Let the arguing begin! Dan Pompei and his partner concluded the Top 100 Chicago Bears of all-time list with 25-1. Is there controversy? Of course, there is. It starts with Brian Urlacher, easily the greatest on this side of the new millennium, managing to make it only to #14. One spot ahead of Mike Singletary. Another surprise is Jimbo Covert being #13.
While there is no question the man was a dominant left tackle for a considerable period in the 1980s, his career was cut short by injuries. The big moment though was figuring out who cracked the top five. To the surprise of nobody, Walter Payton claimed the honor of being the best ever. It was a choice that was obvious.
Right behind him at #2? Legendary linebacker Dick Butkus. Probably the most feared football player in NFL history. A fitting spot for him and a reminder of how great he was despite playing on bad football teams. At #3 they went with the original bruiser Bronco Nagurski and Hall of Fame QB Sid Luckman at #4.
The real controversy though was who sat at #5.
Subscribe to the BFR podcast and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Gale Sayers is a big sticking point of top 100 Chicago Bears
Having Gale Sayers at #5 is not going to be met with universal praise. The man only played 68 games in his NFL career. There is no question that for the first four years he was unlike anything the league had seen before. A rare mix of size, quickness, and blazing speed. A man who literally needed just 18 inches of daylight to take it to the house.
However, the remainder of his career was marred by knee injuries that sapped his talent until he was just another ordinary running back. He played only four games in his final two seasons. To put him ahead of Mike Ditka (#6) who only missed 11 games in 12 years? That feels like a bit of favoritism for what Sayers should’ve been rather than what he was.
