Neal Anderson was in a tough spot when the Bears made him a first-round pick in 1986. There was already a featured back on the roster and his name was Walter Payton. Being drafted to replace arguably the greatest running back the sport has ever seen is no easy task and not one the fans were eager to see either.
Anderson had very few opportunities in 1986, but received his fair share in 1987 and even outplayed Payton often. Payton retired after the 1987 season and Anderson became the team’s featured back in 1988.
Anderson showed why the Bears made him a first-round back earning Pro Bowl spots in four consecutive years. He rushed for over 1,000 yards three consecutive years, was an excellent receiver out of the backfield and had a nose for the end zone, scoring 71 touchdowns during his career.
By 1992, Anderson’s skills were seriously diminishing. By 1993, Anderson only averaged 3.2 yards per carry and only 5.2 yards per catch. After the 1993 season, Anderson retired from the NFL. While his career wasn’t a hall of fame one, he was a very productive player for Chicago and one of the top-10 running backs the team has ever had.