For the longest time, the idea of a Chicago Bears Ring of Honor has been floated about. It makes sense. The team has avoided it by instead retiring the jersey of the best players in franchise history. This, however, has become a problem since there are only so many numbers available. Chicago has done so 14 times to date with Mike Ditka being the last in 2013.
That can't be expected to continue or they won't have enough numbers left to field a full roster. Thus the idea of a Ring of Honor picked up steam. It would allow the team to honor past great players without having to sacrifice jersey numbers. This brings up a fun question. If the Bears did decide to establish one, who would be the first inductees?
This article will explore 10 names who deserve consideration. Keep something in mind. This Ring of Honor will be built around shining lights on past greats who have yet to receive their due. Players or coaches who are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for example? They will eventually get in but the first seats can and should be reserved for those who haven't.
Jay Hilgenberg (C, 1981-1992)
People often think left tackle Jimbo Covert was the anchor of the great Bears offensive line of the 1980s. Many would argue Hilgenberg was instead. An undrafted free agent out of Iowa, he was an afterthought when he arrived in 1981. Within a few years, he'd secured the starting center job and would not relinquish it for the next decade.
During that span, he helped the Bears lead the NFL in rushing four-straight years. He helped Jim McMahon reach the Pro Bowl, Walter Payton break the all-time rushing record, won the Super Bowl in 1985, and reached seven Pro Bowls himself. It's a genuine shock to football historians he's not in the Hall of Fame. So it's only right he be the first member in a Ring of Honor.
Lance Briggs (OLB, 2003-2014)
Brian Urlacher was a first ballot Hall of Famer and he'd be the first advocate to say Lance Briggs deserves a gold jacket as well. Unfortunately, voters will likely disagree. They'll feel that Briggs benefited from playing most of his career in Urlacher's shadow. This despite there being proof in 2009 when Urlacher was lost for the year that he could be just as great without him.
Briggs certainly has the numbers on his side. He delivered over 1,200 tackles in his career along with 17 interceptions, 16 forced fumbles, 15 sacks, and six defensive touchdowns. His seven Pro Bowls offer clear proof he was one of the best outside linebackers of his generation. The man was a great football player. Period.
Richie Petitbon (S, 1959-1968)
Playing on all-time great defenses can actually have disadvantages when it comes to personal legacy. The 1963 Bears were a force that paved the way to a championship. They were led by Hall of Famers like Bill George and Doug Atkins. Amidst that greatness, it was easy to miss how awesome safety Richie Petitbon was during those days.
In 10 seasons with the Bears, he managed to collect 37 interceptions. He also scored three defensive touchdowns. He would have 11 more interceptions after he left the team in 1969, making one question the team for not hanging onto him longer. Petitbon would later go on to have a successful career as a defensive coordinator. His time for recognition is long overdue.
Devin Hester (KR/PR, 2006-2013)
There is a legitimate chance that Devin Hester can make it into Canton. Specialists are being more highly regarded these days than in years past. Punter Ray Guy was a recent entrant, as was kicker Morten Anderson. One has to think they'll find room for the greatest return man who ever played the game. It would be the height of hypocrisy if they didn't.
One can imagine the Bears can easily so for a Ring of Honor. Hester changed the game of football forever when he arrived in 2006. Nobody had seen a return with his mix of vision and speed before. His rookie year of five touchdowns was a catalyst for their Super Bowl run. He would retire with the NFL record of 20 with four Pro Bowls along the way.
Olin Kreutz (C, 1998-2010)
The last great enforcer of the Bears offensive line. Olin Kreutz didn't just reach six Pro Bowls in his career because he was an outstanding talent. He did so by not taking any crap from anybody, be they opponents or even teammates. He was both feared and respected. Any time coaches needed somebody to be brought to heel, Kreutz was the one they asked to do it.
With his help, the Bears regained their place as one of the best rushing teams in the NFL. He paved the way for multiple 1,000-yard backs including Anthony Thomas, Thomas Jones, and Matt Forte. He also helped Rex Grossman, Kyle Orton, and Jay Cutler all have success in Chicago. It's sad he never got a ring, but he remains beloved throughout the city.
Rick Casares (FB, 1955-1964)
When football players from the 1950s and '60s say that Rick Casares was one of the toughest in the sport, it means something. The guy had a boxing background after all. He was no stranger to dealing out pain, which made him perfect for playing fullback. Not only was he a tremendous blocker per the requirements of his position, he was an excellent rusher too.
Casares accounted for over 5,600 yards rushing and 59 touchdowns in his Bears career. He reached five Pro Bowls during that time and helped the team to reach two NFL championship games, winning one of them in 1963. He never did reach the level of other great fullbacks in terms of notoriety. That doesn't mean his accolades are any less impressive.
Joe Fortunato (OLB, 1955-1966)
Some people might call him the Briggs of his era. Joe Fortunato also knew what it was like to live in the shadow of an all-time great middle linebacker. In this case, two of them. He spent most of his career alongside Hall of Famer Bill George. Then in 1965, he was introduced to a young man named Dick Butkus. This resulted in Fortunato never getting the credit he deserved.
The outside linebacker was a fixture on the Bears defense for a decade. He only missed one game in his entire career, was a three-time All-Pro and a key part of their 1963 championship team. He finished with 16 career interceptions and 22 recovered fumbles. A constant presence around the football that could not and would not be ignored.
Charles Tillman (CB, 2003-2013)
The man fans today affectionately refer to as "Peanut" departed as the greatest corner in Bears history. That's not up for debate. No player at that position lasted longer and played consistently good football like Charles Tillman. Perhaps what made him so overlooked around the league was he didn't come across as the traditional type of cornerback.
He was big and not overly smooth. He didn't run real fast either. His game was centered around intelligence and physicality. This enabled him to collect 36 interceptions, scored nine defensive touchdowns, and force 42 fumbles. That last one is a franchise record. His two Pro Bowl don't tell half the story of how good he was in his prime. Teams feared him, and for good reason.
Buddy Ryan (DC, 1978-1985)
The architect of the greatest defense in NFL history. Buddy Ryan wasn't always the easiest man to get along with. He had an ego and wasn't afraid to tell people what he thought. Hurt feelings mattered little to him. However, no one can ever deny the man was one of the greatest defensive minds of his era, ushering in the art of the blitz like never before.
In his eight seasons with the Bears, the defense ranked in the top 10 five times. They set the NFL record for sacks in 1984 with 72 and a year later allowed just 10 points in three playoff games to bring home a Lombardi trophy to Chicago. The "46" defense was the last one that truly struck fear into the league. Nobody has reached that level since, and it's because of Ryan.
Lovie Smith (HC, 2004-2012)
There are some who were never big fans of Lovie Smith during his heyday in Chicago, but facts are facts. The man was successful with the Bears. More so than all but two other head coaches in team history. They being George Halas and Mike Ditka. Smith delivered three division titles, two NFC championship appearances, and a Super Bowl berth.
He only had three losing seasons in nine years and finished his last with a winning record. On top of that, he delivered a top 10 defense four times over that span. Three of them being in the top five. Smith was a very good head coach whom time has vindicated after the disastrous era between 2013 and 2017 after he was fired.
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