The Greatest Players in Chicago Bears History

The Chicago Bears are one of the most historic teams in NFL history because George Halas was one of the founding fathers. The Bears franchise has eight Championships and one Super Bowl victory in 1985. In this article, we will break down the top five greatest players in Chicago Bears history. Let’s dive in.

#5. Brian Urlacher, LB

Brian Urlacher was the face of the Chicago Bears franchise throughout the 2000s. The Bears drafted him ninth overall in the 2000 Draft out of New Mexico, where he mostly played safety.

Urlacher’s transition to middle linebacker was a breeze. His size, length and speed were the main reasons Urlacher had a seamless transition. He was taller than most linebackers, standing at 6’4”, which made him the prototypical linebacker with want in the Tampa 2 defense.

Urlacher played 12 seasons in the NFL, all of which were with the Bears. He won the NFL Rookie of the Year award, then won Defensive Player of the Year in 2005. He was voted a Second-Team All-Pro once and First-Team four times, while also going to the Pro Bowl eight times. Unfortunately for Urlacher, he was unable to win the only Super Bowl he ever participated in, in 2005.

#4. Mike Ditka, TE

Mike Ditka is one of the most famous figures around Chicago still to this day. Before leading the Bears to the only Super Bowl they have ever won in 1985 as a coach, he was a terrific player.

Most believe that Ditka transformed the tight end position on how it was played. Ditka played as he coached, a hard-nosed gritty type of player. But do not let that fool you, Ditka had terrific hands in the passing game as well. He was the first tight end to ever have over 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie in the NFL in just 14 games. The only other rookie tight end to ever do that was Kyle Pitts in 2021.

Ditka was an NFL champion with the Chicago Bears but also won Super Bowl VI with the Dallas Cowboys. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year, was a two-time First-team All-Pro, a three-time Second-Team All-Pro and a five-time Pro Bowler. Ditka has done so much for this franchise and remains a hero to Bears fans to this day.

#3. Dick Butkus, LB

All Chicago Bears fans would say that Dick Butkus is the greatest linebacker to ever play the game of football. He was drafted by Chicago in 1965 and quickly gained a reputation for being one of the nastiest and most feared players in the NFL.

Butkus burst onto the scene as a rookie, getting his hands on five interceptions while also recovering seven fumbles. However, that was just the beginning of a short nine-year NFL career, as he had to retire from the game at age 31 due to a knee injury.

By the time his career was over, Butkus won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award twice, was elected First-team All-Pro five times and Second-team twice, while also going to the Pro Bowl eight times. He accomplished so much without even playing a decade in the NFL because of injury.

#2. Gale Sayers, RB

Some would say that the Kansas Comet, Gale Sayers, was the most electric football player to ever grace the field. Before coming to the Bears, Sayers was one of the greatest college football running backs of all time, piling up 4,020 rushing yards while also being named an All-American twice.

His NFL career started out terrific as well, as he had 1,374 all-purpose yards. Not only did he have a ton of yards, Sayers also led the league in touchdowns that season with 22 total, which earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year. 

Sayers’ next four seasons were terrific, as he was named First-team All-Pro in each season. Sayers battled injuries throughout his career and a right knee injury forced him to miss the Bears’ final five games in 1968. The next year he came back and won Comeback Player of the Year after rushing for 1,032 yards.

Unfortunately for Sayers, a left knee injury would eventually end his career the following season. He was only able to play in four total games from the 1970-1971 season and was forced to retire at the age of 28. That did not stop him from leaving an amazing legacy on this Chicago Bears franchise, making him the number-two player on this list.

#1. Walter Payton, RB

The number one player on this list is none other than ‘Sweetness’ Walter Payton. If you ask any Chicago Bears fan who the best running back of all time was, they would not say Emmitt Smith, every answer would be Walter Payton. To be honest, they may be right.

Payton was an amazing player with his combination of size, strength, power and shiftiness as a running back. He could even throw the ball when he got the opportunity, throwing for eight touchdowns during his 13-year career. Payton truly could do it all on the offensive side of the football.

Not only is Payton known for being the player he was on the field but was an inspiration to many off the field as well. Payton won NFL MVP in 1977 while also winning the NFL Man of the Year award, which was later named the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

Walter Payton won the rushing title in 1977 while also leading the league in rushing touchdowns with 1,852 on 339 carries. Throughout his career, Payton was First-Team All-Pro five times and Second-team three times, while also being named to the Pro Bowl nine times. He was also named to the All-Decade teams in the 1970s and 1980s after retiring in 1987. There is no debate, Walter Payton is the greatest to have ever worn the blue and orange.