I'll be honest, some of these guys I never thought were very good. At best some were mediocre players. Yes, some were very good here (always liked watching George Blanda... but when he was a Raider). Are these really some of our best players in a 100-year history?
It will be interesting to see if George Halas makes the list, and if so, where on the list they place him. He was on the all-decade team of the NFL for the 1920's as a key player in the league. It must have been amazing for Papa Bear to go from being an outfielder for the New York Yankees, to being an NFL player, coach and owner - all three - in a short period of time. What an athlete, he played wide receiver on offense (played both ways O and D), defensive end on defense for the Bears. And he played at such a high level that he was voted to the NFL All-Decade Team (he is in the Hall of Fame, but I think that's for his entire contribution to the NFL and not just being a player).
I also find it amazing that he served in both World War I and also World War II, and earned the Bronze Star during WWII.
Here's the next 25 of the top 100. Papa Bear ended up as the 37th best Chicago Bear. He played DE and also WR. His playing days were from 1920-1929, the first 9 years of the franchise.
75 – DE Akiem Hicks 74 – G Kyle Long 73 – DT Tommie Harris 72 – S Mark Carrier 71 – K Kevin Butler 70 – RB Matt Suhey 69 – QB Bill Wade 68 – G Dick Barwegen 67 – DE Ed O’Bradovich 66 – DE Mike Hartenstine 65 – WR Dick Gordon 64 – T James Williams 63 – S Mike Brown 62 – K Robbie Gould 61 – HB Willie Galimore 60 – OLB Khalil Mack 59 – DE Julius Peppers 58 – DT Wally Chambers 57 – DT Jim Osborne 56 – DB Roosevelt Taylor 55 – QB Johnny Lujack 54 – QB/P Ed Brown 53 – QB Jim McMahon 52 – G Joe Kopcha 51 – T Keith Van Horne
50: Mark Bortz 49: Ray Bray 48: Fred Williams 47: Dave Duerson 46: Doug Buffone 45: Otis Wilson 44: Johnny Morris 43: Wilber Marshall 42: Richie Petitbon 41: Neal Anderson 40: Ken Kavanaugh 39: Harlon Hill 38: Link Lyman 37: George Halas 36: Red Grange 35: George Musso 34: Matt Forte 33: George Trafton 32: Paddy Driscoll 31: Charles Tillman 30: Gary Fencik 29: Rick Casares 28: Lance Briggs 27: Olin Kreutz 26: Ed Healy 25: Ed Sprinkle
