Top 10 Bears Players

Ok, so by now most of you know I have an Unhealthy love for the Chicago Bears, so I will list the Top 10 Bears Players. This Is a difficult list to assemble because, the bears are the oldest professional football team in the world. So there are a lot of players to get through.

Honorable Mention-George Halas, known more for his coaching and creation of the NFL, people forget he was defensive end and Wide reciever for the Bears and held the record for longest fumble return for a TD from 1923-1972. Papa Bear is only honorable mention as a player because he was a better coach, manager, and creator of NFL then a standout player.

10. Brian Urlacher MLB- He's still playing but Brian Urlacher is carrying on the tradition of great Middle line backers playing in the Windy City. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2000, and twice been defensive player of the year in 2001 and 2005. Led his team to Super Bowl XLI and is on the verge of 1,000 tackles in his career. This may or may not be enough for the Hall of Fame, but it's pretty damn good.

9. Mike Ditka TE-Iron Mike is remembered as a tough nose coach, the ying to buddy ryans yang on the bears of the 80's, and as the beloved focal point of an SNL skit. But as a player Mike Ditka was also fearsome. He helped pave the way for recieving tightends as he had 56 receptions in his rookie season earning him Rookie of the year honors. He won an NFL championship in 1963 and was a pro bowl selection every year he was a bear. He was the first tightend selected to the hall of fame in 1988. Next to Papa Bear Halas, DIT-KA is the most beloved coach in Bears history.

8. Bronko Nagurski RB/DT - Bronko Played Running back and defensive line for the bears from 1930 to 37. He was 6-2 and 230lbs. He would have dominated at any point in NFL history. He never had amazing stats (3,510 career rusing yards on 775 attempts and 25 tds) but the new dynamic he brought to the NFL was what made him great he was a big brusing back that ran over and through people rather than around them and is a fore father to the modern fullback position. He was also selected to the probowl as an offensive tackle, a defensive tackle, and running back. The only player to make a probowl at 3 positions. The award for best Defensive lineman in college is named after him. He was a charter member of the Hall of Fame in 1963.

7. Dan Hampton DE/DT- His stat aren't eye popping, he was never defensive player of the year, and he only one 1 championship, but there is one stat that truley shows how much of an impact "Danimal" had, in his 12 year tenure for the bears (79-90) the Bears defense ranked #1 allowing the fewest rushing yards, rushing tuchdowns, lowest total yards, fewest points, and registering the most sacks. He Made the hall of fame in 2002.

6. Sid Luckman QB- When you think bears the last thing you think of is QB. But the bears had Sidney Luckman in the 1940's and he helped revoulitonized the QB position. His numbers are what tell the tale. One MVP award, second higest yards per completion (8.4), 7 years he had the higest yards per completion in the NFL including 5 strait years from 39-43 which is the most in NFL history, Touchdown Percentage of 7.8 is highest in NFL history (including one season where it was 13.9), Tied for most TD passes in one game (7), led the league in passing yards 3 times, and one 4 NFL championships, including the 1940 championship where the final score was 73-0. Made the Hall of Fame in 1965.

5. Mike Singletary MLB- Mike Singletary could stare you into a tackle. Thats how intese he played. He finished his career with over 1,400 tackles and made the pro bowl 10 times. He won Defensive MVP twice in 85 and 88. Was a cornerstone of the 85 championship team and has a tie for a super bowl record with 2 fumble recoveries. he made the Hall of Fame in 1998.

4. Dick Butkus MLB- Butkus made the Middle line backer what it is today, the QB of the defense. He led the team in tackles, interceptions, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries his rookie season. He went to the probowl 8 times, and was one of the most feared players during his era and even appered on SI because of it. He also won 2 NFL defensive player of the year awards in 1969 and 1970 The award for best MLB in college is named after him. He made the Hall of Fame in 1979.

3. Gale Sayers RB/KR- The kansas comet entered the NFL with a splash, in his rookie year he had 22 TDs a record that stood until a few years ago (he played in 14 games). And Tied the record for TDs in a game with 6. He had a 5.2 yards per attemp rush average, 17.5 per reception, 14.9 per punt return and 31.4 per kick return. He was just as electrifying the rest of his career but injuries hampered his production, he still holds several records like higest kick return average in NFL histor with 30.52 and most kickoff return TDs with 6, also he still holds the highest TDs in a rookie season with 22. He was selected to 4 probowls and won pro bowl mvp 3 times. He made the hall of fame in 1977.

2. Red Grange RB/DB- Red Grange doesn't have nearly the stats as anyother offensive player here. He is here for one important reason, he may be one of the reasons we still have pro football today. Grange was a highly popular athlete in college, when college football was still way more popular then pro. With the most popular athlete in football going to the NFL his fans followed helping to make the NFL legit. In his 10 year career he scored 32 tds, amassed 569 rush yards and 288 recieving yards. He was a charter Hall of Fame member in 1963.

1. Walter Payton RB- Sweetness is considered by many to be the greatest RB in the History of the NFL, and if he isn't number 1 on someone's list he's no lower than 2nd. The most important stat is when Payton retired in 1987 he had the career rushing record with 16,726 yards. He made 9 probowls winning pro bowl mvp in his first. He earned MVP honors in 1977. He finished with 110 rushing TD's (still ranked third all time) and 15 more recieving TDs. He was also extremly durable as he still holds the Bears Record for consecutive games played with 186, he only missed one game in 13 seasons, in his rookie year. He has two awards named after him, The Walter Payton Award is given to the Best FCS (I-AA) offensive player. And The Walter Payton Man of the Year award is given to the NFL player with outstanding community service achievment in a season. Walter Payton was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.