He was a five-time First Team All-Pro, and made four Pro Bowls. He rushed for 4,956 career yards and 39 touchdowns and he hauled in 112 receptions for 1,307 yards and nine touchdowns in the passing game. The “Kansas Comet” had his career cut short by injuries, but in just seven years he made a huge impact on the franchise. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993. He is also the only player in Bears history to win Associated Press MVP honors, doing so in 1977. He made nine Pro Bowls and was a First Team All-Pro member on five different occasions. When Payton retired in 1987, he was the NFL’s all-time leader in rushing yards, with 16,726, and he still holds Bears records for most career rushing touchdowns and receptions. His career was cut tragically short in 1964 when he was killed in a car accident in Rensselaer, Indiana at the age of 29. Galimore had a sparkling career with the Bears in the late 1950s and early 1960s, registering 26 rushing touchdowns and 10 more receiving touchdowns. His initials also appear on the sleeves of the team’s jerseys. As a result of his playing career and his stellar coaching career, Halas’ number 7 jersey was retired by the team. Primarily known as a head coach and an owner of the Bears, Halas also played a bit during his career, scoring one rushing touchdown, six receiving touchdowns, and three total return touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966.Īt least 8, including 4 Chicago police officers, injured in Washington Park crash following shooting He ended his career with 1,685 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, and also had 11 receiving touchdowns. He didn’t return to the gridiron until 1945, and after playing three games each in 19 he returned to football full-time in 1948. Nagurski originally retired after the 1937 season, but after the Bears lost a slew of players to World War II service, he came out of retirement for eight games in 1943, rushing for 84 yards and a touchdown.Ī halfback, McAfee scored seven touchdowns in his first two NFL seasons, but after the 1941 season he enlisted in the United States Navy. One of the charter members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963, Nagurski had a stellar nine-year career with the Bears, appearing in 97 games and rushing for 2,778 yards and 25 touchdowns. So just who are the players who have been honored by the Bears with a jersey retirement? To answer that question, here are the 14 players whose jersey numbers adorn banners at Soldier Field. In fact, the Bears retired so many numbers that the team is no longer retiring jerseys, with former tight end Mike Ditka having the distinction of having the last retired number in team history. Now, it's worn by Lance Briggs, one of the most durable and important Bears of the past decade.The Chicago Bears have had some great players over the years, and as a result the team has retired a total of 14 jersey numbers, the most of any club in NFL history. Otis Wilson wore it to the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl. Doug Buffone wore it through 15 years with the Bears. 1 - 55: It's amazing this number is in heavy rotation. (He started with 68 and then changed during his second year.) Tank Johnson had it during a short but memorable career in Chicago. Jim Flanigan wore it as he picked up 40.5 sacks. 2 - 99: Dan Hampton wore the biggest number a player could wear for all of his Hall of Fame career. They each made huge contributions to the Bears' legacy. Now think of these players: Harlon Hill. Ed O'Bradovich. 3 - 87: Erase the memory of Kellen Davis from your head. Jerry Azumah picked off 10 passes for 206 yards wearing it, and Devin Hester broke return records. 23 performed in a Bears uniform? As of late, pretty well. 4 - 23: It's already been retired by the Bulls and the Cubs, but how has no. It was also worn by Billy Wade, who quarterbacked the Bears to a 1963 championship, and current kicker Robbie Gould, who is ranked fifth among active NFL kickers in career accuracy. 5 - 9: Nine has sentimental as well as football value. Jim McMahon wore it. Though he didn't spend many years in Chicago, he did lead the Bears to their only Super Bowl victory. Of the numbers still available, which has performed the best? The other players with retired numbers are deserving of the honor, but the record book is crowded with Bears who have done well whose numbers are still active. 34 is unquestionably the best in Bears history. With such a rich history, the Bears have more retired numbers than any team in the NFL, and they won't be retiring any more. When Mike Ditka's number is retired, the Bears will have 14 numbers on the wall.
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