. </p>
<p id="vCi3qX"><strong>January 13 - </strong>1980s recap: The Bears finished the ‘80s w/a record of 96-60 with 1 SB win and 5 division championships . </p>
<p id="2gKkT9">Best player? Can I pick Payton again? I’m picking Payton again!</p>
<p id="ShQ59Z"><strong>January 12 - </strong>In 1986, the Bears shut out the Rams 24-0 to earn a trip to SB XX. The defense held Erik Dickerson to a mere 47 yards on the ground & forced 3 turnovers to continue their playoff dominance with 2 straight shutouts.</p>
<p id="VeOqfN"><strong>January 11 - </strong>1970s recap: The Bears finished the ‘70s w/a record of 60-83-1. It was easily their worst decade in franchise history with zero division titles.</p>
<p id="efg7sU">Best player? I mean... is there any other way to go here than Payton? </p>
<p id="eQrSw5"><strong>January 10 - </strong>1960s recap: The Bears finished the ‘60s w/a record of 67-65-6, 1 NFL championship , & 1 divisional championship </p>
<p id="nAoqpD">Best player? Can you choose between Sayers & Butkus? Because I can’t.</p>
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<cite>Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="O4Yr7O"><strong>January 9 - </strong>1950s recap: The Bears finished the ‘50s w/a record of 70-48-2 & 2 divisional championships </p>
<p id="51qFCG">Best player? Tough to argue w/ Bill George but Doug Atkins is in the conversation.</p>
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<p id="hD3VhN"><strong>January 8 - </strong>In 2018, Matt Nagy was hired as the 16th Head Coach in franchise history. The 2018 Coach of the Year has compiled a 20-12 record in his 1st 2 seasons including a 9-3 mark in the division. Boom! </p>
<p id="VJwfud"><strong>January 7 - </strong>1940s recap: The Bears finished the ‘40s w/a record of 81-26-3, 4 NFL championships (‘40, ‘41, ‘43, & ‘46), & 5 divisional championships </p>
<p id="zicmEe">Best player? Sid Luckman</p>
<p id="sbJIBI"><strong>January 6 - </strong>In 1991, the Bears beat the Saints 16-6 on Wildcard Weekend. 3 Kevin Butler FGs led the scoring and Neal Anderson covered over 100 yards on the ground. The playoff win would mark the last of Mike Ditka’s career. </p>
<p id="SA9XFX"><strong>January 5 - </strong>In 1986, the Bears dominated the Giants 21-0 to advance to the NFC Championship game. The Bears defense racked up 6 sacks including 3.5 by Richard Dent. The run defense was even better, holding the Giants to 32 ground yards.</p>
<p id="YIbGuN"><strong>January 4 - </strong>1930s recap: The Bears finished the ‘30s w/a record of 85-28-11, 2 NFL championships (‘32 & ‘33), & 4 divisional championships </p>
<p id="9DWBwA">Best player? Bronko Nagurski</p>
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<figcaption>Art by Whiskey Ranger</figcaption>
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<p id="5mwGJf"><strong>January 3 - </strong>In 2010, the Bears beat the Lions 37-23 on the strength of 4 Jay Cutler TDs. One of those scores went to Greg Olsen, giving him 8 on the year, the highest output of his career. </p>
<p id="sSmgRY"><strong>January 2 - </strong>1920s recap: The Bears complied a record of 84-31-19, 1 championship (1921), & 5 second place finishes. Best player? Grange didn’t play a lot in the decade so give me George “The Brute” Trafton.</p>
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<cite>Art by Whiskey Ranger</cite>
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<p id="8dGRmI"><strong>January 1 - </strong>In 1995, the Bears beat Warren Moon’s Vikings 35-18 on Wildcard Weekend in the Metrodome. Trace Armstrong had 2 sacks and Jeff Graham led the team with 108 yards receiving & a score. </p>
<p id="rfl0He"><strong>December 31 - </strong>In 1988, the Bears beat Buddy Ryan’s Eagles 20-12 in the Divisional round of the playoffs in the “Fog Bowl.” The Bears defense recorded 3 INTs & 4 sacks against Randall Cunningham.</p>
<p id="wkQZ7i"><strong>December 30 - </strong>In 1984, the Bears beat Washington 23-19 in the divisional round of the playoffs. Walter Payton ran for 100 yards & threw a TD and the defense racked up 7 sacks including 3 from Richard Dent & 2 from Dan Hampton.</p>
<p id="iL270w"><strong>December 29 - </strong>In 1963, the Bears won the NFL Championship against the Giants 14-10. Billy Wade scored both TDs for the Bears but the real star was the defense, intercepting YA Tittle 5 times, continuing their season- long dominance.</p>
<p id="z5g8aQ"><strong>December 28 - </strong>In 2009, the Bears beat the Vikings 36-30 in overtime on a Devin Aromashadu 39 yard TD, Jay Cutler’s 4th TD toss of the day. The 150 yard game was Aromashadu’s only 100 yard game of his career. </p>
<p id="kNmslv"><strong>December 27 - </strong>In 2015, the Bears beat the Bucs 26-21 on the strength of 4 Robbie Gould FGs & 2 Ka’Deem Carey TDs. Gould would leave Chicago at the end of the season as the all-time leading scorer in franchise history with 1207 points.</p>
<p id="38lccH"><strong>December 26 - </strong>In 1943, the Bears won their 3rd NFL Championship in 4 years 41-21 against Sammy Baugh’s Washington. Sid Luckman threw 5 TDs including 2 to Dante Magnani (122 yds). Bronko Nagurski scored in his last professional game.</p>
<p id="gawCOt"><em>Another for 12/26 -</em> In 1982, the Bears beat the Rams 34-26. Walter Payton posted 100 yards rushing & 100 yards receiving on 25 touches. The Bears defense did just enough (3 turnovers) despite giving up 509 yards to Vince Ferragamo.</p>
<p id="1hu68W"><em>And another -</em> In 2010, the Bears beat the Jets 38-34. Matt Forte topped 100 yards on the ground, Jay Cutler had a hand in 4 TDs, and Johnny Knox caught 2 TD passes in the offensive explosion. </p>
<p id="eRiZDI"><strong>December 25 - </strong>In 2005, Brett Favre was in a giving mood as he gave out 4 INTs to Charles Tillman, Lance Briggs, & Chris Harris (2) for being good Bears as Chicago beat GB 25-17 to clinch the NFC North. Briggs cashed his in for 6 points.</p>
<p id="G3AI3P"><strong>December 24 - </strong>In 2000, the Bears ended their season on a high note, topping the Lions 23-20. R. W. McQuarters returned an interception 61 yards for a score & the defense racked up 5 sacks including 2 by Bryan Robinson.</p>
<p id="AqFWg2"><strong>December 23 - </strong>In 2007, the Bears beat the Packers 35-7 in Brett Favre’s final season in Green Bay. Corey Graham scored on a blocked punt & Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher returned an interception 85 yards for a TD.</p>
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<p id="NBACK2"><strong>December 22 - </strong>In 1985, the Bears beat the Lions 37-17 to finish the regular season 15-1. Dennis Gentry returned a kick for a score and reserve linebacker Ron Rivera scooped & scored a fumble in a total team effort. </p>
<p id="VmHxsV"><strong>December 21 - </strong>In 1941, the Bears beat the Giants 37-9 for the Championship. Norm Standlee & George McAfee topped 100 yfs & combined for 3 scores. Hall of Famers Danny Fortmann & Bulldog Turner each snared an interception in the blowout.</p>
<p id="pKx8Oq"><em>Another from 12/21! -</em> In 1975, the Bears rolled the Saints 42-17. Bob Avellini threw 3 TD passes & rookie Walter Payton ended his year w/196 yfs including a 54 yard TD run. The Bears D forced 5 turnovers including a pick 6 by Virgil Livers.</p>
<p id="QctzND"><strong>December 20 - </strong>In 1998, the Bears beat the <a href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Ravens</a> 24-3. RB <span>James Allen</span> ran all over <span>Ray Lewis</span>’s defense with 163 yards on 23 carries and a score. Ravens QB Jim Harbaugh’s offense struggled all day, accumulating a mere 178 total yards. #Bears100</p>
<p id="8pMrDa"><strong>December 19 - </strong>In 1999, the Bears beat the Lions 28-10 on 4 Cade McNown TD passes. Marcus Robinson served as the primary target with 11 catches for 170 yards & 3 scores. The defense pitched in 3 INTs including 1 by DT Jim Flanigan!</p>
<p id="oOv4YG"><strong>December 18 - </strong>In 1932, the Bears beat the Portsmouth Spartans 9-0 in an extra game held to break a tie atop the standings. Red Grange caught a TD pass from Bronko Nagurski to break a scoreless tie in the 4th Q.</p>
<p id="EwIeQa"><strong>December 17 - </strong>In 1933, the Bears won the 1st NFL Championship game against the Giants 23-21. “Automatic” Jack Manders kicked 3 FGs & 2 Bronko Nagurski to Bill Karr TDs sealed the victory.</p>
<p id="ZvmwWK"><strong>December 16 - </strong>In 2018, the Bears beat the Packers 24-17 to clinch the NFC North. Mitchell Trubisky threw for 235 yards & 2 scores while Leonard Floyd & Khalil Mack combined for 4.5 sacks. Eddie Jackson’s late interception helped seal it.</p>
<p id="czXrDV"><strong>December 15 - </strong>In 1946, the Bears won their 4th championship in 7 seasons with a 24-14 victory over the Giants. The Bears defense intercepted 6 passes & recovered 2 fumbles. A Sid Luckman 19 yard TD scamper put the Bears up for good.</p>
<p id="WGgZVT"><strong>December 14 - </strong>In 1941, the Bears beat the Packers 33-14 to win the division. George McAfee ran for over 100 yards and Norm Standlee rushed for 2 scores. <span>George Wilson</span> snared 2 interceptions to put the Bears back in the championship game.</p>
<p id="bhVLXm"><em>Another on this date - </em>In 1996, the Bears knocked off the <a href="https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/">Chargers</a> 27-14. The Ultraback Raymont Harris eclipsed 100 yfs, Dave Krieg threw 3 TDs, and Donnell Woolford picked off Stan Humphries in a total team victory. </p>
<p id="e05Uel"><strong>December 13 - </strong>In 1981, the Bears beat the Raiders 23-6 with 3 Vince Evans TDs and a Gary Fencik INT. Fencik was named 1st Team All-Pro in ‘81 and spearheaded the effort to convince Halas to keep Buddy <span>Ryan</span> as DC during the coaching change.</p>
<p id="vbEaiv"><strong>December 12 - </strong>In 1965, rookie Gale Sayers had a game for the ages. Scoring 6 TDs and gaining over 200 yfs, Sayers led the Bears in a 61-20 blowout over the 49ers. It was the crown jewel of a stellar rookie year.</p>
<p id="gu5vXZ"><strong>December 11 - </strong>In 1949, Johnny Lujack had his finest game as a pro in a 52-21 victory over the Cardinals. Lujack threw 6 TDs and kicked 7 extra points in a year that saw him lead the league in most categories.</p>
<p id="2zQpt4"><em>And another - </em>In 1983, Matt Suhey had a day to remember in a 19-13 win over the Vikings. Suhey completed a 74 yard TD pass to his best friend, Walter Payton, and topped 100 yards rushing.</p>
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<p id="Us69Gb"><em>And one more for the 11th - </em>In 2006, the Bears rolled the Rams 42-27 led by the great Devin Hester’s 2 kick return TDs. Thomas Jones, Bernard Berrian, and Muhsin Muhammad all found paydirt. </p>
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<p id="rAevKA"><strong>December 10 - </strong>In 1978, the Bears shut out the Packers 14-0 in frigid conditions. Walter Payton eclipsed 100 yfs and the first score of the game while the Bears defense allowed a stingy 161 total yards, recorded 4 sacks, & forced 3 turnovers.</p>
<p id="j01fMV"><strong>December 9 - </strong>In 2013, the Bears beat up <span>Tony Romo</span>’s Cowboys 45-28 on Monday Night Football. Backup QB extraordinaire <span>Josh McCown</span> completed 27/36 for 348 yards and 4 TDs, and ran in another for good measure. </p>
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<p id="6gnvga"><strong>December 8 - </strong>In 1940, the Bears won the NFL Championship with the biggest blowout ever over Washington 73-0. The Bears racked up 381 yards rushing and 7 TDs while the defense forced 9 turnovers including 3 pick 6’s, one by Bulldog Turner.</p>
<p id="pa3BnI"><strong>December 7 - </strong>In 1980, the Bears steamrolled the Packers 61-7. Walter Payton did his thing with 130 yards and 3 TDs. QB Vince Evans posted the only perfect passer rating in team history going 18/22 for 316 yards & another 3 scores.</p>
<p id="KSv06O"><em>Another for the 7th - </em>In 2008, the Bears beat the <a href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jaguars</a> 23-10. Desm<span>ond Clark</span> & Greg Olsen both scored TDs and Isreal Idonije recorded 1.5 sacks. Idonije is the artist behind the “Monsters” comics the Bears use for promotional purposes. </p>
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<p id="3DV5Fa"><strong>December 6 -</strong> In 1987, the Bears topped the Vikings 30-24 in the Metrodome. The defense collected 5 sacks including 2.5 from Steve “Mongo” McMichael. Mongo would earn his second 1st Team All Pro honor in ‘87 and rack up 92.5 sacks in Chicago. </p>
<p id="CAoOvJ"><strong>December 5 -</strong> In 1976, the Bears invaded the Kingdome, beating up the Seahawks 34-7. Walter Payton ran for 183 yards, Bob Avellini threw 3 TD, and the defense picked off Jim Zorn 3 times. </p>
<p id="7jvFra"><em>Bonus for 12/5 -</em> In 1993, the Bears beat the Packers 30-17 on 3 defensive TDs. Jeremy Lincoln returned a <span>Brett Favre</span> INT 80 yards, Dante Jones got a 32 yard fumble return TD, and Mark Carrier capped it with the 3rd.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Favorite Bears-Packers memories: 1993, Bears 3D game, part 3<br><br>4th quarter, Packers down 23-17 and trying to stay ahead of the Bears in the division, when <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkCarrier20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarkCarrier20</a> picks off Favre and goes 34 yards for the game-icing TD.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHIvsGB?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHIvsGB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WCGridiron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WCGridiron</a>: <a href="https://t.co/7Xhr32UGLa">https://t.co/7Xhr32UGLa</a> <a href="https://t.co/TpHlBx6HIo">pic.twitter.com/TpHlBx6HIo</a></p>— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) <a href="https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1038812292329234432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2018</a>
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<p id="PZ8y7z"><strong>December 4 -</strong> In 2005, Bears beat the Packers 19-7. Brett Favre threw 2 INTs, one <span>Nathan Vasher</span> returned for a score and the other Peanut Tillman returned 95 yards. Robbie Gould added 4 FGs and Peanut got a strip sack.</p>
<div id="q52XOl"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 75%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LFE9AdvAlQc?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="Fy6WaC"><strong>December 3 -</strong> In 1922, the Bears blanked the Toledo Maroons 22-0 led by rookie QB/K Joey Sternaman’s two scores. Sternaman stood a mere 5’6” but would quarterback the team for the rest of the 20’s, earning 2 1st Team All-Pro honors. </p>
<p id="tSXOTO"><strong>December 2 -</strong> In 1928, the Bears beat the Frankford Yellow Jackets 28-6 led by the triple threat of Paddy Driscoll. The HOFer threw for a score, ran for another and kicked 3 extra points.</p>
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<p id="c1mDYL"><strong>December 1 -</strong> In 1940, the Bears wrapped up the regular season with a 31-23 victory against the Cardinals for an NFL Western Division Championship, setting up a date with Washington the next week. George Halas would have a surprise for them...</p>
<p id="8qeIjU"><strong>November 30 - </strong>In 1933, the Bears took out the cross town rival Cardinals 22-6. Red Grange scored a TD and Bill Hewitt led the defense in the first of 4 1st Team All Pro seasons. He was just named a top.</p>
<p id="1uUKj9"><strong>November 29 - </strong>In 1925, the Bears held on to defeat the Columbus Tigers 14-13 in the first victory of the Red Grange Barnstorming tour. Halas signed Grange after his last collegiate game and he played 7 games in 18 days in 5 cities.</p>
<p id="NKLLwn"><strong>November 28 - </strong>In 1937, on only 3 days rest after shutting out the Lions on Thanksgiving, the Bears took care of the Cleveland Rams 15-7. Bronko Nagurski kicked off the scoring with a TD toss. Bronko would leave football for pro wrestling.</p>
<p id="rZDM9B"><strong>November 27 - </strong>In 1921, the Chicago Staleys shut out the Packers 20-0. George Halas caught a TD from Chic Harley and Pete Stinchcomb scampered 45 yards for a Staley’s score. The Staleys were ‘21 champs with a 9-1-1 record.</p>
<p id="Qm2tvL"><strong>November 26 - </strong>In 2015, the Bears beat the Packers on Thanksgiving night 17-13 in Lambeau Field on the night they retired Brett Favre’s jersey. The game ended with 4 straight <span>Aaron Rodgers</span> incompletions from the 8.</p>
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<p id="cxcEvj"><strong>November 25 - </strong>In 1945, in his first game back after serving 4 years in the Navy, George McAfee scored 3 TDs, leading the Bears to a 28-7 victory over the Steelers. The Bears would return to full strength in ‘46 for a championship run.</p>
<p id="uVh4HC"><strong>November 24 - </strong>In 2002, the Bears knocked off the Lions 20-17 in overtime. <span>Marty Booker</span> caught 10 passes for 157 yards and Dez White chipped in another 8 for 106.<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl"> Booker </a>made his lone Pro Bowl in ‘02.</p>
<p id="FsZZ18"><strong>November 23 - </strong>In 1958, the Bears slayed the Lions 20-7 on 2 Zeke Bratkowski to Bill McColl TD passes. McColl would lead the team in all receiving categories in ‘58 including 8 TD catches. </p>
<p id="Dh3pbw"><strong>November 22 - </strong>In 1970, Dick Gordon piled up 107 yards on 6 receptions for 2 scores to help wallop the <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> 31-13. Gordon would lead the league in both receptions (71) and TD catches (13). He was named 1st team All Pro in ‘70.</p>
<p id="hnelc1"><strong>November 21 - </strong>In 1954, the Bears took down Weeb Ewbank’s Baltimore Colts 28-13. Chick Jagade and Billy Stone each eclipsed 100 yards from scrimmage and added a score. Jagade would make the ‘54 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> despite a staggering 12 fumbles! </p>
<p id="972B6e"><strong>November 20 - </strong>In 1977, Walter Payton broke the single game rushing record with 275 yards in a 10-7 win over the Vikings. Oh, did I mention he had the flu? Imagine if he’d been healthy, the record would be 400+ </p>
<p id="91O8jT"> #Bears100</p>
<div id="P9rwYU"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 75%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GW-T1DsWkjQ?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="TRijQh"><strong>November 19 - </strong>In 2000, Tony Parrish returned a Shaun King interception 38 yards for a score in a 13-10 win. Rookie Brian Urlacher picked off a pass late to seal it, solidifying his Defensive Rookie of the Year candidacy.</p>
<p id="QjnjDB"><strong>November 18 - </strong>In 1951, the Bears swept the season series against the Packers with a 24-13 win at Wrigley Field. RB John “Kayo” Dottley led the way with 117 yards rushing en route to a Pro Bowl season. </p>
<p id="Nh7ty0"><strong>November 17 - </strong>In 1985, Monsters invaded Dallas and destroyed Tom Landry’s Cowboys 44-0. The Bears defense racked up 4 interceptions and 6 sacks. Richard Dent had a pick 6 and two sacks to lead the way to a Sports Illustrated cover.</p>
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<p id="sOtUdA"><strong>November 16 - </strong>In 2014, the Bears toppled the Vikings 21-13 on Jay Cutler’s 3 TD passes - 2 to <span>Brandon Marshall</span> and 1 to Alshon Jeffery. Matt Forte covered 175 yards from scrimmage and Bears legend <span>Jared Allen</span> lassoed a sack on <span>Teddy Bridgewater</span>.</p>
<p id="wuy4Mj"><strong>November 15 - </strong>In 1953, QB George Blanda led a 4th quarter comeback to beat Washington 27-24. Blanda threw the TD pass and kicked the extra point to go with his 2 FGs on the day. Blanda led the league in attempts and completions in ‘53.</p>
<p id="Qwadi1"><strong>November 14 - </strong>In 1971, the Bears beat Washington 16-15. A Cyril Pinder 40 yard scamper tied it up late, but a high snap forced holder Bobby Douglass into scramble mode where he found Dick Butkus for the win!</p>
<p id="aQRmuc"><em>One more for 11/14 - </em>In 1943, Sid Luckman set the league record with an incredible 7 TD passes against the Giants in a 56-7 dominating win. Luckman’s mark still stands in an 8-way tie. Luckman won MVP in ‘43.</p>
<p id="D1TLIp"><em>And how cool is this?</em></p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">76 years ago today, Sid Luckman became the first player to throw for seven TDs in a game. Good look back from <a href="https://twitter.com/readjack?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@readjack</a>. <a href="https://t.co/SeEuG7UcMl">https://t.co/SeEuG7UcMl</a></p>— Dan Pompei (@danpompei) <a href="https://twitter.com/danpompei/status/1194967377785561091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2019</a>
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<p id="WkvvPc"><em>An 11/14 part 3! </em>I’m pretty sure this awesome program is from 1948’s 7-6 win over the rival Packers but maybe it’s from 1976’s 24-13 win. Point is the Bears are 2-0 against the Pack on this day & pants are optional.</p>
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<p id="50p9fI"><strong>November 13 - </strong>In 1927, the Bears toppled the Pottsville Maroons 30-12. George Halas led the way with 2 TDs - a 33 yard catch and a fumble recovery in the end zone. A suffocating defense chipped in with two safeties. </p>
<p id="wJzHoa"><strong>November 12 - </strong>In 1967, the Bears laid waste to Fran Tarkenton’s Giants 34-7. An unexpected hero, backup QB Larry Rakestraw, emerged by throwing for 3 TDs and running in another 2. Frank Cornish and Bennie McRae picked off Tarkenton 3 times.</p>
<p id="IoCSHn"><strong>November 11 - </strong>In 1926, the visiting Bears won the 1st ever pro game in Soldier Field against the Cardinals 10-0 on Armistice Day. The new stadium’s first TD was scored by Duke Hanny on a 60 yard pass by Paddy Driscoll.</p>
<p id="azcOL2"><strong>November 10 - </strong>In 1946, the Bears beat the Rams 27-21 led by the golden connection of Sid Luckman to Ken Kavanaugh. The two hooked up for 3 scores on the day. Kavanaugh is the all-time franchise leader with 50 TD catches.</p>
<p id="Dyrad2"><strong>November 9 - </strong>In 1969, the Bears won their only game on the season 38-7 against the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a>. Gale Sayers had 100 yards and 2 scores while Brian Piccolo chipped in a 25 yd TD. Piccolo played his last game a week later, diagnosed with cancer.</p>
<p id="85bTyR"><em>And another for 11/9 - </em>In 1947, the Bears beat the Packers 20-17 highlighted by an 81 yard Sid Luckman to Ken Kavanaugh TD pass. Plus, they used one of the best program images of all time to promote the game! </p>
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<p id="UDECVX"><strong>November 8 - </strong>In 1942, the Bears pitched a shutout against the Brooklyn Dodgers 35-0 in Ebbets Field. Sid Luckman’s crew outgained the Dodgers 424-120, forcing 4 turnovers in a dominant performance en route to a perfect 11-0 regular season.</p>
<p id="1gZtg0"><strong>November 7 - </strong>In 2004, Craig Krenzel’s Bears beat <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">Giants</a> legend Kurt Warner 28-21. The A-Train ran for over 100 yards and 2 scores while the defense wrecked Warner with 7 sacks including 4 by Alex Brown. Krenzel went 8-21 for 144 in the win.</p>
<p id="oONNxI"><strong>November 6 - </strong>In 1955, the Bears knocked out the Packers by building a 45-3 lead in a 52-31 rout. Rick Casares and Bobby Watkins both eclipsed the 100 yard rushing mark & 6 different Bears scored TDs. </p>
<p id="JSuxzK"><strong>November 5 - </strong>In 1944, Sid Luckman threw for 2 scores and ran in another in a 21-0 domination of the rival Packers. </p>
<p id="Dp30kT"><strong>November 4 - </strong>In 1923, the Bears blanked the Oorang Indians 26-0 highlighted by a 98-yard fumble return TD by George Halas, an NFL record that would stand until 1973 when Jack Tatum broke it with a 104 yard return for the Raiders.</p>
<p id="dMShX5"><em>And since this was such a good date in Bears’ history, here’s another... </em>In 1973, QB Bobby Douglass tied the team record with 4 rushing TDs to beat the Packers 31-17. Douglass finished the day with 100 yards rushing and stands with Rick Casares and Gale Sayers in the team record book. </p>
<p id="Ic1CvP"><em>And a third...</em> In 2001, Mike Brown did his thing. Down 14 to the Browns, the Bears tied it w/ a TD, onside kick, and Hail Mary to force OT. Brown took over in OT by securing a tipped pass & walking it off for the second straight week. </p>
<p id="HwwNvX"><em>And a 4th!</em> In 2012, Bears 51 - <a href="https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/">Titans</a> 20. Cutler to <span>Marshall</span> accounted for 3 TDs, Forte ran for over 100 yards, Urlacher returned an interception 46 yards for a TD, & Tillman forced 4 fumbles!</p>
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<div id="LpPRCn">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">That was the day <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bears?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bears</a> fans drank all the beer in Nashville. <a href="https://t.co/j39Mnf6r7s">https://t.co/j39Mnf6r7s</a></p>— Windy City Gridiron (@WCGridiron) <a href="https://twitter.com/WCGridiron/status/1191836806129618944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2019</a>
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<p id="WZ1jlc"><strong>November 3 -</strong> In 1935, the Bears beat the NY Giants in the Polo Grounds 20-3. Bill Karr caught a 29 yard TD pass from Bernie Masterson to seal the game. Karr would lead the league in TD receptions and earn a 1st Team All-Pro honor.</p>
<p id="gzzATs"><strong>November 2 - </strong>In 1952, the Bears knocked off the 49ers in Kezar Stadium on a game winning George Blanda field goal. Blanda spent the first 10 years of his Hall of Fame career in a Bears uniform.</p>
<p id="Obhcbl"><strong>November 1 - </strong>In 1959, the Bears invaded the LA Coliseum for a 26-21 victory over the Rams. Star FB Rick Casares led the way with 136 scrimmage yards and 2 scores. Casares would make his 5th straight <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> in ‘59.</p>
<p id="f8yJ0d"><strong>October 31 - </strong>In 2016, the Bears beat the Vikings 20-10 on MNF in what would prove to be Jay Cutler’s last win in Navy and Orange. Akiem Hicks collected 2 sacks & <span>Jordan Howard</span> gained a career high 202 scrimmage yards. Happy Halloween! </p>
<p id="3m6ut0"><strong>October 30 - </strong>In 1977, Walter Payton collected 205 yards on 23 carries and 2 scores to help dominate the Packers 26-0. Payton would have his best statistical season & lead the league in rushing, scrimmage yards, and TDs to earn Offensive Player of the Year. </p>
<p id="8rQsLb"><strong>October 29 - </strong>In 1989, Brad Muster scored an early TD to put the Bears up for good in a 20-10 victory over the Rams. The big fullback had a nose for the endzone with 20 career rushing scores for the Bears.</p>
<p id="gFeOO7"><strong>October 28 - </strong>In 2001,<span> Mike Brow</span>n delivered a walk off pick 6 in overtime to beat the 49ers 37-31. A pair of late scores from David Terrell tied it up. TO’s bobble landed in<span> Brow</span>n’s hands and started his legend.</p>
<p id="tCf4qY"><strong>October 27 -</strong> In 1997, Erik Kramer led a furious 4th quarter comeback for their 1st win of the season. Down 15 points to the Dolphins in Miami, Kramer orchestrated 2 TD drives, a 2-pt conversion, and a game winning FG drive in OT.</p>
<p id="qsqqup"><strong>October 26 - </strong>In 1924, brothers Joey and Dutch Sternaman combined for 2 TD runs, a TD pass, 3 extra points and a FG as the Bears swatted the Frankford Yellow Jackets 33-3. </p>
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<figcaption>Halas bottom left, Sternaman brothers bottom right</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="OYcWki"><strong>October 25 - </strong>In 1998, the Bears beat the Tennessee Oilers 23-20 on a last minute Jeff Jaeger FG, making it back to back game-winners for him. Jeff Fisher’s Oilers finished 8-8 for the 3rd year in a row.</p>
<p id="UiI6g8"><strong>October 24 - </strong>In 1926, the Bears topped the Duluth Eskimos 24-6. Hall of Famer Ernie Nevers scored a late TD for the Eskimos but it was not enough to match 3 rushing scores by the Bears including one by Milton “Mitt” Romney.</p>
<p id="5Hmp4q"><strong>October 23 - </strong>In 1966, Gale Sayers returned a kick 93 yards for a TD to help beat the Rams 17-10. Sayers would return 6 kicks and 2 punts for scores between ‘65-’67, leading the league in all purpose yards in each season.</p>
<p id="SyATpT"><strong>October 22 - </strong>In 2017, the Bears beat the Panthers 17-3 on the strength <span>of two Eddie </span>Jackson TDs - a 75 yard fumble return & a 76 yard interception return. Mitchell Trubisky’s line of 4-7 for 107 yards was the perfect embodiment of Foxball.</p>
<p id="jGabCc"><strong>October 21 - </strong>In 1956, the Bears lit up the Colts 58-27. Harlon Hill put up an obscene 198 yards on 9 catches, two of which went for scores. The great Johnny Unitas was held to 9-19 for 131, 1 TD, and 1 INT.</p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ISOC5lbRgTzJ8Tdw7sF07rafPWg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19236837/George_Hill_54_56.jpg">
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<aside id="e2PElu"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"The Championship Belt Series - Part 2","url":"https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/10/2/20885118/chicago-bears-history-the-championship-belt-series-part-2-sid-luckman-johnny-lujack-harlon-hill"}]}'></div></aside><p id="XvQfH0"><strong>October 20 - </strong>In 1957, rookie running back Willie “The Wisp” Galimore burst onto the scene to help beat the Rams 34-26. 213 yards from scrimmage on 26 touches and 4 trips to the end zone in his finest day as a pro.</p>
<p id="JJlCSZ"><strong>October 19 - </strong>In 1941, the Bears suffocated the Lions in a 49-0 bloodbath. The Lions turned the ball over 5 times and managed a mere 108 total yards of offense to the Bears at 383. Scoring was led by Joe “Maniac” Maniaci with 3 rushing scores!</p>
<p id="oyLg8D"><strong>October 18 - </strong>In 1998, the Bears nipped the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Cowboys</a> on a game winning Jeff Jaeger FG, 13-12. A Jim Flanigan sack of Jason Garrett and limiting Emmitt Smith to 78 yards from scrimmage were among the highlights in a season of lows.</p>
<p id="Ok27JE"><em>And a bonus from today...</em></p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sean Payton went 3 of 11 for 28 yards with 1 interception while being sacked 2 times in relief of starting QB Steve Bradley for the 1987 Spare <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bears?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bears</a> in Chicago's 19-17 loss to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Saints?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Saints</a>. <a href="https://t.co/2Ai4cDEpWs">https://t.co/2Ai4cDEpWs</a></p>— Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. (@wiltfongjr) <a href="https://twitter.com/wiltfongjr/status/1185274090892021760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2019</a>
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<p id="vi0DRO"><strong>October 17 - </strong>In 1943, the Bears beat the Pitt/Philly “Steagles,” a combined team to fill rosters due to WWII, 48-21. The Bears scored 7 straight TDs including 3 passes from Sid Luckman, who months later would fight on D-Day in Normandy.</p>
<p id="Mijks3"><strong>October 16 - </strong>In 1938, the Bears knocked off the crosstown Cardinals 34-28. Scoring included a 47-yard TD catch by Dick Plasman, most famous for being the last player to not wear a helmet. </p>
<p id="IBMY68">And who can forget... The 2006 Crown ‘em game: sometimes you just need to double dip into the history books. Do I really need to describe this game? Just watch the video. </p>
<div id="Geiby1"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ythJ7EXdN60?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="86j5PP"><strong>October 15 - </strong>In 1972, Bobby Douglass had a very Bobby Douglass day as the Bears blanked the <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Browns</a> 17-0. The southpaw completed just 2 of 9 passes for 62 yards and a score but managed 117 yards on the ground & another TD. </p>
<p id="8Z1jNC"><strong>October 14 - </strong>In 1956, the Bears beat the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> 31-7 headlined by Rick Casares’ 21 carries for 112 yards and 2 scores. A league leading 1,126 yards led to a 1st team All-Pro honor. Casares’ 5,657 yards ranks 4th all-time in team history. </p>
<p id="Ex2BST"><strong>October 13 - </strong>In 1929, the Bears dominated the Buffalo Bisons 16-0. Bill Senn caught 2 TD passes including one from the Galloping Ghost Red Grange. </p>
<p id="BwXFsp"><strong>October 12 - </strong>In 2014, the Bears earned their most convincing victory of the year against the Falcons 27-13. Jay Cutler threw for 381 yards, <span>Matt Forte</span> racked up 157 yards from scrimmage and 2 scores, and <span>Willie Young</span> sacked <span>Matt Ryan</span> twice.</p>
<p id="pIFQkw"><em><strong>And speaking of Cutler...</strong></em></p>
<div id="d3wY5e">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">No. 99: Former <a href="https://twitter.com/Broncos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Broncos</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChicagoBears</a> QB Jay Cutler <br><br>"He really couldn’t care less what you have to think." <br><br> : <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFL100?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFL100</a> Greatest Characters on <a href="https://twitter.com/nflnetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFLNetwork</a> <a href="https://t.co/NJz77b6GAC">pic.twitter.com/NJz77b6GAC</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1182809096577138688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2019</a>
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<p id="YACB0Y"><strong>October 11 - </strong>In 1964, Iron Mike Ditka scored 3 times (including a fumble recovery) to help beat the LA Rams 38-17 but it was Johnny Morris who burned down the Rams secondary with an 11-147-2 receiving line.</p>
<p id="QxsrHp"><strong>October 10 - </strong>In 1965, Rookie Gale Sayers threw his first & only career TD pass & added 95 receiving yards and another score en route to the 1st of 5 straight 1st Team All Pros. The Bears beat the Rams 31-6.</p>
<p id="AMi6w4">And... Part 2! In 2010, <span>Matt Forte</span> dominated the <a href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Panthers</a> in a 23-6 victory. 22 carries for 166 yards and 2 scores plus another 22 yards on receptions. The 188 yards from scrimmage were Forte’s 3rd highest in his career.</p>
<p id="mHCerO"><strong>October 9 - </strong>In 1960, the Bears beat the Rams in a shootout 34-27. QB Ed Brown threw for 333 yards and 3 scores and ran in another. Johnny Morris led the receiving corps with 124 yards and 2 scores. </p>
<p id="bN4mOE"><strong>October 8 - </strong>In 1950, the Bears took care of their cross- town rival Chicago <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a> 27-6 in Wrigley Field. Johnny Lujack led the way with 80 yards on 10 carries including two scores. He would lead the league with 11 rushing TDs.</p>
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<p id="WgtiXn"><strong>October 7 - </strong>In 1984, the Bears beat the Saints 20-7 on the back of Walter Payton’s 154 yards rushing. That effort broke the career rushing yards mark set by Jim Brown, cementing Payton’s place in football history. </p>
<p id="RSx9bI"><strong>October 6 - </strong>In 1974, the Bears found a way to shut down Archie Manning’s Saints for a rare win, 24-10. A Gary Huff to Bo Rather pass sealed the win in their highest scoring game of the season. </p>
<p id="gYkQSO"><strong>October 5 - </strong>In 2003, the Bears came back to beat the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Raiders</a> 24-21 highlighted by a Kordell Stewart to Marty Booker TD strike. The “A Train” <span>Anthony Thomas</span> rushed for 123 yards en route to a 1,000 yard season.</p>
<p id="HmTmaA"><strong>October 4 - </strong>In 1987, the “Spare Bears” took the field for the first time, beating the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Eagles</a> replacements 35-3. Mike Hohensee tossed 3 scores and Sean Payton went 5-11 for 51 yards and took 4 sacks. The strike lasted all of 3 games. </p>
<p id="eMnM0J"><strong>October 3 - </strong>In 1920, the Decatur Staleys won their first ever game against the Moline Universal Tractors 20-0. Dutch Sternaman scored 3 rushing TDs and George Halas recorded the first of his 318 regular season wins.</p>
<p id="XQkzFj"><strong>October 2 - </strong>In 1983, the Bears defense knocked out rookie John Elway in a dominant 31-14 win against the Broncos. 9 sacks were recorded on Elway & Steve DeBerg including 3 from Todd Bell and 2 each from Mike Hartenstine and <span>Al Harris</span>.</p>
<p id="g3weng"><strong>October 1 - </strong>In 2006, the Bears erased the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> 37-6 on the strength of 98 yards and 2 scores from <span>Thomas Jones</span> and 2 Rex Grossman TD tosses - 9 yards to <span>Muhsin Muhammad</span> and a 40 yard dagger to <span>Bernard Berrian</span>.</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="dbFBnW"><div data-anthem-component="aside:8880354"></div></div></div>
<p id="68GFQt"><strong>September 30 - </strong>In 1934, the Bears beat the Cincinnati Reds football team 21-3 with TDs from Bronko Nagurski, Beattie Feathers, and Red Grange. Feathers would go on to record the NFL’s first 1,000 yard rushing season.</p>
<p id="UjaOad"><strong>September 29 - </strong>In 1968, the Bears beat the Vikings in Metropolitan Stadium 27-17 on the strength of a 100 yard rushing game by Gale Sayers and a John Concannon to Dick Gordon score.</p>
<p id="Et9qWP"><strong>September 28 - </strong>In 1986, the Bears defense ran roughshod over Boomer Esiason’s <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a> in Riverfront Stadium, 44-7. The defense collected 4 sacks and 5 interceptions including one of each for Otis Wilson. </p>
<p id="2NGh2G"><strong>September 27 - </strong>In 2009, the Bears invaded Seattle for a 25-19 victory led by 3 <span>Jay Cutler</span> TD passes <span>(Johnny Kn</span>ox, <span>Greg Olsen</span>, Devin Hester). Lance Briggs led the defense with a sack and an INT. </p>
<p id="3h33Dv"><strong>September 26 - </strong>In 1948, the Bears laid waste to the Packers 45-7. Ed Sprinkle, AKA The Claw, caught TDs from Sid Luckman & Bobby Layne. Don’t know much about Sprinkle? Watch this video! </p>
<div id="hbpjOf"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o8jl7v-4GhI?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="Taym9r"><strong>September 25 - </strong>In 1949, the Bears shut out the Packers 17-0 led by Johnny Lujack who threw for 2 scores, kicked the extra points, and added a field goal. Lujack led the league in yards (2,658) and TDs (23). </p>
<p id="7fcdHz"><strong>September 24 - </strong>In 2006, the Bears remained undefeated by beating the Vikings in the Metrodome 19-16. Robbie<span> Gould</span> connected on 4 FGs but <span>Rex Grossman</span>’s TD to <span>Rashied Davis</span> with under 2 minutes was the difference.</p>
<p id="GeltwW"><strong>September 23 - </strong>In 1961 and ‘62, the Bears beat the L.A. Rams in back to back seasons in the L.A. Coliseum 21-17 and 27-23. Billy Wade rushed for a score in each and safety Richie Petitbon recorded an INT against Zeke Bratkowski in both games.</p>
<p id="6M0157"><strong>September 22 - </strong>In 1940, the Bears opened their championship season by laying waste to the rival Packers 41-10 led by 3 scores from Hall of Famer George McAfee - a 93 yard kick return, a pass to Ken Kavanaugh, and a run. </p>
<p id="uegJbZ"><strong>September 21 - </strong>In 1930, the Bears tied the Brooklyn Dodgers 0-0. It would be the closest Brooklyn would ever come to beating the Bears. In fact, the Bears’ 10-0-1 mark against Brooklyn is the most wins against any defunct franchise. </p>
<p id="WgHBox"><strong>September 20 - </strong>In 1936, the Bears obliterated the Packers 30-3 in City Stadium (GB) that included a score from Hall of Famer Bill Hewitt and kicks from “Automatic” Jack Manders. ‘36 is the year of the alternate jerseys used this season.</p>
<p id="GYWONw"><strong>September 19 - </strong>In 1985, the Bears beat Tommy Kramer’s Vikings 33-24 in the Metrodome on Jim McMahon’s huge 3rd quarter - a 70 yd TD to Willie Gault and a pair of scores to “Silky D” Dennis McKinnon.</p>
<div id="N8IhR3"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ba8Qg_9pKqU?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="UqbNI7"><strong>September 18 - </strong>In 1931, the Bears defeated the Cleveland Indians football squad 21-0 including a score from the Galloping Ghost, Red Grange. Grange would go on to earn his second straight 1st Team All-Pro honor.</p>
<p id="VeCtZU"><strong>September 17 - </strong>In 2006, the Bears trashed Rod Marinelli’s Lions 34-7 with 4(!!) <span>Rex Grossman</span> TD passes including a 41 yard strike to Bernard “B-Twice” Berrian.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/64husQU-H7CvdGakVhckNl8LX1U=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19219542/456539136.jpg.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="XFsaS0"><strong>September 16 - </strong>A double header! The Bears beat the Packers 9-7 in 1984 and 31-13 in 1990 - both in Lambeau! Payton’s 110 yards led the way in ‘84 while Jim Harbaugh’s 3 scores headlined the ‘90 win. </p>
<p id="NVyrBt"><strong>September 15 - </strong>In 1939, the Bears beat the Cleveland <a href="https://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Rams</a> (yep, Cleveland from ‘37-’45) 30-21 on the strength of 282 team rushing yards and a 26 yard scoring toss from Bernie Masterson to Dick Plasman. </p>
<p id="OcdzSK"><strong>September 14 -</strong> In 1980, the Bears shut down Archie Manning’s <a href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a> 22-3 on the strength of, you guessed it, Walter Payton’s 209 yards from scrimmage on a mere 21 touches.</p>
<p id="q6y2Fs"><strong>September 13 -</strong> Nothing good has ever happened on this day with the Bears going winless (0-7). Instead, let’s look at the all-time records against each NFC division: </p>
<p id="0piwE9"><em>North:</em> 246-231-13<br><em>East:</em> 78-63-1<br><em>South:</em> 72-51<br><em>West:</em> 149-105-10<br><em>All NFC:</em> 545-450-24</p>
<p id="pzFKxX"><strong>September 12 - </strong>In 1999, the Bears notched an opening day victory against Elvis Grbac’s <a href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Chiefs</a> 20-17. <span>Shane Matthews</span> to John Allred for a 1 yard score capped a 20 pt 1st half - it would prove to be the best half that year.</p>
<p id="QSmxLl"><strong>September 11 -</strong> In 2011, the Bears whipped the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Falcons</a> 30-12 in a complete performance. Jay Cutler threw for over 300 yards and the defense racked up 5 sacks and 2 turnovers including a Peanut Punch.</p>
<p id="GcilOT"><strong>September 10 -</strong> In 2006, the Bears shutout the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a> 26-0 in Lambeau Field to kick off what would be a Super Bowl season. The scoring was highlighted by rookie <span>Devin Hester</span>’s first punt return TD.</p>
<div id="QHHqa3"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 75%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YlIZ85H6DzE?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="64Gpws"><strong>September 9 -</strong> In 1984, the Bears blanked the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a> 27-0 holding a trio of QBs to 9/27 for 109 yards and 2 INTs. This sweet Payton run highlighted a 179 yard ground game domination. </p>
<div id="24DJgy"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QRacI7XGE6E?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="x5Bu8d"><strong>September 8 -</strong> In 1985, the Bears started their championship season by coming back from a 28-17 deficit against the <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Buccaneers</a> on the strength of 157 yards from scrimmage from Walter Payton and a pick-6 from Leslie Frazier off Steve DeBerg. </p>
<p id="FvRtee"><strong>September 7 -</strong> In 2008, the Bears beat <span>Peyton Manning</span>’s <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Colts</a> in Tony Dungy’s last season 29-13. A 50 yard Matt Forte TD run kicked off the scoring that would include a safety and a <span>Lance Briggs</span> fumble return score. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Chicago Bears v Indianapolis Colts" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eOwGVfiI_uGhLkFMgPE-Sgypc5g=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19194393/82825284.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="nbiDPk"><strong>September 6 -</strong> In 1992, the Bears beat the <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Lions</a> 27-24 on a Tom Waddle game winner from Jim Harbaugh for their 9th consecutive opening day victory. Bears are 99-74 all-time against the Lions.</p>
<p id="QJLLcA"><strong>September 5 -</strong> In 2019, the Bears open their 100th season with their most-played rival, the Packers. Led by Mitchell Trubisky and <span>Khalil Mack</span>, the squad aims to notch a victory in the 199th all-time meeting. Let’s do this. </p>
<p id="gIPNHP"><strong>September 4 -</strong> In 1988, the Bears dismantled Dan Marino’s <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Dolphins</a> 34-7 on the strength of 123 yards and 2 scores from RB Neal Anderson. Marino was held to 9 of 22 for 113 yards. </p>
<p id="dgurE2"><strong>September 3 -</strong> In 1995, Erik Kramer beat Warren Moon’s <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Vikings</a> 31-7 with 262 yards and 3 scores including 110 yards and 2 TDs to Curtis Conway. Kramer would go on to break the single season team record for yards and TDs.</p>
<p id="1K9cIw"><strong>September 2 -</strong> In 1979, a 6-3 victory over the Packers on the strength of a 40 touch, 174 yard game from Walter Payton. The head coaches that day? Neill Armstrong vs. Bart Starr.</p>
<p id="IOdK6Q"><strong>September 1 -</strong> In 1991, the Bears beat the Vikings 10-6 on the strength of a Tom Waddle 37 yard TD grab. The Bears would go on to an 11-5 record that year in Mike Ditka’s last postseason appearance. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Tom Waddle" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rdpWTGMx1KraIKsWkfTK4TDdIh0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19194387/72568294.jpg.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="X7zSjb"><em><strong>We’ll update and refresh this article every Saturday this season. </strong></em></p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/9/14/20863003/chicago-bears-100-history-walter-payton-tom-waddle-mike-ditka-erik-kramer-sid-luckman-butkus-dentLester A. Wiltfong Jr.Jeff Berckes2019-09-02T12:08:39-05:002019-09-02T12:08:39-05:00Talking WCG’s Bears’ Top 100 Player List: Part 2
<figure>
<img alt="Packers vs. Bears" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7t_jzlEf8qQS1sQxJxlpPlZQRlE=/0x0:2723x1815/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65157109/112807800.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In our latest T Formation Conversation <em>(</em><a href="https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/VMP9859638125?selected=VMP7580975147"><em>on the WCG Podcast Channel</em></a><em>)</em>, Lester is joined by a few friends to discuss the WCG Top 100 Bears’ Players of All-Time list and this time they countdown from fifty to one. </p> <p id="rprBTr">I’m assuming that by now you’ve all spent countless hours perusing our our <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/6/2/18637619/top-100-chicago-bears-players-wcg-windy-city-gridiron-walter-payton-dent-hampton-ditka-halas-sayers">Top 100 Bears’ Players of All-Time list and story-stream</a> that Sam Householder, Jacob Infante, Erik Duerrwaechter, Jeff Berckes, Jack M Silverstein and myself compiled earlier this year in honor of the Chicago Bears’ 100th anniversary season. </p>
<p id="O15ttF">I also assume that by now you’ve also <a href="https://megaphone.link/VMP7580975147">listened to the first half</a> of my special two-part T Formation Conversation Podcast where I grabbed Sam, Jeff, and Jack to talk about the 100 players we picked for our list. </p>
<p id="s48D0a">In my latest <a href="https://megaphone.link/VMP1197218641">T Formation Conversation</a> podcast we talked about the players we ranked fifty through one, so give it a listen right here.</p>
<div id="Tpqzyi"><iframe src="https://player.megaphone.fm/VMP1197218641" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 200px;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div>
<p id="vm89X4">We not only talk about these historical great Bears, but we also bring the discussion around to the current team, plus you get you hear Jack doing dished in the second half of the episode. </p>
<p id="RADibc">As a reminder, here are the players in the top half of our list. </p>
<p id="txYR5v">50. <span>Julius Peppers</span>, DE<br>49. Dave Duerson, S<br>48. <span>Fred Williams</span>, DL<br>47. Bill Osmanski, FB<br>46. Doug Buffone, LB<br>45. Joe Kopcha, OL/DL<br>44. Rosey Taylor, S<br>43. <span>Mike Brown</span>, S<br>42. Wilber Marshall, LB<br>41. Johnny Morris, WR<br>40. Ed Sprinkle, DE<br>39. Rick Casares, FB<br>38. <span>Matt Forte</span>, RB<br>37. Gary Fencik, S<br>36. Paddy Driscoll, QB/HB/K<br>35. Harlon Hill, WR<br>34. George Halas, E<br>33. Richie Petibone, S<br>32. <span>Lance Briggs</span>, LB<br>31. Link Lyman, T<br>30. George Trafton, C<br>29. George Musso, OL<br>28. <span>Olin Kreutz</span>, C<br>27. Joe Fortunato, LB<br>26. <span>Devin Hester</span>, KR/PR/WR<br>25. Steve McMichael, DT<br>24. Jimbo Covert, LT<br>23. Ed Healey, OT/OG/E<br>22. Bill Hewitt, E<br>21. Jay Hilgenberg, C<br>20. George McAfee, HB/DB<br>19. Joe Stydahar, T<br>18. <span>Charles Tillman</span>, CB<br>17. Stan Jones, OG/OT/DT<br>16. George Connor, OT/LB/DT<br>15. Dan Fortmann, OG/LB<br>14. Mike Ditka, TE<br>13. Dan Hampton, DT/DE<br>12. Richard Dent, DE<br>11. Doug Atkins, DE<br>10. Red Grange, HB/DB<br>9. Mike Singletary, MLB<br>8. Bronko Nagurski, FB<br>7. <span>Brian Urlacher</span>, MLB<br>6. Clyde Douglas “Bulldog” Turner, OL/LB<br>5. Bill George, LB<br>4. Sid Luckman, QB/DB/P<br>3. Gale Sayers, RB<br>2. Dick Butkus, MLB<br>1. Walter Payton, RB</p>
<p id="Gf2G6v"><strong>And in case you missed it, here’s </strong><a href="https://megaphone.link/VMP7580975147"><strong>part one</strong></a><strong> of my show.</strong></p>
<div id="Jfbht6"><iframe src="https://player.megaphone.fm/VMP7580975147" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 200px;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div>
<p id="3WGCS0"><em>See our full </em><a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/5/23/18636529/wcg-top-100-chicago-bears-players-all-time-history-centennial-anniversary-season-championship"><em>Bears’ 100 list right here</em></a><em> and check out both parts of my podcast, and all our audio programming, at the </em><a href="https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/VMP9859638125?selected=VMP1197218641"><em>WCG Podcast Channel</em></a><em>! </em></p>
<div id="vwh8Wi">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bears?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bears</a> fans (and sports fans) there's a HUGE Labor Day sale going on at <a href="https://twitter.com/breakingtco?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@breakingtco</a> and here are the details.<br><br>20% off everything in the store<br>Shirts starting at just $8; hoodies $16<br>Use code LABOR20 at checkout<br>Sale ends Monday at 11:59 p.m. PT<a href="https://t.co/Pd20kLZzKi">https://t.co/Pd20kLZzKi</a> <a href="https://t.co/W2v9Zdqv29">pic.twitter.com/W2v9Zdqv29</a></p>— Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. (@wiltfongjr) <a href="https://twitter.com/wiltfongjr/status/1167502805222998016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2019</a>
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https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/9/2/20844713/chicago-bears-talking-wcg-top-100-player-list-part-2-urlacher-walter-payton-bill-george-red-grangeLester A. Wiltfong Jr.Jack SilversteinJeff BerckesSam Householder2019-09-01T17:00:00-05:002019-09-01T17:00:00-05:00Talking WCG’s Bears’ Top 100 Player List: Part 1
<figure>
<img alt="Chicago Bears v Philadelphia Eagles" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WsQA2OQwwnAJkKwRQF1dEefukg8=/0x0:4602x3068/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65154164/459067597.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In Lester’s latest T Formation Conversation <em>(</em><a href="https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/VMP9859638125?selected=VMP7580975147"><em>on the WCG Podcast Channel</em></a><em>)</em>, he’s joined by a few friends to discuss the WCG Top 100 Bears’ Players of All-Time list. </p> <p id="rprBTr">By now you’ve all had the chance to check out our <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/6/2/18637619/top-100-chicago-bears-players-wcg-windy-city-gridiron-walter-payton-dent-hampton-ditka-halas-sayers">Top 100 Bears’ Players of All-Time list</a> that Sam Householder, Jacob Infante, Erik Duerrwaechter, Jeff Berckes, Jack M Silverstein and myself compiled earlier this year in honor of the Chicago Bears’ 100th anniversary season. </p>
<p id="Sb7GQa">With such a historic season about to kick off I wanted to gather a few of my colleagues to talk about our list, but since running a six man podcast wasn’t going to work, I made an executive decision <em>(sorry Jacob and Erik)</em>. </p>
<p id="s48D0a">So, for my latest <a href="https://megaphone.link/VMP7580975147">T Formation Conversation</a> podcast I grabbed Sam, who had the idea to do the to 100 list in the first place, Jeff, who came up with the math behind our rankings, and Jack, who is our resident Bears’ historian, and we talked about the team’s players, their place in history, referenced the other two Bears’ 100 lists that are out there, and even managed to circle back to talk about the current Bears team. </p>
<p id="Wopgi6">We went almost two hours — so I had to chop it up into two parts — and here’s part one where we discuss players 100-51. </p>
<div id="Upnkg1"><iframe src="https://player.megaphone.fm/VMP7580975147" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 200px;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div>
<p id="vm89X4">As a reminder, here are the players in the bottom half of our list. </p>
<p id="oX6eqb">100. <span>Tim Jennings</span>, CB<br>99. <span>Alshon Jeffery</span>, WR<br>98. <span>Marty Booker</span>, WR<br>97. J.C. Caroline, DB<br>96. Dave Whitsell, DB<br>95. Tom Thayer, OG<br>94. Gary Famiglietti, FB/RB<br>93. <span>Brad Maynard</span>, P<br>92. Matt Suhey, FB<br>91. Beattie Feathers, RB<br>90. Mike Hartenstine, DL<br>89. <span>Roberto Garza</span>, OG, C<br>88. Johnny Lujack, QB, DB, K<br>87. Ed <span>Brown</span>, QB, P<br>86. Bennie McRae, DB<br>85. Kevin Butler, K<br>84. Dutch Sternaman, QB, HB<br>83. <span>Akiem Hicks</span>, DE<br>82. Ray McLean, HB, DB<br>81. <span>Alex Brown</span>, DE<br>80. Bill Wade, QB<br>79. Herman Lee, LT<br>78. <span>Patrick Mannelly</span>, LS<br>77. James “Big Cat” Williams, RT<br>76. Mike Pyle, C<br>75. <span>Kyle Long</span>, OL<br>74. <span>Thomas Jones</span>, RB<br>73. Donnell Woolford, CB<br>72. Dick Gordon, WR<br>71. Mark Carrier, S<br>70. Jack Manders, K/RB<br>69. Willie Galimore, RB<br>68. Otis Wilson, OLB<br>67. <span>Brandon Marshall</span>, WR<br>66. Dick Barwegen, OG<br>65. Ken Kavanaugh, E<br>64. Jim Osborne, DT<br>63. <span>Tommie Harris</span>, DT<br>62. Ed O’Bradovich, DE<br>61. Mark Bortz, G<br>60. <span>Jay Cutler</span>, QB<br>59. Ray Bray, DL/OG<br>58. Jim McMahon, QB<br>57. Neal Anderson, RB<br>56. Doug Plank, S<br>55. <span>George Wilson</span>, E/DE<br>54. <span>Robbie Gould</span>, K<br>53. Keith Van Horne, OT<br>52. Lee Artoe, T/K<br>51. Wally Chambers, DT</p>
<p id="92xvBC"><em>See our full </em><a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/5/23/18636529/wcg-top-100-chicago-bears-players-all-time-history-centennial-anniversary-season-championship"><em>Bears’ 100 list right here</em></a><em> and you can now check out </em><a href="https://megaphone.link/VMP1197218641"><em>part two of my podcast right here</em></a><em>! </em></p>
<div id="8kDRkF"><iframe src="https://player.megaphone.fm/VMP1197218641" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 200px;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div>
<div id="vwh8Wi">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bears?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bears</a> fans (and sports fans) there's a HUGE Labor Day sale going on at <a href="https://twitter.com/breakingtco?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@breakingtco</a> and here are the details.<br><br>20% off everything in the store<br>Shirts starting at just $8; hoodies $16<br>Use code LABOR20 at checkout<br>Sale ends Monday at 11:59 p.m. PT<a href="https://t.co/Pd20kLZzKi">https://t.co/Pd20kLZzKi</a> <a href="https://t.co/W2v9Zdqv29">pic.twitter.com/W2v9Zdqv29</a></p>— Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. (@wiltfongjr) <a href="https://twitter.com/wiltfongjr/status/1167502805222998016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2019</a>
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https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/9/1/20843774/chicago-bears-top-100-player-list-part-1-podcast-audio-tom-thayer-mitchell-trubisky-jim-mcmahon-1985Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.Jack SilversteinJeff BerckesSam Householder2019-08-07T15:00:00-05:002019-08-07T15:00:00-05:00Best NFL Team of All-Time according to USA Today? You know
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<p>USA Today ranked the 100 best NFL teams ever and the ‘85 Bears topped it</p> <p id="6SFnCM">The <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Bears</a>, along with the NFL, are celebrating their 100th season and that means that there are plenty of lists, TV specials and more commemorating and ranking various NFL and Bears-related things.</p>
<p id="CyR4Gu">Earlier this summer, we here at <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/5/23/18636529/wcg-top-100-chicago-bears-players-all-time-history-centennial-anniversary-season-championship">WCG unveiled our own list of the 100 Bears players</a> of all time and there’s many others. </p>
<p id="3qxi1J">Well, Nate Davis of USA Today wanted to get in on the list-making and decided to rank the <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641949&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fnfl%2F2019%2F08%2F05%2Fnfl-best-teams-history-all-time-patriots-bears-dolphins%2F1886459001%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.windycitygridiron.com%2F2019%2F8%2F7%2F20757388%2Fusa-today-best-nfl-team-of-all-time-1985-chicago-bears-super-bowl-xx" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">100 greatest NFL teams of the first 100 years</a>.</p>
<p id="ERKMoM">His criteria was simple: </p>
<blockquote><p id="Qd4s75">A quick word on the methodology, such as it is: There’s no fair or reasonable way to compare teams spanning so many decades of NFL football. It isn’t presumptuous to assume the 2018 <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a>, the league’s worst team a year ago <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641949&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fnfl%2Fdraft%2F2019%2F04%2F25%2Fnfl-draft-2019-kyler-murray-arizona-cardinals-pick%2F3573590002%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.windycitygridiron.com%2F2019%2F8%2F7%2F20757388%2Fusa-today-best-nfl-team-of-all-time-1985-chicago-bears-super-bowl-xx" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">pre-Kyler Murray</a>, would make the 1920 Akron Pros look like rec league Joes were they able to share the same field. So given the way the game and players have evolved, extra weight and consideration was conceded to the modern game — you’ll note all 53 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> champions are listed, however many of the NFL and AFL champions prior to 1966 didn’t receive similar recognition. Metrics like titles won, victories, point differentials and such — which cut across generations with some level of equality — were taken into account, though there was also plenty of room for opinion and art in the final analysis.</p></blockquote>
<p id="zZh18B">There have been many league and Super Bowl champions, a handful of dynasties and many teams that have been crowned “one of the best ever.”</p>
<p id="i80nnD">But there was only one team that could rank No. 1</p>
<blockquote><p id="x1INoB"><strong>1. 1985 Bears (won Super Bowl XX): </strong><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641949&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fnfl%2Fbears%2F2016%2F01%2F26%2Fmike-ditka-1985-chicago-super-bowl%2F79374608%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.windycitygridiron.com%2F2019%2F8%2F7%2F20757388%2Fusa-today-best-nfl-team-of-all-time-1985-chicago-bears-super-bowl-xx" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Pure dominance</a>. Their 15 regular-season wins came by an average of 18.1 points. The defense collected 64 sacks while allowing just 12.4 points a week. Chicago shut out the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">Giants</a> and <a href="https://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Rams</a> in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-playoffs">NFC playoffs</a> before that epic 46-10 Super Bowl dismantling of New England. All told, the Bears outscored their postseason opponents 91-10. Sure, it would have been nice to see a rematch with Dan Marino and the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Dolphins</a>, who handed Chicago its only loss of 1985, on Super Sunday. And maybe you’d like the best team of all time — arguably — to feature a more renowned quarterback than Jim McMahon, but the fact that an offense led by Walter Payton (1,551 rushing yards) was almost extraneous also illustrates just how transcendent Buddy Ryan’s “46 defense” was. And for a list like this, a little flair should count for something, and with McMahon, Payton, Ryan, “Refrigerator” Perry, Mike Singletary, coach Mike Ditka and many others — most getting star turns with “The Super Bowl Shuffle” — the ‘85 Bears had character(s) in spades.</p></blockquote>
<p id="fOYmLr">Well said, Nate. </p>
<p id="VDccep">Interestingly, there are a number of teams that stood in the way of the Bears repeating as champions or becoming a dynasty of their own on the list as well, including the No. 2 ranked ‘84 <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> that defeated the Bears in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfc-championship-game">NFC Championship</a> game.</p>
<p id="QZW4bM">The whole list is worth reading and there’s a lot of good stats to back up his ranks.</p>
<p id="FEdcs9">There isn’t much else that hasn’t been said about the ‘85 Bears, but I doubt there is anyone on here that wouldn’t agree with their ranking.</p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/8/7/20757388/usa-today-best-nfl-team-of-all-time-1985-chicago-bears-super-bowl-xxSam Householder2019-07-31T09:00:00-05:002019-07-31T09:00:00-05:00WCG Top 100 Bears players spotlight: No. 10, Red Grange
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<p>Harold “Red” Grange practically launched professional football and the Bears. But his story is much greater than that.</p> <p id="WQlN1d">The NFL did not keep individual statistics until 1932, so we don’t have a singular statistic to show the impact Red Grange had on the team when he came aboard for Thanksgiving 1925. But let’s try this: attendance. </p>
<p id="BwqG6C">The <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Bears</a> played in front of fewer than 10,000 fans for most of the season before Grange’s arrival, topping out at 13,000 against the cross-town <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a> on Oct. 25. In their final pre-Grange game, a 21-0 win over the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a> on Nov. 22 at Cubs Park, they drew 6,898 fans. </p>
<p id="d4Q2uz">Four days later, still at Cubs Park and again playing the Cardinals, <a href="https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1040053016890621953">but now with Grange: 39,000</a>. </p>
<p id="So40BN">Three days later, against the Tigers at Cubs Park: 28,000. </p>
<p id="jWi5Mv">Dec. 5, in Philadelphia: 36,000. </p>
<p id="lChrVe">The next day, at the Polo Grounds against the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">Giants</a>, the largest crowd in the history of pro football: 65,000 at kickoff, and upwards of 74,000 depending on the source. They drew more gate-crashers, 8,000, than most of the other pre-Grange games had in paid attendance.</p>
<p id="aVd3XN">On this basis alone, you could make the case that Red Grange is a top-10 Bear of all-time.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">You can see the packed house for Red Grange's final collegiate game (left). Here he is second from the left watching the Bears beat the Packers the very next day. <a href="https://t.co/TmhRO2J4YW">pic.twitter.com/TmhRO2J4YW</a></p>— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) <a href="https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1040053888035028992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2018</a>
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<p id="bOQevV">If he’d never played another game for the Bears after 1925, and <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/5/23/18636529/wcg-top-100-chicago-bears-players-all-time-history-centennial-anniversary-season-championship">the WCG Top 100 had him at #10</a>, you might take us to task, but you’d have to admit, we would have a case.</p>
<p id="XYCIlB">But Grange did play for the Bears again.</p>
<p id="ZmXQ10">And that is where his story gets interesting.</p>
<p id="KiYnkM">After failing to sustain his own league, folding his New York Yankees into the NFL in 1927 and missing the 1928 season with a knee injury, Grange returned to the Bears in 1929 and played six legendary seasons in Chicago. </p>
<p id="4BWJgA">As a back — a star half back and defensive back — Grange made two All Pro teams in 1930 and 1931 and helped lead the Bears to championships in 1932 and 1933. His play in all three phases was stellar. He was no longer an athletic freak, but he remained a unique talent, and in ‘32 and ‘33 he made two of the most clutch plays in Bears history. </p>
<p id="MrVHki">In the 1932 championship game, the first in league history, he caught a fourth-quarter touchdown from Bronko Nagurski to break a scoreless game and give the Bears a trophy. </p>
<p id="UNXOXj">But his best came in the ‘33 title, on the last play of the game, with time gone and the Bears up two. </p>
<p id="jvWdMQ">The Giants completed a pass to Dale Burnett, who had a basketball-esque two-on-one, with teammate Mel Hein trailing him and Grange the only man between Burnett and the endzone. Sensing that Burnett would lateral to Hein, Grange tackled Burnett high, pinning the ball to his chest, taking him down and giving the Bears championship #3.</p>
<p id="DD9Fy5">In 1949, when George Halas retired the first three numbers in team history, Halas’s famed #77 was among them. In 1963, when the NFL launched the Pro Football Hall of Fame with an inaugural class of 17 men, Grange was included.</p>
<p id="dp8EKh">His run from 1929 to 1934 doesn’t get nearly the attention or appreciation of his collegiate career or 1925 pro breakout, but it’s possible that Grange would not have been in the Pro Football Hall of Fame without it.</p>
<p id="ymycMR">Instead, he was in the inaugural class, an appropriate distinction for a man who achieved success all over the field in all three phases. Consider his placement on all-time pro teams over the years.</p>
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<li id="KlbfUz">In 1941, George Halas selected his all-time Bears 11. <strong>Grange: left halfback</strong>
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<li id="SnV7ro">In 1969, the NFL announced its 1920s All-Decade team. <strong>Grange: halfback</strong>
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<li id="fNbIDU">In 1985, the Tribune’s Don Pierson selected his all-time Bears. <strong>Grange: kick returner</strong>
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<li id="JOORl6">In 1986, a panel of Tribune writers and another of readers selected an all-time Bears team. <strong>Grange: kick returner on both</strong>
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<li id="OrCVia">In 1994, for the team’s 75th season, the Tribune’s Don Pierson and Fred Mitchell selected an all-time Bears team. <strong>Grange: cornerback (opposite Bennie McRae)</strong>
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<li id="H7hrCG">In 2005, Fred Mitchell again selected an all-time Bears team. <strong>Grange: cornerback (again opposite McRae)</strong>
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<p id="t492SM">This summer, when Don Pierson and Dan Pompei delivered their all-time Bears team in celebration of the franchise’s 100th season, Grange was left off. The running backs were Payton and Nagurski, the corners were Peanut and George McAfee, the returners were Sayers (KR) and Hester (PR).</p>
<p id="rqDdDR">It took a century to unseat Red Grange.</p>
<p id="LvNdPT">-</p>
<p id="YivfyM">-</p>
<p id="pTVlxB">-</p>
<p id="3H8XrE"><em>Jack M Silverstein is Windy City Gridiron’s Bears historian, and author of “</em><a href="https://readjack.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/how-the-goat-was-built-by-jack-m-silverstein2.pdf"><em><strong>How The GOAT Was Built</strong></em></a><em>: 6 Life Lessons From the 1996 Chicago Bulls.” He is the proprietor of Chicago sports history Instagram “</em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ashotonehlo/"><em><strong>A Shot on Ehlo</strong></em></a><em>.” Say hey at @</em><a href="https://twitter.com/readjack"><em><strong>readjack</strong></em></a><em>.</em></p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/7/31/20703331/chicago-bears-wcg-top-100-players-spotlight-no-10-red-grange-history-george-halas-packers-giantsJack Silverstein2019-07-24T10:33:02-05:002019-07-24T10:33:02-05:00WCG Top 100 Bears players: 1-100
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<figcaption>Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The entire WCG Top 100 list is finally here. Where does your favorite player rank?</p> <p id="OEU4mW"><em>This is it. The final, complete list. But this won’t be the end of the content. Our writers are going to chime in with more on select players and other pieces. What does your top 100 list look like? Did we get it right or wrong?</em></p>
<p id="2Vd3aj">Our writers, Sam Householder, Jeff Berckes, Lester A. Wiltfong Jr., Erik Duerrwaetcher, Jack Silverstein and Jacob Infante, all debated for months about our WCG Top 100 <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> Players list until we decided on the final group to present to you guys. </p>
<p id="CNT6PL">We’ll be rolling these out 10 at a time until we get to number one. </p>
<p id="t8GZCg">We decided to rank players based only on their Bears playing career, so coaching career and accomplishments with other teams were not considered.</p>
<p id="zx8pzO"><strong>For the full voting method and more on how this list came to be, </strong><a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/5/22/18634515/wcg-top-100-greatest-chicago-bears-players-an-introduction-staff-centennial-all-time-list"><strong>click here</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p>
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<p id="seTRHy">1. <strong>Walter Payton</strong>, RB, 1975-1987, 9x Pro Bowls (1976-1980, 1983-1986), 5x 1st Team All-Pro (1976-77, 1980, 1984-85), 3x 2nd Team All-Pro (1978-79, 1986), NFL MVP (1977), Super Bowl XX Champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1993, Jersey No. 34 retired</p>
<p id="RZYKGl">As if it could be anyone else. Widely considered the best all-around football player and certainly running back in history, Payton was a true three down back that lived up to his mantra of ‘never die easy.’ Payton retired as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards and the Bears’ all-time leader in receptions with 492. He also threw nine touchdowns. He’s still second in NFL history in rushing attempts and yards, fourth in touchdowns and third in yards from scrimmage. He led the league in rushing attempts four times, touches twice and yards from scrimmage twice. During his 1977 MVP season he rushed for 1,852 yards to lead the league, as well as scoring a league-leading 14 rushing TDs. He averaged 5.5 YPC that year and led the league in combined TDs with 16 as well. Simply put, one of the best seasons ever. He won numerous yearly awards, has the NFL humanitarian award named for him, was a member of both the All-1970s and All-1980s decade teams and a member of the NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team. His number 34 is retired by the Bears, but you knew that. <em>- Sam Householder</em></p>
<p id="5Pa3l0">2. <strong>Dick Butkus</strong>, MLB, 1965-1973, 8x Pro Bowls (1965-1972), 5x 1st Team All-Pros (1965, 1968-1970, 1972), Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1979, Jersey No. 51 retired</p>
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<p id="E7ycoH">Dick Butkus was<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXpViSdE2Fk"> born to be a Bear</a>. The Chicago native played his college ball at Illinois and was drafted by George Halas third overall in the 1965 NFL draft to take over for Bill George at the middle linebacker spot. Named to both the 1960’s and 1970’s All-Decade teams, Butkus set the standard at the middle linebacker position that all future players would be measured against with ferocious hitting and intimidation. It’s no surprise that college football named the award for the best college linebacker after him. In 1994, the No. 51 was retired in his honor. On a franchise best known for linebacker play, Butkus stands at the head of the pack as the highest ranked defensive player on the list. <em>– Jeff Berckes</em></p>
<p id="q5EMCw">3. <strong>Gale Sayers</strong>, RB, (1965-1971), 4x Pro Bowls (1965-1967, 1969), 5x 1st Team All Pros (1965-1969), Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1977, Jersey No. 40 retired</p>
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<p id="cnM6C8">Gale Sayers was one of the most electrifying players to ever play football. He not only belongs in the conversation for greatest running backs of all time, but also in the conversation for greatest returners of all time. If he didn’t tear up his knee in 1968, at just 25-years old, he would be much higher in the franchise and NFL record books. He led the league in rushing and kick return average two times apiece, he led the league in all purpose yards three times, and he led the league in scoring one time. Injuries kept his career to only five productive seasons, but it was enough to make him the youngest inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. ~ <em>Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em></p>
<p id=":ty">4. <strong>Sid Luckman</strong>, QB/DB/P, 1939-1950, 4x NFL champion (1940, 1941, 1943, 1946), 5x 1st Team All-Pro (1941-1944, 1947), 1943 NFL MVP, 1940s NFL All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1965, Jersey No. 42 retired</p>
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<p id="XDMfrF">The Chicago Bears would be just another good franchise without the 1940s. And that means they would be just another good franchise without Sid Luckman. Drafted in 1939, Luckman was George Halas’s answer to Washington’s Sammy Baugh. And while Baugh was considered the better passer, Luckman was often hailed as the better <em>player</em> — think Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady. In the 11 years that they were in the league together, Luckman topped Baugh in first team All-Pro selections with five to Baugh’s three. Both men were first team (as backs) in 1942 and 1943, but Luckman received more votes in ‘42, and then laughed last in ‘43, winning league MVP behind <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2018/11/1/17940586/sid-luckman-seven-touchdown-passes-chicago-bears-new-york-giants-nfl-record-sammy-baugh">arguably the greatest passing season in NFL history</a>: a then-record 28 touchdowns on just 202 attempts. He ended that season by leading the Bears to their third championship of the 1940s. (His first, you may recall, was the biggest win in NFL history: 73-0 over Baugh’s club.) Luckman then went off to World War II after the ‘43 championship, was one of four future Hall of Famers who took place in the D-Day invasion, and then returned to the Bears for another title in 1946. He was the reason the team’s T-formation worked and was lauded by Halas as a “coach on the field.” Simply put, Sid Luckman was the key player in the key decade of Chicago Bears football. <em>— Jack M. Silverstein</em></p>
<p id="ESt4U9">5. <strong>Bill George</strong>, LB, 1951-1965, 8x Pro Bowls (1954-1961), 8x First-Team All-Pros (1955-1961, 1963), NFL champion (1963), Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1974, Jersey No. 61 retired</p>
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<p id="Yjgj3U">In a history rich with terrific linebackers, Bill George was the Bears’ first legendary player at the position. Known by many as the first true middle linebacker, George’s style of play helped create the foundations of the 4-3 defense. He was a nasty, relentless and intelligent defender who was the prototype for the brutes the Bears would have at middle linebacker after his departure. He retired with 18 interceptions and 19 fumble recoveries, and was named a Pro Bowler eight years in a row. His diagnosing abilities in coverage, his reliability in run support and his athleticism made George one of the best players to put on a Bears uniform. — <em>Jacob Infante</em></p>
<p id="ShVwB6">6. <strong>Clyde Douglas “Bulldog” Turner, </strong>OL/LB, 1940-1952, 2x Pro Bowl (1950-51), 2x NFL All-Star (1940-41), 8x NFL All-Pro (1940-44, 1946-48), 4x NFL Champion (1940-41, ‘43, ‘46), Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1966, Jersey No. 66 retired </p>
<p id="klhu2y">The only lineman drafted within the top 10 picks of the 1940 NFL draft, he would go on as one of the single greatest players in NFL history. He was such a good player coming out of college, that then Detroit Lions owner George Richards was caught tampering in his attempt to coax Bulldog into retirement, then to un-retire and sign with the Lions. He was simply a destroyer of worlds when lining up at center or tackle on the o-line, and a dominant defender when lined up as a LB. He played a total of 138 games for the Chicago Bears, recording 17 interceptions and five fumble recoveries on defense with endless pancakes on offense. When anyone thinks of all-time greats in the sport of football, “Bulldog” Turner’s name will always be a name brought into the conversation. - <em>Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter </em></p>
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<p id="ko8xiH">7. <strong>Brian Urlacher</strong>, MLB, 2000-2012, 8x Pro Bowls (2000-2003, 2005-2006, 2011-2012), 4x 1st Team All-Pros (2001-2002, 2005-2006), 2005 Defensive Player of the Year, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018</p>
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<p id="VuPDMN">The ninth overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft took over for an injured Barry Minter in the third week of his rookie season and<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UPWiT89398"> never looked back</a>. The perfect modern linebacker transcended scheme as he put together back to back 1st Team All-Pro seasons for two completely different defensive systems. A safety in college, Urlacher was gifted in coverage, snaring 22 interceptions in addition to 90 passes defensed. Urlacher could also make a living in the opponent’s backfield, racking up 41.5 sacks and a remarkable 138 tackles for loss. After the face of the franchise was named to the 2000’s All-Decade Team, Urlacher entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2018. <em>– Jeff Berckes</em></p>
<p id="CRL15B">8. <strong>Bronko Nagurski</strong>, FB, 1930-1943, 4x 1st Team All-Pro, 2x NFL Champion (1932, 1933, 1943) Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1963 (inaugural class), Jersey No. 3 retired</p>
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<p id="fqADUx">It’s nearly impossible to separate Nagurski the player from the myth. Nagurski has legend and lore all around his back story, drawing comparisons to the fabled Paul Bunyon. A mountain of a man for his time, Nagurski stood 6’2” and 225 lbs. At a time when players didn’t typically crack 200 lbs. His 19 ½ championship ring size is the largest ever recorded. Nagurski was voted to the 1930s All-Decade Team. He doubled as a tackle and LB but he’s mainly known for his ability to run. He rushed for 2,778 yards and 25 TDs. After he retired following the 1937 season, he returned to Chicago during WWII to contribute to the 1943 Championship winning team. He went on to a successful wrestling career. <em>— Sam Householder</em></p>
<p id="wpoiQe">9. <strong>Mike Singletary,</strong> MLB, 1981-1992, 10x Pro Bowls (1983-1992), 7x 1st Team All-Pro (1984-1989, 1991), 2nd Team All-Pro (1990), 2x Defensive Player of the Year (1985 and 1988), Super Bowl XX Champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1998</p>
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<p id="9ShfBt">No Bear has ever been named to more than Singletary’s 10 Pro Bowls, and only Bill George (8) has more than Samurai Mike’s seven First-Team All-Pro honors. Singletary was equal parts cerebral and punishing on the football field. Tackles weren’t an official stat when he played, but the Bears have him credited with nearly 1,500 of them in his 12 year career while starting 172 of 179 games. He played the game with a controlled frenzy that made him one of the more popular Bears of his era. He was also the 1990 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year — <em>Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em></p>
<p id="qSaISX">10. <strong>Red Grange</strong>, HB/DB, 1925, 1929-1934, 2x 1st Team All-Pro (1930, 1931), 2x NFL Champion (1932, 1933), among first three Bears with his number retired, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1963 (inaugural class), Jersey No. 77 retired</p>
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<p id="YCgrEt">The impact that Red Grange had on not just the Bears but the NFL upon his arrival in November of 1925 is as great as it is well-documented. His brutal injuries and failed football league are properly logged in the history books too. What’s discussed less is just how great of a football player he was after that. From his return to the Bears in 1929 to his retirement following the ‘34 championship game, Harold “Red” Grange wasn’t the athletic superstar of his youth, but he was a unique talent who made two of the most clutch plays in Bears history. In the ‘32 title, the first in league history, he caught a fourth-quarter touchdown from Bronko Nagurski to break a scoreless game and give the Bears a trophy. But the best came in the ‘33 title, on the last play of the game, with time gone and the Bears up two. The Giants completed a pass to Dale Burnett, who had a basketball-esque two-on-one, with teammate Mel Hein trailing him and Grange ahead, the only man between Burnett and the endzone. Sensing that Burnett would lateral to Hein, Grange tackled Burnett high, pinning the ball to his chest, taking him down and giving the Bears championship No. 3. — <em>Jack M Silverstein</em></p>
<p id="R7vB6V">11. <strong>Doug Atkins</strong>, DE, 1955-1966, 8x Pro Bowls (1957-1963), 4x First-Team All-Pro (1958, 1960-61, 1963), 6x Second-Team All-Pro (1957, 1959, 1962, 1964-65, 1968), NFL Champion (1963), Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1982</p>
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<p id="jI1Xr4">Though he came in a time before sacks were an official stat, Doug Atkins is still seen as one of, if not the best pass rusher in Bears history. At 6-foot 8-inches and 257 pounds, he was a freak of nature whose length was complemented by impressive athleticism, toughness and strength. A crucial part of Chicago’s defense in the 1950s and 60s, he garnered attention from opposing teams as a player to focus on stopping. With a myriad of honors to his name, George is certainly one of the most decorated players to put on the navy and orange, and places a good argument to be considered the best passer the team has ever had. — <em>Jacob Infante</em></p>
<p id="Ny3Jee">12. <strong>Richard Dent,</strong> DE, 1983-1993; 1995, 4x Pro Bowls (1984-85, 90, 93), 4x First Team All-Pro (1984-85, 88, 90), 2x Super Bowl Champion (XX, XXIX), Super Bowl MVP (XX), Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2011</p>
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<p id="uUB5Qc">Want to talk about about a steal in the NFL draft? This HOF player wasn’t selected until the eighth round of the 1983 draft. He would set the Bears’ franchise record for sacks and be named MVP of Super Bowl XX in 1985. Dent’s power off the edge and an unlimited motor would drive him to making plays considered freakish even by today’s athletic standards. Oh, and his solo in the “Super Bowl Shuffle” is fantastic, too. - <em>Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter </em></p>
<p id="Jy96yB">13. <strong>Dan Hampton</strong>, DT/DE, 1979-1990, 4x Pro-Bowls (1980, 1982, 1984-85), 1x First Team All-Pro (1984), 4x Second Team All-Pro (1982, 1984, 1986, 1988), Super Bowl XX Champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2002</p>
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<p id="WfY2UZ">Hampton was the fourth overall pick in the 1979 draft and went on to be one of the best players in the class. The 1979 NFL Draft had just three future Hall of Famers: Hampton, Joe Montana and Kellen Winslow. Hampton was the foundation around which the Bears’ dominant ‘80s defense was built; Over the next six drafts the Bears would add to their defense, but Hampton was the first piece. He was the first player to be selected All-Pro at two positions and was a second team or alternate for the All-Pro team or Pro-Bowl at both end and tackle. He was a member of the 1980s All-Decade Team. The pride of Arkansas, he ranks third in team history in sacks, trailing only teammates Richard Dent and Steve McMichael. It should be noted that Hampton played his first three seasons before sacks became an official stat. <em>- Sam Householder</em></p>
<p id="ZeT8Yr">14. <strong>Mike Ditka</strong>, TE, 1961-1966, 5x Pro Bowls (1961-1965), 3x 1st Team All-Pros (1962-1964), 1963 NFL Champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1988, Jersey No. 89 retired</p>
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<p id="BU9lxn">Many Bears fans will remember Ditka as “Da Coach” or maybe even as a TV analyst, but the fifth overall pick in the 1961 NFL Draft changed the game forever by<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhzBI7bQLko"> inventing the modern</a> tight end position. A fiery, tough competitor, Ditka was a devastating blocker who opened up the game with his receiving abilities. The first NFL tight end to record 1,000 receiving yards in a single season, Ditka remains the team leader in catches (316), yards (4,503), and TDs (34) for the position. In 2013, the Bears announced that Ditka’s #89 would be the last number the club would retire. <em>– Jeff Berckes</em></p>
<p id="uwyw2K">15. <strong>Dan Fortmann</strong>, OG/LB, 1936-1943, 6x 1st Team All-Pro (1938-1942), 2x 2nd Team All-Pros (1936-1937), 3x Pro Bowls (1940-1942), 3x NFL Champion 1940, 1941, 1943, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1965</p>
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<p id="SZHTOn">Fortmann retired after the 1942 season to work full time as a doctor, but the Bears convinced him to return for one more season in 1943. During that season, <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641949&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Fclip%2F10204495%2Fdr_fortmann_starred_for_bears_sans%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.windycitygridiron.com%2F2019%2F5%2F23%2F18636529%2Fwcg-top-100-chicago-bears-players-all-time-history-centennial-anniversary-season-championship" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">he worked all week</a> at Pittsburgh’s Presbyterian Hospital then flew in on Saturday’s before each game. He was one of the best offensive linemen of his era, but as a linebacker he chipped in with eight career interceptions. ~ <em>Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em></p>
<p id="97G9Zu">16. <strong>George Connor</strong>, OT/LB/DT, 1948-1955, 4x Pro Bowl (1950-1953), 4x 1st team AP All-Pro (1950-1953, OT), Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1975</p>
<p id="VOjOoA">George “Moose” Connor made the All-Pro team five times in his eight-year career, but the magnitude of that achievement isn’t realized until you break down the positions. From 1951 to 1953, he was All-Pro first team on both offense and defense: offensive tackle from the Associated Press and defensive tackle and then linebacker from the UPI. He was also a member of the 1940s All-Decade Team. Whether he was best on offense or defense is a matter of debate: Bears writers Don Pierson and Fred Mitchell placed Connor on their various all-time Bears lists in 1985, 1994 and 2005 at tackle, while Pierson and Dan Pompei this summer named him a starting outside linebacker, a position he’s credited with inventing. “I think I prefer defense,” Connor said in 1985, thirty years after his devastating hit on Packers returner Veryl Switzer, which struck onlookers as particularly violent. “I’d be inclined to put Moose Connor on defense,” Jack Brickhouse said after reading Pierson’s 1985 list. “I saw him put too many people on stretchers.” — <em>Jack M Silverstein</em></p>
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<p id="AjEQKf">17. <strong>Stan Jones</strong>, OG/OT/DT, 1954-1965, 7x Pro Bowls (1955-1961), 3x First-Team All-Pro (1955, 1956, 1959), NFL champion (1963), Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1991</p>
<p id="4mtMV6">The first NFL player to ever use weight training for conditioning, Stan Jones was a pioneer for his efforts on and off the field. As an anchor of the Bears’ offensive line, he was one of the most dominant offensive linemen of his era. He missed just two games in his first 11 seasons—a true iron man if there ever was one. He even made the switch to defensive tackle near the end of his career due to a lack of depth at the position, and he excelled there, too. — <em>Jacob Infante</em></p>
<p id="fjzHw4">18. <strong>Charles Tillman, </strong>CB, 2003-2014, 2x Pro Bowls (2011-2012), 1x 1st Team All-Pro (2012) </p>
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<p id="GGlgyO">Charles “Peanut” Tillman will forever be a favorite of mine till the end of time. The same could be said for plenty of Bears fans; Peanut established himself as the greatest turnover machine in NFL history, with his trademarked “Peanut Punch” forcing 44 fumbles throughout his career to go with his 38 interceptions. Both of those are franchise records for the Bears. He’s also the only known player to ever shut down players like Calvin “Megatron” Johnson and Randy Moss consistently. He was a three-time Brian Piccolo Award winner and the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2013. - <em>Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter</em></p>
<p id="HXKeug">19. <strong>Joe Stydahar,</strong> T, 1936-1946, 4x 1st Team All-Pro (1937-1940), 4x Pro-Bowl (1938-1941), 3x NFL Champion (1940, 1941, 1946), Pro Football Hall of Fame Class 1967</p>
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<p id="k9ZTCo">Besides being the answer to ‘who was the Chicago Bears’ first draft pick,’ Stydahar was a staple of the 1940s Monsters of the Midway dynasty. In his second season he received 43 of a possible 50 points from All-Pro voters. In 1939 he was third among All-Pro voters in points, behind teammate Dan Fortmann and Green Bay’s Don Hutson. He was regarded as one of the league’s best players and the best tackles of his day and was voted onto the All-Decade Team for the 1930s. - <em>Sam Householder</em></p>
<p id="VRN4zQ">20. <strong>George McAfee</strong>, HB-DB, 1940-1941 & 1945-1950, 1x Pro Bowl (1941), 1st Team All-Pro (1941), 3x NFL Champion (1940, 1941, 1946), Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1966, Jersey No. 5 retired</p>
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<p id="qTiUNa">The second overall pick in the 1940 draft, “One-Play McAfee” was in some ways the original Devin Hester – a player with such electric ability that he could score at any time. The do-it-all McAfee still owns the NFL record for average yards per punt return and recorded TDs via run (22), reception (11), pass (3), kick return (2), punt return (2), and interception return (2). Despite McAfee spending the prime of his career fighting in World War II in the US Navy, McAfee was named to the 1940s All-Decade Team, had his number 5 retired in 1955, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966. <em>– Jeff Berckes</em></p>
<p id="JJTjVv">21. <strong>Jay Hilgenberg</strong>, C, 1981-1991, 7x Pro Bowls (1985-1991), 2x 1st Team All-Pro (1988-1989), 2x 2nd Team All-Pro (1986, 1990), Super Bowl XX Champion</p>
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<p id="v4VGIB">Hilgy started 130 of the 163 games he played in Chicago and the only thing missing from his resume is a much deserved spot in Canton. He’s now eligible on the senior committee list, so I think it’s just a matter of time before he receives a spot in the Hall Of Fame. He was one of the best centers of his era and a part of the legendary Black And Blues Brothers that opened up running lanes for Walter Payton. ~ <em>Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em></p>
<p id="iIGtRh">22. <strong>Bill Hewitt</strong>, E, 1932-1936, 3x All Pro (1933-34, 1936), 2x NFL champion (1932-33), NFL 1930s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1971, Jersey No. 56 retired</p>
<p id="Jpc3Ff">If you want to understand the dynamic power of Bill Hewitt, look no further than opening week of the 1933 season, against the Packers. With his defending champion Bears trailing 7-0 in the fourth, Hewitt made two magnificent plays: he tied the game with a 46-yard touchdown to Luke Johnsos, then he took the lead by blocking a Green Bay field goal, recovering the ball and running it back for a Bears score. For five years in Chicago, Hewitt was that kind of two-way menace. On defense, he developed a pass rush so fast he earned the nickname “The Offside Kid.” In 1949, two years after Hewitt died in an auto accident and six years after his final retirement with the wartime Phi-Pitt Steagles, George Halas retired the first three numbers in Bears history (pictured): Bronko Nagurski’s 3, Red Grange’s 77 and Hewitt’s 56. “He was a happy-go-lucky guy, until he stepped onto the field,” Halas said after Hewitt was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971. “Then he was a terror on offense or defense.” He led NFL in receiving touchdowns in 1934.</p>
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<p id="Gvzf52">23. <strong>Ed Healey</strong>, OT/OG/E, 1922-1927, 5x First-Team All-Pro (1922-1926), Hall of Fame Class of 1964</p>
<p id="dyPPyI">Ed Healey’s time with the Bears was relatively brief, but he proved to be a dominant force on the offensive line. His contract purchased by George Halas for $100, Healey led the Bears to winning seasons in all of his six seasons with the team. He was a consistent and versatile player who once tackled a teammate who was going the wrong way after an interception. — <em>Jacob Infante</em></p>
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<p id="hVLsk5">24. <strong>Jim Covert</strong>, LT, 1983-1991, 2x Pro Bowl (1985, 86), 2x All-Pro (1985, 86), NFL 1980’s All-Decade Team, Super Bowl XX Champion </p>
<p id="3XyzAs">Arguably the best LT of all-time for the Chicago Bears if not one of the most underrated LTs in NFL history. Covert started 110 out of 111 games he played for the Bears, and he faced some of the most fearsome pass rushers ever seen during the 80’s. You know, back when defenders were actually <em>allowed</em> to hit QBs. Where his teammate Hilgenberg on the Black and Blue Brothers warrants plenty of HOF consideration, don’t be surprised to see Covert enshrined in Canton in the future as well. - <em>Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter </em></p>
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<p id="YrFKuG">25. <strong>Steve McMichael</strong>, DT 1981-1993, 2x 1st Team All-Pro (1985, 1987), 2x Pro-Bowl (1986, 1987), Super Bowl XX Champion </p>
<p id="J6k7qA">Steve “Mongo” McMichael played 13 seasons with the Bears, never missing a game, the longest consecutive game streak in team history and second-most games all-time to Patrick Mannelly. His 92.5 sacks are second behind Richard Dent. He also had 13 forced fumbles. On many other teams, he’d get Hall of Fame consideration, but two of his teammates rank even higher on this list. - <em>Sam Householder</em></p>
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<p id="uRS6UQ">26. <strong>Devin Hester</strong>, Returner, 2006-2013, 3x Pro Bowls, 3x 1st Team All-Pros (2006, 2007, 2010), 2nd Team All-Pro (2011) </p>
<p id="13lijT">The greatest return man in the history of the NFL, the Windy City Flyer was simply<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dddpWhUdUAA"> ridiculous</a>. Hester burst onto the scene with 12 return TDs in his first two seasons including the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI. Hester’s NFL records include the most punt return TDs in history (14) and the most combined return TDs in history (20). The highlights are remarkable and the hidden, unmeasurable yardage of field position gained by his very presence gave the Bears an advantage unlike any player before or since. <em>– Jeff Berckes</em> </p>
<p id="L7fWdr">27. <strong>Joe Fortunato</strong>, LB, 1955-1966, 5x Pro Bowls (1958, 1962-1965), 3x 1st Team All-Pros (1963-1965), 1 2nd Team All-Pro (1962), NFL Champion 1963 </p>
<p id="HnZQC2">Fortunado is often forgotten about when listing all the linebacking greats that have come through Chicago, but he was one of the best in his era. He was one of the Bears captains and when the Bears drafted Dick Butkus in 1965, they roomed him with Fortunado so he could soak up his veteran knowledge. He only missed one game in his 12-year career, his 22 fumble recoveries is second all-time in Chicago franchise history, and he added 16 interceptions.<em> ~ Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em></p>
<p id="Qxldrh">28. <strong>Olin Kreutz</strong>, C, 1998-2010, 6x Pro Bowl (2001-2006), 1st Team All-Pro (2006) 2nd Team All-Pro (2005), 2000 All-Decade NFL Team </p>
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<p id="K7rKvR">Playing center during the most offensively bare era of any of the many dominant Bears runs, Olin Kreutz was the rare offensive player respected in the locker room on the level of one of its many brilliant defensive stars. The longtime captain was strong, tough, tactical and fiery — a certified leader on and off the field. When Brian Urlacher was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018, he thanked six teammates. Kreutz was the only one not from the defense. “The toughest person I have ever met and one of the hardest working people as well,” Urlacher said. “No doubt he was our team leader. … Olin was the best center in the league, and he made me a better player and competitor. We all looked up to you, Olin.” — <em>Jack M Silverstein</em></p>
<p id="gD5y9t">29. <strong>George Musso</strong>, OG/OT, 1933-1944, 3x Pro Bowls (1939, 1940, 1941), 4x NFL champion (1933, 1940, 1941, 1943), NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, Hall of Fame Class of 1982 </p>
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<p id="AyiNlh">When George Musso first started his NFL career, he made only $90 a game, which is less than $1,800 in 2019 money. At six-foot-two and 270 pounds—a massive frame for a player in the 1930s—he demolished opposing defensive linemen and was an anchor on Chicago’s offensive line. He excelled at both guard and tackle and proved to be a dominant player throughout much of his career. <em>— Jacob Infante</em></p>
<p id="IEviPh">30. <strong>George Trafton</strong>, C, 1920-1932, 6x All-Pro (1920, 1923-1927), 2x NFL Champion (1921, 1932) </p>
<p id="0ec01D">Another great linemen joins this list as one of the very first Chicago Bears in franchise history. His career of 12 years was almost unheard of in days where injuries ended careers much faster than today’s game, and in those 12 seasons he started 100 out of a possible 149 games. His nastiness and toughness paved the way for numerous HOF players on the road to two NFL championships. <em>- Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter</em></p>
<p id="GgLwmR">31. <strong>Link Lyman</strong>, T, 1926-1934, 2x 1st Team All-Pro (1930, 1934), 1933 NFL Champion</p>
<p id="ppDmei">Lyman came into the infant NFL with the Canton Bulldogs but joined the Bears before the 1925 barnstorming tour with Red Grange. He stuck with the Bears for the rest of his career but retired for 1929 and 1932 seasons before returning for a championship run in ‘33. Halas observed that Lyman was “stronger and tougher” during his final two seasons. Lyman is credited as being the first player to shift on defense after offensive players set. - <em>Sam Householder</em></p>
<p id="uXaixo">32. <strong>Lance Briggs</strong>, LB, 2003-2014, 7x Pro Bowls (2005-2011), 1st Team All-Pro (2005), 2x 2nd Team All-Pro (2006, 2009)</p>
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<p id="jK7Ki8">The perfect weak-side or “Will” backer in Lovie Smith’s scheme, Briggs missed only four games in his first 10 years in Chicago. A third round pick out of Arizona, Briggs spent the majority of his career holding his own next to Brian Urlacher, earning seven straight Pro Bowl selections and averaging over 100 tackles per season. Racking up an impressive 97 tackles for loss, 84 passes defensed, 16 interceptions and six defensive touchdowns over his career, he was equally at home in coverage or making plays against the run. <em>– Jeff Berckes</em></p>
<p id="WemaA6">33. <strong>Richie Petibone</strong>, S, 1959-1968, 4x Pro Bowls (1962, 1963, 1966, 1967), 1st Team All-Pro (1963), 2x 2nd Team All-Pro (1962, 1967), NFL Champion (1963)</p>
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<p id="KCmxv1">Petibone played his rookie year at corner, starting all 12 games and intercepting three passes, but he was moved to safety the following year and he stayed there for the rest of his career. He never missed a game during his ten years in Chicago, and his 37 interceptions is second all-time in Chicago trailing only Gary Fencik’s 38. His 101 yard interception return for a touchdown in 1962 is still the longest one in franchise history. <em>~ Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em></p>
<p id="uVekau">34. <strong>George Halas</strong>, E, 1920-1928, NFL Champion (1921), Hall of Fame Class of 1963, Jersey No. 7 retired</p>
<p id="x8Rtns">As a football man, George Halas was always the best at something, and as a player, that something was the art of the big play. During his 10-year playing career, Coach Halas was an outstanding end, leading all Bears from 1920 to 1929 with eight of the team’s 49 receiving touchdowns, a quirky type of score in those days in which teams ran and ran and ran. Halas also led the Bears during that time with three defensive touchdowns, including, it would seem, <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/ptd_finder.cgi?request=1&match=play&year_min=1920&year_max=1930&game_type=E&game_num_min=0&game_num_max=99&week_num_min=0&week_num_max=99&group_by_pass=qb&distance_min=90&quarter[]=1&quarter[]=2&quarter[]=3&quarter[]=4&quarter[]=5&order_by=game_date">the NFL’s first 90-yard touchdown</a>: a 98-yard fumble return (or 95 or 97, depending on the source) in 1923 against Jim Thorpe’s Oorang Indians. As described by the Quad-City Times: “Halas sidestepped and changed his pace beautifully, throwing Thorpe off his stride time after time.” — <em>Jack M Silverstein</em></p>
<p id="KTgfE0">35. <strong>Harlon Hill</strong>, E, 1954-1961, 3x Pro Bowls (1954-1956), 3x All-Pro (1954-1956), NFL MVP (1955)</p>
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<p id="hVqtrV">Though the NFL has shifted to a focus on having a strong passing attack, the league was primarily focused around the ground game for most of its existence. That makes it surprising to look back on the career of Harlon Hill, a dominant pass catcher who helped pave the way for the wide receiver position. His six-foot-three, 199-pound frame gave him the length to physically dominate opposing defensive backs. He topped 1,000 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns twice in a run-first league, and his abilities as a deep threat and a runner after the catch gave him a career average of 20.2 yards per catch. He led the league in receiving touchdowns in 1954 and ‘55. <em>— Jacob Infante</em></p>
<p id="qwiQBS">36. <strong>Paddy Driscoll</strong>, QB/HB/K, 1920, 1926-1929, 2x 1st Team All-Pro (1926, 1927)</p>
<p id="CQgPUh">Paddy Driscoll was sold to the Chicago Bears by the Chicago Cardinals (after making four All-Pro teams) in one of the least understood deals in early football history. Not only was he sold to their cross-town rival, he was sold in the hopes of <em>staying in</em> the NFL. His first year with the Bears he led the league in scoring with 86 points. He played one game for the Decatur Staleys in 1920, and 13 games for the Chicago Cubs in 1917. <em>- Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter</em></p>
<p id="9jhkvM">37. <strong>Gary Fencik</strong>, FS, 1976-1987, 2x Pro-Bowl, 1st Team All-Pro (1981), 2nd Team All-Pro (1985)</p>
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<p id="sdE9RE">Despite playing his entire career for the Chicago Bears, Fencik was actually drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the 10th round. The Yale product went on to become perhaps the greatest safety in Bears history. He was a captain of the team for much of his career and is the franchise leader in career interceptions with 38. He and teammate Doug Plank laid the groundwork for the hard-hitting defenses that became the Bears’ identity in the ‘80s. <em>- Sam Householder</em></p>
<p id="Ey4Fqr">38. <strong>Matt Forte</strong>, RB, 2008-2015, 2x Pro Bowls (2011, 2013) </p>
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<p id="cBhVFI">A second round pick out of Tulane, Forte was the centerpiece of the offense during his tenure in Chicago. With a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1u26FdPhGw">smooth running style</a> that sometimes masked his speed, Forte stacked yards and catches to feature prominently in the Bears records books, finishing his career second in team history in rushing yards and receptions behind only Walter Payton. He eclipsed 1,400 yards from scrimmage his first seven seasons with the Bears including a stellar 2013 where he finished with 1,933. Forte set a record in 2014 with 102 receptions, the most for a running back at the time. <em>– Jeff Berckes</em></p>
<p id="wL5kM6">39. <strong>Rick Casares</strong>, FB, 1955-1964, 5x Pro Bowl (1955-1959), 1st Team All-Pro 1956, NFL Champion 1963 </p>
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<p id="05N3Dq">He <a href="https://footballmaven.io/talkoffame/nfl/state-your-case-is-rick-casares-hof-running-back-time-forgot-lEVY2k0u0UKx-6bdnvlyug/">was</a> in the army for two years before joining the Bears in 1955. In his All-Pro season of ‘56, he led the league in rushing yards (1,126) and rushing TDs (12). At that time, his rushing total was only 20 yards shy of the single season record. He’s fourth all-time in Bears history with 5,657 rushing yards, his 49 rushing TDs is third all-time, and his 59 total TDs is fourth. At 6’2”, 225 pounds, he was a punishing runner and an impressive athlete. - <em>Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em></p>
<p id="ikQEBu">40. <strong>Ed Sprinkle</strong>, DE, 1944-1955, 4x Pro Bowls (1950-1952, 1954), 2nd Team All Pro (1952, 1954), 1946 NFL Champion</p>
<p id="zhEJZa">Ed Sprinkle was a standout player who<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8jl7v-4GhI"> flirted with the line of playing dirty</a>. Sprinkle, aka The Claw, has an interesting Hall of Fame case as his play in the 40’s was rewarded with inclusion on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 1940s All-Decade Team, followed up by four Pro Bowls in five years in the first half of the 1950s. Sprinkle played his entire career in navy and orange and earned the highest of praise from George Halas, who once referred to him as “the greatest pass-rusher I’ve ever seen.” <em>– Jeff Berckes</em></p>
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<img alt="1959-Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams Football - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Yn5gfeEpV1d_0R-ar5U-NNhqVU0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/18275068/150188569.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Al Paloczy/The Enthusiast Network/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="nYtPHx">41. <strong>Johnny Morris</strong>, WR, 1958-1967, Pro Bowl (1960), 1st Team All-Pro (1964), NFL champion (1963)</p>
<p id="Jk5MBZ">The Bears’ all-time leader in receiving yards with 5,059, Johnny Morris flourished after teammate Harlon Hill departed the team. He topped 800 yards four times in his career, and he exploded in 1964 with 93 receptions, 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns, all of which led the NFL. During his ten-year career, he proved to be a reliable starter and one of the most talented pass catchers in franchise history. <em>— Jacob Infante</em></p>
<p id="Bz22yk">42. <strong>Wilber Marshall</strong>, LB, 1984-1987, 2x Pro Bowls (1986,87,92), 1st Team All Pro (1986), Super Bowl XX Champion</p>
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<p id="Xc9tDb">Wilber is a player whose career ended way too soon in Chicago. Regardless of whom Chicago drafted with the two first round picks acquired from the Redskins shortly after his signing became official in 1988, they would struggle to develop another young linebacker to fill the void left by No. 58’s departure. He will always be remembered as one of the members of the notorious “Bermuda Triangle” in Chicago, and his performance on the field spoke for itself. Had he stayed in Chicago, there is no telling where he would have stood on the all-time records lists for defensive stats in Chicago. <em>- Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter</em></p>
<p id="uOg6m5">43. <strong>Mike Brown</strong>, S, 2000-2008, Pro Bowl (2005), 1st Team All-Pro (2001)</p>
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<p id="flJFTE">Drafted in the second round of the 2000 draft, 30 picks after Brian Urlacher, Brown started every game his first four seasons. In 2001, the magical team that compiled a 13-3 mark, Brown’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRp3fDKHYJo"> instinctive nature</a> was put on full display to the world in back to back incredible finishes. While Brown’s career will most likely be remembered as “what could have been” if not for multiple injury plagued seasons, he delivered All-Pro level defensive back play when on the field and a quiet, workmanlike demeanor off the field that earned fan-favorite status. <em>– Jeff Berckes</em></p>
<p id="AeMG08">44. <strong>Rosey Taylor</strong>, S, 1961-1969, 2x Pro-Bowl (1963, 1968), 1st Team All-Pro (1963), 1963 NFL Champion </p>
<p id="ad6e70">Taylor doesn’t get enough credit as the heart of a dominant secondary in 1963. Undrafted out of Grambling State, Taylor became a starter on the ‘60s Bears teams, notching 23 interceptions, still good for 10th in franchise history and 12 fumble recoveries. He had nine INTs during the ‘63 season and in 1968, he returned a pick 96 yards for a touchdown. That is the second-longest pick six in team history. <em>- Sam Householder</em></p>
<p id="OY1u6g">45.<strong> Joe Kopcha</strong>, OL/DL, 1929, 1932-1935, 3x 1st Team All-Pro (1933-35), 2x NFL Champion (1932 and 1933)</p>
<p id="lsTuhe">After his rookie year, Kopcha left the Bears to become an assistant coach for the University of Alabama while pursuing his medical degree. He <a href="http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/08-07-275.pdf">wanted</a> to come back to the Bears in 1932, so after convincing George Halas to give him a try out, in which he succeeded, he helped the Bears to back to back titles, while making three straight All Pro’s as an offensive guard. <em>- Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em></p>
<p id="T1P4Tb">46. <strong>Doug Buffone, </strong>LB, 1966-1979, retired with the most games played in Bears history</p>
<p id="XjOLWG">“I thought to myself that if we’re going to lose, let’s at least lose together.” That was Doug Buffone in the summer of 1979, reflecting on his team’s internal animus in 1972, one of 10 losing seasons through which he labored. Still, Buffone was an all-around performer. His 24 interceptions are a Bears linebacker record. Depending on the source, he had 18 sacks in either 1967 or 1968, which would have been a franchise record if the stat existed (though Butkus had an unofficial 18 one of those years too). And his unofficial 1,257 tackles would be second in team history behind Brian Urlacher. From his arrival in 1966 to his retirement in ‘79 to his death in 2015, he epitomized the Chicago spirit. He was tough, consistent, beloved. - <em>Jack M Silverstein</em> </p>
<p id="so6mH6">47. <strong>Bill Osmanski</strong>, FB, 1939-1943, 1946-1947, 3x Pro Bowl (1939-1941), 1st team All-Pro (1939), 3x NFL Champion (1940, 1941, 1946)</p>
<p id="enLOTa">Osmanski led the league in rushing as a rookie and his career average of 4.8 yards per carry is higher than all but two running backs on the Bears all-time rushing yards list (Gale Sayers’ 5.0 and Beattie Feathers’ 5.5). In Chicago’s historic 73-0 NFL title win over the Redskins in 1940, Osmanski had 10 runs for 109 yards, including a 68 yard TD run to kick off the scoring, and on defense he had an interception. He missed the 1944 and ‘45 seasons while serving in the United States Marine Corps. -<em> Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em></p>
<p id="cH0Cw8">48. <strong>Fred Williams</strong>, DL, 1952-1963, 4x Pro Bowls (1952, 53, 58, 59), 1963 NFL Champion</p>
<p id="Srgh1w">Fred was drafted in the 5th round of the 1952 NFL draft, and he is still considered one of the greatest draft-day steals in football history. He simply dominated within the trenches given his length and tenacity to devour linemen or backs who came his way. Had sacks been registered as an official statistic back in the 50’s, I’m sure he would have posted ridiculous numbers that are considered unbreakable to this day. He was just that good. <em>- Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter</em></p>
<p id="U9vIdW">49. <strong>Dave Duerson, </strong>SS, 1983-1989, 4x Pro-Bowl (1985-88), 2x 2nd Team All-Pro, Super Bowl XX Champion</p>
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<p id="E7wpLD">The Notre Dame product took a couple of years to win over defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, who was notoriously tough on young players, but once he was a starter, he never looked back. Todd Bell sitting out what turned into a Super Bowl season helped too. Duerson was elected to four consecutive Pro-Bowls while tallying 20 INTs and 16 sacks. A fearsome hitter, Duerson laid the wood and struck fear into receivers going across the middle. <em>- Sam Householder</em> </p>
<p id="4Jr9pq">50. <strong>Julius Peppers</strong>, DE, 2010-2013, 3x Pro Bowls (2010-2012), 1st Team All-Pro (2010)</p>
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<p id="p5thQU">Peppers played a total of 17 years in the NFL with nine Pro Bowls and three 1st Team All-Pro honors in a likely first ballot Hall of Fame career. The second overall pick in the 2002 draft hit free agency in his prime and signed a massive deal with the Bears (6 years, $91.5M) in 2010. The addition was an instant success, vaulting the Bears defense back to contention and helping the Bears finish at the top of the league in defensive DVOA in 2010-2012 (4th, 4th, and 1st). Peppers arguably had three of his best seasons in Chicago and accumulated an impressive 37.5 sacks during his short time in the Windy City, ranking ninth all-time. <em>– Jeff Berckes</em></p>
<p id="557wBo">51. <strong>Wally Chambers</strong>, DT, 1973-1977, 3x Pro Bowls (1973, 1975, 1976), 2nd team All-Pro (1974-75) 1st team All Pro (1976), 1973 Defensive Rookie of the Year</p>
<p id="suIThO">Chambers made an immediate impact for the Bears by making the Pro Bowl while being named the league’s top rookie defender. Sacks weren’t an official stat in his era, but the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1978/04/13/bucs-acquire-dt-chambers/1b47d8f9-e383-452c-923f-a5b54c82bd6d/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.aa068c452640">Washington Post</a> called Chambers a “sack specialist” in 1978. A knee injury in 1977 led to a contract squabble and ultimately a trade request. Even though he was coming off a knee surgery, the Bears were able to trade him to the Buccaneers for a first round draft pick in 1978. - <em>Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em> </p>
<p id="xN1ybp">52. <strong>Lee Artoe</strong>, OT, 1940-1942, 1945, 2x NFL champion, 1942 1st Team All-Pro</p>
<p id="MQK8KJ">When the Bears defeated the Washington club in its famous 73-0 victory in the 1940 NFL Championship Game, one announcement was heard again and again over the speakers at Griffith Stadium: “Artoe will kick off for the Bears.” The 6’3, 230-pound Artoe was the team’s starting tackle in the early 1940s (an offensive and defensive distinction), and also one of its kickers. Artoe made All-Pro at tackle in 1942, the same year that he became the team’s full time placekicker, hitting 20 of 22 extra points. In 1940 he set a franchise record with a 52-yard field goal, a record that stood 35 years. “He was a real tough guy, a real hitter,” his teammate Ken Kavanaugh (No. 65 on this list) said following Artoe’s death in 2005 at age 88. “He played both sides of the ball for us and even kicked. That was Lee Artoe.” — <em>Jack M Silverstein</em></p>
<p id="ruNUUY">53. <strong>Keith Van Horne</strong>, OT, 1981-1993, Super Bowl XX champion (1985)</p>
<p id="36EqRW">Keith Van Horne never made a Pro Bowl and was never named an All-Pro, but what gets him on this list is his consistency and reliability. He played in 186 games and started in 169 during his 13 seasons with the Bears, serving as a catalyst for an offensive line that helped pave the way for Walter Payton in the back half of his career. <em>— Jacob Infante</em></p>
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<p id="KdkkUU">54. <strong>Robbie Gould</strong>, K, 2005-2015, 1x Pro Bowl & 1st Team All-Pro (2006) </p>
<p id="1UEV3s">Robbie is the greatest kicker in the history of the franchise by a considerable margin. After bouncing around the league with the Patriots and Ravens in 2005, he found his true home with the Bears as a tryout player. From 2005 on, he broke the record as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, and to this day he is still Good as Go(u)ld. <em>- Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter</em></p>
<p id="MSP9A1">55. <strong>George Wilson</strong>, E-DE, 1937-1946, 3x Pro-Bowls, 1x All-Pro, 4x NFL Champion (1940, 1941, 1943, 1946)</p>
<p id="Bv8x46">A two-way star on the Bears’ four championship teams in the ‘40s, Wilson contributed as an end and on defense. In the famous 73-0 rout of the 1940 NFL Championship, Wilson threw a block, knocking down two Washington players, allowing Bill Osmanski to run for the first score of the game. <em>- Sam Householder</em></p>
<p id="dbeaAg">56. <strong>Doug Plank</strong>, S, 1975-1982</p>
<p id="gCRfoZ">Plank was a 12th round draft pick, but as a rookie he started all 14 games and he was the first rookie to ever lead the Bears in tackles. As one of the “Hit Men” with fellow safety Gary Fencik, Plank had a reputation for punishing ball carriers. His ability to play as a kind of hybrid SS/LB allowed defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan to create his famed 46 Defense, and it was Plank’s jersey number (#46) that gave Buddy Ryan’s defense its name. <em>- Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em></p>
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<p id="SU4VA0">57. <strong>Neal Anderson</strong>, RB, 1986-1993, 4x Pro Bowl (1988-1991)</p>
<p id="YbTLhi">Anderson was drafted while Walter Payton was still playing at a Pro Bowl level, but he was brought on to be his heir apparent. He backed up Payton as a rookie, he then played fullback alongside him in 1987, before taking over as the number one tailback in ‘88 when Sweetness retired. Anderson is all over the team’s all-time franchise leaderboard, ranking third in rushing yards, third in attempts, second in rushing TDs, second in total TDs, eighth in scoring, and eighth in receptions. - <em>Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em></p>
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<p id="YKslgW">58. <strong>Jim McMahon</strong>, QB, 1982-1988, 1x Pro Bowl (1985), Super Bowl XX Champion</p>
<p id="Y92qvm">Few Bears players have seen the team’s fortunate and history pivot so many times seemingly upon their comings and goings. When the team drafted him fifth overall in 1982, Bears head coach Mike Ditka made special note that McMahon would wear No. 9, saying, “The last time this team won a championship, the quarterback Bill (Wade) wore No. 9.” When Mac started, the Bears won 75 percent of their regular season games compared to 60 percent with all other quarterbacks. In his best season, they won the Super Bowl. When he missed time after that season, the team wobbled. He was a leader, fighter and gamer. Fans loved all three. — <em>Jack M Silverstein</em></p>
<p id="mQb9vw">59. <strong>Ray Bray</strong>, DL/OG, 1939-1942, 1946-1951, 4x Pro Bowls (1940, 1941, 1950, 1951), 3x NFL champion (1940, 1941, 1946)</p>
<p id="bsFk9d">Ray Bray is far from the sexiest name in Bears history, but he was a consistent defensive/offensive lineman who played a key role on three championship teams. The four-time Pro Bowler took time off to fight in the Navy during World War II, but he picked up where he left off, adding two Pro Bowls to the two he had before his stint in the military. <em>— Jacob Infante</em></p>
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<p id="78c7h4">60. <strong>Jay Cutler</strong>, QB, 2009-2016</p>
<p id="HI0lGf">Smokin’ Jay is, arguably, the most controversial player in the history of the franchise. Once seen as the final ingredient in a Super Bowl recipe under Jerry Angelo’s guise and Lovie Smith’s team, he did not live up to expectations. Then again, I for one argue to this day that had a better effort been made to build a sustainable team around him <em>earlier</em>, there would have been Super Bowl championships in Chicago. Still, he left the franchise as the all-time leader in most statistical categories, including passing yards, passing touchdowns and snarkiest comments made by a QB. To this day, he’s still winning as the lone bright spot on the “Very Cavalleri” reality series on television. <em>- Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter</em></p>
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<p id="k4Y8LQ">61. <strong>Mark Bortz</strong>, G, 1983-1994, 2x Pro-Bowls (1988, 1990), Super Bowl XX Champion</p>
<p id="mXNkn4">Bortz is arguably the best modern-era guard in Bears history. He started 155 of the 171 games he appeared in. His entire career was spent in Chicago after being drafted in the eighth round out of Iowa. He was the final starter of the seven the Bears plucked in that ‘83 draft. He was also the final starter from the Super Bowl team still with the Bears and he has appeared in the most playoff games of any Bears player (13). <em> - Sam Householder</em></p>
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<p id="qAL56B">62. <strong>Ed O’Bradovich</strong>, DE, 1962-1971, 1963 NFL Champion</p>
<p id="LBeyUg">“Wild, tough, relentless.” That’s how NFL Films starts to describe “OB” in this<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25tKOL8BATU"> must-see clip</a>. The lifelong Bear and Illinois native made one of the biggest plays in the 1963 championship game, intercepting a pass to set up the go-ahead score. His influence has been woven into the navy and orange fabric of Halas Hall over multiple generations as he hosted a postgame show alongside Doug Buffone and has delivered two Hall of Fame induction speeches for Bears greats Mike Ditka and Dan Hampton. <em>– Jeff Berckes</em></p>
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<p id="xR4NYZ">63. <strong>Tommie Harris</strong>, DT, 2004-2010, 3x Pro Bowls (2005-2007), Second-Team All-Pro (2005)</p>
<p id="GwpRr2">At his peak, Tommie Harris was one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. A quick and explosive lineman with value as a pass rusher, Harris tallied 28.5 sacks, 51 tackles for a loss and 47 quarterback hits in his seven seasons with the Bears. A handful of injuries and poor play near the end of his career ended his time with the team on a sour note, but he was a valuable member of Chicago’s vaunted mid-2000s defense. — <em>Jacob Infante</em></p>
<p id="DriyFO">64. <strong>Jim Osborne, </strong>DT, 1972-1984, 186 Bears games played (tied for 5th in franchise history)</p>
<p id="cyq1pY">I was a bit too young to appreciate Jim Osborne during his playoff days, but I can say with confidence he would have been one of my favorite Bears. He played his entire 13-year career in Chicago, retiring tied with Doug Buffone for most games played in franchise history with 186. Because the sack was not an official NFL statistic until 1982, Osborne’s stats are hard to find, but a 1994 Tribune article by Bill Jauss says he ranks fourth in franchise history with 81.5. (He has not been passed.) He won a variety of character awards, including the Brian Piccolo Award as a rookie, and retired after the 1984 NFC championship game, one season shy of the Super Bowl, noting in 1994 that he had no regrets, and always felt a part of the team. “It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to that Super Bowl, and part of that blood, sweat and tears was mine.” — <em>Jack M Silverstein</em></p>
<p id="zhq4Mj">65. <strong>Ken Kavanaugh</strong>, E, 1940-1941, 1945-1950, 3x First-Team All-Pro (1946-1948), 3x NFL champion (1940, 1941, 1946)</p>
<p id="jAnKKK">Ken Kavanuagh’s yearly production may not be impressive by today’s standards—he only topped 660 yards once in a season—but his reliability as a pass catcher has him ranked tenth in franchise history in receiving yards. However, he’s still the franchise’s leader in touchdown catches, with 50. He took off time to fight in World War II after his first two seasons with the Bears, but he returned better than ever, leading the NFL in receiving touchdowns twice and averaging 22.4 yards per catch during his career. He was a member of the 1940s All-Decade Team and led the NFL in receiving TDs twice during his career. — <em>Jacob Infante</em></p>
<p id="OwFzfc">66. <strong>Dick Barwegen</strong>, OG, 1950-1952, 4x Pro Bowl & All Pro</p>
<p id="3EpFhV">Barwegen played his best football while with the Chicago Bears from 1950-1952, earning both Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods in all his seasons with the Monsters of the Midway. He is one of only four members remaining from the 1950’s All-Decade team who has not been enshrined within the Hall of Fame. <em>- Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter</em></p>
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<p id="Fvvi2V">67. <strong>Brandon Marshall, </strong>WR, 2012-2014, 2 Pro Bowls (2012, 2013), 1st-Team All-Pro (2012)</p>
<p id="rrx0Do">Though Brandon Marshall only spent three seasons with the Bears, he was the most talented and physically gifted wide receiver the team has ever had. With two seasons of over 100 catches, 1,250 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns—as well the single greatest season for a receiver in franchise history (2012)—he shattered record books and found himself a place as one of the best offensive players Chicago has ever had. — <em>Jacob Infante</em></p>
<p id="6BzpXu">68. <strong>Otis Wilson</strong>, OLB, 1980-1987, 1 Pro Bowl & 2nd Team All-Pro (1985), Super Bowl XX Champion</p>
<p id="sri5Lj">Wilson, aka Mamma’s Boy, came to the Bears as a first round draft pick in 1980 out of Louisville. One of many defenders honored on this list from the SB XX team, Wilson was a solid performer early on in Buddy Ryan’s defense, often doing the dirty work necessary for other players to rack up stats. A nose for the QB, Wilson ranks second in sacks among Chicago Bears linebackers with 36 in his career (Urlacher, 41.5) and 10th overall. <em>– Jeff Berckes</em></p>
<p id="WK32Ol">69. <strong>Willie Galimore</strong>, RB, 1957-1963, 1x Pro Bowl (1958), 1x 2nd Team All Pro (1958), 1963 NFL Champion, Jersey No. 28 retired</p>
<p id="0lN53z">Three times Willie “The Wisp” Galimore finished in the top ten for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns for a season, and he did so while sharing the backfield with five-time Pro Bowler Rick Casares. Galimore is tenth all-time in Bears history in rushing yards, and ninth in total touchdowns. A car accident took his life at 29 years old in the summer of ‘64, and his #28 is retired by the Bears. - <em>Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em></p>
<p id="WNpHil">70. <strong>Jack Manders</strong>, K/RB 1933-1940, 2x All Pro (1934, 1937), 1940 NFL champion</p>
<p id="YlOjwH">In 1934, just his second season, “Automatic Jack” was the recipient of the United Press’s impromptu “Honor Man” designation to include Manders as a surprise 12th player for first team All Pro to account for his all-around play as both a kicker and a back. The U.P. called him “the greatest placekicker of the decade and perhaps in history,” as he led the league in extra points made and total points. Three years later he was the points leader again, though this time with a career-high five touchdowns. He was again 1st team; the U.P. called him a “placekicking artist,” “perhaps the best all-around back in the league” and “one of the hardest men in the league to bring down.” — <em>Jack M Silverstein</em></p>
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<p id="IwT7iT">71. <strong>Mark Carrier</strong>, S, 1990-1996, 3x <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> (1990, 1991, 1993), 1st-Team All-Pro (1991), 2nd-Team All-Pro (1990), Defensive Rookie of the Year (1990)</p>
<p id="Q4TfJN">Very few players, if any, in Bears history have made as much of an impact in their rookie season as Mark Carrier did. He broke the franchise record with 10 interceptions in his rookie season and added 122 tackles and five forced fumbles to the mix. During his seven years with the team, he would have 20 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles and 587 tackles while missing only three games. — <em>Jacob Infante</em></p>
<p id="miIymF">72. <strong>Dick Gordon</strong>, WR, 1965-1971, 2x Pro Bowl (1970, 1971)</p>
<p id="f671eX">A player lost in time, and one who played on some rather forgettable Chicago Bears teams. In 1970, he hauled in 13 TD receptions in 14 games to go with 1,026 yards receiving. He would finish his career between the <a href="https://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Rams</a>, <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a>, and <a href="https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/">Chargers</a> before retiring from the league in 1974. He is, still, one of only a handful of Bears receivers who were voted into the Pro Bowl as a receiver. <em>- Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter</em></p>
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<p id="x6KTL6">73. <strong>Donnell Woolford, </strong>CB, 1989-1996, 1x Pro-Bowl (1993)</p>
<p id="0excgK">Woolford arrived in Chicago as the team’s first round pick in the 1989 draft and immediately became an impactful starter. His 32 interceptions rank fourth in team history and that’s in just 111 games, significantly less than the players ahead of him on the list. In his Pro-Bowl season of 1993 he had two interceptions but 101 tackles. The previous season he had 94 tackles and seven interceptions but did not get a Pro-Bowl nod. He was an All-Conference pick in 1994 by Pro Football Weekly. <em>- Sam Householder</em></p>
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<p id="dQQYFb">74. <span><strong>Thomas Jones</strong></span>, RB, 2004-2006</p>
<p id="dlR5EQ">TJ is one of the most agonizing “what if?” cases in Bears history. A free agent arrival in 2004, Jones clicked immediately with his coaches and teammates, improved every year, and was a leader and heavy producer on back-to-back division champs, including the 2006 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> team. He ran for 112 yards in that game on just 15 carries. If they’d fed him more, he and his teammates might have ended up with a trophy. The team might not have traded him a month later. And based on his yardage after leaving Chicago, he would have retired second in Bears rushing only to his idol, Walter Payton. — <em>Jack M Silverstein</em></p>
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<p id="YGrbeC">75. <span><strong>Kyle Long</strong></span>, OL, 2013-Present, 3 Pro Bowls (2013-2015), 2nd Team All-Pro (2014)</p>
<p id="Nqfc6E"><span>Long</span> was a good enough two-sport athlete to be drafted by the White Sox out of high school and the Bears in the first round of the 2013 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a>. An immediate star along the offensive line, <span>Long</span> earned two Pro Bowl honors at guard and one at tackle in a selfless move to kick outside to help the squad. While injuries have limited <span>Long</span>’s availability in recent years, his toughness to get back on the field epitomizes his dedication. A true road grader and a running back’s best friend, the yards per carry splits with and without Long on the field can turn an average back into a star. <em>– Jeff Berckes</em></p>
<p id="sUgjx4">76. <strong>Mike Pyle, </strong>C, 1961-1969, 1x champion (1963), 1x Pro Bowl (1963)</p>
<p id="MFdJvw">The Bears get attention as a franchise of running backs and linebackers, and rightly so. But we’ve got a helluva fraternity of centers too. Pyle is the least accomplished of the five, and that speaks volumes, because the Illinois native was a rock. In his nine-year NFL career, all with the Bears, he played in 121 of 126 possible regular season games, starting 120. Pyle, who died in 2015, shared offensive captainship of the ‘63 title team with his lifelong friend Mike Ditka. — <em>Jack M Silverstein</em></p>
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<p id="f0V1zr">77. <strong>James “Big Cat” Williams</strong>, RT, 1991-2002, 1x Pro-Bowl (2001), 1x 2nd-Team All-Pro (2001)</p>
<p id="V85baY">Williams, an undrafted defensive lineman out of Cheyney, converted to tackle and became a staple on the Bears’ offensive line throughout the 1990s. His rise from unknown to starter endeared him to Bears fans and he finally got his due with a Pro-Bowl nod following the 13-3 2001 season. He was also a second team AP All-Pro selection that season. He started 134 straight games from 1994 to his retirement. <em>- Sam Householder</em></p>
<p id="abDF4n">78. <span><strong>Patrick Mannelly</strong></span>, LS, 1998-2013</p>
<p id="3f7lJN">The one. The only. The Mann. He’s the longest tenured Chicago Bear in history. His franchise record stands at 245 games played, a feat we may never see broken in our lifetime. Legend has it that his mullet still stands watch over Soldier Field, praying on any unsuspecting Green Bay Packers fan who dares to trespass into Bearland. <em>- Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter</em></p>
<p id="ra4WTa">79. <strong>Herman Lee</strong>, LT, 1958-1966, 1963 NFL Champion</p>
<p id="a82K1L">Lee lacks the postseason honors of many of his teammates but that doesn’t lessen his impact. Lee started 115 of 119 games he played with the Bears and missed exactly one game during his Bears career. <em>- Sam Householder</em></p>
<p id="YoSTL6">80. <strong>Bill Wade</strong>, QB, 1961-1966, 1x Pro Bowl (1963), 1963 NFL Champion</p>
<p id="WakqRu">The first overall draft pick for the Los Angeles Rams in the 1952 NFL Draft, Wade spent the first seven years of his career mostly disappointing the Rams faithful. A 1961 trade brought Wade to Chicago where he led a steadily improving Bears team, highlighted by a Pro Bowl honor and a championship in 1963. The championship game itself was ugly for both QBs as Giants QB YA Tittle threw five picks, but Wade managed to take care of the ball and scored both Bears touchdowns on the ground. Wade currently sits third all-time with 68 career TD passes. <em>- Jeff Berckes</em></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Detroit Lions v Chicago Bears" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/d6TI8iSEosXdpYdh41ELB_YuFaU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16304981/91466384.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="iYAbx4"><strong>81.</strong> <span><strong>Alex Brown</strong></span>, DE, 2002-2009</p>
<p id="SytlLq">If it wasn’t for Lovie Smith’s fascination with situational pass rusher <span>Mark Anderson</span> in 2007, Brown would have had seven straight years of never missing a start. Brown was the better football player, and even though Anderson started 14 games in ‘07 (to Brown’s two) Brown had a better year. His 43.5 sacks is fourth in Chicago history, but his best stats are his 39 passes defended and his five interceptions from his defensive end position. - <em>Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em></p>
<p id="fZkDrM"><strong>82. Ray McLean</strong>, RB/returner/DB, 1940-1947, 4x NFL champion (1940-41, 1943, 1946, 2x <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> (1940, 1941)</p>
<p id="EwP94z">George “One Play” McAfee was drafted 2nd overall in 1940. Ray “Scooter” McLean was picked in the same draft, 20 rounds later. McAfee rightly gets more attention — unlike McLean, he was an All Pro, Hall of Famer and one of 14 Bears whose number was retired. But McLean had those “one play” capabilities too. He focused his offensive game not as a tailback or halfback but as a receiver, and was a dominant defensive back too. When he retired in 1947, McLean ranked 1st in franchise history in interceptions, 1st in all-purpose yards, 1st in combined kick and punt return yards, 2nd in receptions, 2nd in receiving yards and 3rd in touchdowns. - <em>Jack M Silverstein</em></p>
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<p id="HzBQTY"><strong>83. </strong><span><strong>Akiem Hicks</strong></span>, DE, 2016-present, 1x Pro Bowl (2018)</p>
<p id="fUJK35">A cornerstone in the recent rejuvenation of Bears football, <span>Akiem Hicks</span> has been one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL for all three of his seasons with the team. He hasn’t missed a single game in that time, and has been a consistent force as a run stuffer and on passing downs, topping seven sacks and double-digit tackles for a loss in every season with Chicago. His technique and strength make him an overwhelming force for offensive linemen across the league, and those traits will likely see him shoot up this list in a few years. — <em>Jacob Infante</em></p>
<p id="EAZUcA"><strong>84. Edward “Dutch” Sternaman</strong>, RB/K, 1920-1927, 1921 NFL Champion, All-NFL (1922)</p>
<p id="PCxJda">One of the very first Chicago Bears in the history of the franchise. “Dutch” was the first player to sign with the Bears after George Halas assumed control and moved the team from Decatur to Chicago. He was both a featured back during the early years for the Bears, as well as a reliable kicker. In all, he rushed for 11 touchdowns and kicked 21 field goals to go with 28 extra point attempts. <em>- Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter </em></p>
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<p id="K5Dh8O"><strong>85. Kevin Butler</strong>, K, 1985-1995, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> XX Champion</p>
<p id="6lSCFr">Butler was the franchises scoring leader from his departure in 1994 until <span>Robbie Gould</span> broke it in week five of 2015. Butthead, as he was lovingly nicknamed, was a fan favorite and led the NFL in scoring during his rookie season, which culminated with a Super Bowl XX victory. He scored over 100 points five times during his career in Chicago. - <em>Sam Householder</em></p>
<p id="k8KiKB"><strong>86. Bennie McRae</strong>, CB, 1962-1970, 2nd Team All-Pro (1965), 1963 NFL Champion</p>
<p id="jcYCp2">A champion collegiate hurdler at the University of Michigan, McRae joined the Bears as a second round pick in 1962. The athletic McRae missed only one game in his nine year run with the Bears and racked up 27 career interceptions, ranking fifth all-time, and taking back a then-record four for touchdowns. McRae saved his best games for the Hall of Fame quarterbacks, including a two-interception game against the great Johnny Unitas in an upset victory in 1966. However, his biggest interception came in the 1963 Championship Game off Y.A. Tittle, the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">Giants</a> QB, to help secure a 14-10 victory. <em>- Jeff Berckes</em></p>
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<p id="BkRVGR"><strong>87.</strong> <strong>Ed Brown</strong>, QB/P, 1954-1961, 2x Pro Bowl (1955, 1956)</p>
<p id="OaEGBS">As a punter, Brown ranks sixth all-time in franchise history in both punts and punting yards, but did you realize that his 1956 season as a passer could be arguably be considered one of the best all-time in Chicago? In ‘56, he led the NFL in completion percentage, passer rating, TD percentage, and yards per attempt. How often has a Bears quarterback led the league in any of those categories? Historically, he’s seventh all-time for the Bears in attempts, completions, and yards, and his 63 passing TDs is tied for fifth. - <em>Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em></p>
<p id="ep4DZc"><strong>88. Johnny Lujack</strong>, QB/DB, 1948-1951, 2x Pro Bowl (1950, 1951), 1x All Pro-1 (1950)</p>
<p id="s1n5JH">Seeking an heir to the aging Sid Luckman, the Bears drafted Lujack fourth overall in 1946 and fellow QB Bobby Layne third overall in 1948. Lujack and Layne both debuted in ‘48, and Lujack distinguished himself enough that Papa Bear sold the future Hall of Famer Layne to the Bulldogs. Lujack proceeded to lead the NFL in 1949 in a number of passing categories, including yards and touchdowns. But he retired young in 1951 in favor of coaching in college, leading to the first of many dark days for the Bears quarterback position. - <em>Jack M Silverstein</em></p>
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<p id="mnE88O"><strong>89.</strong> <span><strong>Roberto Garza</strong></span>, OG/C, 2005-2014</p>
<p id="AshIjM">Roberto Garza was never an elite player during his time with the Bears, but he was one thing: reliable. After signing in free agency in 2005, Garza started every game he played in after only starting seven games in his first season with Chicago. He only missed six games in his 10 years as a Bear, showcasing impressive durability, and he was even made the cover athlete of the Spanish version of <em>Madden NFL 09</em>. Plus, after 10 seasons of playing as a guard, he made the transition to center and did so seamlessly, starting there for the Bears for his remaining four seasons. —<em>Jacob Infante</em></p>
<p id="14RAgI"><strong>90.</strong> <strong>Mike Hartenstine</strong>, DE, 1975-1986, SB XX Champion </p>
<p id="pYp799">One of the most unheralded members of the 1985 Super Bowl Shuffle squad. From 1975 to 1986 he was one of the unquestioned starters up front, helping Hall of Fame players like Dan Hampton and Richard Dent terrorize QBs. For his career he recorded 32 sacks; however, sacks did not become an official statistic until 1982. His career best season was in 1983 when he recorded 12 sacks in 16 starts. He left the Bears in 1987 for the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a>, where he started five games, before retiring the following offseason. - <em>Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter </em></p>
<p id="5QGJyU"><strong>91. Beattie Feathers</strong>, RB, 1934-1937, 1 All-Pro (1934)</p>
<p id="84B4Xc">Feathers is most-remembered as the answer to the trivia question who was the first player to rush for 1,000 yards in NFL history? Feathers accomplished that as a rookie, in 1934, adding eight rushing touchdowns and averaging an impressive 91.3 yards per game over the 13 game season, though he played in just 11 games. There wouldn’t be another 1,000 yard rusher for 13 years. The 91.3 YPG is still a rookie Bears record and his 8.4 yards per carry is still an NFL record for a single season. He’s the only member of the 1930s All-Decade Team not enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. <em>- Sam Householder</em></p>
<p id="W8kwAE"><strong>92. Matt Suhey</strong>, FB, 1980-1989. SB XX Champion</p>
<p id="6lN6QL">The lifelong Bear paved the way for Walter Payton and Neal Anderson as one of the best blocking fullbacks in the game. A second round pick in 1980, Suhey scored a touchdown in <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> XX. While overshadowed by talented running backs, Suhey averaged 4.6 yards per carry in his standout 1983 season where he racked up over 1,100 yards from scrimmage including an impressive 49 catches. The fan favorite was also a close personal friend of backfield mate Payton and served as executor of his estate when Payton passed away in 1999. <em>- Jeff Berckes</em></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Matt Suhey" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jxVPJTnI6-JpdEzdP5GePUmADUw=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16294662/72456821.jpg.jpg">
<figcaption>Matt Suhey is 10th all-time in Bears history with 260 receptions.</figcaption>
</figure>
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<p id="B2YRuF"><strong>93.</strong> <span><strong>Brad Maynard</strong></span>, P, 2001-2010, 2nd Team All-Pro (2004)</p>
<p id="WmRD4t">No one has punted for more yards in Bears history than Maynard’s 36,781. His 878 punts rank second all-time, which is good for a 41.9 yard average. He was known as a directional punter during his day as evidenced by averaging 28.4 punts inside the twenty during his 10 years in Chicago. He also completed 5 of 7 passes in his Bears’ career, for two touchdowns and a passer rating of 153.3. - <em>Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em></p>
<p id="ptP5ot"><strong>94.</strong> <strong>Gary Famiglietti</strong>, FB/RB, 1938-1945, 2x NFL champion, 3x <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> (1940, 1941, 1942)</p>
<p id="z0eMpl">Forget for a moment everything you know about Gary Famiglietti, and just look at this picture. If I asked you to pick out the man whom sportswriters of the day referred to as a “steamroller,” you would quickly I.D. the dude wearing #2. At 6’0, 225, Famiglietti was arguably the premier big back in the NFL during his day. His 503 rushing yards in 1942 was the most for an NFL back his size until Hall of Famer Marion Motley’s 1950 season. Famiglietti helped the Bears win two championships as the bruiser of the backfield; following ‘42, he was one of only three players ever with 500 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in a season. — <em>Jack M Silverstein</em></p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ceywOQ_W1DmU1gGBT2Ro5GR8nr0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16294089/The_Los_Angeles_Times_Sat__Dec_21__1940_.jpg">
<cite>Los Angeles Times</cite>
</figure>
<p id="jZt2JJ"><strong>95.</strong> <strong>Tom Thayer</strong>, OG/C, 1985-1992, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> champion (1985)</p>
<p id="KJH9fl">Now the color commentator for Bears radio broadcasts on WBBM, Tom Thayer put together a solid career for himself as a player. He started at right guard for the ‘85 Bears and remained starter for the remainder of his tenure with the team, paving lanes for Walter Payton at the end of his career and ensuring Neal Anderson make a smooth transition into the starting lineup. — <em>Jacob Infante</em></p>
<p id="fvf8mm"><strong>96.</strong> <strong>Dave Whitsell</strong>, DB, 1961-1966, 1963 NFL Champion</p>
<p id="UtXYuS">Whitsell spent his NFL career with three different teams: the <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Lions</a> (1958-1960); the Bears (1961-1966); and the <a href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a> (1967-1969). His lone Pro Bowl came in his first year with the New Orleans Saints in 1967. In all, he totaled 46 interceptions in his NFL career, with 26 of those recorded with the Bears (6th all-time). It’s worth noting he totaled only one interception while with the Lions. The career highlight for him was being a member of the 1963 NFL Championship team. - <em>Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter</em></p>
<p id="uNqFIW"><strong>97.</strong> <strong>J.C. Caroline</strong>, DB, 1956-1965, 1 Pro Bowl (1956), 1963 NFL Champion</p>
<p id="7pxpg1">Caroline was a one-time Pro-Bowler but was a starter for his first seven years and still ranks eighth in team history in interceptions with 24. He appeared in every game during the 1963 Championship season. He was a running back in college at Illinois and briefly played both ways with the Bears before becoming a DB full time. He also intercepted Johnny Unitas’ first career pass and returned it for a touchdown. <em>- Sam Householder</em></p>
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<p id="qQYzbC"><strong>98.</strong> <span><strong>Marty Booker</strong></span>, WR, 1999-2003, 2008. 1 Pro Bowl (2002)</p>
<p id="rzBsD7">Booker was the first Bears receiver to eclipse the 100 catch mark in a single season in 2001 and followed that effort up with a 97-catch Pro Bowl season, holding the top two spots in team history at the time of his retirement. Drafted in the third round of the 1999 draft, Booker’s oversized hands helped him make crazy one-handed grabs like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd7D3jaFq84">this one</a>. Despite spending four years of his career with Miami, Booker is currently tied for the fourth most receptions in Chicago Bears history with 329. <em>- Jeff Berckes</em></p>
<p id="PmA4bk"><strong>99.</strong> <span><strong>Alshon Jeffery</strong></span>, WR, 2012-2016, 1 Pro Bowl (2013)</p>
<p id="vixJeD">Say what you want about <span>Jeffery</span>, but you can’t deny how productive he was when playing in Chicago. In 2013 he set the single game high for receiving yards in a game at 218, then he broke his own record two months later when he went for 249 yards. His 4,549 receiving yards in a Bears’ uni ranks third all time in franchise history, while his 304 receptions ranks seventh. - <em>Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.</em></p>
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<p id="TXbcfO"><strong>100. </strong><span><strong>Tim Jennings</strong></span>, CB, 2010-2014, 2x <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> (2012, 2013), 2nd team All-Pro (2012)</p>
<p id="RZrz23">After his second season in Chicago, the knock on Jennings was that he didn’t finish interceptions. So with just seven picks in four years, Jennings went hard on the JUGS machine in the 2012 offseason. The results were huge: a team leading 10 interceptions in minicamp and OTAs, and an NFL-best nine picks in 2012. In his two Pro Bowl seasons, he bagged 13 total with three TDs. - <em>Jack M Silverstein</em></p>
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https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/5/23/18636529/wcg-top-100-chicago-bears-players-all-time-history-centennial-anniversary-season-championshipSam HouseholderLester A. Wiltfong Jr.Jeff BerckesJacob InfanteJack SilversteinErik Christopher Duerrwaechter2019-07-21T10:36:09-05:002019-07-21T10:36:09-05:00My 100 Favorite Chicago Bears of All-Time
<figure>
<img alt="Buccaneers V Bears" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xX2M9kjjLDGfnhtUmw_LXB15jw0=/53x317:2007x1620/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64772304/72317769.jpg.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>These are my 100 favorite Chicago Bears of all time, so this list is 100% subjective! </p> <p id="IYu0an">My 100 Favorite <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> of All-Time will have some crossover with the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/6/2/18637619/top-100-chicago-bears-players-wcg-windy-city-gridiron-walter-payton-dent-hampton-ditka-halas-sayers">WCG Top 100 Bears Players of All-Time list</a>, but while the WCG list was based on how great the players are or were, my list is 100% subjective. These are my favorite players through my lifetime of being a Bears fan that started a long time ago (in a galaxy far, far away). Some of my favorite players were superstars, some were role players, some were fighting for their roster spot every second of their NFL lives, and some I really don’t have a good reason for other than I was a fan of their play. </p>
<p id="9UhivK">I got the idea of listing my 100 Favorite Bears’ players from Aldo Gandia of Bears Barroom, who was listing his <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Barroom100?src=hashtag_click">100 Fav Bears on Twitter</a>. How I got started was to just start listing all my Bear favorites off the top of my head and sorting them alphabetically in a Google Doc. Then I went to Pro Football Reference to make sure my old brain wasn’t forgetting any of my favs. Next I started sorting through the list to vet it down to 100, then my last step was the numerical sort. </p>
<p id="CSEZsj">My number one was easy, as I think he’s the favorite player for a large chunk of the fan-base around my age. </p>
<p id="EdhYDH">Remember, these are my personal picks, so there may be some unfamiliar names on my list, and you’ll probably see an unusual number of linemen. </p>
<p id="WKyJex">One more thing, my 100 is made up of only players that I actually saw play, so while I loved watching Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers on NFL Films, I was never technically a fan of their playing career while cheering on the Bears. </p>
<p id="YfGhfV">Hope you guys find some names on my list that bring up some fond Bear memories of your own. </p>
<h3 id="hJovRM">My 100 Favorite Chicago Bears of All-Time</h3>
<p id="O3cdq6"><strong>100) </strong><span><strong>Brad Maynard</strong></span><strong> -</strong> Maynard is arguably the greatest Bears punter of all time, and did you know he went 5 of 7 passing for 2 TDs during his time in Chicago?</p>
<p id="jvPIZR"><strong>99) Doug Flutie -</strong> I was a big fan of the USFL, and was excited when the Bears traded for him in 1986. I always thought he could thrive if given a chance to play, but that didn’t happen in Chicago. </p>
<p id="nKp51j"><strong>98) </strong><span><strong>John Timu</strong></span><strong> -</strong> Every time he got on the field he played like his NFL career depended on it. </p>
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<p id="TSJftA"><strong>97) Brian Baschnagel - </strong>When I was a wee lad, my stepbrother had a Baschnagel jersey and I had about a gazillion Baschnagel football cards. </p>
<p id="q2zmYa"><strong>96) Brian Cabral -</strong> Not gonna lie, I was drawn to him because I thought the name “Cabral” had a badass ring to it, but he was a special teams captain during his time as a Bear.</p>
<p id="EDfnvU"><strong>95) Vince Evans -</strong> Evans was the first Bears quarterback I remember seeing. He had a cannon for an arm. </p>
<p id="7MLHNS"><strong>94) Dave Williams -</strong> Before I was officially a Bears’ fan, I remember Williams beating the <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Lions</a> on Thanksgiving with a kickoff return for a TD. Once I was converted to full-fledged Bears’ fan, he was one of the players I remember rooting for. </p>
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<p id="2Tzm0z"><strong>93) </strong><span><strong>Jordan Mills</strong></span><strong> -</strong> He came out of nowhere as a 5th round pick to win the starting right tackle job as a rookie. </p>
<p id="2u5gAj"><strong>92) </strong><span><strong>Eddie Goldman</strong></span><strong> -</strong> Casual fans will never realize the importance of a big nose tackle in a 3-4 defense, but <span>Goldman</span> has been so much more than just a 2-gap plugger during his time in Chicago.</p>
<p id="YTifoF"><strong>91) Emery Moorehead -</strong> I was always a fan of the tight end position, and Moorehead was an underappreciated member of the 1985 Bear offense. </p>
<p id="eI0sGB"><strong>90) Kevin Butler -</strong> Every Bears’ fan that got to experience the 1985 Bears was a fan of Butt Head.</p>
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<p id="FGwzqJ"><strong>89) Jim Osborne -</strong> If I had a gazillion Baschnagel football cards, I must have had two gazillion Osborne cards. </p>
<p id="YIKZ1u"><strong>88) Dave Duerson - </strong>Duerson was a third round pick in the legendary 1983 Draft for the Bears. He made 4 straight <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a>s from 1985 to 1988.</p>
<p id="wPaQFr"><strong>87) Cap Boso -</strong> Anyone that remembers Boso, <a href="https://twitter.com/wthelmets/status/514768002118873088">remembers the sod</a> in his helmet on Monday Night Football. </p>
<p id="XmOdEz"><strong>86) </strong><span><strong>Bryan Robinson</strong></span><strong> -</strong> Robinson is best remembered <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2016/6/13/11921396/chicago-bears-bryan-robinson-dead-at-41-walter-payton">for this quote</a> after blocking a field goal in 1999, just days after the passing of Walter Payton. </p>
<blockquote><p id="JNNgy8">“I think Walter Payton actually picked me up a little bit and boosted me up in the air because I can’t jump that high,” Robinson said after the November 7th game. “Walter had a lot to do with it. I know he did.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="AvfiUc"><strong>85) Dennis McKinnon -</strong> McKinnon was the tough wide out that wasn’t afraid to go over the middle for the 85 Bears. The UDFA played six years in Chicago.</p>
<p id="IgZDqE"><strong>84) Henry Waechter -</strong> In <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> XX it was Waechter that gave the Bears points 45 and 46 when he sacked Steve Grogan for a safety. I always felt it was the perfect way for Buddy Ryan’s 46-Defense to go out. </p>
<p id="kcSUZf"><strong>83) Jerry Azumah -</strong> Zoom was a running back for the University of New Hampshire, but the Bears converted him to corner. He made a Pro Bowl as a kick returner in 2003. </p>
<p id="J45crf"><strong>82) </strong><span><strong>Danieal Manning</strong></span><strong> -</strong> If the Bears would have just let him settle into one role I think he could have been a really good player.</p>
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<p id="kjA2Ny"><strong>81) </strong><span><strong>Josh Bellamy</strong></span><strong> -</strong> I’ll admit, I wasn’t the biggest <span>Bellamy</span> fan at first, but then he kept busting his ass every year and doing whatever it took to keep his career alive. You have to respect that kind of dedication. </p>
<p id="5usa9b"><strong>80) Ron Rivera - </strong>Chico is another member of the famed ‘85 team, and he finally got his chance to start when one of my other favs moved on as a free agent. I would have loved to have seen him stick around and coach in Chicago a bit longer.</p>
<p id="0GldWn"><strong>79) </strong><span><strong>Corey Wootton</strong></span><strong> -</strong> Wootton injured his knee at Northwestern and fell to the fourth round for the Bears in the 2010 draft. After rehabbing his way back to the team, he recorded his first sack against Brett Favre. It was Favre’s final play of his NFL career. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DA_P5pmxhv0cLMxya1dLZ00EBPQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16351140/ap_farewell_to_favre_football_39593831.jpg">
<cite>AP</cite>
<figcaption>The Bears’ Corey Wootton sacks Minnesota's Brett Favre, in what will be Favre’s last play in the NFL.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="XRYLPW"><strong>78) </strong><span><strong>Anthony Thomas</strong></span><strong> - </strong>A-Train won the offensive NFL Rookie of the Year in 2001 after a stellar career at the University of Michigan. I was a fan of the rugged running style from Thomas and the next guy on my list. </p>
<p id="p62bVY"><strong>77) </strong><span><strong>Jordan Howard</strong></span><strong> -</strong> <span>Howard</span> made the Pro Bowl as a rookie and in three years he climbed to 7th all-time in rushing yards for the Bears. </p>
<p id="NkkelN"><strong>76) John Wojciechowski -</strong> He crossed the picket line in 1987 and played as a Spare Bear, but that opportunity plus hard work kept him around until 1993.</p>
<p id="4zlH3j"><strong>75) </strong><span><strong>Marty Booker</strong></span><strong> -</strong> Booker was the first Pro Bowl wide out I cheered for as a Bears’ fan. He had great hands. </p>
<div id="a9uRus"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 75%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1okwaBDmqn8?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="hRhCyB"><strong>74) Craig “Ironhead” Heyward -</strong> Heyward only played one season for the Bears, but he was a legend on Tecmo Super Bowl.</p>
<p id="2NVlap"><strong>73) </strong><span><strong>Cameron Meredith</strong></span><strong> -</strong> I loved the way he competed and worked on his game as a UDFA and I thought he was in line for a big time season before tearing up his knee in the 2017 preseason.</p>
<p id="JTJ900"><strong>72) Barry Minter - </strong>The Bears traded for Minter in 1993, and he played special teams, middle linebacker and outside linebacker before settling in as the starting Mike in 1996. He averaged over 100 tackles from 1997 to 1999, but an injury in 2000 opened the door to #54 to take over.</p>
<p id="z2W3p0"><strong>71) </strong><span><strong>Marcus Robinson</strong></span><strong> -</strong> He only had 4 catches as a 4th round rookie in 1998, but he exploded in 1999 with 84 for 1,400 yards. </p>
<div id="WQtbkO"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UcpLRKyGWKo?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="k7Gbua"><strong>70) </strong><span><strong>Hunter Hillenmeyer</strong></span><strong> -</strong> Whether on special teams, at the Mike or at outside linebacker, all HH did was produce when called on. </p>
<p id="XmmPcq"><strong>69) </strong><span><strong>Bobby Massie</strong></span><strong> -</strong> I’m sure I started liking Massie more and more as fans started to (wrongfully) rip his play. He’s a no nonsense mauler and he’s much better than you think he is. </p>
<p id="q396nB"><strong>68) </strong><span><strong>Kyle Orton</strong></span><strong> -</strong> I’m the guy that wrote an article about how Kyle Orton was the right quarterback to lead the Bears back to the playoffs before the 2009 season. But we all know what happened on April 3, 2009, don’t we?</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="wJIHi2"><div data-anthem-component="aside:6423389"></div></div></div>
<p id="QOgd21"><strong>67) Alonzo Spellman - </strong>Big #90 played 6 years with the Bears, but unfortunately he’s more remembered for his off-field issues. </p>
<p id="RjQ7Rz"><strong>66) Neal Anderson - </strong>Replacing a legend is always hard, but Anderson made four straight Pro Bowls (1988-1991) after Sweetness hung them up. Did you know that the Bears played him at fullback in 1987?</p>
<p id="IYYTYa"><strong>65) Shaun Gayle -</strong> Another player from the 85 team, but Gayle was a reserve until the late 80s when he finally won a starting job at safety. He then made a Pro Bowl in 1991.</p>
<p id="Zj5aoP"><strong>64) </strong><span><strong>Sherrick McManis</strong></span><strong> -</strong> <span>McManis</span> is on his second general manager and fourth head coach since being acquired for fullback <span>Tyler Clutts</span> in 2012. </p>
<p id="EFpx3w"><strong>63) Philip Daniels -</strong> He started 59 games in four years, and he was a member of the 13-3 2001 team. He was more known for being tough against the run, but he had 23 sacks in Chicago.</p>
<p id="pzsaLI"><strong>62) </strong><span><strong>Alex Brown</strong></span><strong> - </strong>My favorite stats for defensive end Alex <span>Brown</span> are his 5 career interceptions and 39 passes defended. </p>
<p id="365jRS"><strong>61) </strong><span><strong>Anthony Adams</strong></span><strong> - </strong>I never understood why Adams wasn't a full time starter in Chicago. He was able to hold his ground, eat blocks, but then shed them and make tackles. Plus he did this:</p>
<div id="uzv3FC"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S7neT7dUxY8?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="itAGZG"><strong>60) </strong><span><strong>Keith Traylor</strong></span><strong> - </strong>Another big Bears’ nose tackle, and Traylor is best remembered for this. </p>
<div id="Bc3zhB"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/73dW4740ILE?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="OOEz9X">Did you know that Traylor started his NFL career as a 250 pound middle linebacker?</p>
<p id="tD8Sto"><strong>59) Brad Muster -</strong> The big fullback averaged 4.4 yards a carry in Chicago and had 169 receptions. </p>
<p id="dtC6bw"><strong>58) Curtis Conway -</strong> Conway is 4th all-time in Bears history with 329 receptions and he was a thousand yard receiver for Erik Kramer’s fantastic 1995 season. </p>
<p id="gQcX35"><strong>57) </strong><span><strong>Josh McCown</strong></span><strong> -</strong> The recently retired <span>McCown</span> was a fan favorite for his play on the field for the Bears, but I respected the intangibles he brought to the franchise. </p>
<aside id="sURAyO"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Bears’ legend Josh McCown hangs ‘em up","url":"https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/6/17/18682937/chicago-bears-legend-josh-mccown-hangs-em-up-jay-cutler-marc-trestman-mike-martz-lovie-smith-packers"}]}'></div></aside><p id="SzyB4f"><strong>56) Dennis Gentry -</strong> “Pinky” was a running back/returner during the early part of his career, but his ability to play wide receiver kept him around the Bears for eleven years. </p>
<p id="UnPyub"><strong>55) </strong><span><strong>Greg Olsen</strong></span><strong> -</strong> Mike Martz’s refusal to utilize tight ends led to the Bears trading Olsen after four productive years in Chicago. From 2011 to 2018 Olsen caught 472 passes for the <a href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Panthers</a> and made three Pro Bowls. Since leaving the Bears following the 2012 season, Martz hasn’t coached in the NFL.</p>
<p id="9ri9Bo"><strong>54) </strong><span><strong>Jason McKie</strong></span><strong> -</strong> McKie was a punishing lead blocker during his seven year Bears’ career.</p>
<p id="9OjoU8"><strong>53) </strong><span><strong>Matt Forte</strong></span><strong> -</strong> <span>Forte</span> was such a smooth football player. As a runner he’s 2nd all-time in Chicago history in rushing yards, but his versatility has him 2nd all-time in receptions too. </p>
<p id="IDQ8x3"><strong>52) Jim Flanigan -</strong> Eleven sacks from his defensive tackle spot during his first year as a starter made me a fan. Chicago only averaged 6 wins a year during his seven seasons. </p>
<p id="kBWYna"><strong>51) Leslie Frazier -</strong> Frazier was an outstanding cover corner for the 80s Bears, but a knee injury during SBXX ended his career. </p>
<p id="A1SVdf"><strong>50) </strong><span><strong>Robbie Gould</strong></span><strong> -</strong> Even though <span>Gould</span> is on record saying getting cut by the Bears helped him get his career back on track, I think he would have figured it out had Chicago stuck with him. </p>
<p id="MTveKO"><strong>49) </strong><span><strong>Tony Parrish</strong></span><strong> -</strong> I was so pissed when the Bears lost Parish to the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> in free agency. </p>
<p id="VuLyZy"><strong>48) Chris Zorich -</strong> I’ll never forget the callers calling into The Score that wanted Zorich (6’1”, 278 lbs) to move to middle linebacker. He was a classic blue-collar defensive tackle during his five-plus years in Chicago.</p>
<p id="tVomZx"><strong>47) </strong><span><strong>Roberto Garza</strong></span><strong> -</strong> Whether is was at guard or center, Garza always gave his all on the field. From 2006 to 2014 he started all 138 games that he appeared in. </p>
<p id="zfguYH"><strong>46) Matt Suhey -</strong> The fullback for the 1985 Champs is 10th all-time in receptions for the Bears. </p>
<p id="AZyPHA"><strong>45) Donnell Woolford -</strong> If the Bears would have had more team success during his 8 years a Bear, I think he would have made more that one Pro Bowl. He was an outstanding all-around corner. </p>
<p id="vX6jEC"><strong>44) </strong><span><strong>Mitchell Trubisky</strong></span><strong> -</strong> If <span>Trubisky</span> improves like I expect him to improve, he’ll be in my top 20 in no time.</p>
<p id="Tzikox"><strong>43) </strong><span><strong>Cody Whitehair</strong></span><strong> -</strong> I love the no-nonsense way he goes about his job. I’m predicting a second consecutive Pro Bowl in 2019 for him. </p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="YLIOHc"><div data-anthem-component="aside:6442702"></div></div></div>
<p id="yxP4TC"><strong>42) </strong><span><strong>Rosevelt Colvin</strong></span><strong> -</strong> Another player that pissed me off when he wasn’t re-signed. He had 22 sacks his last two years in Chicago.</p>
<p id="a1YH8z"><strong>41) </strong><span><strong>Desmond Clark</strong></span><strong> -</strong> Clark was a classic Y tight end that could be effective as a blocker and receiver. I always thought he was underutilized in Chicago. </p>
<p id="R4TJvC"><strong>40) Erik Kramer -</strong> Kramer still has the Bears single season record of 3,838 passing yards and 29 TD passes that was set in 1995. He was only sacked 15 times in 16 games that year for a sack percentage of 2.8.</p>
<p id="UtMrnc"><strong>39) </strong><span><strong>Jay Cutler</strong></span><strong> - </strong>Speaking of sack percentage, Jay’s was 7.1 during his time in Chicago. I thought <span>Cutler</span>’s attitude and demeanor was refreshing in an era of canned responses.</p>
<p id="bgntrc"><strong>38) Tom Thayer - </strong>Part of my fondness for Thayer has to do with his outstanding job as the color man on WBBM, and his guest spots on WSCR, but he was a damn good offensive guard too.</p>
<p id="OHXHKa"><strong>37) Matt Slauson -</strong> I always appreciated the way Slauson went about his business on the football field, but the way he handled his stuttering and chose to work with kids that have speech impediments made me like him even more. </p>
<p id="WWvRjd"><strong>36) </strong><span><strong>Thomas Jones</strong></span><strong> - </strong>Hindsight tells us that the Bears should have just kept feeding Jones the rock in Super Bowl XLI, but to take it back further, hindsight tells us that the Bears never should have picked <span>Cedric Benson</span> in the 2005 Draft. Jones should have retired a Bear.</p>
<p id="6k0cHs"><strong>35) Otis Wilson -</strong> Mama’s boy Otis was a good all around football player and his 10.5 sacks in 1985 was second on the team. </p>
<p id="ByvlqS"><strong>34) </strong><span><strong>Lance Briggs</strong></span><strong> -</strong> Briggs is often knocked for being a “system” linebacker, but he still had to go out there and produce. I don’t think he gets enough credit for being as cerebral as he was. </p>
<p id="qlC5b8"><strong>33) </strong><span><strong>Eddie Jackson</strong></span><strong> -</strong> If <span>Jackson</span> keeps playing at an All-Pro level, I think he’ll climb my all-time favorite list.</p>
<p id="2WXwqh"><strong>32) </strong><span><strong>Chris Harris</strong></span><strong> -</strong> The Bears sent Harris to the Panthers for a 5th round pick after the 2006 season and I didn’t agree with it. In 2007 he led the NFL with 8 forced fumbles after learning the Peanut Punch during his two years in Chicago. He was traded back to the Bears in 2010 and he made 2nd Team All Pro. </p>
<p id="rQVksM"><strong>31) </strong><span><strong>Corey Graham</strong></span><strong> -</strong> The Bears never should have went back to <span>Nathan Vasher</span> after <span>Graham</span> filled in for him during the 2008 season. His last year in Chicago (2011) ended with a Pro Bowl appearance for his outstanding special teams work. </p>
<p id="tLF4YA"><strong>30) Tom Waddle - </strong>I think every Bears fan that saw him play and knows his story has a fondness for the ultimate underdog, Tommy Waddle.</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="uc6ycL"><div data-anthem-component="aside:8652799"></div></div></div>
<p id="tmgVz0"><strong>29) </strong><span><strong>Israel Idonije</strong></span><strong> -</strong> No one expected Idonije, an undrafted free agent signed after the <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Browns</a> cut him in 2003, to go on and play with the Bears until 2012. He not only had a successful career in Chicago, but he was one of the more giving players through his numerous charitable ventures. Plus, he’s a comic book guy.</p>
<p id="bhnKb6"><strong>28) Jay Hilgenberg -</strong> With seven straight Pro Bowls, Jay Hilgenberg should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.</p>
<p id="ByyNNQ"><strong>27) </strong><span><strong>Adrian Peterson</strong></span><strong> -</strong> The “other” Adrian Peterson was a successful special teamer and part time running back with the Bears. He gave 100% effort every time he touched the ball. </p>
<p id="oeFbgT"><strong>26) Gary Fencik -</strong> The Hit Man was not only a punishing force on the football field, but he was one of the smartest players to ever lace ‘em up. </p>
<p id="GLrT4r"><strong>25) </strong><span><strong>Patrick Mannelly</strong></span><strong> -</strong> The Mann, ‘nuff said.</p>
<p id="Nhr4oq"><strong>24) </strong><span><strong>Mike Brown</strong></span><strong> -</strong> His <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRp3fDKHYJo">back to back walk off touchdowns</a> cemented him as one of my all-time favs.</p>
<p id="fZ1YLG"><strong>23) </strong><span><strong>Tarik Cohen</strong></span><strong> -</strong> He has that “It Factor” when he’s on the field. </p>
<p id="WzTwKK"><strong>22) Jim McMahon -</strong> He was the first anti-establishment player I was aware of and he had swagger at a time when quarterbacks were mostly boring. </p>
<p id="Hg7NA2"><strong>21) Raymont Harris -</strong> His Bears career was short, but the Ultraback was a do-it-all player during his four years.</p>
<p id="cPV42k"><strong>20) </strong><span><strong>Khalil Mack</strong></span><strong> -</strong> I struggled where to put a guy with only one year in Chicago, but the trade for <span>Mack</span> is one of those <em>‘I’ll always remember where I was’</em> moments. </p>
<p id="tq8tHF"><strong>19) Jim Harbaugh -</strong> I’ll never forget Harbaugh running down on the kickoff coverage team as a rookie because he needed something to do as the third string QB. He played the game with the same intensity that he coaches with. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Jim Harbaugh of the Chicago Bears" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dEUSpV9-YuNMO-Nm2ixBHPpC0ms=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/18300039/484116461.jpg.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="aI2uGA"><strong>18) Mike Singletary -</strong> I was a fan of the way Samurai Mike played the game, but when I read his book in the late 80’s he became one of my all-time favorites. </p>
<p id="WwiFeu"><strong>17) Richard Dent -</strong> The Sackman is Chicago all-time sack leader.</p>
<p id="Y01i81"><strong>16) Dan Hampton - </strong>Danimal was a Pro Bowler at both defensive end and at defensive tackle.</p>
<p id="19EF1F"><strong>15) </strong><span><strong>Devin Hester</strong></span><strong> - </strong>The single greatest moment in Bears history belongs to Devin Hester. If you were a fan during his heyday, you made sure the TV had your undivided attention when he went back to return a kick or a punt. </p>
<p id="83ru20"><strong>14) Mark Bortz -</strong> A converted defensive lineman, Bortz was a true mauler. </p>
<p id="LlAbxj"><strong>13) Jimbo Covert -</strong> Covert played the same position that I did back in the day and he was the first offensive tackle that I really started to study. If he didn’t injure his back I think he would be in the Hall of Fame. </p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bwJi8_txNuQxnmDzUkG3SX3QV5Y=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/18300054/610673_lg.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="f4SqEm"><strong>12) Steve McMichael -</strong> Mongo racked up an incredible 92.5 sacks for the Bears from his defensive tackle position, plus he’s a former United States Champion and member of the Four Horsemen. </p>
<p id="oX4EVm"><strong>11) William Perry -</strong> The Fridge was such a fun player to root for in 1985. If all you know of him is how he used to line up on offense, then go find some of his highlight clips. Here’s a couple from his Clemson days (<a href="https://twitter.com/wiltfongjr/status/1151631068895698944">here</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/wiltfongjr/status/1151631907328864256">here</a>).</p>
<p id="y6yKfy"><strong>10) </strong><span><strong>Zach Miller</strong></span><strong> -</strong> I love rooting for an underdog story and <span>Miller</span>’s was a great story. He just kept battling through injuries his whole career to play, and he played some damn good football in Chicago. </p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/INo_UlOkwruKTDvEGnLLiRIU4jk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/18317080/IMG_2941.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. of <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.facebook.com/serenavphotography" target="_blank">Serena V Photography</a></cite>
</figure>
<p id="W5DrBO"><strong>9) Wilbur Marshall -</strong> Marshall was the first Bears player that I really rooted for that left the Bears, and that pissed me off back in 1988. </p>
<p id="kzXP5X"><strong>8) </strong><span><strong>Kyle Long</strong></span><strong> - </strong>As a rookie, Long played with a raw tenacity that made me an immediate fan. Plus any offensive lineman that will scrap for his QB is all right in my book. </p>
<p id="NX4kUm"><strong>7) </strong><span><strong>Akiem Hicks</strong></span><strong> - </strong>He’s such a likable person off the field, but on the field he’s a terror for offenses to handle. </p>
<p id="3xCViS"><strong>6) </strong><span><strong>Brian Urlacher</strong></span><strong> -</strong> I’m fortunate to have seen Urlacher’s entire career. He was such a great all-around football player. </p>
<p id="X7u3fm"><strong>5) James “Big Cat” Williams -</strong> I met Big Cat one time and he made me look small. </p>
<p id="UuusDo"><strong>4) </strong><span><strong>Charles Tillman</strong></span><strong> - </strong>I was talking about how great Peanut was during his entire underrated career in Chicago. </p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="f7Hs67"><div data-anthem-component="aside:8665315"></div></div></div>
<p id="6mrQ86"><strong>3) </strong><span><strong>Olin Kreutz</strong></span><strong> -</strong> Kreutz’s badassery on the football field not only makes him one of my all-time fav Bears, but he’s my wife’s #1 favorite player. </p>
<p id="MPJdhN"><strong>2) Keith Van Horne -</strong> My earliest memory of Van Horne was him ripping a defender off of Jim McMahon and shoving him away. I also wore #78 in my youth, and played offensive tackle, so liking and following his career was an easy decision. </p>
<p id="jXnrPM"><strong>1) Walter Payton -</strong> Sweetness is the reason I became a Bears’ fan. His excellence on a football field has yet to be matched.</p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rM_U5e7dALfDwvMBDIuAXfNmHZQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/18317722/a4523ae026f3c7553844a3937c55980f.jpg">
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<p id="39VZW9"></p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/7/20/18678159/my-top-100-favorite-chicago-bears-all-time-keith-van-horne-walter-payton-olin-kreutz-1985-trubiskyLester A. Wiltfong Jr.2019-05-29T15:30:00-05:002019-05-29T15:30:00-05:00Rank your All-Time Chicago Bears quarterbacks
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<img alt="Chicago Bears Training Camp" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bmgpRsCtYihTPF3WP7oKPF5_mck=/0x14:3000x2014/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63916293/89606910.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>With our WCG Top 100 Bears Players list being rolled out in honor of the 100th anniversary of the team, we wanted to get your take on Chicago's quarterbacks.</p> <p id="0D9a7S">Our <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/5/23/18636529/wcg-top-100-chicago-bears-players-all-time-history-centennial-anniversary-season-championship">WCG Top 100</a> <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> player list is up to number 81, and in the last group of ten we revealed our first two quarterbacks to make the cut. Johnny Lujack, who also played some defensive back and kicked, checked in at number 88, and Ed Brown, who also handled punting for the Bears, made it at number 87. </p>
<p id="Aq3PfQ">In the <a href="https://www.chicagobears.com/news/ranking-best-bears-of-all-time-nos-1-25">Don Pierson and Dan Pompei Top 100 list</a> that they compiled for the Bears, they had <span>Jay Cutler</span> at 85th overall, and as usual with every <span>Cutler</span> topic, it sparked a healthy debate. </p>
<p id="DZLQu4">We’ve yet to reveal where Cutler is <em>(or isn’t)</em> on our list, but I wanted to see where you guys would rank the Bears all-time quarterbacks. Not in terms of placement on an All-Time Top 100 Bears list in relation to other positions, but rather in terms of where they rank when compared to just the QBs that have played in Chicago.</p>
<p id="jJMLe9">To get you thinking, here’s an alphabetical list of some Bear quarterbacks that either made the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> or are in the franchise’s top ten in passing yards.</p>
<ul>
<li id="SKQiMp">Bob Avellini</li>
<li id="NbNFT9">Ed Brown</li>
<li id="rximZv">Rudy Bukich</li>
<li id="EZc0EZ"><span>Jay Cutler</span></li>
<li id="Gdfq1z">Jim Harbaugh</li>
<li id="7G4dGv">Erik Kramer</li>
<li id="195jqw">Sid Luckman</li>
<li id="q4XSwh">Johnny Lujack</li>
<li id="uoLrFq">Jim McMahon</li>
<li id="8yE51k"><span>Mitchell Trubisky</span></li>
<li id="GCWC92">Billy Wade</li>
</ul>
<p id="ng8OgL">Where would you rank the QBs that have played in Chicago? </p>
<p id="nnwcXm">At the very least, give us your top five Bears’ quarterbacks in our comment section.</p>
<p id="lfBVSm"><em>To see the entire list of Bears All-Time passing leaders, you can check out </em><a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi/career-passing.htm"><em>Pro Football Reference</em></a><em>,</em> </p>
<p id="hPGMbq"></p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/5/29/18644248/all-time-chicago-bears-quarterbacks-jay-cutler-sid-luckman-johnny-lujack-100-brown-wade-mcmahonLester A. Wiltfong Jr.