100 best Chicago Bears players ever
One thousand, five hundred eighty-two players have played for the Chicago Bears during a regular-season NFL game, according to Pro Football Reference.
The Tribune ranked the best of them, the top 6.3% of the men who have suited up for the franchise since George Halas founded the Decatur Staleys in 1920.
The Bears’ tradition of great players is unsurpassed; their 28 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame are the most of any team. Hours went into deciding the rankings, with our Bears reporters and editors engaging in lively debate over the players’ placement.
No discussion took place for the top spot; everybody felt the same. One player was an easy choice for No. 1 over the other 1,581.
No. 1-10
No. 1: Walter Payton
No. 2: Dick Butkus
No. 3: Bronko Nagurski
No. 4: Gale Sayers
No. 5: Sid Luckman
No. 6: Bill George
No. 7: Bulldog Turner
No. 8: Doug Atkins
No. 9: Dan Hampton
No. 10: Brian Urlacher
No. 11-20
No. 11: Mike Ditka
No. 12: Mike Singletary
No. 13: Danny Fortmann
No. 14: Richard Dent
No. 15: Joe Stydahar
No. 16: George Connor
No. 17: Stan Jones
No. 18: Steve McMichael
No. 19: Devin Hester
No. 20: Red Grange
No. 21-30
No. 21: Jimbo Covert
No. 22: George McAfee
No. 23: Jay Hilgenberg
No. 24: Bill Hewitt
No. 25: George Halas
No. 26: Olin Kreutz
No. 27: Joe Fortunato
No. 28: George Trafton
No. 29: Lance Briggs
No. 30: Ed Healey
No. 31-40
No. 31: Link Lyman
No. 32: George Musso
No. 33: Ed Sprinkle
No. 34: Paddy Driscoll
No. 35: Harlon Hill
No. 36: Rick Casares
No. 37: Ken Kavanaugh
No. 38: Charles Tillman
No. 39: Gary Fencik
No. 40: Luke Johnsos
No. 41-50
No. 41: Richie Petitbon
No. 42: Ray Bray
No. 43: Rosey Taylor
No. 44: Johnny Morris
No. 45: Joe Kapcha
No. 46: Fred Williams
No. 47: Matt Forte
No. 48: Doug Buffone
No. 49: Dave Duerson
No. 50: Larry Morris
No. 51-60
No. 51: Dick Barwegan
No. 52: Wally Chambers
No. 53: Otis Wilson
No. 54: Wilber Marshall
No. 55: Dick Gordon
No. 56: Jim McMahon
No. 57: Neal Anderson
No. 58: Mike Brown
No. 59: Jim Osborne
No. 60: Willie Galimore
No. 61-70
No. 61: Mark Carrier
No. 62: Mark Bortz
No. 63: Julius Peppers
No. 64: J.C. Caroline
No. 65: Ed O’Bradovich
No. 66: Mike Pyle
No. 67: Mike Hartenstine
No. 68: Keith Van Horne
No. 69: Tommie Harris
No. 70: George Wilson
No. 71-80
No. 71: Jack Manders
No. 72: James “Big Cat” Williams
No. 73: Jim Dooley
No. 74: Robbie Gould
No. 75: Bennie McRae
No. 76: Johnny Lujack
No. 77: Bill Osmanski
No. 78: Jay Cutler
No. 79: Jim McMillen
No. 80: Khalil Mack
No. 81-90
No. 81: Eddie Jackson
No. 82: Doug Plank
No. 83: Zuck Carlson
No. 84: Bill Wade
No. 85: Kyle Long
No. 86: Brandon Marshall
No. 87: Les Artoe
No. 88: Alshon Jeffery
No. 89: Beattie Feathers
No. 90: Kevin Butler
No. 91-100
No. 91: Bill Karr
No. 92: Matt Suhey
No. 93: Ed Brown
No. 94: Gary Famiglietti
No. 95: Akiem Hicks
No. 96: Joey Sternaman
No. 97: Hugh Gallarneau
No. 98: Tom Thayer
No. 99: William Perry
No. 100: Patrick Mannelly
100 greatest moments in Chicago Bears history
Ninety-nine years. So much history. But before we look ahead, we look back.
At George Halas, the founder of the franchise. At eight NFL championships and one Super Bowl title. At Sid Luckman and Red Grange, Mike Ditka and Johnny Morris. The Bears selected two Hall of Famers — Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers — with consecutive first-round picks in the same draft. They drafted the Chicago Hope, Mitch Trubisky, years later. They beat the Giants 23-21 in their first championship game victory and the Patriots 46-10 in their last. In between was a 73-0 victory against the Redskins, Sayers’ six-touchdown game and Walter Payton’s sweetness. And don’t forget Devin Hester’s ridiculousness as a returner and Khalil Mack’s presence as an edge rusher. And so much more.