Fansided

10 greatest Chicago Bears of all time

By Russell S. Baxter

LOS ANGELES,CA: Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears circa 1987 prepares to play against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES,CA: Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears circa 1987 prepares to play against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images) /
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American professional football players and Chicago Bears teammates, defensive line Doug Atkins (right) and linebacker Bill George (1929 – 1982) sit on the bench and hold their helmets during a game, 1960s. (Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images)
American professional football players and Chicago Bears teammates, defensive line Doug Atkins (right) and linebacker Bill George (1929 – 1982) sit on the bench and hold their helmets during a game, 1960s. (Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images) /

9. MLB Bill George

He is the first of four middle linebackers on this 10-player list for the franchise from the Windy City. Hall of Fame defender Bill George played for the franchise from 1952-65 (the vast majority of that under the guidance of head coach George Halas) before finishing his impressive career with a one-year stint with the Los Angeles Rams.

He was arguably the first player at his position to be recognized as defensive alignments were cetainly much different in the early days of the game. Regardless, the former Wake Forest product – originally drafted in 1951 in the second round – obviously had a very simple philosophy when it came to his craft (via the Pro Football Hall of Fame).

“They’re (games are) won first by preparation and second by desire.”

George’s tenure with the Bears saw the club win an NFL title in 1963. The rangy pro picked off 18 passes and recovered 17 fumbles in his 14 seasons with the team in the Windy City. There were eight straight Pro Bowl invitations from 1954-61 and a total of eight All-Pro nods in a span of nine seasons from 1955-63. The 6’2”, 237-pound performer was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

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