The Chicago Bears are one of the oldest franchises in the NFL, literally a member of the league since it's inception in 1920. While high-level success has been elusive in recent decades, a Super Bowl win (Super Bowl XX) and an additional appearance in the Super Bowl (Super Bowl XLI) is better than some franchises have managed over that time.
Of course the Bears have had a ton of great players in their long history, from Red Grange and Bronko Nagurski to Gale Sayers, Dick Butkus, Walter Payton, Mike Ditka, etc. The 14 numbers they've retired is the most among NFL franchises.
Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports has created a fresh list ranking the top 25 players in NFL history, with one honorable mention. For whatever it's worth, Patrick Mahomes is the only active player on the list.
Three Bears legends made the list.
3 Chicago Bears legends take their place on list of 25 greatest NFL players
Counting down from No. 25, we get to the first Bear at No. 23.
"Gale Sayers, RB (1965-1971): "
"Sayers packed a lot into a short career. The "Kansas Comet" amassed 9,435 combined net yards and scored 336 points in 68 games with the Chicago Bears. Along with being one of the greatest running backs in history, Sayers retired as the NFL's all-time leader in kickoff return yards. As a rookie in 1965, the graceful Sayers scored 20 touchdowns (in just 14 games) that included a single-game-record six scores against the 49ers."
With modern medicine, Sayers could have had a much longer NFL career. A major knee injury during the 1968 season set his career track off-course. After coming back and leading the league in rushing in 1969, he played just two games in each of his final two seasons before calling it quits.
At No. 21 on the list is Hall of Fame defensive tackle Alan Page, who of course spent the majority of his career with the Minnesota Vikings before playing his final three seasons (1979-1981) in Chicago. DeArdo mentioned Page's ending in a Bears' uniform (three sacks in his final game), but he doesn't really count as a legendary Bears player.
The next legendary player on DeArdo's list who is firmly associated with the Bears comes it at No. 12.
"Dick Butkus, LB (1965-73):"
"The word legend is often used loosely in sports, but not in Butkus' situation. The iconic Chicago Bears linebacker struck fear into opposing offenses throughout his nine-year playing career. A ferocious tackler, Butkus was also impeccable in pass coverage. He picked off at least one pass every year of his career and pulled down five passes during his standout rookie season."
Butkus earned a Pro Bowl nod in each of his first eight seasons (1965-1972), with five First Team All-Pro nods over that stretch. The Bears did not make the the playoffs in any of his nine seasons (albeit much harder to do then than it is now), but Butkus' singular brilliance, toughness and seemingly effortless intimidation etched him into league history as one its greatest linebackers.
And last but certainly not at all least, the third Bears' legend landed at No. 4 on DeArdo's list.
"Walter Payton, RB (1975-1987):"
"How good was "Sweetness?" So good that there is a legitimate argument to be made regarding whether or not he is the greatest running back in NFL history. He's without question the greatest back since the 1970 merger."
"Quite possibly the most fearless player of all time, Payton routinely took on eight-man fronts for mediocre Bears teams. When the Bears finally became competitive later in his career, Payton led them to a championship after gaining over 2,000 all-purpose yards for the Super Bowl XX champions. Along with his running prowess, Payton was an exceptional blocker, receiver and overall football player."
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For as great a pure runner as he was, Payton (as DeArdo noted) was ahead of his time as a pass catcher out of the backfield with two 50-plus catch seasons and three other seasons where he had at least 45 receptions.
After being superficially passed by a barely hanging on and ultimately overrated Emmitt Smith, Payton still sits No. 2 on the all-time rushing list with 16,726 yards and he's not in line to lose that spot anytime soon. The conversation about the greatest running back in NFL history is between "Sweetness" and Jim Brown, who is No. 3 on DeArdo's list.