Chicago Bears Dream Team

As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of

the game being in constant change, conventional wisdom

suggests that players from different eras cannot be compared.

However, I have decided to defy that notion. 

Considering that the Chicago Bears’ greatness spans multiple

generations, the task becomes even more challenging. Today,

I have taken on the daunting task of compiling an All-Time Bears

team. When it comes to tradition and success, the Bears have a

compelling legacy. The modern day fans point to the dominance

of the 1985 Super Bowl winning team that made mincemeat of its

foes. There also had years in the Super Bowl era that were

wretched. Before the Super Bowl era, the Bears had isolated times

of dominance, winning eight NFL championships, including three

in the 1940s.

There are some rigid criteria in making this team. The player needed

to have played at least four seasons as a Bear. Since the free agency

era began 30 years ago, that standard needs to be in place. Two-

year rentals don’t make this list. Being in the Hall of Fame is the f

irst consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The number

of All-Pro seasons are a top consideration with longevity also

helping immensely. While I understand it is hard to compare eras,

I’m not going to convolute this discussion. 

Generational reminders

All eras matter. Though the Bears did a lot of winning before the

Super Bowl era, being on one of those teams is not a hall pass for

this list. Also, while the 1985 team remains legendary, being on that

team does not guarantee a spot on this team. Winning or losing eras,

all high-level performers get considered. 

To further the challenge, we are constructing the roster in two-deep

format, which means some worthy players get left off the list. So,

before you make a case to put someone on the list, ask yourself,

“Who do I take off the list at that position?”  

OFFENSE

QB -- First team: Sid Luckman. Honorable mention: Jim McMahon.

Luckman, who is in the Hall of Fame, is the standard by which

Bears quarterbacks are measured. Luckman was the franchise

leader in most every passing category until Jay Cutler broke them.

Luckman led the Bears to four NFL titles. The five-time All Pro and

1943 NFL MVP is still the best signal-caller in franchise history.

McMahon, who was nicknamed the “Punky QB,” does not have

the stats that Cutler possesses but his impact on the Bears is

underrated. McMahon’s numbers were not fantasy football like but

he was more than just a caretaker. Cutler has gaudy stats but the

eyeball test reads empty contributions. 

RB -- First team: Walter Payton, Gale Sayers. Honorable mention:

Matt Forte, Red Grange. 

Regardless of position, no one defined the Bears franchise more

than Payton. He was the NFL’s all-time leading rusher at the time

of his retirement until Dallas’ Emmitt Smith surpassed the mark in

2000. Payton, who was a seven All-Pro, had 77 games of at least

100 yards. He saw many franchise peaks and valleys but the

never-say-die mindset defined him. With Sayers, there is a sense

of “what might have been” because a knee injury curtailed his

career to seven seasons. However, he accomplished a lot in a

short time on the way to the Hall of Fame, five All Pro seasons.

Until Forte arrived in 2008, the Bears had a drought when it came

to running back greatness. Though he only earned Pro Bowl

honors twice, Forte is the second-leading rusher in franchise

history with 8,602 yards. He also caught 437 passes and was the

hub of the wheel for the Bears offense. Grange played from 1925-

1934 and the Hall of Famer remains one of the most recognizable

names in NFL and franchise history. Grange was nicknamed “The

Galloping Ghost” and was a two-time All Pro and member of two

NFL champions. 

FB -- First team: Bronco Nagurski. Honorable mention: Rick

Casares.

Whether at fullback or linebacker, the Hall of Famer Nagurski

defined Bears football for generations: tough and no-nonsense.

The Bears, however, have an embarrassment of riches at

linebacker and this team needs a fullback. Enter Nagurski, one

of the best Bears in franchise history regardless of position.

Casares played from 1955-1964 and remains the franchise’s

fourth leading rusher. The four-time All Pro played for the Bears

1963 NFL championship team. 

WR -- First team: Ken Kavanaugh, Harlon Hill. Honorable

mention: Johnny Morris, Dick Gordon.

Kavanaugh had two stints with the Bears due to serving the

United States in World War II. Nonetheless, he enjoyed a Hall

of Fame career, was a three-time All Pro and member of three

NFL championship teams. He remains the franchise’s all-time

leader in touchdown receptions with 50. Hill was one of the most

preeminent receivers in franchise history, leading the NFL in

touchdown receptions on two occasions and is second in

franchise history with 40 behind Kavanaugh. He is also second

in receiving yardage. Morris played from 1958-1967 but still leads

the franchise in receiving yardage with 5,059. He also ranks third

in receptions with 356. Morris was an All Pro in 1964 and member

of the 1963 NFL championship team. Gordon was a dangerous

deep threat, averaging 15 yards per catch as a Bear from 1965-

1971. Gordon, who was a two-time Pro Bowler, had his finest

hour in 1970 when he led the NFL with 71 receptions. 

TE -- First team: Mike Ditka. Honorable mention: Bill Hewitt.

Though Ditka played for two other teams (Dallas and Philadelphia),

his biggest mark came as a Bear. Inducted into the Hall of Fame,

Ditka epitomized the toughness that defined the Bears. In five

years as a Bear, he caught 316 passes for 4,503 and 34

touchdowns, making many defenders hurt in the process. Like

Ditka, Hewitt also earned Hall of Fame status. Hewitt was an

ironman by definition in his nine-year career, 1932-1936 for the

Bears. During which time he contributed mightily to two NFL
championships.  

OT -- First team: Jim Covert, Joe Stydahar. Honorable mention:

Link Lyman, Ed Healy.

Covert will be enshrined into the Hall of Fame this summer. There

was not a better tackle in franchise history. Covert was a stalwart

for nine seasons, earning All Pro status in 1985 and 1986, the

former of which the Bears won the Super Bowl. Stydahar was the

first Bear in franchise history that was a first-round draft pick and

he lived up to the advanced billing on the way to a Hall of Fame

career. Stydahar was a four-time first-team All Pro and played for

three NFL champions. Healey played just five seasons with the

Bears (1923-1927) but was All Pro in each season, impressive

in any era. Though Lyman played both offense and defense, he

was most impactful as an offensive tackle, Lyman was a five-time

first-team All Pro, a Hall of Fame inductee and member of four

NFL champions. 

OG -- First team: Danny Fortmann, Stan Jones. Honorable

mention: George Musso, Ray Bray.

In eight seasons (1936-1943), Fortmann was an intelligent player

and six-time All Pro. Fortmann was a big reason the Bears won

three NFL titles in his playing career, which led to a Hall of Fame

induction. Jones played both defensive and offensive tackle but

was most impactful as a guard on the way to a Hall of Fame

career. Jones was a seven-time Pro Bowler, three-time All Pro

and missed just two games in his 11 seasons. Musso, who

played from 1933-1944, enjoyed an excellent career with the

Bears. Musso was known as one of the best pulling guards of

his generation. Musso was a four-time Pro Bowler and is in the

Hall of Fame. Though his name had a nice rhyme, Bray had a

nasty streak and made his hatred of the rival Green Bay Packers

no secret. Bray was a Pro Bowler four times in ten seasons. 

C -- First team: Clyde Turner. Honorable mention: Jay

Hilgenberg.

Turner was a two-way player from 1940-1952. He excelled at

linebacker and was considered one of the best centers of his

generation. Turner was an eight-time All Pro. There are very

few Bears in franchise history more underappreciated than

Hilgenberg. Though he lacks a Hall of Fame resume, he was

consistent and reliable in his 11 years as a Bear, during which

time he made seven Pro Bowls. 

DEFENSE

DE -- First team:  Richard Dent, Doug Atklins. Honorable

mention: Ed Sprinkle, Mike Hartenstine. 

Dent was one of the most prolific pass-rushers in NFL history

with 137.5 career sacks on the way to a Hall of Fame career.

In 11 seasons as a Bear, Dent was All Pro four times and Pro

Bowl participant four more. Atkins was a giant at 6-foot-8 and

his performance towered over his opponents. In 11 seasons

as a Bear, he was a Pro Bowler eight times and an All Pro four

times. He was a member of the Bears 1963 NFL championship

team. Atkins was the leader for a punishing defense. Sprinkle

was nicknamed “The Claw” and played with a mean streak.

Sprinkle’s clothesline tackle with a forearm wouldn’t fly in today’s

game but he was a four-time All Pro and Hall of Famer who

George Halas considered the best pass rusher he had ever

seen. Though Hartenstine lost his job to William “The Refrigerator”

Perry, he enjoyed a productive career without Pro Bowl

accolades. Hartenstine started 179 consecutive games, which

is amazing for a defensive lineman. He recorded 12 sacks in

1983, the second year the statistic became official.

DT -- First team: Dan Hampton, Steve McMichael. Honorable

mention: Fred Williams, Jim Osborne. 

Hampton and McMichael are in select company if not at the top

when it comes to interior defensive line tandems. Hampton, who

is a Hall of Famer, had a deadly combination of speed and power.

He was a four-time All Pro and four-time Pro Bowl in 12 seasons.

McMichael was a similar nightmare for opposing offensive lines.

The two-time All Pro recorded 92.5 career sacks and was a force

against the run. Williams was nicknamed “Fat Freddy” and given

his ability to rotate between defensive end and tackle, which would

be quite applicable in the modern game. Williams was a four-time

Pro Bowler and member of the 1963 NFL championship team.

Osborne retired in 1984, one year short of the Bears Super Bowl

winning team. Osborne was an underrated player primarily

because of the supporting cast around him. Osborne started 154

career games and recorded 15 unofficial sacks. 

OLB -- First team: Lance Briggs, George Connor. Honorable

mention: Joe Fortunato, Otis Wilson, Wilber Marshall.

Because the Bears are so rich in history, we make an exception

and put five players here with Briggs being the crem de la crem.

There was nothing Briggs could not do whether it was being

physical against the run or athletic in coverage. Briggs was a

seven-time Pro Bowler and formed a great Tanto/LLone Ranger

tandem with Brian Urlacher. Connor was incredibly versatile as a

two-way playing on the way to a Hall of Fame career playing

offensive tackle, defensive tackle and linebacker. Connor was a

five-time All Pro and one of the first linebackers to be both big

and mobile. Fortunato enjoyed a stellar 12-year career with the

Bears on the way to a Hall of Fame career. He started 153

games of a possible 155 and was a three-time All Pro. Wilson

was an overshadowed member of the 1980s Bears defenses

but no less valuable. Wilson, Marshall and Singletary were one

of the best linebacking corps in NFL history. Wilson was an All

Pro twice in seven years with the Bears. You could make the

argument that Marshall made an even bigger impact as a

Washington Redskin but even though he was a Bear for only

four years, his impact was still enormous as he was a vital cog

in the 1980s, specifically 1985. 

ILB -- First team: Dick Butkus, Brian Urlacher. Honorable

mention: Mike Singletary, Bill George.

This group is so deep that Mike Singletary is an honorable

mention. While Butkus set the bar high for linebacker play, he

was one of the best defensive players in NFL history regardless

of position. Hall of Fame career with eight of nine seasons being

All-Pro, say no more. Despite the Bears lack of team success

(just one winning season in nine), Butkus was a first-ballot Hall-

of-Famer and one of the best all around defensive players in

NFL history. Urlacher, like Butkus, is a first ballot Hall-of-Famer.

Urlacher edged out Singletary by a nose for first-team. He was

a gifted athlete against both the run and pass. Urlacher was

an eight-time Pro Bowler and four-time All Pro. Singletary was

the heart and soul of the 1985 Super Bowl Champions. In 12

seasons, Singletary was a Pro Bowler 10 times and All Pro eight

times. His forceful leadership, however, defined his career.

George is the least heralded of the foursome but eight All Pro

seasons in a 14-year span is no less impressive. George, who

is also in the Hall of Fame, recovered 19 fumbles and

intercepted 18 passes in his career.

CB -- First team: Charles Tillman, J.C. Caroline. Honorable

mention: Bennie McRae, Allan Ellis. 

The Bears don’t have a heralded tradition at this spot but Tillman

is the best of the bunch. Though Tillman was only a two-time

Pro Bowler in 12 seasons, he had 44 forced fumbles, 38

interceptions and nine defensive touchdowns. Caroline played

10 years as a Bear and though he had just one Pro Bowl, he

intercepted 24 passes in his career. Caroline intercepted

Johnny Unitis’ first career pass and returned it for a touchdown.

McRae played nine of his 10 seasons as a Bear and started

112 of a possible 125 games. McRae did not have any Pro

Bowl accolades but was a pivotal piece in the team’s 1963

NFL championship team. Ellis played eight of his nine NFL

seasons for the Bears (1973-1980). He was a Pro Bowler in

1977, recording 24 career interceptions, 12 between the years

of 1976 and 1977. 

S -- First team: Mike Brown, Gary Fencik. Honorable mention:

Richie Petitbon, Dave Duerson.

Brown may lack an enormous Pro Bowl resume, just two in his

nine seasons, mainly playing in the shadow of Briggs and

Urlacher. Brown, however, was an outstanding defender with

17 career interceptions and was a punishing hitter. Fencik

remains the franchise’s all-time leader with 38 interceptions. He

started 140 games and also recovered 13 fumbles. Fencik was

a three-time All Pro, two-time Pro Bowler and captain for the

1985 Super Bowl winning team. Petitbon enjoyed a prolific 10-

year career. His 37 interceptions were the franchise high until

Fencik broke it in 1986. Petitbon was a four-time Pro Bowler.

His game-ending interception of Y.A. Tittle in the 1963 NFL

championship game lives in Bears’ lore. The late Duerson was

a Bear for seven years and formed a formidable safety tandem

with Fencik as a member of the 1985 Super Bowl winners.

Duerson was a Pro Bowler on four occasions. 

SPECIAL TEAMS

K -- First team: Robbie Gould. Honorable mention: Paddy

Driscoll.

Gould is currently a San Francisco 49er but is the best kicker in

franchise history and it’s not even close. Gould played 11 seasons

for the Bears. He was an All Pro in 2006 and was enormously

accurate in connecting on 85% of his 323 field goal attempts as

a Bear. Driscoll wore many hats for the Bears for George Halas:

running back, quarterback and kicker. He belongs on this team

somewhere. 

P -- First team: Bobby Joe Green. Honorable mention: Todd

Sauerbrun. 

Longevity and excellence over a long period of time earn Green

a spot on this team. Green had just one Pro Bowl season (1970)

in 12 campaigns as a Bear but averaged an impressive 42.1

yards per punt. He was a member of the Bears 1963 NFL

championship team. The Bears took Sauerbrun in the second-

round of the 1995 draft. He had an All Pro season in 1996 and

career 44.1 yard average per punt. 

RET -- First team: Devin Hester. Honorable mention: George

McAfee.

Hester being first-team should not even be open for debate

because it could be stated that he is the best return specialist in

NFL history. Other than Payton and Sayers, have the Bears

ever had a bigger explosive play athlete in franchise history?

No. Being a return specialist will hurt his chances for the Hall

of Fame but the three-time All Pro has 10 NFL records and 21

franchise marks. McAfee was a multi-faceted player as a

running back, defensive back and returner. The Hall of Famer

belongs somewhere on this team. McAfee had two stints due

to fighting in World War II. He still holds the NFL record for career

punt return average. 

Special category -- Doug Plank. He wore No. 46 and will forever

be linked to defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan’s 46 Defense.

Plank was a ferocious hitter and symbolized the toughness and

grit that defined the 1980s Bears. 

Head coach -- First team: George Halas. Known as “Papa Bear”

was the Chicago Bears. Halas played receiver, handled ticket

sales and coached the Bears from 1920-1967. He remains the

all time leader in coaching victories (324) and led the Bears to

six NFL titles. He also served as the principal owner and hired

Mike Ditka to lead the franchise back to relevance. Honorable

mention: Mike Ditka. He has an interesting legacy in that he

was a huge reason the Bears won the 1985 Super Bowl but was

impulsive and governed a lot by emotion, thus a reason they

did not win more titles. Nonetheless, Ditka took over the Bears

when they were irrelevant and made them significant. 

Team -- 1985. Many people consider this team to be the best in

NFL history. While that term can be full of conjecture, they are in

select company nonetheless. On the defensive side, this may

be the best single-season in NFL history. The defense led the

league in points allowed (198), yards allowed (4,135) and

takeaways (54), a feat that wouldn’t be accomplished again

until the 2013 Seattle Seahawks.