Who are the 10 best Chicago Bears of all time?

There was a time when the daaaa Bears were among the scariest teams in NFL history. A team that no one wanted to play against… ever.

One of the most notable periods in NFL history occurred in Chicago in the 1980s, and the most famous season for the team came in 1985, when the Bears went 15-1 and destroyed the Patriots, 46-10. , to capture Super Bowl XX. However, even if we look beyond that decade, the Bears have a long history of success and have placed 32 different players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But who are the best players to ever play for the Bears? Here’s the top 10, via FOX Sports Research.

10. KR/PR/WR Devin Hester (2006-2012)

Devin Hester, one of the most electric playmakers of all time, struck fear into opposing special teams coordinators. In his career, the ace returner had 20 combined touchdowns on special teams, which to this day is an NFL record. Additionally, his 14 career punt return touchdowns are also an NFL record.

Perhaps his most notable season, however, came in 2006, culminating in a Super Bowl berth for Chicago, where Hester returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. During that season, he also set a record for the longest play from scrimmage in NFL history with 108 yards, as well as tying the NFL record for most return touchdowns in a game, bringing home two against the Rams. He would culminate his career with an induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

9. DL Dan Hampton (1979-1990)

Nicknamed “The Danimal,” Hampton was one of a kind as a do-it-all lineman who made a huge impact on the game even if it didn’t register on the stat sheet. Despite undergoing 10 knee surgeries during his career, Hampton was named All-Pro six different times. His best season came in 1980, when he led the team with 11.5 sacks and recorded an astonishing 73 tackles, the most for a Bears lineman at the time.

Overall, Hampton was named a Pro Bowler four times, won the 1985 Super Bowl with Chicago and finally, in 2002, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame to cap a tremendous career.

8. OT Jimbo Undercover (1983-1990)

One of the biggest offensive line attackers in Bears history, Covert made an immediate impact when, as a rookie, he helped clear the way for the Bears to lead the NFL in rushing. That impact also paid off in the win-loss column, as Chicago claimed six division titles in a span of seven seasons. Additionally, during his eight-year career with Chicago, the team won 10 or more games six times.

Although he was named a Pro Bowler twice and won a Super Bowl, his greatest accomplishment may be the fact that he paved the way for the Bears to have a 1,000-yard rusher in seven of his eight seasons in Chicago, ultimately earning him the induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.

7. DL Richard Dent (1983-1993, 1995)

After playing in every game as a rookie, Dent made a real impact in his sophomore campaign when he recorded a career-high 17.5 sacks for the Bears, earning a Pro Bowl nod for his troubles. The most impressive part of all is that he recorded those 17.5 sacks even though he only started the final 10 games of that season. That season was the start of a streak in which Dent racked up 10 or more sacks in eight of the next 10 seasons.

His most notable performance came during Super Bowl XX. The Bears were able to win, 46-10, but Dent received the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award, making three tackles. 1.5 sacks and forcing two fumbles. At the time of his retirement, Dent’s 137.5 career sacks were third all-time, with 124.5 sacks during his tenure with Chicago.

6. Gale Sayers (1965-1971)

One of the NFL’s top running backs, Sayers routinely wowed fans with his quick feet and dynamic speed. Despite playing only seven seasons, Sayers made the most of it, earning first-team All-Pro spots in each of his first five seasons. He also finished in the top five in MVP voting in his first four seasons.

Even with his final two seasons ruined due to injury, Sayers still led the NFL in rushing twice, made four Pro Bowls, and was eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977.

5. Brian Urlacher (2000-2012)

Starting with a bang as a rookie, the Hall of Fame linebacker recorded a career-high eight sacks and also led the team in tackles. That led to Urlacher becoming the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. That set the stage for five years later, when the Bears legend claimed the AP Defensive Player of the Year award, becoming the second Bears player to win it (Mike Singletary). He also, at that time, became the fifth player in NFL history to win both the Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards.

The hard-hitting linebacker finished his career with eight Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro honors five times and made a Super Bowl appearance in 2006.

4. Mike Singletary (1981-1992)

One of the greatest linebackers of all time, Singletary wasted no time making a name for himself and became Chicago’s starter in just the seventh game of his rookie season. Singletary, a tackling machine, led the Bears or was second on the team in tackles in each of his final 11 NFL seasons. Additionally, his durability was a hallmark, as he only missed two games in his career.

Overall, in his career, Singletary was a well-known and respected force, earning 10 Pro Bowl nods and being selected as an All-Pro eight times. Most impressively, however, he was selected as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1985 and 1988, helping lead the 1985 team to a Super Bowl title.

3. Mike Ditka (1961-1966)

A trend-setter, Ditka was one of the first NFL tight ends to catch numerous passes and prove that tight ends could impact the passing game. In his rookie season, the dynamic tight end caught 56 ​​passes for 1,076 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning a Pro Bowl selection in the process. Just three seasons later, he would set an NFL record for tight ends: 75 passes. After being inserted into the starting lineup during his rookie season, Ditka did not miss a single start, finishing his Bears career with 84 consecutive starts.

Ditka was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons and voted All-Pro in each of his first five seasons. The physical tight end also recorded 50 or more receptions in four of his six seasons with Chicago.

2. Dick Butkus (1965-1973)

One of the most feared linebackers in NFL history, Butkus earned a Pro Bowl nod in each of his first eight seasons. However, his success knew no limits, as he finished his career with 22 interceptions and 27 forced fumbles, proving that he could do it all. One of the most important aspects of his career that didn’t show up on the stat sheet was his ability to cover top running backs and tight ends on passing plays.

When all was said and done, Butkus was a five-time first-team All-Pro and three times finished in the top six in MVP voting despite playing on the defensive side of the ball. Most impressively, Butkus finished every NFL season with at least one interception and one forced fumble, accumulating multiples of each in five seasons.

1. Walter Payton (1975-1987)

Nicknamed “Sweetness,” Walter Payton consistently wowed fans and opponents alike. He spent all 13 seasons of his NFL career with Chicago, and in that time he went to nine Pro Bowls, was named first-team All-Pro five times and won Super Bowl XX with the team. But the most impressive thing is that Payton was a workhorse. He led the NFL in carries in four of his first five seasons, and the only one that wasn’t his rookie year.

Payton’s most impressive season came in 1977, when he earned Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year, a Pro Bowl honor and was named first-team All-Pro. The campaign saw him lead the NFL in carries, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, rushing yards per game and yards per carry. He nearly won two more MVPs, finishing third in 1984 and second in 1985, but came up short. When all was said and done, he would finish his Bears career with 10 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He remains second on the all-time rushing yards list, with 16,726 yards behind only Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith’s 18,355.

Honorable mentions:

• Bronco Nagursky
• Bulldog Turner
• David Atkins
• Bill George
• Bill Hewitt
• Steve McMichael
• Sid Luckman
• Carlos Tillman

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