List of Chicago Bears in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

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The Pro Football Hall of Fame, located in Canton, Ohio was established in 1963. Football Hall of Fame.JPG
The Pro Football Hall of Fame, located in Canton, Ohio was established in 1963.

The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. [1] They are currently members of the North Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL), and are one of two remaining charter members of NFL. [2] Founded in 1919 by the A.E. Staley Company as the Decatur Staleys and based in Chicago since 1922, [1] the Bears organization has become one of the most successful professional football teams, having won a total of nine  professional American football championships—eight NFL Championships and one Super Bowl—second most in the NFL, behind the Green Bay Packers. [3] The franchise has recorded 18 NFL divisional titles, four NFL conference championships, [3] and the most regular season victories of any NFL franchise. [4] In 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame was created to honor the history of professional American football and the individuals who have greatly influenced it. [5] Since the charter induction class of 1963, 32 individuals who have played, coached, or held an administrative position for the Bears have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Bears hold the record for the most individuals enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. [6]

Contents

Of the 40 inductees, 32 made their primary contribution to football with the Bears, while the other eight contributed only a minor portion of their career with the Bears. [6] Of the original 17 individuals inducted in 1963, three spent a majority of their careers with the Chicago Bears. This includes the founder, long time owner, and head coach George Halas, [7] long time halfback and two-way player Bronko Nagurski, [8] and the "Galloping Ghost" Red Grange. [9] [10] The first few years of the Hall of Fame's existence saw 14 Bear players enshrined. Jim Finks was enshrined due to his contributions to the team as a general manager, not a player. [11] Mike Ditka was inducted into the Hall of Fame while serving as the team's head coach. [12] The most recent Bears to be inducted were Ed Sprinkle and Jim Covert in 2020. In 2023, Chuck Howley who only played minor portion of his career with the Bears got elected as a Seniors candidate. [13]

Inductees

Primary members

# §Number was retired by the club for contribution with team
†Major contribution for another team
Red Grange, a halfback and corner, had two different tenures with the Bears franchise (1925 and 1929-1934). RedGrangeGoudeycard.jpg
Red Grange, a halfback and corner, had two different tenures with the Bears franchise (1925 and 1929–1934).
George Halas founded the Bears franchise and played tight end with the team in the early 1920s. Halas owned the team until his death in 1983. George Halas in 1918.jpg
George Halas founded the Bears franchise and played tight end with the team in the early 1920s. Halas owned the team until his death in 1983.
Main article: List of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees
ClassNo. [a] [14] InducteePositionSeasons [b] Notes
19637 § George Halas Club founder/Club Owner
Head coach
TE/DE 		1920–83
40 seasons
1920–28 		[7]
19633 § Bronko Nagurski HB/OT/LB 1930–37
1943 		[8]
196377 § Harold (Red) Grange HB/CB 1925
1929–34 		[9] [10]
196416 Ed Healey OT/DT 1922–27 [15]
196411 William R. Lyman OT/DT 1926–28
1930–31
1933–34 		[16]
196413 George Trafton C/DT 1920–21
1923–32 		[17]
19651 Paddy Driscoll † QB/DB/K
Head Coach 		1926–29 [18]
196521 Dan Fortmann OG/DT 1936–43 [19]
196542 § Sid Luckman QB/CB 1939–50 [20]
19665 § George McAfee HB/DB 1940–41
1945–50 		[21]
196666 § Bulldog Turner C/DT 1940–52 [22]
196713 Joe Stydahar OT/DT 1936–42
1945–46 		[23]
197156 § Bill Hewitt TE/DE 1932–36 [24]
197461 § Bill George LB 1952–65 [25]
197571 George Connor OT/LB 1948–55 [26]
197740 § Gale Sayers HB 1965–71 [27]
197951 § Dick Butkus LB 1965–73 [28]
198116 George Blanda † QB/K 1949
1950–58 		[29]
198281 Doug Atkins DE 1955–66 [30]
198216 George Musso OT/G 1933–44 [31]
198889 § Mike Ditka TE 1961–66 [c] [12]
199178 Stan Jones OT 1954–65 [32]
199334 § Walter Payton HB 1975–87 [33]
1995-- Jim Finks † General manager 1974–82 [11]
199850 Mike Singletary LB 1981–92 [34]
200299 Dan Hampton DE 1979–90 [35]
201195 Richard Dent DE 1983–93
1995 		[36]
201854 Brian Urlacher LB 2000–12
202074 Jim Covert OT 1983–90
20207 Ed Sprinkle DE 1944–55
202423 Devin Hester KR/WR 2006–13
202476 Steve McMichael DT 1981–93

Minor portion of their career with The Bears/Staleys

ClassNo.InducteePositionSeasonsPrimary Team(s)
19641/15 Jimmy Conzelman QB 1920 Chicago Cardinals
196513/23 Guy Chamberlin End/DE 1920–21 Canton Bulldogs
196625 Walt Kiesling OG 1934 Chicago Cardinals
196722 Bobby Layne QB 1948 Detroit Lions
198882 Alan Page DL 1978–81 Minnesota Vikings
201676 Orlando Pace OT 2009 St. Louis Rams
202354 Chuck Howley LB 1958–59 Dallas Cowboys
202490 Julius Peppers DE 2010–13 Carolina Panthers

Not Listed as a Chicago Bear in Hall of Fame Records

ClassNo.InducteePositionSeasonsPrimary Team(s)
1983-- Sid Gillman Offensive Coordinator 1977 San Diego Chargers
2002-- George Allen Defensive Coordinator/ Director of player personnel 1958–65 Los Angeles Rams
Washington Redskins
2016-- Dick Stanfel Offensive line coach [d] 1981–92 Detroit Lions
Washington Redskins

Finalists

Primary members

No.InducteePositionSeasonsYears(s)Notes
- Clark Shaughnessy Defensive coordinator 1951–62 1969, 1970, 1975, 1976
48 Beattie Feathers HB 1934–37 1970
28 § Willie Galimore HB 1957–63 1992Senior committee

Minor portion of their career with The Bears/Staleys

No.InducteePositionSeasonsYears(s)Primary Team(s)
67 Abe Gibron OG [e] 1958–59 1967 Cleveland Browns

Footnotes

  • a The uniform number worn by the player as a member of the Bears.
  • b Only includes the seasons with the Chicago Bears organization.
  • c Ditka was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his service just as a tight end. [12]
  • d Stanfel was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his service just as a player.
  • e Gibron was also the Bears Head coach from 1972–1974.

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References

General
  • "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Hall of Famers by Franchise". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  • "ChicagoBears.com – Hall of Famers". Chicago Bears. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
Specific
  1. 1 2 "ChicagoBears.com". Chicago Bears. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Chicago Bears Team Page – NFL.com". NFL. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "ProFootballReference.com – Playoff Log". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Team Encyclopedias and Records". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  5. ↑ "The Pro Football Hall of Fame: Then and Now (Mission Statement)". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  6. 1 2 "Franchises – Pro Football Hall of Fame". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  7. 1 2 "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Halas". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  8. 1 2 "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Bronko Nagurski". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  9. 1 2 "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Harold (Red) Grange". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  10. 1 2 "The Galloping Ghost". American Heritage. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  11. 1 2 "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Jim Finks". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  12. 1 2 3 "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Mike Ditka". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Whole lot of defense joins Joe Thomas in Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2023". sports.yahoo.com. February 9, 2023.
  14. ↑ "All Time Jersey Numbers" (PDF). Chicago Bears. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 31, 2010. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Ed Healey". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – William Roy Lyman". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Trafton". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Paddy Driscoll". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dan Fortmann". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  20. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dan Fortmann". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George McAfee". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  22. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Clyde Bulldog Turner". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  23. ↑   "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Joe Stydahar". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Bill Hewitt". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Bill George". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Connor". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Gale Sayers". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dick Butkus". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  29. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Blanda". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  30. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Doug Atkins". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  31. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – George Musso". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  32. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Stan Jones". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  33. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Walter Payton". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  34. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Mike Singletary". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  35. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dan Hampton". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  36. ↑ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Richard Dent". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
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