With the 33rd pick in the 1983 NFL Draft, the Bears selected defensive back Mike Richardson out of Arizona State. In the next round, at number 64, they selected Notre Dame safety Dave Duerson. The moves were made to help shore up the secondary which needed some help.
Richardson played cornerback in Chicago for six seasons and was a starter on the team that went to and won the Super Bowl. He was a solid cornerback and helped contribute to the Bears winning ways in 1985.
He even earned his way into the Super Bowl Shuffle video with his own “part”. Richardson left the Bears after the 1988 season and spent one year with the San Francisco 49ers. He won a Super Bowl with them and then retired.
Duerson was an important part the Bears secondary during their run to the Super Bowl and beyond. He was a Pro Bowl safety who went to the NFL’s all-star game four times (all with the Bears). He was named the NFL Man of the Year, in 1987, and had the record for the most sacks by a defensive back in a season with seven (held until 2005). Although he wasn’t given as much credit as he should have gotten, he still shined game in and game out for the Bears.
He left Chicago in 1990 and played one year for the Giants, where he won a second Super Bowl ring. Duerson then caught on with the then Phoenix Cardinals where he played until 1993.
He passed away in 2011 from the effects of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.