Tag: olin kreutz

4 Bears that could be next in line for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Jim Covert and Ed Sprinkle are the latest Bears to be named to the Hall of Fame. But who will be the next? We take a look.

The Chicago Bears have a rich history of talent in their 100-year history, which is epitomized by their NFL-most 28 Hall of Famers. That number increased to 30 following the additions of two more Bears to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Offensive lineman Jim Covert and defensive end/linebacker Ed Sprinkle will be the latest Bears inducted into the Hall of Fame, as they were voted to the 2020 centennial class as part of the senior inductees.

But who will be the next Bears inducted into the Hall of Fame?

Here are four Bears players that could be the next to be enshrined:

1. Devin Hester

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

When you’re the best to ever play your position, that should be an automatic bid to the Hall of Fame. Devin Hester was the best kick returner to ever play the game. Not only does he have the stats, he affected the game in a significant way.

Hester, who was a three-time first-team All Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, has an impressive resume. He has more punt returns (14) than anyone in NFL history with 14; his 20 total non-offensive touchdowns are also the most in league history; and he has the highest average yards per punt return among those with at least 300 returns in NFL history.

The only problem is special teamers rarely get inducted into the Hall of Fame. In fact, there are only three: kickers Morten Andersen and Jan Stenerud and punter Ray Guy.

Will Hester be one of the exceptions? Guess we’ll have to wait and see starting as early as 2022, when Hester is first eligible for the Hall of Fame.

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Brian Urlacher: Hall of Fame candidates Lance Briggs, Olin Kreutz were snubbed

Bears HOF LB Brian Urlacher isn’t happy that former teammates Lance Briggs and Olin Kreutz not named Hall of Fame finalists in 2020.

The NFL Hall of Fame announced the modern-era finalists for Class of 2020 on Thursday, but there’s someone that wasn’t too happy with the list.

Bears Hall-of-Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher expressed his disappointment in the finalists that didn’t include two of his former teammates in linebacker Lance Briggs and center Olin Kreutz.

Briggs ended his 12-year Bears career with 16 interceptions, five defensive touchdowns, seven fumble recoveries, 16 forced fumbles, 15 sacks and seven Pro Bowls.

“He elevated not only my game but the entire defense — his enthusiasm was contagious,” Urlacher said in his Hall of Fame induction speech. “We’ll be back here in a couple years for your induction, ‘Big Time.'”

In his 13 seasons with the Bears, Kreutz was a six-time Pro Bowler and was named to the Hall of Fame’s All-2000’s second team. He holds the record for most games played by an offensive lineman in Chicago.

“Olin Kreutz is the epitome of a Hall of Famer,” former Bears running back Thomas Jones tweeted last March. “One of the most talented and ferocious interior lineman to ever play the game. The definition of a football player. This man needs to be in Canton now!”

Briggs and Kretuz were among the 122 modern-era nominees, but both failed to make the semifinalist cut in November. Still, Urlacher made it clear that he believes both Briggs and Kreutz belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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