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Chicago Bears: 30 greatest players in franchise history

By Conor Dorney

Walter Payton #34, Running Back for the Chicago Bears during his final game in the American Football Conference West game against the Los Angeles Raiders on 27 December 1987 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, United States. The Bears won the game 6 - 3. Visions of Sport. (Photo by Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images)
Walter Payton #34, Running Back for the Chicago Bears during his final game in the American Football Conference West game against the Los Angeles Raiders on 27 December 1987 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, United States. The Bears won the game 6 - 3. Visions of Sport. (Photo by Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images) /
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Dick Butkus, Chicago Bears
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

57. . LB. 1965-73. Dick Butkus. 4. player

Trying to pick the best linebacker in Bears franchise history is a lot like trying to decide which of your children is your “favorite.” Alright, I’ll admit, it’s way more difficult than that.

Though his career was shorter than some of the other players on this list, Dick Butkus’ Chicago roots and impact on the league and linebacker position put him at No. 4 on our list of the greatest players in Bears franchise history.

The story of Butkus is something out of a feel-good sports movie. A native of Chicago, Butkus went on to become an All-American at the University of Illinois, then went on to become star for his hometown NFL team. It’s hard to beat a story like that.

Butkus was most known throughout his career for his tenacity on the field and striking fear in the hearts of opposing offensive players. As the late Deacon Jones once put it, Butkus tried to “put you in the cemetery, not the hospital.” Talk about a philosophy that wouldn’t jive well with the league’s current player safety protocols!

Not only was Butkus a tremendous player on the field, but he had some of the best nicknames a player has ever had, including The Maestro of Mayhem and The Robot of Destruction. When all was said and done, the six-time All-Pro had solidified himself as a Bears legend and a player who truly redefined his position for all who came after him.

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