Richard Marvin Butkus is an American former professional football player, sports commentator, and actor. He played football as a middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) from 1965 to 1973. He was invited to eight Pro Bowls, named a first-team All-Pro six times, and was twice recognized by his peers as the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year. He was renowned as a fierce tackler and for the relentless effort with which he played and is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most intimidating linebackers in pro football history.
Gale Eugene Sayers was an American professional football player who was both a halfback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). In a relatively brief but highly productive NFL career, Sayers spent seven seasons with the Chicago Bears from 1965 to 1971, though multiple injuries effectively limited him to five seasons of play. He was known for his elusiveness and agility and was regarded by his peers as one of the most difficult players to tackle.
Marvin Daniel Levy is an American former football coach and executive who was a head coach in the National Football League (NFL) for seventeen seasons. He spent most of his head coaching career with the Buffalo Bills, leading them from 1986 to 1997. Levy's first head coaching position was with the Montreal Alouettes of Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1973 to 1977, where he won two Grey Cup titles.
Jarrett Walter Payton is a former American football running back. He is the son of Walter Payton. Payton was previously signed as an undrafted free agent by the National Football League (NFL)'s Tennessee Titans. Payton also played for the Montreal Alouettes and Toronto Argonauts. Payton hosts his own internet radio show named the Jarrett Payton Show on ChicagolandSportsRadio.com.
John Joseph "Jack" Concannon Jr. was an American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and Detroit Lions. He played college football at Boston College.
Lawrence Raymond Brink was an American football defensive end who played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
Walter Jerry Payton was an American professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears. Nicknamed "Sweetness", he is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Payton is remembered as a prolific rusher, once holding records for career rushing yards, touchdowns, carries, yards from scrimmage, all-purpose yards, and many other categories. Payton also retired with the most receptions by a non-receiver, and he had eight career touchdown passes.
James C. Caroline was an American professional football player in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign where he was a consensus All-American in 1953. After a year in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes, Caroline played for ten seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Hugh Light "Shorty" Ray was an American football player and official. He was the first technical advisor on the rules and supervisor of officials for the National Football League (NFL) from 1938 to 1952. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966.
Leonard David Sachs was an American basketball and football coach and player. In 1961, he was posthumously enshrined as a coach in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Charles Ray Hunsinger was an American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL) for six seasons during the 1950s. Hunsinger played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Chicago Bears of the NFL and the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL.
The Chicago Owls were a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They were members of the Professional Football League of America (PFLA) in 1967 and, after the leagues merged, the Continental Football League (COFL) during the league's last two years (1968–1969). The club was owned by Marty O'Connor and initially coached by Don Branby.
The Northern Illinois Huskies football team are a college football program representing Northern Illinois University (NIU) in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of college football. NIU football plays its home games at Huskie Stadium on the campus of the Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.
Billy "The Kid" Harris was an American basketball player.
Jordan Lynch is a former American football quarterback and running back. After playing college football at Northern Illinois, where he was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in 2013, and going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, Lynch had stints with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) and Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Thomas A. "Tom" Jorgensen, Jr., sometimes known as Jorgy, was an American former basketball coach and player. He was the head coach of the Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball from 1966 to 1973, compiling a record of 95–61 (.609). He played college basketball at the University of Michigan from 1953 to 1956. He was also an assistant basketball coach at Michigan from 1960 to 1966.
The 1963 Northern Illinois Huskies football team was an American football team that represented Northern Illinois University in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1963 NCAA College Division football season. In their eighth year under head coach Howard Fletcher, the Huskies compiled a perfect 10–0 record, won the IIAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 337 to 97. They appeared ithe Mineral Water Bowl, defeating Southwest Missouri State. The team was recognized by the Associated Press as the 1963 small college national champion. However, the United Press International recognized Delaware as the small college champion. Northern Illinois played home games at the 5,500-seat Glidden Field, located on the east end of campus, in DeKalb, Illinois.
The 1962 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1962 NCAA College Division football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Howard Fletcher, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 8–2 with a mark of 3–1 in conference play, plaching second in the IIAC. Northern Illinois was invited to the Mineral Water Bowl, where they lost to Adams State. The team played home games at the 5,500-seat Glidden Field, located on the east end of campus, in DeKalb, Illinois.
Scott Jeffery Kellar is a former American football nose tackle who played two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Colts in the fifth round of the 1986 NFL Draft. He played college football at Northern Illinois University and attended Lake Park High School in Roselle, Illinois. Kellar was also a member of the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Ottawa Rough Riders.
Sutton Smith is an American football fullback who is a free agent. He played college football at Northern Illinois, mainly as a linebacker.
