While Jay Cutler’s inclusion on the list of 100 best players in Chicago Bears history was bound to get some push-back, I think the future is bright for the other player whose spot on the list came as a bit of a surprise:
#8️⃣5️⃣: Jay Cutler #8️⃣1️⃣: Brandon Marshall #8️⃣0️⃣: Alshon Jeffery#Top100Bears
📸: https://t.co/K4ASsEfFTc pic.twitter.com/VqKQTmZlFY
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 20, 2019
BOOM! Safety Eddie Jackson is already one of the 100 best players in franchise history.
Jackson has played 30 games in a Bears uniform and already has a special place in Bears lore. Two years into his pro career and Jackson already has eight interceptions, five defensive touchdowns, three forced fumbles, and four recoveries. Jackson was a bright spot in what was ultimately John Fox’s final season in Chicago before really picking up steam as a second-year player. He earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors last season while picking up Pro Football Focus’ best grade for a safety last season. Jackson’s placement on the list is a tip of the cap for a player who just has two years under his belt, but already has etched his name in the franchise’s history books by immediately making an impact upon arrival. And if he keeps it up, there is no doubt he will continue to make his way up this list whenever it’s time to re-work it in the future.
And to think, he’s not the only active Bear to make the cut:
The countdown of our #Top100Bears continues.
7️⃣5️⃣-5️⃣1️⃣: pic.twitter.com/cY1DqFHefa
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 21, 2019
Akiem Hicks, Kyle Long, and Khalil Mack landed in the 51-75 range. That means there are at least four active Bears on the list of 100 best players in franchise history. You figured Mack was going to make an appearance somewhere because that’s how influential he was on last year’s team. But there is clearly a ton of respect for what Hicks and Long have done in the trenches, even if their contributions have flown under the radar in past years.
Here is the complete first wave of Bears to crack the franchise’s top-100 list:
100. Patrick Mannelly
99. Doug Plank
98. Trace Armstrong
97. Bobby Joe Green
96. Eddie Jackson
95. Larry Morris
94. Jim Dooley
93. Herman Lee
92. Bill Osmanski
91. Bob Wetoska
90. Beattie Feathers
89. Mike Pyle
88. Joey STernaman
87. Luke Johnsos
86. Allan Ellis
85. Jay Cutler
84. Tom Thayer
83. Willie Gault
82. George Blanda
81. Brandon Marshall
80. Alshon Jeffery
79. Dennis McKinnon
78. Donnell Woolford
77. Bennie McRae
76. J.C. Caroline
75. Akiem Hicks
74. Kyle Long
73. Tommie Harris
72. Mark Carrier
71. Kevin Butler
69. Bill Wade
68. Dick Barwegan
67. Ed O’Bradovich
66. Mike Hartenstine
65. Dick Gordon
64. James Williams
63. Mike Brown
62. Robbie Gould
61. Willie Galimore
60. Khalil Mack
59. Julius Peppers
58. Wally Chambers
57. Jim Osborne
56. Roosevelt Taylor
55. Johnny Lujack
54. Ed Brown
53. Jim McMahon
52. Joe Kopcha
51. Keith Van Horne
This list is pretty wild if you really think about it. In addition to four active players, there are two kickers (Kevin Butler, Robbie Gould), a long-snapper (Patrick Mannelly), a defensive lineman who flipped to the other side of the line to be a Pro Bowl right tackle (James “Big Cat” Williams), and the two best quarterbacks in modern franchise history (Cutler, Jim McMahon). And yet, we still have the top-50 to get to by the time it’s all said and done.
The Bears have a storied history and have featured stars throughout the years. I can’t wait to see who makes the top half of this list!