We’re heading into the dog days of the offseason, counting the days until the Chicago Bears 2014 season kicks off. Thanks to Bear Goggles On contributor and the fine editor of Blackhawk Up Keith Schultz’s suggestion, we’re going to do a Top 100 list of the all time Chicago Bears. It’s a fun way to pass the time and take a stroll down memory lane.
Next up in our countdown of the Top 100 Bears is one of my favorites and a player who I wish had stuck around longer. #80 in our Top 100 is outside linebacker Rosevelt Colvin. Colvin was drafted in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL draft out of Purdue. He was slow to move into the Bears’ starting lineup while backing up Rico McDonald as a rookie, but appeared in 56 games in his Chicago Bears career.
The next season, the Bears drafted Brian Urlacher and handed him the starting strong side linebacker job on draft day. Colvin responded by beating out Urlacher in the preseason. Urlacher eventually moved to middle linebacker and Colvin solidified his spot as the SAM, where he became the most prolific Bears pass rusher since Richard Dent. Colvin had back to back 10+ sack seasons in 2001 and 2002. He recorded 26 sacks in his 56 game, 4-season stint with the Bears.
Following the 2002 season, Colvin signed a 7-year, $30 million deal with the New England Patriots. The Bears tried to re-sign Colvin but refused to budge off their $3 million per season offer. The infamous checked box snafu with teammate Warrick Holdman contributed to Colvin’s departure.
With the Patriots, Colvin suffered a devastating hip injury that cost him a couple of seasons to get fully back up to speed. Colvin never really returned to the top form that he enjoyed at the tail end of his Bears career. Colvin ranks 15th on the Bears all time sack list. Colvin resides outside of Indianapolis.
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.