List of Chicago Bears in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois.[1] They are currently members of the North Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL), and are one of two remaining charter members of NFL.[2] Founded in 1919 by the A.E. Staley Company as the Decatur Staleys and based in Chicago since 1922,[1] the Bears organization has become one of the most successful professional football teams, having won a total of nine professional American football championships—eight NFL Championships and one Super Bowl—second most in the NFL, behind the Green Bay Packers.[3] The franchise has recorded 18 NFL divisional titles, four NFL conference championships,[3] and the most regular season victories of any NFL franchise.[4] In 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame was created to honor the history of professional American football and the individuals who have greatly influenced it.[5] Since the charter induction class of 1963, 32 individuals who have played, coached, or held an administrative position for the Bears have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Bears hold the record for the most individuals enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[6]

The Pro Football Hall of Fame, located in Canton, Ohio was established in 1963.

Of the 36 inductees, 30 made their primary contribution to football with the Bears, while the other 6 contributed only a minor portion of their career with the Bears.[6] Of the original 17 individuals inducted in 1963, three spent a majority of their careers with the Chicago Bears. This includes the founder, long time owner, and head coach George Halas,[7] long time halfback and two-way player Bronko Nagurski,[8] and the "Galloping Ghost" Red Grange.[9][10] The first few years of the Hall of Fame's existence saw 14 Bear players enshrined. Jim Finks was enshrined due to his contributions to the team as a general manager, not a player.[11] Mike Ditka was inducted into the Hall of Fame while serving as the team's head coach.[12] The most recent Bears to be inducted were Ed Sprinkle and Jim Covert in 2020.

Inductees

Primary members
# § Number was retired by the club for contribution with team
† Major contribution for another team
Red Grange, a halfback and corner, had two different tenures with the Bears franchise (1925 and 1929–1934).
George Halas founded the Bears franchise and played tight end with the team in the early 1920s. Halas owned the team until his death in 1983.
Main article: List of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees
Class No.[a][13] Inductee Position Seasons[b] Notes
1963 7 § George Halas Club founder/Club Owner
Head coach
TE/DE		 1920–83
40 seasons
1920–28		 [7]
1963 3 § Bronko Nagurski HB/OT/LB 1930–37
1943		 [8]
1963 77 § Harold (Red) Grange HB/CB 1925
1929–34		 [9][10]
1964 16 Ed Healey OT/DT 1922–27 [14]
1964 11 William R. Lyman OT/DT 1926–28
1930–31
1933–34		 [15]
1964 13 George Trafton C/DT 1920–21
1923–32		 [16]
1965 1 Paddy Driscoll† QB/DB/K
Head Coach		 1926–29 [17]
1965 21 Dan Fortmann OG/DT 1936–43 [18]
1965 42 § Sid Luckman QB/CB 1939–50 [19]
1966 5 § George McAfee HB/DB 1940–41
1945–50		 [20]
1966 66 § Bulldog Turner C/DT 1940–52 [21]
1967 13 Joe Stydahar OT/DT 1936–42
1945–46		 [22]
1971 56 § Bill Hewitt TE/DE 1932–36 [23]
1974 61 § Bill George LB 1952–65 [24]
1975 71 George Connor OT/LB 1948–55 [25]
1977 40 § Gale Sayers HB 1965–71 [26]
1979 51 § Dick Butkus LB 1965–73 [27]
1981 16 George Blanda† QB/K 1949
1950–58		 [28]
1982 81 Doug Atkins DE 1955–66 [29]
1982 16 George Musso OT/G 1933–44 [30]
1988 89 § Mike Ditka TE
Head coach		 1961–66
1982–92		 [c][12]
1991 78 Stan Jones OT 1954–65 [31]
1993 34 § Walter Payton HB 1975–87 [32]
1995 -- Jim Finks† General manager 1974–82 [11]
1998 50 Mike Singletary LB 1981–92 [33]
2002 99 Dan Hampton DE 1979–90 [34]
2011 95 Richard Dent DE 1983–93
1995		 [35]
2018 54 Brian Urlacher LB 2000–12
2020 74 Jim Covert OT 1983–90
2020 7 Ed Sprinkle DE 1944–55

Minor portion of their career with The Bears

Class No. Inductee Position Seasons Primary Team(s)
1964 1/15 Jimmy Conzelman QB 1920 Chicago Cardinals
1965 13/23 Guy Chamberlin End/DE 1920–21 Canton Bulldogs
1966 25 Walt Kiesling OG 1934 Chicago Cardinals
1967 22 Bobby Layne QB 1948 Detroit Lions
1988 82 Alan Page DL 1978–81 Minnesota Vikings
2016 76 Orlando Pace OT 2009 St. Louis Rams

Not Listed as a Chicago Bear in Hall of Fame Records

Class No. Inductee Position Seasons Primary Team(s)
1983 -- Sid Gillman Offensive Coordinator 1977 San Diego Chargers
2002 -- George Allen Defensive Coordinator/ Director of player personnel 1958–65 Los Angeles Rams, Washington Redskins
2016 -- Dick Stanfel Offensive line coach[d] 1981–92 Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins

Footnotes

  • a The uniform number worn by the player as a member of the Bears.
  • b Only includes the seasons with the Chicago Bears organization.
  • c Ditka was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his service just as a tight end.[12]
  • d Stanfel was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his service just as a player.

References

General
  • "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Hall of Famers by Franchise". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  • "ChicagoBears.com – Hall of Famers". Chicago Bears. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
Specific
  1. "ChicagoBears.com". Chicago Bears. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  2. "Chicago Bears Team Page – NFL.com". NFL. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  3. "ProFootballReference.com – Playoff Log". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  4. "Team Encyclopedias and Records". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  5. "The Pro Football Hall of Fame: Then and Now (Mission Statement)". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  6. "Franchises – Pro Football Hall of Fame". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  7. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Halas". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  8. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Bronko Nagurski". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  9. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Harold (Red) Grange". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  10. "The Galloping Ghost". American Heritage. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  11. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Jim Finks". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  12. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Mike Ditka". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  13. "All Time Jersey Numbers" (PDF). Chicago Bears. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 31, 2010. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  14. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Ed Healey". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  15. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – William Roy Lyman". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  16. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Trafton". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  17. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Paddy Driscoll". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  18. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dan Fortmann". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  19. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dan Fortmann". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  20. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George McAfee". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  21. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Clyde Bulldog Turner". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  22.  "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Joe Stydahar". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  23. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Bill Hewitt". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  24. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Bill George". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  25. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Connor". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  26. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Gale Sayers". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  27. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dick Butkus". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  28. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Blanda". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  29. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Doug Atkins". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  30. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Musso". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  31. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Stan Jones". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  32. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Walter Payton". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  33. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Mike Singletary". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  34. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dan Hampton". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  35. "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Richard Dent". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.