Today marks just 73 days until the start of the 2023 season, meaning that today's installment of Chicago Bears Countdown to Kickoff will focus on the life and career of the best player in franchise history to don the number 73, defensive end and Super Bowl champion Mike Hartenstine.
Mike Hartenstine's path to the Chicago Bears
A native of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Hartenstine grew up in the Lehigh Valley area, and would eventually attend Liberty High School. During his four years in high school, Hartenstine dominated in every sport he played, including football, basketball, and track and field.
On the gridiron, Hartenstine was a standout, two-way player at Liberty, and is now viewed as likely the second-best player to come from the school, surpassed only by legendary linebacker Chuck Bednarik. In his other sports, Hartenstine was a dominant athlete, posting new school records for the shot put as well as leading his basketball team in scoring as a senior.
After his high school career came to an end, Hartenstine elected to continue his athletic career at Penn State. At the time, a freshman in the program was not allowed to play varsity football, but in the ensuing three seasons, he was a dominant force for the Nittany Lions.
Spending time at both defensive tackle and end, Hartenstine led the team in tackles as a sophomore and was selected as an All-American as a junior. Over his three seasons with the school, the program finished with a 32-4 collective record, won two separate bowls and finished the season in the top 10 thrice.
Following the 1975 season, Hartenstine entered the ensuing NFL Draft, where he was selected 31st overall during the second round by the Chicago Bears. Hartenstine was the second player selected by the team after they took legendary running back Walter Payton in the first round. Both Hartenstine and Payton joined a troubling Bears team that desperately needed leadership and direction, and both players helped the team completely change course over the next decade or so.
Mike Hartenstine becomes perennial starter for Chicago Bears
In his rookie season, Hartenstine started all 14 of the team's games and finished the year with five sacks and the lone safety of his career. His rookie season would be a strong indicator towards the start of his career, as the defensive end started his time with the Chicago Bears with an impressive six-year stretch from 1975 to 1980. During this time, Hartenstine appeared in every game, started in all but four, and recorded 29 total sacks.
By 1981, Hartenstine accepted more of a reserved role across the defensive line, in part due to the emergence of Dan Hampton and Al Harris. In the following three seasons, from 1982 to 1984, Hartenstine regained his status as a starter despite missing time due to injury throughout this span. Nonetheless, Hartenstine's best year of his career came in 1983, when the veteran started all 16 of the team's games to the tune of 12 sacks on the season.
The following 1985 season is well documented as the legendary Chicago Bears defense led the way for the team to appear in Super Bowl XX, and while Hartenstine wasn't a starter throughout the year, he was a key contributor in the team's dominant stretch throughout the season. Hartenstine started eight games during the year and appeared in all 16 contests.
Unfortunately, Hartenstine did not log much playing time during the team's Super Bowl and felt some of the same dejection that Walter Payton faced after helping this team for so many years. Nonetheless, Hartenstine finished the season as a Super Bowl champion, bringing his Chicago Bears career full circle.
Mike Hartenstine's legacy with the Chicago Bears
The Penn State product played in Chicago for one more season following 1985 before signing a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings in '87. After a lone season with the division rivals, Hartenstine retired from the NFL in 1988. At the time of his retirement, Hartenstine's 179 consecutive appearances ranked first in Chicago Bears history, and has only since been surpassed by Walter Payton and Steve McMichael.
In 12 seasons with the Bears, Hartenstine accumulated 55 sacks over 184 games played. His sack total is strong enough for sixth best in franchise history, but he also crucially served as a mentor for Hampton, Dent, and McMichael, the top three leaders in franchise sack history.
Despite never being elected to a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team, Hartenstine had an irreplaceable impact on the Chicago Bears of the 1980's. Without the leadership of Hartenstine and Payton from the 1975 draft class, it is difficult to imagine this famed team reaching the peaks that they did. Capping off his time with the Chicago Bears with a Super Bowl ring, Hartenstine is a great selection for today's Countdown to Kickoff.