The 50 best Bears
February 5, 2010
BY MARK POTASH
mpotash@suntimes.com
No longer the scourge of the National Football League, the Bears still maintain an unmatched legacy of players who have made a profound and unique impact on the league.
George Halas was a founding father whose innovations pointed the rest of the league in the right direction. Red Grange legitimized and popularized the NFL with a 1925 barnstorming tour.
Sid Luckman ushered in the modern passing era. Bill George revolutionized the ''middle guard'' position by playing behind the defensive line to become the NFL's first ''middle linebacker.''
Gale Sayers was the most dynamic runner the league had seen. Dick Butkus is the standard by which all middle linebackers are measured -- never has a player that mean and that feared been that good.
But even among those great Bears, Walter Payton stands alone. ''Sweetness'' was the epitome of everything that's great about football. He was physical yet durable. He was the team's best player and its hardest worker. He had an irrepressible will to succeed.
Without uncommon speed or size, Payton still became the NFL's all-time leading rusher. He was as good a teammate as he was a player. He never held out. He was good even when the team was bad. He was an outstanding blocker. He's still the Bears' all-time leader in receptions and is third in receiving yards. He threw eight touchdown passes. And he usually was at his best against the Packers.
That puts Payton No. 1 on our list.
The list was compiled based on performance with the Bears. Special thanks to longtime Bears watchers Chet Coppock, Hub Arkush, Jack Rosenberg and Don Pierson.
1. WALTER PAYTON, RB (1975-87) Hall of Fame: 1993 | All-Pro: 5 | Pro Bowls: 9 | NFL Titles: 1 (1985)
Considered by many the greatest all-around running back in football history, ''Sweetness'' was a physical, punishing, yet durable runner, a superb blocker, receiver and teammate who always gave his offensive linemen the credit they deserved. Payton set 16 NFL records, including career marks for rushing yards (16,726) and rushing TDs (110); Also threw for eight TDs on halfback passes; led the NFL in kick returns (31.7 yards) as a rookie in 1975. NFL MVP in 1977 (1,852 yards, 14 TDs) when he set an NFL single-game rushing mark with 275 vs. the Vikings. Played in 198 of 199 career games, including the last 194 in a row.
2. SID LUCKMAN, QB (1939-50)
Hall of Fame: 1965 | All-Pro: 5 NFL Titles: 4 (1940, 1941, 1943, 1946)
Luckman's mastery of the T-formation sparked the Bears to unprecedented dominance in the 1940s. NFL MVP in 1943, when he set NFL marks for TD passes (28, including 7 in one game) and yards (2,194) and threw 5 TD passes in 41-21 rout of the Redskins in the NFL championship game; his 19-yard TD run on a then-revolutionary bootleg won the 1946 title. Still the Bears all-time leader in passing yards (14,686) and TD passes (137).
3. DICK BUTKUS, LB (1965-73)
Hall of Fame (1979) | All-Pro: 7 Pro Bowls: 8 | NFL Titles: None
His well-earned reputation as one of the meanest, most brutal players in NFL history often overshadows the fact that Butkus was an incredibly instinctive linebacker with a nose for the ball. The Vocational graduate still is third on the NFL's all-time list for fumble recoveries (25) and second in takeaways (47, including 22 interceptions). Was a long snapper on punts as a rookie.
4. GALE SAYERS, RB (1965-71)
Hall of Fame: 1977 | All-Pro: 5 | Pro Bowls: 5 NFL titles: None
Most exciting, elusive runner ever in the NFL when he entered the league in 1965, scoring a rookie record 22 TDs. Scored 48 TDs in first 50 games. A record six TDs on KO returns. Led the NFL in rushing (1,032 yards) in 1969 after devastating knee injury.
5. CLYDE 'BULLDOG' TURNER, C (1940-52)
Hall of Fame: 1966 | All-Pro: 8 NFL titles: 4 (1940, '41, '43, '46)
Heady, quick center/linebacker was a powerful blocker and great all-around player and leader. Returned INT for a TD in the 73-0 rout of the Skins in the 1940 title game. Led the NFL with eight interceptions in 1942. Only carry went for 48-yard TD.
6. BILL GEORGE, LB (1952-65)
Hall of Fame: 1974 | All-Pro: 8 Pro Bowls: 8 | NFL titles: 1 (1963)
Popularized, if not invented, the middle linebacker position by dropping off the line from his ''middle guard'' position in 1954 and became a perennial All-Pro. Had 18 interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries. Also kicked four FGs and 14-of-15 PATs.
7. DAN HAMPTON, DL (1979-90)
Hall of Fame: 2002 | All-Pro: 1 Pro Bowls: 4 | NFL titles: 1 (1985)
Irrepressible pass rusher played through 10 knee operations to rank third on Bears sack list with 82. Pro Bowler twice at end and twice at tackle. Blocked seven kicks. Had two sacks, fumble recovery in Super Bowl XX.
8. DOUG ATKINS, DE (1955-66)
Hall of Fame: 1982 | All-Pro: 8 | Pro Bowls: 8 NFL titles: 1 (1963)
At 6-8, 255 pounds, Atkins used his speed, quickness and leaping ability to become a dominant pass rusher. Got better with age, too. At 33, he was still going strong in 1963 championship game.
9. RICHARD DENT, DE (1983-93, 95)
All-Pro: 4 | Pro Bowls: 4 | NFL titles: 1 (1985)
An eighth-round pick out of Tennessee State, Dent was No. 3 on the all-time sack list (137½) when he retired. Had 17½ sacks in 1984, 17 in 1985. MVP of Super Bowl XX.
10. MIKE DITKA (1961-66), Hall of Fame: 1988 All-Pro: 4 | Pro Bowls: 6 | NFL titles: 1 (1963)
An expert blocker, Ditka set new standards for tight ends by averaging 62 catches, 918 yards, 14.8 yards per catch and 7.5 TDs in his first four seasons. NFL Rookie of the Year in 1961. First tight end in the Hall of Fame.
11. Mike Singletary, LB 12 (81-92) 7 10 1 Two-time Defensive Player of the Year (1985, 1988) captained great defenses of the 1980s. Made the Hall of Fame in 1998.
12. Bronko Nagurski, RB 9 (30-43)* 4 NA 3 Devastating runner, blocker, tackler also threw TD passes in 1932 and 1933 NFL championship games. Unanimous Hall of Famer.
13. Brian Urlacher, LB 9 (00-09) 4 6 0 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Dominant tackler and playmaker. Has scored on a 90-yard fumble return and 85-yard INT return.
14. George Connor, LB 8 (48-55) 5 4 0 One of the first outside linebackers with size (6-3, 240) and speed. All-NFL on offense/defense in 1951-52. Hall of Fame (1975).
15. Stan Jones, G/DT 12 (54-65) 3 7 1 Besides being a seven-time Pro Bowl guard, Jones switched to DT in 1963 and started on the Bears' title team. Hall of Fame (1991).
16. Danny Fortmann, G 8 (36-43) 6 NA 3 Hall of Famer was the premier guard in football and superb tackler. Bears were 72-19-2 and won three titles in his eight seasons.
17. Steve McMichael, DT 13 (81-93) 2 2 1 Rugged, colorful Texan was a consistently productive workhorse. Second on the team's all-time sack list with 92½.
18. Jimbo Covert, OT 8 (83-90) 3 2 1 Best lineman on the Ditka teams. All-NFL team of the 1980s. Still is a HOF candidate despite career-shortening back injury.
19. Jay Hilgenberg, C 11 (81-91) 5 7 1 Seven-time Pro Bowl center started 130 of his last 134 games. First-team All-Pro in 1986. Offensive captain.
20. George McAfee, RB 8 (40-50)* 3 NA 3 One of the greatest RBs of the NFL's first 35 years, McAfee made big plays on offense, defense and special teams.
21. George Musso, T 12 (33-44) 3 NA 3 Millikin product was the anchor of the offensive line 1940, 1941 and 1943 title teams. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.
22. Rick Casares, RB 10 (55-64) 4 5 1 Bruising FB set team rushing records for career yards (5,675), TDs (49), yards in a game (190) and season (1,126).
23. Joe Fortunato, LB 12 (55-66) 6 5 1 Five-time Pro Bowl linebacker tied the NFL record for career fumble recoveries with 22. Also had 16 interceptions.
24. George Trafton, C 13 (20-32) 6 NA 2 Original Decatur Staley was the premier center in NFL's infancy. First to snap the ball with one hand. Hall of Famer (1964).
25. Ken Kavanaugh, E 8 (40-50)* 3 NA 3 His 52 TDs ranked third in the NFL when he retired. Still the Bears' all-time leader in receiving TDs (50) and yards/catch (22.4)
26. Harlon Hill, WR 8 (54-61) 3 3 0 Sensational deep threat in short but productive career. Had TD catches of 88, 86, 84 and 76 yards. Averaged 20.4 yards/catch.
27. Bill Hewitt, E 5 (32-36) 4 NA 2 Considered NFL's greatest end through the 1930s. Hewitt had no equal as a pass rusher, tackler, receiver and blocker. Hall of Famer.
28. Joe Stydahar, T 9 (36-46)* 6 NA 3 Star on offense and defense on Bears championship teams of 1940, 1941 and 1946. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1967.
29. Wilber Marshall, LB 4 (84-87) 1 2 1 Gifted athlete was one of the best all-around LBs to play the game. ''A defensive coordinator's dream,'' teammate Shaun Gayle said.
30. Ed Healey, E 6 (22-27) 4 NA 0 One of the great two-way players of the '20s, George Halas called him ''the most versatile tackle of all-time.'' Hall of Fame in 1964.
31. Neal Anderson, RB 8 (86-93) 1 4 0 Successor to Walter Payton is No. 2 on the Bears' all-time rushing list in career yards (6,166) and TDs (51).
33. Olin Kreutz, C 12 (98-09) 2 6 0 Tough, durable Hawaiian is a six-time Pro Bowler who was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team. Has started 118 straight games.
33. Lance Briggs, LB 7 (93-09) 2 5 0 Great all-around LB who excelled with and without Urlacher. Three INT returns for TDs . First or second in tackles the last 6 years.
34. Otis Wilson, LB 8 (80-87) 1 1 1 Tremendous speed and zest for the game fueled the Bears' dominant defenses of the '80s. Had 11½ sacks in '85, plus 2 in SB XX.
35. Roosevelt Taylor, DB 9 (61-69) 3 2 1 Big-play safety set Bears record with nine INTs and 12 takeaways in 1963. Scored 6 TDs, including 96-yard INt return in 1968.
36. Gary Fencik, S 12 (76-87) 5 2 1 Yale grad from Barrington set Bears record with 38 interceptions and broke Butkus' mark for takeaways with 50.
37. Richie Petitbon, S 10 (59-68) 3 4 1 Set Bears record with 37 career INTs and 44 takeaways. End-zone pick clinched Bears' 1963 NFL championship game victory.
38. Ed Sprinkle, DE 12 (44-55) 5 4 1 Undersized pass-rusher was in a class with Trafton, Nagurski, Turner, Atkins and Butkus as one of the NFL's most feared players.
39. Jim McMahon, QB 7 (82-88) 0 1 1 Hard-nosed QB with lineman's mentality never played a full year, but was 49-17 as a starter -- 35-4 in the heart of the Ditka years.
40. Red Grange, RB/DB 7 (25-34)* 3 0 2 Despite reputation, Grange was more productive as a defender. Made game-saving tackle to clinch 1933 NFL championship.
41. Johnny Morris, WR 10 (58-67) 1 1 1 Set NFL record with 93 receptions in 1964. Retired as Bears' all-time leader in receptions (356) and yards (5,059).
42. Willie Galimore, RB 7 (57-63) 2 1 1 Dazzling, big-play RB with Sayers-like skills, Galimore scored on a 99-yard KO return, 84-yard catch and 77-yard run.
43. Doug Buffone, LB 14 (66-79) 0 0 0 Longtime defensive captain had eight years with 99 tackles or more. Had 18 sacks in 1968. His 24 INTs are the most by a Bears LB.
44. Wally Chambers, DT 5 (73-77) 3 3 0 Dominant pass rusher in his brief Bears career. NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1973. Had 11 sacks, 14 TFLs in 1975.
45. ''Link'' Lyman, T 7 (26-34)* 5 NA 1 A defensive star in the 1920s, Lyman is credited with pioneering the shifting pre-snap style of line play. Hall of Fame (1965).
46. Jim Osborne, DT 13 (72-84) 0 0 0 Seventh-round pick out of Southern in 1972, Osborne still is fourth on the Bears' all-time sacks list with 81½, 15 in 1976.
47. Mark Bortz, G 12 (83-94) 0 2 1 Unheralded member of the Bears' outstanding line during the Ditka year. Played in a team record 13 playoff games.
48. Ed O'Bradovich, DE 10 (62-71) 0 0 1 Underrated, relentless pass rusher had a knack for getting the QB. His INT set up the winning TD in the 1963 championship game.
49. Kevin Butler, PK 11 (85-95) 0 0 1 Set 19 team kicking records, including most 50-yard FGs with 16. Set NFL rookie scoring record with 144 points in 1985.
50. George Halas, E 10 (20-29) 1 NA 1 His 98-yard return of a Jim Thorpe fumble in 1923 was an NFL record that stood until 1972. NFL's All-Decade team for the 1920s.
* Years as a Bear were non-consecutive. First season and last season are listed.
The 50 best Bears of all time :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears 
though there are some players i feel are missing (Gould, McMichael, Tillman, Gault, George Blanda, THarris), i think the list is pretty well rounded
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