100. Patrick Mannely, LS, 1998-2013
99. Doug Plank, S, 1975-82
98. Trace Armstrong, DE, 1989-94
97. Bobby Joe Green, P, 1962-73
96. Eddie Jackson, S, 2017-Present
95. Larry Morris, LB, 1959-65
94. Jim Dooley, E, 1952-54, 56-57, 59-62
93. Herman Lee, T, 1958-66
92. Bill Osmanski, FB, 1939-43, 46-47
91. Bob Wetoska, T, 1960-69
90. Beattie Feathers, HB, 1934-37
89. Mike Pyle, C, 1961-69
88. Joey Sternaman, QB/K, 1922-25, 27-30
87. Luke Johnsos, E, 1929-36
86. Alan Ellis, CB, 1973-77, 79-80
85. Jay Cutler, QB, 2009-16
84. Tom Thayer, G, 1985-92
83. Willie Gault, WR, 1983-87
82. George Blanda, QB/K, 1949-58
81. Brandon Marshall, WR, 2012-14
80. Alson Jeffery, WR, 2012-16
79. Dennis McKinnon, WR, 1983-85, 87-89
78. Donnell Woolford, CB, 1989-96
77. Bennie McRae, DB, 1962-70
76. J.C. Caroline, DB, 1956-65
75. Akiem Hicks, DT, 2016-Present
74. Kyle Long, G, 2103-Present
73. Tommie Harris, DT, 2004-10
72. Mark Carrier, S, 1990-96
71. Kevin Butler, K, 1985-95
70. Matt Suhey, FB, 1980-89
69. Bill Wade, QB, 1961-66
68. Dick Barwegen, G, 1950-52
67. Ed O'Bradovich, DE, 1962-71
66. Mike Hartenstine, DE, 1975-86
65. Dick Gordon, WR, 1965-71
64. James Williams, T, 1991-2002
63. Mike Brown, S, 2000-08
62. Robbie Gould, K, 2005-15
61. Willie Gallimore, HB, 1957-63
60. Khalil Mack, LB/DE, 2018-Present
59. Julius Peppers, DE, 2010-13
58. Wally Chambers, DT, 1973-77
57. Jim Osborne, DT, 1972-84
56. Roosevelt Taylor, DB, 1961-69
55. Johnny Lujack, QB, 1948-51
54. Ed Brown, QB/P, 1954-61
53. Jim McMahon, QB, 1982-88
52. Joe Kopcha, G, 1929-35
51. Keith Van Horne, T, 1981-93
50. Mark Bortz, G, 1983-94
49. Ray Bray, G, 1939-42, 46-51
48. Fred Williams, T, 1952-63
47. Dave Duerson, S, 1983-89
46. Doug Buffone, LB, 1966-79
45. Otis Wilson, LB, 1980-87
44. Johnny Morris, FL, 1958-67
43. Wilber Marshall, LB, 1984-87
42. Richie Pettibone, 1959-68
41. Neal Anderson, RB, 1986-93
40. Ken Kavanaugh, WR, 1940-41, 45-50
39. Harlon Hill, WR, 1954-61
38. Link Lyman, T, 1926-28, 30-31, 33-34
37. George Halas, E, 1920-29
36. Red Grange, HB, 1925, 29-34
35. George Musso, G, 1933-44
34. Matt Forte, RB, 2008-15
33. George Trafton, C, 1920-32
32. Paddy Driscoll, QB/K/P, 1920, 26-29
31. Charles Tillman, CB, 2003-14
30. Gary Fencik, S, 1976-87
29. Rick Casares, FB, 1955-64
28. Lance Briggs, LB, 2003-14
27. Olin Kruetz, C, 1998-2010
26. Ed Healey, T, 1922-27
25. Ed Sprinkle, E, 1944-55
24. Joe Fortunato, LB, 1955-66
23. George McAfee, HB/DB, 1940-41, 45-50
22. George Connor, T/LB, 1948-55
21. Joe Stydahar, T, 1936-42, 45-46
20. Devin Hester, KR/PR/WR, 2006-13
19. Steve McMichael, DT, 1981-93
18. Jay Hilgenberger, C, 1981-91
17. Stan Jones, T, 1954-65
16. Bill Hewitt, E, 1932-36
15. Mike Singletary, LB, 1981-92
14. Brian Urlacher, LB, 2000-12
13. Jimbo Covert, T, 1983-90
12. Richard Dent, 1983-93, 95
11. Dan Hampton, DT/DE, 1979-90
10. Danny Fortman, G, 1936-43
9. Doug Atkins, DE, 1955-66
8. Bulldog Turner, C/LB, 1940-52
7. Bill George, G/LB, 1952-65
6. Mike Ditka, TE, 1961-66
5. Gale Sayers, HB, 1965-71
4. Sid Luckman, QB/P/DB, 1939-50
3. Bronko Nagurski, FB/T, 1930-37, 43
2. Dick Butkus, LB, 1965-73
1. Walter Payton, RB, 1975-87
***
This is a fine list. I get a little nervous when a list like this is undertaken, especially with a team that has a long history of success like the Bears, due to the simple fact that pre-Super Bowl NFL history is rarely treated with the proper respect. People tend to have a very short memory and the Bears have a very long history. The team's best years were their first 25 years. Seven of their nine NFL titles came between 1921 and 1946. Dan Pompei and Don Pierson did a fine job acknowledging all 100 years.
The Bears have such a strong history that six Hall of Famers can be found among the players ranked in the 30s.
Paddy Driscoll
George Trafton
George Musso
Red Grange
George Halas
Link Lyman
How many NFL teams can put up 30 of their best players and still have Hall of Famers left over?
George Blanda is way down at #82 but he's not in the Hall of Fame for his Bears career. He may have spent 10 years with the team but he's in the Hall of Fame for what he did after he left Chicago.
George Blanda is way down at #82 but he's not in the Hall of Fame for his Bears career. He may have spent 10 years with the team but he's in the Hall of Fame for what he did after he left Chicago.
One of the Bears greatest players is also the team's founder. No other team can say that.
Speaking of Halas, the Bears have employed a lot of great players with the name of George.
George Halas
George Connor
George McAfee
George Halas
George Connor
George McAfee
George Halas
George Trafton
George Musso
George Blanda
Bill George
George Blanda
Bill George
One problem that I do have with this list is that two centers (Jay Hilgenberger and Olin Kruetz) are ranked ahead of George Trafton.
It's easy to see that Pompei and Pierson think highly of the Bears current defense. Khalil Mack sits at #60 with a single year in Chicago, Akiem Hicks sits at #75 after three years, and Eddie Jackson sits at #96 after two years. It's actually no surprise. Before they're done, I can see all three moving up this list. Especially Mack.
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