To Honor Vince Tobin, Here Are Other Forgotten Bears Legends

The Chicago Bears lost one of their forgotten legends this past week when Vince Tobin passed away at the age of 79. He had the dubious task of replacing Buddy Ryan as defensive coordinator a year after the team had won the Super Bowl. Ryan became head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. Tobin understood the weight being hoisted on his shoulder and exceeded expectations. His 1986 defense allowed the fewest points of the 16-game era until the 2000 Ravens finally broke it 14 years later. Five of his first six seasons in Chicago saw the team finish with a top 10 unit.

He deserved more love for what he accomplished. Sadly, Tobin never escaped the shadow Ryan left behind because he failed to win a Super Bowl. That wasn’t his fault, but it’s the reality of sports. That led me to an interesting idea. Who are other Bears legends that deserve more notoriety and respect than they’ve gotten over the years? Here are some names you should look up.

Vince Tobin isn’t the only underappreciated Bears great.

George McAfee

Only diehard fans have intimate knowledge of the dynasty Bears teams. Everybody knows the names brought up the most from that era: Sid Luckman, Bulldog Turner, Joe Stydahar, and Hugh Gallarneau. It’s amazing how often McAfee gets overlooked, considering he’s in the Hall of Fame. He ranks 7th in franchise history with 25 interceptions and second in punt return yards with 1,431. If that weren’t enough, he also amassed over 3,000 yards of total offense and 32 touchdowns. The man was a three-phase star who was decades ahead of his time.

Jim Osborne

When people talk about the greatest defensive linemen in Bears history, nobody mentions Osborne. It’s always Dan Hampton, Steve McMichael, Doug Atkins, or Richard Dent. That is the consequence of playing most of your career in the 1970s. Osborne’s greatness was overshadowed by playing on some truly awful teams. Analysts went back to 1960 and tracked every sack made by players before the stat became official in 1982. Osborne finished his career with 81. Yet he never made a single Pro Bowl. The worst part is he retired right before the 1985 season.

Dick Stanfel

People talk about Vince Tobin, at least because he replaced Buddy Ryan. Absolutely no one remembers Stanfel. They should. After all, he was the architect of the greatest offensive line in franchise history. Jimbo Covert is in the Hall of Fame because of him. Jay Hilgenberg and Mark Bortz were Pro Bowlers under his watch. Chicago had one of the greatest running games in NFL history during the 1980s, and Stanfel guided the way. It’s sad offensive line coaches didn’t start getting proper recognition until the past decade. If they did back then, he might be the first-ever person to make the Hall of Fame as a player and a coach.

Dennis McKinnon

People often get too lost in the pure stats and fail to recognize the real impact of a player. McKinnon is a perfect example. His numbers as a receiver were never huge, but he made the most of his opportunities. Every time the Bears needed a clutch play, it felt like he was the one making it. Go watch his games against the Giants in the 1985 postseason and the Eagles in the 1988 postseason for reminders. If that weren’t enough, he is also third in punt return yards in team history with 1,171 yards. The fact he had to retire before turning 30 because of injuries was a tragedy.

Donnell Woolford

Talk about bad timing. If Woolford had arrived in Chicago a few years earlier or a few years later, he would be far more remembered than he is now. Yet playing the majority of his years in the 1990s, a down period for the franchise, forced him into obscurity. Few realize he is 4th in team history with 32 interceptions. That includes five in 1994, many of which proved vital to their playoff push. He had four in only nine games in 1995 and six in 1996. Woolford was another player that saw his career destroyed by a devastating injury at only 31 years old. He deserved far more than that.