Gil Brandt is one of the few men who has been around the NFL since it went from secondary sport to national past time. His understanding of the game and the great players that have come and gone is almost unparalleled. So it’s always interesting to hear his thoughts on how the greatest of all-time was. He made his own rankings for the defensive end category. How did the Chicago Bears fare?
This franchise is known mostly for their work at linebacker, so the defensive line can be a bit of an interesting discussion. While they weren’t the team that had the greatest legacy on the list, Brandt certainly made sure they came well-represented. On a list that included 31 names, the Bears came away with three including one in the top five.
Can you guess who they were?
27. Bill Hewitt
Chicago Bears 1932-1936; Philadelphia Eagles 1937-1939; Steagles 1943
» Two-time NFL champion
» Votes First Team All-Pro six times
» Led NFL in receiving touchdowns in 1934
» NFL 1930s All-Decade Team member
» Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Hewitt will be a mystery to modern Bears fans. That’s only natural after seven decades since his retirement. Still, it’s important to remember the roots. He was one of the men who first made defense a thing in Chicago. This despite being a great offensive player as well. Football wasn’t nearly as specialized back then. He was a critical piece to helping them win back-to-back championships in 1932 and 1933.
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21. Richard Dent
Chicago Bears, 1983-1993, 1995; San Francisco 49ers, 1994; Indianapolis Colts, 1996; Philadelphia Eagles, 1997
» Two-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time
» 1985 NFL sacks leader
» Recorded 137.5 sacks (No. 9 on all-time list)
» Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Arguably the greatest draft steal in Bears history. Getting Richard Dent in the eighth round was utterly absurd. That’s the equivalent of finding a Julius Peppers in the sixth today. Almost impossible. Yet it happened in 1983 for Chicago and their defense reaped the rewards. It took what was already a good unit and made it one of the best ever.
The Bears defense of that time period still holds records for the most quarterback sacks and Dent was the one off the edge that offenses just couldn’t account for. His 1985 playoff run was one of the greatest ever by a defender in league history, culminating in a Super Bowl MVP award as he stampeded over the Patriots.
5. Doug Atkins
Cleveland Browns, 1953-1954; Chicago Bears, 1955-1966; New Orleans Saints1967-1969
» Two-time NFL champion
» Voted to eight Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times
» Played 17 NFL seasons
» NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
» Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
NFL Films had a brilliant description of Atkins during one of their shows a long time ago. “Doug Atkins was like a storm rolling through a Kansas farmhouse. He came from all directions, and the only thing to do was to tie down what you could and hope he didn’t take the roof.” Before the arrival of Dick Butkus, it was Atkins who may have been the most feared football player in history.
Also like Butkus, that reputation overshadowed just how dominant he was. The league wasn’t ready for a 6’9 defensive end who could play with a speed and athleticism of a linebacker. Offensive tackles feared him, hated him and couldn’t block him all at the same time. He was so well-respected that veterans of other teams told rookies to not, under any circumstance, cut block him on the knees for fear of their lives.
He helped the team to a championship in 1963 and even at 39-years old ended his career with a sack on the final play.
