Top 10 Greatest Chicago Bears Players of All Time

1. Walter Payton

   

   Walter Jerry Payton was born on July 25, 1954, and died on November 1, 1999. He was an American football running back who played for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League for thirteen seasons. Nicknamed Sweetness, Payton is widely considered one of the greatest running backs in NFL history... read more

   He used to work out on this humongous hill not far from a friend's house where I grew up in Arlington Heights, Illinois. I was really young, maybe around 8 years old, but I just remember people trying not to gawk or bother him. He ran - no, he smoked - up this hill that looked like it could pop your Achilles tendon just by looking at it. Up, down, up, down, up, down. Anyway, we went up the hill, and midway up, just walking (not running), your thighs felt like they were on fire, and you were gasping for air.

   He was also one of the nicest human beings ever. It didn't matter where he was or who you were - old, young, Black, white, three heads, whatever - he'd stop and talk to you as if you were doing him a favor. Not only was he the best Bear, but he was also the best human being and NFL baller.

2. Dick Butkus

   

   Richard Marvin Butkus, born December 9, 1942, and passed away on October 5, 2023, was a legendary American football linebacker. He played for the Chicago Bears from 1965 to 1973 and was known for his aggressive style and dominant presence on the field. After retiring, Butkus worked as a commentator and... read more

   I shook his hand at a game vs. the Steelers in 2009, and my hand is still afraid to come out of the glove. It really sucks in the summertime. He's a little up there in age now - not sure how old - but he's still got that you're breathing because I'm letting you mojo going. He breathes in Chicago and exhales skeletons eating Italian beef sandwiches...

   Sports Illustrated's Dan Jenkins once wrote when Butkus was in college: "If every college football team had a linebacker like Dick Butkus of Illinois, all fullbacks would soon be three feet tall and sing soprano." Butkus stands head to toe on a Bears team that couldn't win much when he was on that team.

   Its Joeysworld

3. Gale Sayers

   

   Gale Eugene Sayers, also known as "The Kansas Comet," was born on May 30, 1943, and passed away on September 23, 2020. He played college football at the University of Kansas and later joined the Chicago Bears in the NFL, where he played from 1965 to 1971. Despite a career shortened by injuries, Sayers... read more

   He was so unbelievably ahead of his time that it was almost a comedy act watching defenders try to stop him.

4. Brian Urlacher

   

   Brian Urlacher is a former American football middle linebacker who spent his entire 13-year career playing for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2005. Urlacher was inducted into the Pro Football... read more

   Brian Urlacher's freakish sideline-to-sideline speed, his height, his size, and his football IQ were so great that he made Hunter Hillenmeyer look good! I didn't see Dick Butkus play, but I did see Singletary. Don't kid yourselves - if you were an NFL General Manager, you'd take Urlacher before Singletary. Brian Urlacher was a special player.

   A true leader who led by example.

   He has more tackles than you can count, goes up for the ball like a cornerback, and he does everything he can to help the team.

5. Mike Singletary

   

6. Devin Hester

   

   He's only been in the league 2 years, and he's already second on the all-time returns-for-touchdowns list. He could also become a dangerous receiver. Look out, Canton.

   A punt and kick returner's job is so important. Even though they don't always have to score, they can set up key drives.

7. Sid Luckman

   

   - Leads Bears in career passing yards.

   - One of the first elite quarterbacks in NFL history.

8. Bronko Nagurski

   

   Bronislau "Bronko" Nagurski was a Canadian‑born American football player born on November 3, 1908, who became one of the early legends of the NFL. He starred as a fullback and defensive tackle, renowned for his remarkable strength and feared on the field during the 1930s .... read more

9. Mike Ditka

   

   Michael Keller Ditka is a former American football player, coach, and television commentator. He played as a tight end in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys. Ditka later coached the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl XX victory and worked as an NFL analyst on major networks... read more

   I'm sure even Brian would want Ditka ahead of him, but it's all about the era, not any disrespect. Urlacher was the only player Ditka watched as a commentator where you could see the happiness whenever Brian would roll somebody over like a train because he saw himself. Ditka, hands down, was meaner than Urlacher, though. Really, he was. Back then, you hit somebody to kill them, literally. I'm not sure how Ditka and Butkus are even alive today with those hits and the lack of equipment they had back then. You can't get that kind of mean. Ditka and those guys were born with it.

   He should at least be above Urlacher! He was a genius and I'm sure people don't know Urlacher as much as Ditka.

10. Lance Briggs

    

    Lance Marell Briggs is a former American football player who played as an outside linebacker in the National Football League. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Chicago Bears, from 2003 to 2015. Briggs was selected to seven Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro honors during his time in the league.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Jimbo Covert

12. ?

    Doug Atkins

The Contenders

13. Richard Dent

    Come on, guys, Dent deserves to be higher! He is one of the best Bears players of all time and was the MVP when the Bears won the Super Bowl.

    Dent was the MVP when the Bears won the Super Bowl! Without a doubt, one of the greatest players in Chicago Bears history!

14. Red Grange

    

    Harold Edward "Red" Grange, nicknamed "The Galloping Ghost," was a college and professional American football halfback. He played for the University of Illinois, the Chicago Bears, and the short-lived New York Yankees football team. Grange is widely considered one of the greatest football players in... read more

15. Brian Piccolo

    

16. Dan Hampton

    Check the records. When Hampton played, the Bears usually won - far more than when he was not in the game. I would put him no lower than 8 or 9. The Fridge was fun, but nowhere near the player that Hampton was.

    Having Dan Hampton outside the top 10, let alone the top 20, is just ignorant.

17. Matt Forte

    

    Matthew Garrett Forte (born December 10, 1985) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He played eight years with the Chicago Bears and finished his career with the New York Jets. Forte was selected to two Pro Bowls... read more

    Forte is an excellent player and deserves to be higher on the list.

18. William Perry

    

    William Perry was undoubtedly the largest ball carrier at 360 lbs in the NFL during the '80s.

19. Charles Tillman

20. Willie Gault

    One of the greatest ever, period.

21. Robbie Gould

22. Jay Hilgenberg

23. Jim McMahon

    

    Jimmy Mack, the Funky QB, will always be beloved by Chicago.

24. Bobby Douglass

    Bobby was more of a runner than a passer, but to Bears fans, that was needed because Gale Sayers retired in 1971 due to crippling leg injuries. So Bobby was the only pure Bears runner. In 1972, he set an NFL record for quarterbacks by rushing for 968 yards on only 141 carries. On November 4, 1973, he rushed for 4 touchdowns in a 31-17 win over the Bears' arch-rival Green Bay Packers. Only Billy Kilmer had scored that many as a quarterback. In his career, he ran for 2,654 yards as a quarterback, and during his time as a Bear, he was the offensive bright light in a 13-31-1 record for the Bears.

    Its Joeysworld

25. Willie Galimore

    If he had played long enough, he would have been the greatest Bears running back ever. For now, it's Nagurski.

26. Khalil Mack

    

    Khalil Mack is an American football outside linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers. He originally entered the NFL as the fifth overall pick in the 2014 draft and has earned multiple Pro Bowl and All‑Pro selections. In March 2025 he re‑signed with the Chargers on a one‑year, $18 million deal.

27. Alan Page

    - The first NFL defender to win NFL MVP.

    - Led the Purple People Eaters defense.

    - 173 career sacks.

    - Leads the Bears in career sacks.

    - Played in 238 consecutive games.