Richard Marvin Butkus was an American football linebacker, sports commentator, and actor. He played football for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) from 1965 to 1973. He was invited to eight Pro Bowls in nine seasons, named a first-team All-Pro five times, and was twice recognized by his peers as the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year. Butkus was renowned as a fierce tackler and for the relentless effort with which he played. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most intimidating linebackers in professional football history.
Robert Vinson Smith, is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates. Smith played in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. He won Super Bowl XXVII with Dallas over the Buffalo Bills.
Obafemi Devin Ayanbadejo is an American former professional football player who was a running back, fullback and special teams player in the National Football League (NFL) and United Football League (UFL). He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 1997. In 1998 as a member of the Vikings, he was allocated to the London Monarchs of the NFL Europe. Ayanbadejo also played for the Baltimore Ravens (1999–2002), Miami Dolphins (2002–2003), Arizona Cardinals 2004–2007), and Chicago Bears (2007) of the NFL, as well as the California Redwoods (2009) of the UFL. He played college football at San Diego State.
Byron Keith Traylor is a former American football nose tackle who played 17 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He played college football at Central Oklahoma. Traylor has won a total of three Super Bowl rings; he won two with the Denver Broncos and one with the New England Patriots.
Joshua David Parry is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the San Jose State Spartans. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2001.
Genos Derwin "D. J." Williams, Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Miami and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft in the National Football League (NFL). He also played two seasons for the Chicago Bears.
Lance Marell Briggs is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona Wildcats and was selected by the Bears in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft, where he played his entire 12-year career. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection. Briggs played alongside Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher during his tenure with the Bears. The two would be regarded as one of the greatest linebacker tandems in NFL history.
Michael Warren Bush Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals.
Barry Antoine Minter is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He played college football at the University of Tulsa.
Joseph Francis Fortunato was an American professional football player who spent his entire 12-year National Football League (NFL) career playing linebacker for the Chicago Bears. A five-time Pro Bowl selection, he was the captain and signal-caller for the Bears defense, leading to an NFL Championship in 1963. Fortunato is one of only four players, and the only defensive player named to the National Football League 1950s All-Decade Team who has not yet been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Lee Roy Caffey was an American professional football player who was an outside linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers. Caffey is one of the top 100 Green Bay Packers of All-Time (#57). Caffey and teammates, Ray Nitchke and Dave Robinson, were named one of the top 10 best linebacking trios in the history of the NFL by ESPN. He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies and is one of Texas A&M’s top 10 best players in the NFL.
Melvin Torrence Bratton is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, blowing out his knee in the national championship game at the 1988 Orange Bowl against Oklahoma.
Bruce Albert Huther is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and Chicago Bears. He also was a member of the Pittsburgh Maulers and Denver Gold of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at the University of New Hampshire.
John Alfred Roper is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, earning consensus All-American honors in 1987. Roper was selected in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft. He was on the Cowboys' Super Bowl XXVIII championship team that beat the Buffalo Bills.
Markus Dwayne Paul was an American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the 1989 NFL Draft. He also was a strength and conditioning coach with the New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, New York Jets, New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Syracuse University.
Tyler Clutts is a former American football fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Fresno State University.
Shea Keegan McClellin is an American former professional football player who was a outside linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Boise State Broncos. He was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 19th overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft.
Freddie Stevenson is a former American football fullback. He played college football at Florida State, and signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2017, and also played for the Orlando Apollos.
Rex Daniel Grossman Sr. was an American football linebacker and fullback who played for two seasons in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and one season in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for Indiana, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the twenty-ninth round of the 1948 NFL Draft. He played for the Baltimore Colts of the AAFC from 1948 to 1949, until they merged with the NFL in 1950, and for the Detroit Lions of the NFL in 1950. His grandson, Rex, is a former NFL quarterback who played for 11 seasons in the league and started for the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.
Jack Sanborn is an American football linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wisconsin.
