With an NFL record 27 Hall of Famers, there is no shortage of talent in Chicago Bears’ history.
The Chicago Bears have a rich history in their 100 years of existence. With an NFL record 27 Hall of Famers, there is no shortage of talent in this franchise’s existence.
CBS Sports compiled a list of the five most impactful people in an NFL team’s history. The requirements include just one quarterback, one head coach and three non-quarterback players.
Given there is so many impactful figures in Bears’ history, there were many different directions this list could’ve gone. Although, there are three players that nearly everyone agrees belongs on this list.
When you’re talking about which head coach gets the nod for the Bears, there’s no other choice than George Halas. Especially considering that there would be no NFL without him. CBS Sports noted that Mike Ditka missed the cut at coach.
There’s a reason the winner of the NFC gets awarded the George Halas Trophy, a tradition that began back during the 1984-85 season. Halas isn’t just the Bears’ best-ever coach, he’s also one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport. In his 40-year coaching career that began in 1920 with the Decatur Staleys — who would become known as the Chicago Bears in 1922 — and ended in 1967, Halas went a remarkable 318-148-31 with the franchise, leading them to six championships along the way.
The Bears don’t have a great history of quarterbacks, so this could’ve been really easy or really difficult in choosing which quarterback landed on this list. While Sid Luckman was the first one to spring to mind, CBS Sports went in a different direction with Jay Cutler.
Obviously, the Bears’ history of quarterback play is dreadful — so dreadful that Sid Luckman, who last played for the Bears in 1950, held most of the Bears’ passing records until Cutler came along — but Cutler departed Chicago as the team’s all-time leader in passing yards (topping Luckman by 8,757 yards) and touchdown passes (17 more than Luckman). Keep in mind that for most of Cutler’s prime, he was playing behind a terrible offensive line and throwing to receivers like Devin Hester, Johnny Knox, and Earl Bennett. He didn’t have much help. Matt Forte, a running back, was probably his most consistent weapon over the years.
When you’re thinking of the most impactful people in Bears’ history, the first one that comes to mind is arguably the best player to play the game in running back Walter Payton. You can’t have this list without Sweetness.
Payton meets all of the necessary requirements: He’s the best running back in franchise history and it’s not particularly close, won a Super Bowl, captured MVP in 1977, and is one of the best players at his position group in the history of football — only Emmitt Smith has Payton beat in career rushing yards.
If we were ranking the top three players in Bears history, Payton would lead the list. Just take it from those who played with and coached him. Ditka once called Payton “the very best football player I’ve ever seen, period. At any position.” Meanwhile, Dan Hampton once said Payton was “the best football player of our time. Bar none.”
Chicago’s history of linebackers needs no introduction, and another player that is a must-have on a list of all-time great Bears includes one of the most feared linebackers in NFL history, Dick Butkus.
In more than half of his nine seasons, Butkus was named first team All-Pro, made eight Pro Bowls, racked up 22 interceptions, and generated the ninth-highest approximate value among all Bears players ever. But Butkus’ importance to the Bears extends beyond the stats. He never won a Super Bowl, which would’ve enhanced his legacy, but he is regarded as one of the best and most feared linebackers in the history of the sport.
Keeping with the linebacker theme, there is some debate as to who ranks as the second-best linebacker in Bears history. Whether it’s Bill George, Mike Singletary or Brian Urlacher, you really can’t go wrong with your choice. CBS Sports went with Urlacher for the final spot on this list of five.
The Bears might not have ever had a truly great quarterback, but you can’t deny just how many great linebackers they’ve produced. If Butkus is 1A, then Urlacher is 1B. The recent Hall-of-Fame inductee wrapped up his career in 2012, retiring with the most solo tackles in franchise history. The beginning of his career was marked by a Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Along the way, he won Defensive Player of the Year in 2005, garnered four first team All-Pro selections, and eight Pro Bowl nods.
Who would be your top five most impactful people in Bears’ history?
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