The Chicago Bears are one of the most storied franchises in NFL history. In addition to winning more games than any other franchise, they also hold the record for the most players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the most retired jersey numbers.
In all, the Bears have won nine league championships (eight NFL championships, one Super Bowl). They have made the playoffs on 26 occasions, winning 18 division titles and four conference championships.
Although Chicago hasn't exactly been the cream of the crop in the NFL over the past several years, the 2018 season has been a memorable one thus far. The Bears enter Week 15 with a 9-4 record and in first place in the NFC North as they vie for their first playoff appearance since 2010.
Behind a dominant defense and an offense full of weapons — including second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky — the Bears find themselves among the league's premier teams once again. But regardless of what the rest of the 2018 season holds, the fact remains that they are one of the greatest franchises in NFL history.
Here's a look at the top 10 players in Bears franchise history. Keep in mind that when compiling this list, among the things taken into account were their stats, the individual awards they received, the amount of championships they won and the amount of time they spent in Chicago.
10. Sid Luckman, Quarterback (1939-1950)
Luckman's numbers look quite pedestrian when compared to the quarterbacks of today, who play in a pass-happy era. Nevertheless, he passed for 14,686 yards and 137 touchdowns in his Hall of Fame career, including an NFL-record seven TD passes in a single game. He played on defense and special teams as well, recording 17 interceptions and averaging 38.6 yards per punt.
Luckman won four championships with the Bears, and he was also a one-time NFL MVP, three-time All-Star and six-time All-Pro selection. Additionally, he led the league in passing yards, passing TD's, and passer rating three times each.
9. Dan Hampton, Defensive Tackle/Defensive End (1979-1990)
A member of the 1985 Bears who finished 18-1 and captured the franchise's only Super Bowl, Hampton also spent a dozen years in the “Windy City.” During his Hall of Fame career, the man known as “Danimal” totaled 57 sacks and recovered 10 fumbles.
Although he played alongside some of the most ferocious defensive players in league history, Hampton more than held his own. He completed his career with one NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, one NFC Defensive Lineman of the Year award, four trips to the Pro Bowl and six All-Pro selections.
8. Richard Dent, Defensive End (1983-1993)
The first player on this list not to spend his entire career with the Bears, Dent was also a member of the Bears' 1985 Super Bowl squad, earning MVP honors in the 20th edition of the big game. He finished with 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass defensed in Chicago's 46-10 shellacking of the New England Patriots.
For his career, Dent recorded 677 tackles, 137.5 sacks, 37 forced fumbles, 13 fumble recoveries, eight interceptions, and a pair of defensive TD's. A two-time Super Bowl champion (he also won one with the San Francisco 49ers), the Hall of Famer was a four-time Pro Bowler, a four-time All-Pro selection, and the 1985 NFL sacks leader (he finished with a career-high 17 sacks that season).
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7. Devin Hester, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist (2006-2013)
Quite possibly the greatest return man in NFL history, Hester holds league records for career return TDs (20), career punt return TDs (14) and single-season return TD's (six). A member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team solely for the work he did on special teams, he amassed 11,028 return yards in his 11-year career, which also included stints with the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Seattle Seahawks.
Hester retired as a Bear, though, and it's his time in Chicago that he will ultimately be remembered for. Overall, he finished with four Pro Bowl selections and was named an All-Pro on four occasions as well. In addition to his work as a return specialist, he also caught 255 passes for 3,311 yards and 16 scores as a wide receiver.
6. Mike Ditka, Tight End (1961-1966)
Ditka is probably best known by the current generation as the former coach of the Bears (including the 1985 Super Bowl team), but before that he was a Hall of Fame tight end for the team he would later return to coach. Although his lone Super Bowl win as a player came during his time with the Dallas Cowboys, he did win an NFL title with the Bears in 1963.
Ditka caught 427 passes in his career for 5,812 yards and 43 TD's. The five-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro selection was also the 1961 NFL Rookie of the Year.
5. Gale Sayers, Running Back (1965-1971)
Sayers' NFL career was cut short due to injuries, but he still made a lasting impact on the game. The former fourth overall draft pick amassed 4,956 yards and 39 touchdowns on 991 carries, good for an average of five yards per attempt. He was also a huge threat in the return game, finishing with 3,172 yards and eight scores on special teams.
Nicknamed the “Kansas Comet,” Sayers was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977. He finished his career with four trips to the Pro Bowl and five All-Pro selections. In addition, he was a two-time NFL rushing yards leader, the 1969 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, and the 1965 NFL Rookie of the Year.
4. Brian Urlacher, Linebacker (2000-2012)
The most recent player on this list, Urlacher was an absolute beast at the linebacker position. He completed his Hall of Fame career with 1,353 tackles, 41.5 sacks, 22 interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns. Furthermore, he joined the aforementioned Hester on the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.
During his 13 years in Chicago, Urlacher earned numerous individual awards. The eight-time Pro Bowler was also a five-time All-Pro selection and a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year as well as the 2000 NFL Rookie of the Year.
3. Mike Singletary, Linebacker (1981-1992)
When you discuss great Bears linebackers, you have to mention Singletary, a Pro Football Hall of Famer. Known as “The Heart of the Defense” for the team's “Monsters of the Midway” in the mid-1980s, he is the third member of this list who played on Chicago's 1985 Super Bowl squad.
Singletary registered 1,488 tackles in his career, and he also had 19 sacks, 12 fumble recoveries and seven interceptions. The 10-time Pro Bowler and nine-time All-Pro honoree was also the 1990 NFL Man of the Year, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and a three-time NFC Player of the Year.
2. Dick Butkus, Linebacker (1965-1973)
We complete our triumvirate of linebackers with the man who laid the foundation for what it means to play that position for the Bears. A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1979, Butkus finished his stellar career with 22 interceptions and 27 fumble recoveries.
Butkus' other accomplishments include eight trips to the Pro Bowl and eight All-Pro selections. He was a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year as well, and he is the first player on this list to appear on two different NFL All-Decade Teams (1960s and 1970s).
1. Walter Payton, Running Back (1975-1987)
There was no doubt who No. 1 on this list would be. Payton, aka “Sweetness,” is not only the greatest Bears player of all-time, but one of the greatest players to ever play the game of football. The Hall of Fame running back totaled 16,726 yards and 110 touchdowns on 3,838 carries, but he was also a gifted pass catcher. In terms of receiving, Payton caught 492 passes in his career for 4,538 yards and 15 scores.
The fourth and final member of this list who played for the Bears during their 1985 Super Bowl season, Payton was a former NFL MVP and a nine-time Pro Bowler. He was also an eight-time All-Pro selection, a one-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, a two-time NFC Defensive Player of the Year and a four-time NFL rushing attempts leader.
Additionally, he led the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in 1977 and is the second player on this list to appear on two different NFL All-Decade Teams (1970s and 1980s).
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