The Chicago Bears have a rich history of talent in their 100-year history, which is epitomized by their NFL-most 28 Hall of Famers. That number increased to 30 following the additions of two more Bears to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Offensive lineman Jim Covert and defensive end/linebacker Ed Sprinkle will be the latest Bears inducted into the Hall of Fame, as they were voted to the 2020 centennial class as part of the senior inductees.
But who will be the next Bears inducted into the Hall of Fame?
Here are four Bears players that could be the next to be enshrined:
1. Devin Hester
When you’re the best to ever play your position, that should be an automatic bid to the Hall of Fame. Devin Hester was the best kick returner to ever play the game. Not only does he have the stats, he affected the game in a significant way.
Hester, who was a three-time first-team All Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, has an impressive resume. He has more punt returns (14) than anyone in NFL history with 14; his 20 total non-offensive touchdowns are also the most in league history; and he has the highest average yards per punt return among those with at least 300 returns in NFL history.
The only problem is special teamers rarely get inducted into the Hall of Fame. In fact, there are only three: kickers Morten Andersen and Jan Stenerud and punter Ray Guy.
Will Hester be one of the exceptions? Guess we’ll have to wait and see starting as early as 2022, when Hester is first eligible for the Hall of Fame.
2. Lance Briggs
Lance Briggs had the advantage and disadvantage of playing beside Brian Urlacher for most of his career. While Briggs and Urlacher were a dynamic linebacking corp. for a dominant Bears defense, Briggs has been often been overshadowed by Urlacher.
While Urlacher was a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer, some people forget how dominant Briggs was. A seven-time Pro Bowler, Briggs played 11 seasons for the Bears, where he had 16 interceptions, five defensive touchdowns, 16 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and 15 sacks.
Briggs made the initial list of 122 Hall of Fame nominees for the 2020 class, but he didn’t make it to the list of 25 semifinalists.
3. Olin Kreutz
Offensive linemen are judged to the standard of former Bears great Olin Kreutz, who played 13 seasons for the Bears at center. He was the anchor for Chicago’s once-dominant offensive line, as well as a member of the 2006 Super Bowl squad.
Kreutz holds the team record for the most games played by an offensive lineman with 182, and he was second only to Walter Payton for most games played with the Bears. Kreutz was a six-time Pro Bowler, a one-time first-team All-Pro and second-team All-Pro and a member of the Hall of Fame’s All-2000s second team.
Like Briggs, Kreutz made the initial list of 122 Hall of Fame nominees for the 2020 class, but he didn’t make it to the list of 25 semifinalists.
4. Charles Tillman
The man they called “Peanut,” Charles Tillman faces a long road to a possible induction into the Hall of Fame. When considering inductees, voters tend to look at the number of All-Pro nods followed by Pro Bowl. Over his career, Tillman has one first-team All Pro and was voted to two Pro Bowls.
Tillman is most famous for his signature move the “Peanut Punch,” which is a masterclass in how to punch the ball out of a ballcarrier’s hands. You could say it worked well, as Tillman forced 44 fumbles during his career. That’s sixth all-time, which is impressive consider he ranks behind five defensive lineman.
Tillman’s 38 career interceptions are fifth among players whose careers began in 2000 or later, during a time where picks were down. He also has 140 pass breakups, which is tied for 14th all-time.
While Tillman’s odds of making the Hall of Fame aren’t the greatest considering his lone All-Pro nod, his stats could work in his favor.
