The 20 Biggest Baddest Bears of All Time Series; #16 George Connor

No. 16 George Connor


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George Connor (photo courtesy of ChicagoBears.com)


Connor was another hulk of a man in the years before weight training made just about everyone big and strong. Connor had a normal 48-inch chest and could expand to 53 inches.


As noted sportswriter Grantland Rice wrote, “Connor was the closest thing to a Greek God since Apollo. At 6’3”, 240 lbs, Connor was All-Pro at three different positions—offensive tackle, defensive tackle and linebacker.


The Bears are famous for pioneering positions, and Connor was one of those big, fast linebacker pioneers. He was switched to linebacker to slow down a Philadelphia Eagles rushing attack led by Joe Muha.


The story goes that Halas and assistant Hunk Anderson were devising some desperate measures to slow the Philadelphia offense.

Of particular concern was an end sweep that saw fullback Muha and the two guards lead bulldozing Steve Van Buren around the end. Van Buren was a terror even without interference, but with such an effective convoy out in front, he was virtually unstoppable.

Finally, Anderson had a thought: "Why don't we put in a big man like Connor back as linebacker? They won't be able to run over him like they do the lighter guys. Besides, he's one of our most aggressive guys, and that's the best kind to play linebacker."


Connor never took another snap at any other position and is yet another one of the Bears linebackers enshrined in Canton.

Connor was before all of our times but I heard about him from my grandfather who was a huge Bears fan. As Bears LB greats go Connor was the first and the model or prototype for all who followed him.

Halas's assistant coach Hunk Anderson should probably be given credit for defining the type of player needed to make a good LB. Find the most aggressive guy on your team and he's your stud LB. As far as the Bears are concerned has it ever been different since.