On August 3, the class of 2024 will formally be admitted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
We’re looking at which players, past and present, from the 32 clubs in the league that we believe may one day be awarded a
comparable accolade in the less than a month until the yearly event in Canton, Ohio.
The following three Chicago Bears ought to live forever in football history:
Linebacker Lance Briggs
Throughout his 12-year career, Briggs served as the backbone of the Bears defense, developing into a versatile linebacker
who could make a big impact. Selected 19th all-time with 944 solo tackles (97 for loss), he also has 84 pass defenses, 16
forced fumbles, 16 interceptions, and 15 sacks in 173 games, all with Chicago. He is a seven-time Pro Bowler and a one-time
first-team All-Pro.
In NFL history, only three linebackers have reached or surpassed such totals. They all accomplished this, though, over a far
longer period of time than Briggs did: Hall of Famer Ray Lewis (228 games), London Fletcher (256 games), and Karlos
Dansby (212 games).
Although Briggs’ deficiency in All-Pro honors is evident, he was competing with players like Derrick Brooks, Clay Matthews,
and
Marcus Ware.
The former outstanding Bears player has been eligible for a while now, having retired after the 2014 season. Perhaps it’s
time Canton paid a visit after all.
Cornerback Charles Tillman
Although Tillman was a capable cornerback and leader from the start of his career, he didn’t receive much attention until
much later in it.
Tillman averaged 83 tackles, 15 pass defenses, four interceptions, and four forced fumbles throughout his first eight seasons
in the NFL. However, he was contributing almost at the same rate after being selected to his first Pro Bowls (2011), (2012),
and All-Pro Team (2012). He averaged 84 tackles, 15 pass defenses, seven forced fumbles, and three interceptions annually.
Tillman was a singular game-changer and a model of consistency who was frequently disregarded. Although the NFL has
produced a number of noteworthy defensive players, the former Bears star holds the record for the most career interceptions
(38) and forced fumbles (44) of any player in history.
Linebacker Khalil Mack
Mack, an eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, is already being considered for the Hall of Fame. The No. 5 choice in
the 2014 NFL Draft had a significant effect with the Bears, and he is still active today, playing for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Mack was a force throughout his four seasons with the Chicago Bears, racking up 36 sacks in 53 games. Only eight players
have more from 2018 to 2021, and Chandler Jones was the only one to accomplish so in fewer games (52).
Mack is just the 64th player to reach the century mark in sacks in NFL history. In contrast, only three players—Dexter
Manley (103.5), Mark Gastineau (107.5), and J.J. Watt (114.5)—have scored more points (101.5) in their first 151 games.
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