Bears Top 100 | #Top100Bears | @IlliniFootball
In 1920, University of Illinois alum George Halas established the Decatur Staleys, a founding franchise in the inaugural year of the American Professional Football association, which later became the NFL. The Staleys moved to Chicago in 1921 and became the Chicago Bears in 1922. Today the Bears have 9 World Championships, 28 Hall of Famers and the most wins in the NFL.
In 2019, the Bears will celebrate Bears100, the franchise's 100th season. As part of the celebration, they named the Top 100 Bears of all time which, not surprisingly, includes several former Fighting Illini greats and Illinois connections.
The Big Four Illini & Bears Legends
Four former Fighting Illini greats appear on the Bears Top 100 list:
• Dick Butkus (#2) The greatest linebacker in the history of the game. Butkus joined the Bears as a first-round draft pick in 1965 after an All-American career at Illinois. Butkus went on to earn All-Pro honors seven times and is a member of the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame. The Bears and Illini Athletics Hall of Fame member's jersey number 50 retired is at Illinois and 51 retired by the Bears.
• Red Grange (#36): Illinois All-American was first major signing by Halas and the fledgling National Football League. Halas took Grange and the Bears on a coast-to-coast barnstorming tour in which the club played 16 games in nine weeks. The tour is generally credited with saving the professional game and putting the NFL on the national sports map. Grange is a charter member of the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame. Jersey number 77 retired at Illinois and by the Bears. Also coached for the Bears for eight seasons from 1933-40. Bears and Illini Athletics Hall of Fame member.
• George Halas (#37): Chicago Bears founder, player and long-time coach, earned a B.S. degree at Illinois in 1918 while lettering in football, basketball and baseball. A charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Illini Athletics Hall of Fame and member ot the Bears Hall of Fame, Halas selected orange and blue as the team's colors as a nod to his alma mater. Halas passed away in Oct. 1983, and starting in 1984 the Bears added the initials GSH to the left sleeve of their jerseys in honor of the late "Papa Bear." The Bears uniforms still don the initials to this day.
• J.C. Caroline (#76): Former Illini All-American halfback and coach, played for Bears from 1956-65.
Lovie's Impact
Current Illinois head coach Lovie Smith spent nine season as the Chicago Bears head coach from 2004-12, going 81-63 (.563) overall and 48-28 (.632) at Soldier Field. Lovie led the Bears to the 2006 NFC title and three playoff appearances. Smith led the Bears to a 10-6 record in his final season with Chicago in 2012, a mark that has not been duplicated since Smith's departure.
During his nine years in Chicago, Lovie coached 14 players that were chosen for the Top 100 list including legends like Brian Urlacher (#14) and Devin Hester (#20).
Family Affair
Another Fighting Illini connection in the Chicago Bears Top 100 list is Richie Petitbon, a Bears All-Pro DB from 1959-68 and also the grandfather of current Illini OL Richie Petitbon. The elder Petitbon checked in at No. 42 on the Top 100 list.
