With a quarter of the 21st century of Bears football behind us, we look at the best players to suit up for them on defense and special teams.
The 2025-26 NFL season marks the 25th season of the 21st century, and it also means we’ve sat through a quarter century of Chicago Bears football since the turn of the millennium.
It’s been an up-and-down quarter century, for the Bears, ranging from the highs of their NFC championship in 2006 to the lows under the likes of Marc Trestman and Matt Eberflus. The hope is the next 25 years will be more steadily strong, but there have been plenty of fantastic players to suit up for the Bears over the years.
To look back on the best Bears players of the 21st century, I put together a full team of the best players at each position to suit up for the organization since 2001. After breaking down the offense, let’s take a look now at the defense.
DE: Julius Peppers (2010-13), Khalil Mack (2018-21)
Honorable mentions belong to Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye, as they are the top two players in sacks for the Bears in the 21st century. They have the longevity edge over my two selections, but the peaks both of my picks had were nothing short of fantastic.
In his four seasons in Chicago, Julius Peppers was a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. He totaled 37.5 sacks in that span, averaging nearly ten sacks per year. He finished fourth in voting for Defensive Player of the Year in 2010, as well. A physical freak with a deep pass-rushing arsenal, Peppers goes down as one of the best free agent signings in Bears history.
If Peppers was one of Chicago’s best free agent signings, then Khalil Mack will go down as one of their best trade acquisitions. He similarly spent four years with the Bears, making three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams. He placed second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2018, even after missing two games. In his 53 games over those four seasons, Mack tallied 40.5 sacks.
DT: Akiem Hicks (2016-21), Tommie Harris (2004-10)
Initially a mid-level free agent signing after starting just three games in 2015, Akiem Hicks blossomed into consistently being one of the top defensive tackles in the game during his time with the Bears. He played six seasons in Chicago, though injuries slowed him down in 2019 and 2021. However, in those first three years, he had a combined 23 sacks along the interior and made a Pro Bowl in 2018.
Tommie Harris was another talented defender ultimately slowed down by injuries, but his peak was tremendous. He made the Pro Bowl all three years from 2005 to 2007, finishing as a second-team All-Pro in 2005. In seven seasons with the Bears, he had 219 tackles and 28.5 sacks. His explosiveness and ability to rush the passer made him an anchor for Chicago’s Tampa 2 defenses.
LB: Brian Urlacher (2000-12), Lance Briggs (2003-14), Roquan Smith (2018-22)
When deciding the all-quarter century linebackers for the Bears, you have two extremely easy solutions. Brian Urlacher was a first-ballot Hall of Famer, a Defensive Player of the Year, an eight-time Pro Bowler and a five-time All-Pro. He ranks 11th all-time in solo tackles and was an impact defender for much of his career.
Lance Briggs is the other easy choice. He’s not too far behind Urlacher, ranking 19th in all-time solo tackles. He made the Pro Bowl every year from 2005 to 2011, earning three All-Pro nominations in that span. He surpassed 100 tackles in eight of the 12 seasons he played in the NFL, all of which being with the Bears.
In the spirit of the Bears’ history as a predominantly 4-3 base team, I decided to add a third linebacker to building out my starting lineup. In 69 games with the Bears, Roquan Smith had 607 tackles, 16.5 sacks and seven interceptions. He was a second-team All-Pro in both 2020 and 2021, as well as a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 2022, though he got traded to the Ravens halfway through that year.
CB: Charles Tillman (2003-14), Kyle Fuller (2014-20)
Charles Tillman is the Bears’ all-time leader in pass deflections and forced fumbles, and he’s third in interceptions. An impact starter for the better part of 12 years, he was just on the fringe of Pro Bowl-caliber for much of his career. He ended up snagging two Pro Bowls and a first-team All-Pro appearance, but his collective performance as a consistent starter gives him arguably one of the most underrated careers ever for an NFL cornerback.
The second cornerback spot came down to Kyle Fuller, Jaylon Johnson, Tim Jennings and Nathan Vasher. Good arguments could be made for all four of those corners. However, I chose Fuller since he was the most productive of the bunch. Playing in 96 games for the Bears, he tallied 19 interceptions and 82 pass deflections in Chicago. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and a first-team All-Pro in 2018.
S: Mike Brown (2000-08), Eddie Jackson (2017-23)
Three of Mike Brown’s nine seasons with the Bears were cut unfortunately short due to injury. When he was healthy, though, he was a force to be reckoned with. He scored seven defensive touchdowns in Chicago, intercepting 17 passes and forcing eight fumbles over 100 games. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2001 and was both a second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 2005.
Eddie Jackson started in 100 games for the Bears, the exact amount as Brown. He saw similar success at his peak, as he made consecutive Pro Bowls in 2018 and 2019. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2018 with six interceptions and a league-leading two pick-sixes. Though he regressed to an average starting role past that, the height of his career is still talked about today.
K: Robbie Gould (2005-15)
This was an easy choice, as Robbie Gould is the Bears’ all-time leader in points scored. He’s currently ninth all-time in field goal percentage, and he also holds Chicago’s records for most field goals made, most field goals made from beyond 50 yards, and the highest overall field goal percentage.
P: Brad Maynard (2001-10)
Pat O’Donnell was the Bears’ punter for a respectable eight years, but Brad Maynard has him beat out with ten. He’s the team’s all-time leader in punt yardage and punts downed inside the 20-yard line. A second-team All-Pro in 2004, he was consistently one of the better punters in the league during his tenure in Chicago.
KR/PR: Devin Hester (2006-13)
The greatest to ever do it, Devin Hester was rightfully enshrined as the first return specialist in the Hall of Fame. He holds the records for the most career return touchdowns ever, the most career punt return touchdowns ever, and the most return touchdowns in a single season with six in 2007. Enough said.
ST: Brendon Ayanbadejo (2005-07)
In his three seasons with the Bears, Ayanbadejo finished in the top five in special teams tackles twice. He made two Pro Bowls in that time, tallying 73 tackles with many coming on special teams. He gets the nod over other key special teams coverage contributors like Sherrick McManis and DeAndre Houston-Carson.