Chicago Bears Top 100 – #26 Gary Fencik

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.

Next up in our Top 100 is safety Gary Fencik.  Fencik was born in the Chicago area and attended Barrington High School before going on to the Ivy League.  He was selected in the 10th round of the 1976 NFL Draft out of Yale University by the Miami Dolphins.

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Fencik’s career with the Dolphins ended before it started.  He ruptured a lung in training camp and by the time he recovered it was too late to catch up.  He was released on Labor Day, the Bears scooped him up in the first week of the season and the rest, as they say, is history.

Fencik spent his entire playing career with the Bears.  He and fellow safety Doug Plank formed the duo known as “the hit men” for obvious reasons.  Fencik ended his 12 year career as the Bears all-time leader in interceptions with 38 and the franchise leader in tackles with 1112 (unofficial) tackles.  Fencik’s interceptions record could fall in 2014, as Charles Tillman is just two behind him with 36 heading into the season.

Fencik made a couple of Pro Bowl appearance and was named a First Team All Pro.  He was a key member of the 1985 Super Bowl team.  He retired a couple of years later after the 1987 season.  After his playing career, Fencik did a little broadcasting work before ultimately going into the financial sector.

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.