Aug 31, 2019 of the top 12 in the tribunes ranking of the 100 best players in team history, four are middle linebackers. Bill george george, who invented the middle linebacker position when he dropped off the line in 1954. With his election into the pro football hall of fame, brian urlacher continues the chicago bears tradition of greatness at the linebacker position. He is also recognized for having set the benchmark for the success of bears middle linebackers, which continued with mike singletary and brian urlacher. From their founding as the decatur staleys, through the move to chicago, championships in the 1930s and 40s, the monsters of the 1950s, to the present, its all covered in the book.
Its a style distinguished by defense and middle linebackers, running backs and linemen, and only an occasional quarterback capable of navigating the windy city. Bears known for superstar middle linebackers chicago bears. Jul 07, 2017 chicago bears linebackers have arguably the most storied legacy in the history of defensive football. In standard defenses, middle linebackers commonly lead the team in tackles. Brian urlacher, the bears accidental middle linebacker.
Chicago bears history is a 128page, softcover book covering the history of the chicago bears from 1920 to 2004. In that eightyear stretch, the bears made the playoffs seven times, won the division six times and were a memorable super bowl champion in 1985. Sports fandom may be disrupted but we have heroes that are more worthy of our cheers and celebration, with the nfl draft bringing us all a sign of the future. The 1985 bears rapped and shuffled their way to a win over new england in super bowl xx in 1986 with a colorful cast of characters, perhaps the greatest singleseason achievement by any pro sports team in chicago history. Brian urlacher continues bears tradition of linebacker. Next in our series of best chicago bears players is the linebackers unit. Viewed by many as the first true middle linebacker. The middle linebacker is often referred to as the quarterback of the defense. Mar 10, 2018 the 30 best linebackers in chicago bears history.
Beginning with the franchises 1919 origins as the decatur staleys, this lavishly illustrated book presents the highs and lows from more than nine decades of football. He reminds me of a throwback middle linebacker, and i think in. As of the beginning of the 2019 season, chicago s starting quarterback is mitchell trubisky. Doug buffone often overshadowed by teammate dick butkus, buffone was a key contributor and longtime team leader while playing 14 seasons with the bears from 196679. Wannstedt was the consensus hottest head coaching candidate on the market that year, and he accepted the position before coaching the cowboys through the playoffs. The following is the third of four excerpts from the chicago bears centennial scrapbook, which is authored by hall of fame writers dan pompei and don pierson.
The 30 best linebackers in chicago bears history chicago. Sep 15, 2008 revised and updated to include the latest seasons on the gridiron, chicago bears. However, the next group of players usually involve the great linebackers who have flooded the bears history books. Who will start alongside danny trevathan at inside linebacker. Brian urlacher 20002012 the linebacker that led the bears back to prominence after. A new book from the chicago tribune follows the teams tumultuous history from the 1920s until today. Urlacher eventually stepped in at middle linebacker when barry minter went down injured in a wally pipp moment. Linebackers and running backs among bears best picks thanks to the coaching of george halas and one of the most balanced teams in nfl history, the chicago bears won seven titles in 10 nfl championship game appearances over their first 27 years of existence. Sure, the organization has had a pair of the greatest running backs in nfl history in walter payton and gale sayers.
The history of the middle linebacker began in a defensive huddle during the 1954 season. The distinction of being the first man in the middle is held by bears hall of famer bill. Colorados standout inside linebacker considered entering the nfl draft, but ultimately elected to stay in boulder for his senior season. These middle linebackers represent the biggest strength of the bears defense. In a league such as the nfl, its never too late to start looking into the future. Aug 16, 2012 its finally over to the defensive side of the ball for our chicago bears position battles series. The chicago bears report to training camp next week, which means its time to look ahead at the roster the team is bringing to olivet nazarene university. The chicago bears were the gold standard of the nfc central from 1984 thru 1991. The 30 best linebackers in chicago bears history chicagonow. Former nfl executive gil brandt ranked the top 46 linebackers of all time for, and seven former bears al. May 28, 2018 the chicago bears have the nfls richest history at the linebacker position.
Linebackers american football database fandom powered by. No team in the nfl has a more storied history of linebackers than the chicago bears. Colvin outplayed urlacher, the bears bumped urlacher inside to middle linebacker and into history, so if brian does not call me and give me a ticket to canton, colvin joked, im going to be highly upset. Georges 14 seasons with the bears are tied with linebacker doug buffone. Otis wilson, the bears starting outside linebacker, was right in the center of the. He became the bears best linebacker and one of the best players in the history of the game. With mike ditka at the helm, the franchise was colorful and successful. Larry bird and bill laimbeer have genuinely hated each other for over 30 years duration.
Butkus arguably is the standard for which any future bears middle linebacker or any other middle linebacker in the nfl for that matter will be. Hall of fame running back earl campbell, known for his hardhitting running style, cited butkus as his hero growing up. He won a super bowl as a member of the 1985 chicago bears. The latest in an historic line of hall of fame caliber bears middle linebackers, urlacher has produced 41. Jan 14, 2017 chicago bears linebackers better, but still not best chicago bears linebacker jerrell freeman led the bears by a wide margin with 110 tackles, despite serving a fourgame suspension for use of.
List of chicago bears starting quarterbacks wikipedia. The best source on the internet for chicago bears history and 1985 chicago bears information. The 30 best linebackers in chicago bears history source link please follow and like us. May 27, 2018 no team in the nfl has a more storied history of linebackers than the chicago bears. Born in 1952, i was just old enough to notice nfl football when the bears drafted dick butkus at middle linebacker. Jul 24, 2018 once all the inside linebackers are healthy and under contract for the chicago bears, this position group should be a real strength. The terms middle and inside linebacker are often used interchangeably. The rivalry grew in 1932, when the bears and spartans met in the first ever postseason game in nfl history, with the bears winning the game 90. Chicago bears will make fans a part of the teams storied history. The chicago bears opened the voluntary portion of their offseason program monday, having made a series of midlevel moves last week that reorganized their linebacker group and effected a. Ap seventh in a positionbyposition series of trainingcamp capsules on every player on the bears 90man roster. The distinction of being the first man in the middle is held by bears hall of famer. One of the great middle linebackers in bears franchise history. Not only did the bears improve on that record, but they also put together one of the greatest seasons in nfl history.
With the serious injury to danny trevathan and uncertainty with pernell mcphee, the chicago bears have a need for depth at the linebacker spot. Richard marvin butkus born december 9, 1942 is an american former football player, sports commentator, and actor. George halas, gale sayers, dick butkus, walter payton. Chicago bears linebackers better, but still not best. A jackofalltrades, the middle linebacker can be asked to blitz though they often blitz less than the outside linebacker, cover, spy the quarterback, or even have a deep middle ofthefield responsibility in the tampa 2 defense. Cu buffs ad rick george in the middle of ncaas unfolding transfer, nil drama cu lineman arlington hambright drafted by chicago bears. It features rare archival photos and articles, many that havent seen the light of day for years. On the chicago bears linebackers and offensive line. Here are the top 10 franchise linebackers of all time. There is no denying the bears have a rich history at the linebacker. Dick butkus the greatest middle linebacker in nfl history.
The chicago tribune book of the chicago bears is an impressive testament to bears tradition, compiling photography, original box scores, and entertaining essays from hall of fame reporters. Sep 10, 2015 throughout the decades, the bears style of play has matched the style of the citytough, cold, fundamental, relentless. Two years later in a game against the eagles, george dropped back from his 3point stance in order to better defend against the eagles success in the short passing game. But so far at camp, this is the thinnest position group on the. Of the top 12 in the tribunes ranking of the 100 best players in team history, four are middle linebackers. Featuring some of the greatest nfl linebackers of all time, the best bears lbs include brian urlacher, dick. Chicago cubs news and comprehensive blog, featuring old school baseball writing. While middle linebacker is one position thats storied.
Penn state may be known as linebacker u but the chicago bears turned the linebacker position into an institution. Two bears officially ranked among 10 best linebackers ever. The game also was known as the first indoor football game, as the game took place in indoor chicago stadium due to a blizzard at the time. Brian urlacher continues bears tradition of linebacker greatness. List of all chicago bears linebackers, ranked best to worst ranker. The chicago tribune book of the chicago bears is a decadebydecade look at the chicago bears, beginning with george halas moving the team to chicago in 1921. They are listed in order of the date of each players first start at quarterback for the bears. As the chicago bears continue their 100th season in the nfl, well rank some of the greatest bears linebackers in franchise history. The 1985 bears rapped and shuffled their way to a win over new england in super bowl xx in 1986 with a colorful cast of characters, perhaps the greatest. Chicago bears, and the 50 greatest plays inchicago bears football history. Six chicago bears make alltime greatest linebackers list. Chicago bears top 10 wide receivers of all time from the first time butkus put on a chicago bears uniform he had just one goal in mind to be the best player ever.
In his eyes, chicago has produced percent of the nfls best at the position. Jul 14, 2019 before the bears 100th season, the tribunes bears reporters and editors ranked the 100 best players in franchise history. The official website of the chicago bears the charter franchise of the national football league. May 23, 20 in fact, urlacher says that not only is ray lewis the best middle linebacker of his era, but lewis is the best middle linebacker ever to play the game of football. Part 2 takes us through the dynasty of the 1940s all the way up to bill george and the birth of the middle linebacker. The bears defense has playmakers who can create pressure up front and on the edge, but its the pair of starting inside linebackers who tie together one of footballs best frontsevens. The championship belt series part 3 windy city gridiron. It includes every starting linebacker from throughout chicago bears history, including current linebackers and past ones.
The bears tradition of great middle linebackers can be researched back to the invention of the position. The bears will return leading tacklers danny trevathian and jerrell freeman. Get a complete list of current starters and backup players from your favorite team and league on. The series looks at the top alltime chicago bears players by units. The state of illinois has a history of great linebackers. This passage focuses on the bears tradition of legendary middle linebackers. An important part of the chicago defense, the lb position includes middle or inside linebackers, and outside strongside or weakside linebackers. The bears entered 1985 looking to improve on their 106 record from 1984 and advance further than the nfc championship game, where they lost to the 151 san francisco 49ers.
With the bears spending their firstround draft pick roquan smith, senior writer larry mayer ranks the top 10 linebackers in franchise history. The chicago bears are among the oldest franchises in nfl history, and they are also, perhaps, the most storied. The chicago bears have had some of the best linebackers in nfl history play for the organization. The best chicago bears linebackers of all time ranker. Thats where nose guard bill george complained to team captain. George, who played for the bears from 1952 to 65, dick butkus 196573, mike. With the 2020 draft closing the book on the 2018 khalil mack trade, we break. Every week during the season, well send you an email to your inbox with scores, this weeks schedule, top performers, fantasy drops and adds, new debuts and interesting tidbits. Former nfl executive gil brandt ranked the top 46 linebackers of all time for, and seven former bears all made the cut. His complete illustrated histories of the bears, giants, and steelers all rank among mvps top five bestselling football titles. The monsters of the midway is most widely known as the nickname for the national football leagues chicago bearsparticularly the dominant teams of 1940 and 1941. Generally regarded as one of the first middle linebackers, bill george was drafted by the bears in 1951 as a middle guard.
It looks like 8 players will be fighting over the final linebacker spot for the bears. Lew freedman is the author of more than 40 books on sports, including chicago bears. These 84 quarterbacks have started at least one game for the chicago bears of the national football league. Often it is the middle linebacker who receives the defensive play calls from the sideline and relays that play to the rest of the teamand in the nfl he is. Outside linebackers chicago bears outside linebacker leonard floyd can be a special player, but he needs to avoid injury and be available for a full 16 games. Once the 2019 offseason commences, the bears will need to once again begin looking at their middle linebacker core. In 2017, the chicago bears will need their defense to improve if they plan to contend in the nfc. But, a position to watch out for that is getting me pumped for 2016 is the linebacker core. Hewitt was a firstteam allpro in three of his seasons in chicago and was a critical.
The complete illustrated history brings the teams vibrant history to life. In his nfl career, he intercepted 22 passes, recovered 27 fumbles a record when he. With smith and trevathan securing the middle, chicago s front seven has no weakness. Dallas cowboys defensive coordinator dave wannstedt, a pittsburgharea native like mike ditka, was introduced as the 11th head coach in chicago bears history on january 19th, 1993. The middle linebacker, often referred to as mike, was invented by the chicago bears in the early 1950s. Since 2016, ryan pace has done a great job of rebuilding the bears inside linebacker corps. Sep 18, 2018 it includes every starting linebacker from throughout chicago bears history, including current linebackers and past ones. Chicago bears history is a 128page, softcover book covering the history of the. Revised and updated to include the latest seasons on the gridiron, chicago bears.
Mike singletary singletary was selected to a bears record 10 pro bowls and was voted allpro eight times while captaining one of the best defenses in nfl history for more than a decade. The biggest, baddest players in chicago bears history. He played professional football as a linebacker for the chicago bears of the. In 1954 bill george suffered the most fortuitous injury in bears history.
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