It’s ironic that this list is being unveiled on a “Throwback Thursday”. My original intention was to reveal these 10 players to my listening audience on “BEAR Naked Truth” the night before. Sometimes the cards just fall into place perfectly. This is not a disclaimer of any sort but merely a reminder that I can remember watching and cheering for the Chicago Bears back as far as 1979 (at the age of 5). With that revelation, keep in mind that the players listed are simply my Top 10 that I had the privilege of watching play LIVE. There will be some that may only agree with half of my list and some that may agree with an even lesser number and I’m okay with that. That’s the beauty of it being MY list. Feel free to share your opinions, either way, just keep in mind we may have come up in different eras and maybe didn’t see the same players at the same time. I was very excited about putting this list together and by NO means is a list of my All-Time Greatest Chicago Bears. This is simply my Top 10 favorite BEARS to watch since 1979. I just wanted to say that again.
# 10 arrived in 1982 as a 4th round Draft pick out of Baylor University. He was a diminutive running back (5’8″ 181 pounds) that ended up playing some wide receiver as well. Though his numbers never “dazzled” you, he was a workhorse that always seemed to make plays either running with or catching the football. He was most noted for his kick return ability and led the NFL with a robust 28.8 yards per return average in 1986. He was Percy Harvin (minus the migraines) before Percy Harvin and if you ever used the BEARS on “Tecmo Bowl” for Nintendo you’ve probably returned a kickoff or two for a touchdown with him. He is Dennis Gentry …
# 9 took the league by storm, right out of the gate, returning a punt for a touchdown in his first NFL game. He arrived with a lot of promise out of the University of Miami as a 2nd round pick in 2006. He would go on a kick return onslaught unlike any the NFL has ever seen. He’s led the league in punt returns for touchdowns three different times and was the first player ever to return the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the Super Bowl. The Bears are hoping he can return to the All-Pro return man he’s been three times in his career already and is MUST see TV when the opposition kicks him the ball. He is the All-Time Leader in punt returns for touchdowns with 12 and is a 3x Pro-Bowler and NFL All-Pro returner. He is the electrifying “Windy City Flyer” Devin Hester …
# 8 is one of my favorite Bear players of All-Time and was robbed of a longer NFL career because of various injuries. There was no question that this hard hitting safety would fit in right away as a 2nd round pick out of Nebraska in 2000. This guy was an absolute play-maker that not only had a nose for the football (20 career interceptions) but also a nose for the end zone (with 7 career defensive touchdowns). He is remembered for having back to back games with “walk off” pick sixes and always seemed to make a BIG play for the Bear’s defense every time he got his hands on the football. I wish he could have retired a Chicago Bear .He is ball hawking safety Mike Brown …
# 7 is one of the more under rated players in Bear’s history, to me. He wasn’t a very popular 1st round pick out of the University of Florida in 1986. Looked to be the “heir apparent” to the legendary Walter Payton, this running back would quickly make a name for himself earning 4 consecutive trips to the Pro-Bowl from 1988 to 1991. He literally was the Chicago Bear’s offense and was fluid with the ball as a rusher and a receiver out of the backfield. His retirement at the age of only 29 surprised all Bear fans and even though he only played eight seasons he’s still regarded as one of the best to play the position for the Orange and Navy. He is Neal Anderson …
# 6 was a rare combination of speed, size and athleticism for his position and would solidify his position amongst the greats when his playing days were done. You weren’t really sure what to do with him on defense but you knew he was going to be on the field and making plays. He might’ve been the LeBron James of middle linebackers combining the size of a defensive end with the speed of a safety. His ability to cover large amounts of space in short amounts of time helped him put in 13 solid years for the Monsters of the Midway. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2000, as a 1st round pick out of the University of New Mexico, Defensive Player of the year in 2005 and finished his career as an 8x Pro Bowler and 4x NFL 1st team All-Pro. He is Brian Urlacher …
# 5 was one of the most popular players of his era and one of the toughest cats to play his position. He was known as much for his off the field antics and rock star image as his ability to win ballgames. He arrived in Chicago as the 5th overall player selected in the 1st round of the 1982 draft out of BYU and went 46-15 as a starting quarterback for the Bears. It wasn’t always pretty but Bear fans always appreciated his toughness and he will always be celebrated as Chi-Town’s “Punky QB” and Super Bowl Champion. His rebel image earned him tons of endorsements as he was fun to watch and a true leader of his troops. He undoubtedly is responsible for half of the grey hairs in Coach Mike Ditka’s head. He is the one and only Jim McMahon …
# 4 was an absolute wrecking ball in shoulder pads and one of the hardest hitters I’ve ever seen. He was originally drafted in the 10th round of the 1976 draft by the Miami Dolphins as a wide receiver out of Yale and later cut. He was picked up by the Bears that same season and would be the team’s starting strong safety the following season. He would go on an 11 year reign of terror against ball carriers and receivers alike and his bone crushing hits landed him on many a highlight tape (back when the NFL glorified the violent nature of it’s sport). He made his 2nd consecutive Pro-Bowl in 1981 and was voted 1st Team All-Pro after picking off 6 passes. He would snag 38 picks for his career and truly lived up to his well earned nickname “The Hit Man”. He is “Mr. Clean” Gary Fencik …
# 3 was just an absolute terror and had to give left tackles nightmares the night before games. Many, at the time, didn’t know what to make of the lanky 8th round draft pick in the 1983 draft out of Tennessee State. He would show the league he meant business in just his second year racking up 17.5 sacks in 16 games (only 10 starts). He made his 1st Pro-Bowl in 1984 and followed that season up in 1985 with 17 more sacks (to lead the league) and earn his 2nd consecutive trip to Honolulu and 1st Team All-Pro. He was an absolute menace that disrupted the rival’s passing attack with his fierce pass rush off the edge and would quickly become one of the anchors on the great Bear’s defenses of the 80s. He’d top the 1985 season off with a Super Bowl MVP trophy and notched 124.5 sacks in 170 games with the Bears. He is none other than the “Sack Man” Richard Dent …
# 2 arrived in Chicago as a slow, undersized middle linebacker out of Baylor drafted in the 2nd round. He would play with an undeniable chip on his shoulder for his entire career and he used it to knock the blocks off the competition. He would become one of the most feared and respected players of his generation and his intensity was a lightening rod for the defenses he captained. His intense looks would pierce the souls of quarterbacks and running backs alike and became a trade mark of his intimidation just as much as his ferocious hits. He would carry the torch of legendary middle linebacker play in Chicago earning 2 Defensive Player of the Year Awards (in 1985 and 1988), 10 consecutive trips to the Pro-Bowl and named 1st Team All-Pro seven times. He was the undisputed leader of one of the fiercest defenses the NFL has ever seen and his career is rivaled by few. I had a chance to meet him at a Revie Sorey Football Camp as a youth and he was as mild mannered and humble as one could be. He spoke to our group and had a bunch of 12 to 14 year olds ready to run through walls. I was amazed at the meekness of this man with broad shoulders and the big glasses that made him look like he and Harry Carey had the same optometrist. Surely this wasn’t the same mad man I saw “jaw jacking” and knocking guys out on Sundays and Mondays ? He is one of the most menacing defensive presences I’ve ever witnessed. He is Mike Singletary …
# 1 was not only the my most exciting Bear to watch he was my favorite player of All-Time period. He arrived in Chicago as the 4th overall pick in the 1st round of the 1975 draft and would carry this team for 13 years, mostly through lean times. He was the consummate “work horse” at running back leading the NFL in rushing attempts 4 consecutive years for 1976 to 1979. He led the NFL in rushing yards in 1977 with an incredible 1,852 yards and rushing touchdowns with 14 in just 14 games. He averaged a ridiculous 132.3 rushing yards a game that season earning his 2nd of what would be 9 Pro Bowl appearances, 1st of 2 NFL MVP Awards and 2nd of 5 First Team All-Pro honors he would receive in his illustrious career. He amazingly only missed one game in his career, despite being one of the most physical runners in the history of the NFL. His willingness to not go out of bounds without hitting defenders and his notorious stiff arms on would be tacklers were as famous as his “high step” en route to the end zone. He retired as the All-Time leading rusher in 1987 after amassing 16,726 yards and rushing for 110 career touchdowns. He also has 492 career receptions to his credit. He was one of the most complete football players of his generation and was as accomplished a blocker as he was a runner and receiver. He’s even thrown 8 touchdown passes in his career making the halfback pass a very dangerous option in the Bear’s playbook back then. He is simply the Gr34test of All-Time, in my book. The man, the myth, the legend. He is Walter Payton …
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