List of Chicago Bears players

The following are lists of past and current players of the Chicago Bears professional American football team.

Historic teams

Partial inaugural (1919) roster

The following is a partial roster for the 1919 season, when the team was known as the Decatur Staleys.

Name Position Notes
Roy S. "Bement" Adkins G
(?) Bailey E
Robert E. "Red" Brannan E/Coach
(John W.)? Brant HB
Perry Brecount QB
(?) Casey HB
Frank Manley Chase G
"Joe" Cooper E
Robert L. "Bob" Crisp G
(?) Dancliff C
Chuck Dressen QB-HB
(Edward G.)? Eckhoff E
(?) Gammel G
Sidney "Sunshine" Gepford HB-FB
Henry J. Halterman G
"Charlie" Koehler T
William Lutz Krigbaum G-FB Colonel U.S. Army
Ralph L. "Jake" Lanum HB-FB
Chester A. "Baldy" May G
Walter O. "Red" May T
(?) McGrath C
(?) McElvey HB
John F. "Jack" Mintun C
George H. Moffett T
"Bun" Moran G
(?) Pyrzynski HB-FB
C. Lawrence Thrift FB-E
(Willard C.)? Valentine E
W. Walter Veach HB
A. Wade Wacaser T
(?) Wagner E
Paul C. Wilson E Methodist Minister Rev. Paul C. Wilson
Fred P. "Fritz" Wasem E/Manager
Ray C. "Buster" Woodworth E
Lester "Lefty" Wallack

Super Bowl rosters

The following lists are lists of the Bears Super Bowl teams.

Super Bowl XX championship roster

Complete roster of 1985 season (January 26, 1986)[1]

Quarterbacks

  • 9 Jim McMahon
  • 4 Steve Fuller
  • 18 Mike Tomczak

Offensive backs

  • 34 Walter Payton RB
  • 26 Matt Suhey FB
  • 20 Thomas Sanders RB
  • 29 Dennis Gentry RB
  • 33 Calvin Thomas RB

Receivers

  • 83 Willie Gault
  • 85 Dennis McKinnon
  • 81 James Maness
  • 82 Ken Margerum
  • 86 Brad Anderson
  • 89 Keith Ortego

Tight ends

  • 87 Emery Moorehead
  • 80 Tim Wrightman
 

Kickers

  • 6 Kevin Butler K
  • 8 Maury Buford P

Offensive line

Defensive line

 

Linebackers

Cornerbacks

Defensive backs

Safeties

Super Bowl XLI runner-up roster

(as of 1/2/2007)

Quarterbacks

Offensive backs

Receivers

Tight ends

Kickers

 

Offensive line

Defensive line

 

Linebackers

Cornerbacks

Safeties

 

Practice squad

Current roster

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Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams


Rookies in italics

Roster updated May 21, 2024

  • Depth chart
  • Transactions

85 active, 2 unsigned

AFC rostersNFC rosters

First-round draft picks

The following list is of the Bears first-round draft picks since 1936.[2]

Pro Football Hall of Famers

Walter Payton set several franchise and NFL records in rushing during his 13-season career with the Bears

The following is a list of Pro Football Hall of Famers that have been a major contributor to the Bears, along with the year of their induction.

Retired numbers

The Bears have retired fourteen uniform numbers, which is the most in the NFL, and ranks fourth behind the NBA's Boston Celtics (21), MLB's New York Yankees (20), and NHL's Montreal Canadiens (15) for the most in the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada.

Chicago Bears retired numbers
Bronko Nagurski
FB/LB/T
1930–1937, 1943
Minnesota
George McAfee
RB/DB/PR
1940–1941, 1945–1950
Duke
George Halas
End/HC
Owner/Founder
1920–1983
Illinois
Willie Galimore
RB
1957–1963
Florida A&M
Walter Payton
RB
1975–1987
Jackson State
Gale Sayers
RB/KR
1965–1971
Kansas
Brian Piccolo
RB/FB
1965–1969
Wake Forest
Sid Luckman
QB/DB/P
1939–1950
Columbia
Dick Butkus
MLB
1965–1973
Illinois
Bill Hewitt
End
1932–1936
Michigan
Bill George
MG/MLB
1952–1965
Wake Forest
Clyde Turner
C/LB
1940–1952
Hardin-Simmons
Red Grange
RB/DB
1925, 1929–1934
Illinois
Mike Ditka
TE
1961–1966
Pittsburgh

Top 100 greatest Bears of all-time

In honor of the team centennial anniversary, on May 20, 2019, the Chicago Bears have unveiled the Top 100 players in franchise history, as voted on by Hall of Fame writers Don Pierson and Dan Pompei, two of the most famous journalists that have ever covered the club in their long history.[32] At the time of the publish, the list included 27 Pro Football Hall of Famers, while two more inductees would join in the 2020 class (Jim Covert and Ed Sprinkle).

Among the 100 Greatest, four active players made the list, including safety Eddie Jackson (96), defensive lineman Akiem Hicks (75), offensive lineman Kyle Long (74) and highest-ranked active Bear was Khalil Mack (60), who played only one season with the team. Long would retire the following year.

On later date, Chicagobears.com released a list titled "Top 10: Best of the rest", that featured the top 10 snubs from the centennial list. The players include (in a following order): Alex Brown, Thomas Jones, Dave Whitsell, Curtis Conway, Tim Jennings, Leslie Frazier, Roberto Garza, Marty Booker, Nathan Vasher and William Perry.[33]

# Name Position Years
1 Walter Payton𝙝𝙤𝙛 RB 1975–1987
2 Dick Butkus𝙝𝙤𝙛 LB 1965–1973
3 Bronko Nagurski𝙝𝙤𝙛 FB/T 1930–1937, 1943
4 Sid Luckman𝙝𝙤𝙛 QB/P/DB 1939–1950
5 Gale Sayers𝙝𝙤𝙛 RB 1965–1971
6 Mike Ditka𝙝𝙤𝙛 TE 1961–1966
7 Bill George𝙝𝙤𝙛 LB 1952–1965
8 Clyde "Bulldog" Turner𝙝𝙤𝙛 C/LB 1940–1952
9 Doug Atkins𝙝𝙤𝙛 DE 1955–1966
10 Danny Fortmann𝙝𝙤𝙛 OG 1936–1943
11 Dan Hampton𝙝𝙤𝙛 DE/DT 1979–1990
12 Richard Dent𝙝𝙤𝙛 DE 1983–1993, 1995
13 Jim Covert𝙝𝙤𝙛 OT 1983–1990
14 Brian Urlacher𝙝𝙤𝙛 LB 2000–2012
15 Mike Singletary𝙝𝙤𝙛 LB 1981–1992
16 Bill Hewitt𝙝𝙤𝙛 E 1932–1936
17 Stan Jones𝙝𝙤𝙛 OG/DT 1954–1965
18 Jay Hilgenberg C/LS 1981–1991
19 Steve McMichael DT 1981–1993
20 Devin Hester KR/PR/WR 2006–2013
21 Joe Stydahar𝙝𝙤𝙛 OT 1936–1942
1945–1946
22 George Connor𝙝𝙤𝙛 T/LB 1948–1955
23 George McAfee𝙝𝙤𝙛 HB/DB 1940–1941
1945–1950
24 Joe Fortunato LB 1955–1966
25 Ed Sprinkle𝙝𝙤𝙛 DE 1944–1955
26 Ed Healey𝙝𝙤𝙛 OT/DT 1922–1927
27 Olin Kreutz C 1998–2010
28 Lance Briggs LB 2003–2014
29 Rick Casares FB 1955–1964
30 Gary Fencik S 1976–1987
31 Charles Tillman CB 2003–2014
32 Paddy Driscoll𝙝𝙤𝙛 HB/QB/P 1920, 1926–1929
33 George Trafton𝙝𝙤𝙛 C 1920–1932
34 Matt Forte RB 2008–2015
35 George Musso𝙝𝙤𝙛 OG 1933–1944
36 Red Grange𝙝𝙤𝙛 HB/DB 1925, 1929–1934
37 George Halas𝙝𝙤𝙛 E 1920–1929
38 Link Lyman𝙝𝙤𝙛 T 1926–1928
1930–1931
1933–1934
39 Harlon Hill FL 1954–1961
40 Ken Kavanaugh E 1940–1941
1945–1950
41 Neal Anderson RB 1986–1993
42 Richie Petitbon S 1959–1968
43 Wilber Marshall LB 1984–1987
44 Johnny Morris FL 1958–1967
45 Otis Wilson LB 1980–1987
46 Doug Buffone LB 1966–1979
47 Dave Duerson S 1983–1989
48 Fred Williams DT 1952–1963
49 Ray Bray OG 1939–1942
1946–1951
50 Mark Bortz OG 1983–1994
# Name Position Years
51 Keith Van Horne OT 1981–1993
52 Joe Kopcha OG 1929, 1932–1935
53 Jim McMahon QB 1982–1988
54 Ed Brown QB/P 1954–1961
55 Johnny Lujack QB/DB 1948–1951
56 Roosevelt Taylor CB 1961–1969
57 Jim Osborne DT 1972–1984
58 Wally Chambers DT 1973–1977
59 Julius Peppers DE 2010–2013
60 Khalil Mack LB 2018–present
61 Willie Galimore𝐟 HB 1957–1963
62 Robbie Gould K 2005–2015
63 Mike Brown S 2000–2008
64 James "Big Cat" Williams OT 1991–2002
65 Dick Gordon WR 1965–1971
66 Mike Hartenstine DE 1975–1986
67 Ed O'Bradovich DE 1962–1971
68 Dick Barwegen OG 1950–1952
69 Bill Wade QB 1961–1966
70 Matt Suhey FB 1980–1989
71 Kevin Butler K 1985–1995
72 Mark Carrier S 1990–1996
73 Tommie Harris DT 2004–2010
74 Kyle Long OG 2013–2019
75 Akiem Hicks DT 2016–present
76 J.C. Caroline DB 1956–1965
77 Bennie McRae DB 1962–1970
78 Donnell Woolford CB 1989–1996
79 Dennis McKinnon WR/KR 1983–1985
1987–1989
80 Alshon Jeffery WR 2012–2016
81 Brandon Marshall WR 2012–2014
82 George Blanda𝙝𝙤𝙛 QB/K 1949–1958
83 Willie Gault WR 1983–1987
84 Tom Thayer OG 1985–1992
85 Jay Cutler QB 2009–2016
86 Allan Ellis CB 1973–1977
1979–1980
87 Luke Johnsos E 1929–1936
88 Joey Sternaman QB/HB/K 1922–1925
1927–1930
89 Mike Pyle C 1961–1969
90 Beattie Feathers𝐟 HB 1934–1937
91 Bob Wetoska OT 1960–1969
92 Bill Osmanski FB 1939–1943
1946–1947
93 Herm Lee OT 1958–1966
94 Jim Dooley FL/DB 1952–1954
1956–1957
1959–1962
95 Larry Morris LB 1959–1965
96 Eddie Jackson S 2017–present
97 Bobby Joe Green P 1962–1973
98 Trace Armstrong DE 1989–1994
99 Doug Plank S 1975–1982
100 Patrick Mannelly LS 1998–2013

𝙝𝙤𝙛: Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.
𝐟: Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist.

All-Time Team

During the week of June 3, 2019 the All-Time Team was announced in parts each day starting with the All-Time defensive players,[34] followed by the All-Time specialists[35] and then the All-Time offensive players.[36]

Larry Mayer of the Chicagobears.com would later state, that according to the voters "if they had included a long-snapper on the team it would have been Patrick Mannelly".[37]

Offense

Position Player Years played for
QB Sid Luckman 1939–1950
FB Bronko Nagurski 1930–1937, 1943
RB Walter Payton 1975–1987
WR Harlon Hill 1954–1961
Ken Kavanaugh 1940–1941, 1945–1950
TE Mike Ditka 1961–1966
OT Joe Stydahar 1936–1942, 1945–1946
Jim Covert 1983–1990
G Stan Jones 1954–1965
Danny Fortmann 1936–1943
C Clyde "Bulldog" Turner 1940–1952

Defense

Position Player Years played for
DE Doug Atkins 1955–1966
Richard Dent 1983–1993, 1995
DT Dan Hampton 1979–1990
Steve McMichael 1981–1993
MLB Dick Butkus 1965–1973
OLB George Connor 1948–1955
Joe Fortunato 1955–1966
DB George McAfee 1940–1941, 1945–1950
Charles Tillman 2003–2014
S Gary Fencik 1976–1987
Richie Petitbon 1959–1968

Special teams

Position Player Years played for
P Bobby Joe Green 1962–1973
PK Robbie Gould 2005–2015
PR Devin Hester 2006–2013
KR Gale Sayers 1965–1971

Starting quarterbacks

References

  1. ^ "Remembering the 1985 Chicago Bears - ESPN Chicago".
  2. ^ "National Football League: NFL Draft History - 1st Round By Team". NFL.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-03.
  3. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Halas". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  4. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Bronko Nagurski". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  5. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Harold (Red) Grange". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  6. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Ed Healey". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  7. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – William Roy Lyman". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  8. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Trafton". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  9. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Paddy Driscoll". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  10. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dan Fortmann". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  11. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dan Fortmann". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  12. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George McAfee". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  13. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Clyde Bulldog Turner". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  14. ^  "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Joe Stydahar". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  15. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Bill Hewitt". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  16. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Bill George". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  17. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Connor". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  18. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Gale Sayers". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  19. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dick Butkus". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  20. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Blanda". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  21. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Doug Atkins". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  22. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Musso". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  23. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Mike Ditka". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  24. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Stan Jones". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  25. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Walter Payton". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  26. ^ Inducted as general manager
  27. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Jim Finks". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  28. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Mike Singletary". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  29. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dan Hampton". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  30. ^ "Richard Dent makes Pro Football Hall of Fame". Chicago Tribune. February 5, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  31. ^ ""SELECTION SATURDAY" RESULTS IN PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME'S CLASS OF 2018". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  32. ^ "Ranking best Bears of all time".
  33. ^ "Top 10: Best of the rest".
  34. ^ "Bears Centennial Scrapbook: all-time defensive team".
  35. ^ "Hester highlights specialists on all-time team".
  36. ^ "Bears Centennial Scrapbook: all-time offensive team".
  37. ^ "Chalk Talk: Do London games help or hurt?".
  • v
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Chicago Bears
  • Founded in 1919
  • Formerly the Decatur Staleys (1919–1920) and the Chicago Staleys (1921)
  • Based in Chicago, Illinois
  • Headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois
Franchise
Records
Stadiums
Culture
Lore
Rivalries
Minor league affiliates
Retired numbers
Key personnel
Division championships (21)
Conference championships (4)
League championships (9)
Media
  • Broadcasters
  • Radio:
  • Personnel:
  • Television:
    • WFLD (pre-season and most regular season games through Fox, official pre-game and post-game alternate)
    • Marquee Sports Network (official post-game and in-season programming)
  • Personnel:
    • Lou Canellis (gameday television host, pre-season sideline reporter)
    • Adam Amin (pre-season play-by-play)
    • Jim Miller (pre-season analyst)
Current league affiliations
  • Category:Chicago Bears
  • WikiProject Chicago Bears
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Chicago Bears starting quarterbacks
Formerly the Decatur Staleys (1920) and the Chicago Staleys (1921)