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 second 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]
Of the 40 inductees, 32 made their primary contribution to football with the Bears, while the other eight 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 Devin Hester and Steve McMichael in 2024.
Inductees
editPrimary members
edit# § | Number was retired by the club for contribution with team |
† | Major contribution for another team |
Minor portion of their career with The Bears/Staleys
editClass | 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 |
2023 | 54 | Chuck Howley | LB | 1958–59 | Dallas Cowboys |
2024 | 90 | Julius Peppers | DE | 2010–13 | Carolina Panthers |
Not listed as a Chicago Bear in Hall of Fame Records
editClass | 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 |
Finalists
editPrimary members
editNo. | Inductee | Position | Seasons | Years(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | Clark Shaughnessy | Defensive coordinator | 1951–62 | 1969, 1970, 1975, 1976 | |
48 | Beattie Feathers | HB | 1934–37 | 1970 | |
28 § | Willie Galimore | HB | 1957–63 | 1992 | Senior committee |
Minor portion of their career with The Bears/Staleys
editNo. | Inductee | Position | Seasons | Years(s) | Primary Team(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
67 | Abe Gibron | OG[e] | 1958–59 | 1967 | Cleveland Browns |
Footnotes
edit- 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.
- e Gibron was also the Bears Head coach from 1972–1974.
References
edit- 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
- ^ a b "ChicagoBears.com". Chicago Bears. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Chicago Bears Team Page – NFL.com". NFL. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ a b "ProFootballReference.com – Playoff Log". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Team Encyclopedias and Records". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "The Pro Football Hall of Fame: Then and Now (Mission Statement)". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ a b "Franchises – Pro Football Hall of Fame". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ a b "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Halas". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ a b "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Bronko Nagurski". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ a b "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Harold (Red) Grange". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ a b "The Galloping Ghost". American Heritage. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ a b "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Jim Finks". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Mike Ditka". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "All Time Jersey Numbers" (PDF). Chicago Bears. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 31, 2010. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Ed Healey". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – William Roy Lyman". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Trafton". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Paddy Driscoll". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dan Fortmann". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dan Fortmann". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George McAfee". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Clyde Bulldog Turner". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Joe Stydahar". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Bill Hewitt". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Bill George". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Connor". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Gale Sayers". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dick Butkus". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Blanda". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Doug Atkins". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Musso". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Stan Jones". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Walter Payton". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Mike Singletary". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dan Hampton". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Richard Dent". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Brian Urlacher". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Jim Covert". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Ed Sprinkle". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Devin Hester". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Steve McMichael". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 19, 2024.