Chicago Bears Top 100: #18 Charles Tillman
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
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 Top 100 Chicago Bears of all time list is the highest active player on the list. It’s rare air up here inside the Top 20. Anywhere you turn, you’ll bump into a Hall of Famer. The Bears selected Tillman in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft out of Louisiana-Lafayette. Tillman made an immediate impact as a rookie with 76 tackles, two forced fumbles, one sack and four interceptions, perhaps none bigger than this one against an in-his-prime Randy Moss.
Tillman was sidetracked in his sophomore season with an injury and missed 9 games but came back stronger than ever. The Bears went to the playoffs two straight years behind one of the top defenses in the league. Tillman continued to work in anonymity in Lovie Smith’s Cover-2 defense, matching up against opponents’ top wide receivers. He finally got recognition in 2011 and 2012, earning well deserved trips to the Pro Bowl.