Chicago Bears Top 100: #36 Richie Petitbon
The dog days of the offseason are finally behind us now that training camp is underway, just in time for our countdown of the Top 100 Chicago Bears of all time to really heat up. As we get closer to the season opener, we get closer to naming the #1 Chicago Bear of all time.
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Next up in our Countdown of the Top 100 Chicago Bears of all time is former safety Richie Petitbon. Petitbon was drafted in the second round out of Tulane in the 1959 NFL Draft. The 6-3, 206 pounder had great size to play safety and made the most of his physical tools. Petitbon spent 10 seasons in Chicago from 1959 to 1968, piling up 37 interceptions. That was good for the most in team history until Gary Fencik broke his record and holds it at 38. Charles Tillman, who currently has 36 INT’s in his career, could pass both Petitbon and Fencik this season if he can get a couple of picks before he calls it a career.
Petitbon earned four trips to the Pro Bowl in 1962, 1963, 1966 and 1967. He was first team All-Pro in the Bears championship season of 1963, his best season with 8 picks. Petitbon spent a few more seasons with the Rams and Redskins at the tail end of his career and spent time in the coaching ranks as a coordinator and even a head coach with the ‘Skins.
What do you think of the ranking? Too high? Too low? I guess you’ll have to check back to see who finished ahead of him to judge for yourself. We’ll be counting down a different person each day as we inch our way to the September 7th season opener.