The Chicago Bears have long been recognized for their strong defense. Let’s take a look at the best defenders at each position over the last 25 years of franchise history.
Chicago Bears All Quarter-Century Team: Defense and Special Teams
Defensive End/Edge Rusher- Julius Peppers, Khalil Mack
Honorable Mentions: Robert Quinn, Alex Brown, Leonard Floyd, Willie Young, Israel Idonije
Despite short tenures for both of these players, Julius Peppers and Khalil Mack were nothing short of dominant while in a Chicago Bears uniform.
Peppers made three straight Pro Bowls for the Bears from 2010-2012 and also snagged a spot on the 2010 All-Pro First-Team as an edge rusher. He accumulated 37.5 sacks and forced 10 fumbles in his four years in Chicago.
Mack’s arrival in Chicago was legendary. He arrived a week before the season began, signed a huge extension, and then kicked off the year on Sunday Night Football with a pick-six and a strip sack against the Packers.
This may also be one of the more impressive honorable mentions lists out there. Robert Quinn holds the record for most sacks in a single season in Bears history, while Alex Brown, Leonard Floyd, Willie Young, and Israel Idonije all provided good or better production in their Bears careers.
Interior Defensive Line- Akiem Hicks, Tommie Harris
HM: Stephen Paea, Henry Melton, Ted Washington, Eddie Goldman
Akiem Hicks embodied everything it was to be a Chicago Bear. He would even growl like one during games! Hicks got one Pro Bowl nod while in Chicago and accumulated 31 sacks and 51 tackles for loss.
Tommie Harris was a force to be reckoned with on the interior of the Bears’ defensive line in the 2000s. He racked up 28.5 sacks and three Pro Bowl appearances throughout his seven years on the team.
Not many will remember Ted Washington’s small two-year stint in Chicago, but his Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro appearances earned him an honorable mention.
Linebacker- Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Roquan Smith
HM: T.J. Edwards, Danny Trevathan
Brian Urlacher is the second of three Hall of Famers on this list. He spent his whole career with the Bears and is probably the best linebacker in team history. That’s saying something considering this team has had players like Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary.
Urlacher’s accolades run as long as a CVS receipt. He appeared in eight Pro Bowls, four All-Pro teams, 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year, 2005 Defensive Player of the Year, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018. His impact on the field is second to none when it comes to all-time greats.
Lance Briggs and Roquan Smith were both great for the Bears. Briggs played alongside the previously mentioned Urlacher, and made seven Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team in his 12-year career in Chicago. Smith wasn’t here for long, but his impact was major even as a rookie. His raw talent and violent tackling made him the centerpiece for the Bears’ defense.
Cornerback- Charles Tillman, Jaylon Johnson
HM: Kyle Fuller, Tim Jennings, Nathan Vasher
Charles “Peanut” Tillman was an icon for Chicago and the entire NFL. His “Peanut Punch” is a move still used in today’s game to force fumbles on innocent ball carriers.
Tillman earned 36 interceptions and forced 42 fumbles during his time on the Bears. He also made two Pro Bowls and a First-Team All-Pro nod. Tillman also has a case for making the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He still has to be voted in, but a majority of the media will agree he deserves it.
Jaylon Johnson is the only current Bear to earn a spot on the quarter-century roster. He may not have the longevity of Tillman or Urlacher just yet, but his talent speaks for itself.
Johnson has spent the last couple of years locking down his half of the field with ease and was recently rewarded with a contract extension before the 2024 season. Hopefully, he continues his dominance for years to come on the Bears.
Safety- Eddie Jackson, Mike Brown
HM: Adrian Amos, Major Wright
Eddie Jackson, at his peak, was the most dangerous safety in all of football. He earned two Pro Bowls and an All-Pro Team nod while snagging 15 interceptions in Chicago. He had a great ability to cover a large amount of grass and was a threat to score every time he touched the ball.
Mike Brown was a very good player in the 2000s. He spent nine of his 10-year career on the Bears and earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2005. Brown also caught 17 interceptions and forced eight fumbles from 2000-2008.
Kicker- Robbie Gould
HM: Cairo Santos
Robbie Gould may not be the flashiest kicker, but he was incredibly consistent. He spent the first 11 years of his career with the Bears and earned a Pro Bowl spot in 2006. Gould also had a stretch from 2006 to 2012 where he did not miss a single extra point attempt.
Gould was so reliable for the Bears that after he didn’t return for the 2016 season, the Bears were a revolving door for kickers until they found another consistent guy in Cairo Santos.
Santos earned the honorable mention slot for this list because, like Gould, of his consistency as a kicker. He may not be able to hit from 60 yards like the newer kickers of this generation, but he can hit when it counts, like against Green Bay, to walk off the 2024 season with a win.
Punter- Brad Maynard
HM: Pat O’Donnell
Most may not remember Brad Maynard, but he was a very solid punter for the Bears in his career.
He accumulated over 32,000 net punt yards and had a career-long of 75 yards on a single punt. Maynard led the NFL in punts and punt yards in 2004, which earned him an All-Pro Second-Team spot in 2004.
Return Specialist- Devin Hester
HM: Tarik Cohen, Cordarrelle Patterson
Was there really any doubt for this one? Saving the best for last, the return specialist spot goes to Devin “Anytime” Hester.
This guy was pure entertainment. Hester returned an NFL record for most all-time return touchdowns with 20. He was also the first player to return the opening kickoff in a Super Bowl for a touchdown.
Hester was so fast that he was given a 100 speed rating in Madden 08. No other player can say the same.
Hester is the perfect cherry on top of a fantastic Chicago Bears quarter-century team.
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