Since their establishment in the year 1920, the Chicago Bears have been one of the most historic franchises in the NFL. The team has successfully won trades and molded countless men into Hall of Fame-caliber players by the end of their careers.
In fact, the team currently holds the NFL record for the most enshrinees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with 32 and remains to be the franchise with the most retired jersey numbers with 14. This list will further amplify the legacy of the Bears franchise which includes four defensive aces along with a quarterback who all made it to Canton, Ohio.
Here are the five best trades in Chicago Bears history:
5. Dan Hampton
Three weeks prior to the 1978 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears sent veteran defensive tackle Wally Chambers to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for tight end Bob Moore and Tampa Bay's first-round draft pick the following year.
The Bears then selected defensive tackle Dan Hampton with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft. He went on to have twelve productive seasons with the team from 1979 to 1990. The former Arkansas Razorback was named the 1982 PFW NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the 1984 NFLPA NFC Defensive Lineman of the Year. He was also a two-time second-team All-Pro, four-time first-team All-Pro, four-time Pro Bowler, and a Super Bowl XX champion.
He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002 and currently hosts the Bears' postgame show on WGN Radio in Chicago.
4. George McAfee
Shortly after the 1940 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears traded veteran tackles Russ Thompson and Milt Trost to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for their first-round pick in defensive back George McAfee.
The Kentucky native started his career with an NFL championship in 1940 along with an All-Star appearance and a first-team All-Pro selection in 1941. He then volunteered to join the United States Navy after the U.S. entered World War II and served between 1942 and 1945. He eventually made his return to Chicago in the 1945 season and won another NFL championship in 1946. McAfee was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as a baseball, track and field, and football player for Duke University, and was also inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
As of 2018, he still holds the NFL record for punt return average in a career with 12.78.
3. Doug Atkins
Defensive end Doug Atkins began his career with the Cleveland Browns who drafted him with the 11th pick in the first round of the 1953 NFL Draft. The lanky 6'8″ player stayed in Cleveland for two years before the Chicago Bears came calling.
Prior to the 1955 season, the Bears dealt third- and sixth-round picks in the 1956 NFL Draft to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Atkins and safety Ken Gorgal.
The trade started the most productive run of Atkins' career where he earned eight Pro Bowl trips, four first-team All-Pro, and six second-team All-Pro selections. His career with the Bears was headlined by his two championships with the team in 1954 and 1963.
He stayed with the Chicago-based team until 1966 and eventually went to the New Orleans Saints until he retired in 1969. He was inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame as a former Tennesee Volunteer and in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2. Sid Luckman
Prior to the 1938 season, the Chicago Bears sent end Edgar Manske to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a first-round pick in the 1939 NFL Draft. The team then used the said pick to select Colombia quarterback Sid Luckman at second overall.
The gunslinger had an eventful 12-year stay in Chicago in which he led the Bears to a total of four NFL championships while playing under center, specifically in 1940, 1941, 1943, and 1946. He was also named the 1943 NFL Most Valuable Player, a three-time NFL All-Star (Pro Bowl), and a five-time first-team All-Pro member. He clearly dominated the position as he was also a three-time NFL passing yards leader, three-time NFL passing touchdowns leader, and a three-time NFL passer rating leader.
The New York native eventually had his Chicago Bears No. 42 retired, and tied the NFL record of 7 touchdown passes in a game. He proceeded to stay with the Bears franchise even after hanging his cleats. He then served as the team's vice president from 1951 to 1953 and became the quarterback coach from 1954 to 1969. Luckman was eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965.
1. Dick Butkus
An all-time great banners this list for the greatest trade that the Bears franchise was able to pull off since its inception. The front office swapped picks with the Pittsburgh Steelers and received the third overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft in exchange for their own second- and fourth-round pick in 1964.
The team then used the high draft pick to select middle linebacker Dick Butkus from the University of Illinois. The Chicago native then established his name playing for his hometown football team for a span of nine seasons from 1965 to 1973.
He has intercepted a total of 22 passes and recovered 27 fumbles throughout his career. He was named to eight Pro Bowl appearances, six first-team All-Pro selections, two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards, and was ultimately inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
Butkus' immense contributions for the Bears franchise and to the league are immeasurable. He has revolutionized the position and remains to be the gold standard to which middle linebackers are measured even in modern-day football.
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