Chicago Bears history is loaded with all-time great careers. There are even some great seasons in there as well. Some from rather unexpected players. Erik Kramer in 1995 is a classic example. However, then there are those forgotten Bears players who never did much of anything with the team, save for that one magical afternoon or evening where something inside them seemed to catch fire. It all came together.
These are what we call one-game wonders. Guys who never managed to make a true name for themselves in Bears lore but did shine brighter than anybody for 60 minutes just once. There are a number of candidates who fit the label but it's important to be as dedicated as possible. No stars are allowed on this list. Just role players who were either past their primes or never had them.
Who managed to have that one magical Sunday?
The greatest Chicago Bears one-game wonders of all-time
Mike Hohensee vs. Philadelphia (1987)
NFL fans probably don't remember the name Mike Hohensee. However, Arena Football fans do. He coached in the league for 25 years, won a championship, and was voted into the Hall of Fame. Many don't remember that he was actually a decent player in his time. He played in the USFL and the CFL during the early-to-mid 1980s. The NFL wasn't on his mind. That is until a players strike happened in 1987.
Rather than cancel games, the league decided to acquire replacement players to fill out their rosters. Hohensee was brought in by the Bears and made their starting QB. Nobody knew much of anything about him. Then the guy went out in his first-ever NFL game and threw three TD passes in a 35-3 blowout victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. The next week he was having another decent game against Minnesota but suffered an injury. Two weeks later the original players returned and he was not seen in Chicago again until he became head coach of the AFL's Rush years later.
Edgar Bennett vs. Detroit (1998)
When people bring up the name Edgar Bennett, they almost exclusively see visions of him wearing green and gold. He made his name in the NFL as a member of the Green Bay Packers. A man who had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in four-straight seasons and helped them win a Super Bowl in 1996. By the time the Bears got him in '98, he was 29-years old and clearly on the downside of his career.
His run in Chicago was largely unforgettable save for one afternoon when the Bears hosted the Lions at Soldier Field. In what turned out to be a crazy game where the Bears overcame deficits of 10 and 17 at different points, it was Bennett of all people leading the charge. He ran for 88 yards, caught three passes for another 32, and put the cherry on the sundae with an 18-yard touchdown pass that kickstarted their comeback in the second half of what became a 31-27 triumph.
Devin Aromashodu vs. Minnesota (2009)
The Bears have a rough history when it comes to wide receivers. Not much of a surprise given the similar one they have at quarterback. Still, every so often somebody seems to come out of nowhere and deliver some magic. There was no greater "who the hell is this guy?" moment than on a Monday night in December of 2009 when the country was introduced to Devin Aromashodu.
Up to that point the guy has been a nobody. A former 7th round pick out of Auburn in 2007, he'd made just a handful of catches in his first two seasons in the league. Then, against the 6th-best defense in the NFL in a game the Vikings needed to have, he went off for 150 yards including the 39-yard bomb for a touchdown in overtime to put it away 36-30.
And...that was it. By mid-September of 2010, he was essentially benched and never made a meaningful impact for the Bears again.
Shea McClellin vs. Green Bay (2013)
It's a name that still garners more than a few groans from Bears fans. Shea McClellin was supposed to be the eventual heir apparent to Julius Peppers. That next great pass rusher. Former GM Phil Emery was so confident of this that he passed on the more proven Chandler Jones to take him. McClellin didn't even come within a light year of those expectations. He posted just 8.5 sacks in his career and has been out of football since 2016.
What's crazy is almost half of that production came in one night. See the thing about McClellin is he was terrible against every other team in the league. Except for the Packers. He just loved playing Green Bay and no night proved that more than in 2013. On the seventh play of the game, he sacked Aaron Rodgers to end the Packers' first drive. He also happened to break the quarterback's collarbone too.
McClellin wasn't done though. He added two more sacks to the total that night along with three additional QB hits and two tackles for a loss. He was the best player on the field. Chicago won 27-20. He had just 2.5 sacks the remainder of his career.
Tom Hicks vs. Green Bay (1979)
When people talk about Bears linebackers, it's always the classic names who come up. Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Mike Singletary, Otis Wilson, Dick Butkus, Doug Buffone, and Bill George headline the list. Not a single person mentions the name Tom Hicks. Which is a shame too because he would've made for a great story. A Chicago kid out of Illinois drafted in the 6th round who went on to add to that linebacker legacy.
It didn't happen. However, for one day at least he channeled energy on the field.
Towards the end of the 1979 season, the Bears were fighting to make the playoffs. They needed a win over the Packers in Green Bay to make it happen. In a tight defensive battle, the original #54 delivered in the clutch with two interceptions including a 66-yard pick-six that put Chicago ahead in the 4th quarter. They would hold on to win 15-14 and eventually clinched a wild card spot.
Hicks was out of the league by 1981 due to a contract dispute with the Bears, ironically paving the way for Singletary.
Dave Williams vs. Detroit (1980)
Everything about the career of Dave Williams is a story many, many athletes share. He didn't come into the league with a lot of fanfare as a 7th round pick and it didn't last long. He played just five seasons including his final three with the Bears, most of it spent as an occasional backup on offense. Nothing about the guy stood out. Not even his name. Then on Thanksgiving day in 1980, he had his moment.
Facing a Lions team fighting for a playoff spot at 7-6, the 5-8 Bears didn't have a lot to play for. It seemed that way at the start as they fell behind 17-3. Then things got crazy. Vince Evans led two TD drives in the 4th quarter to tie the game, forcing overtime. It was here Williams finally seized his moment when he returned the opening kickoff of the period 95 yards for a touchdown to deliver an emotional Bears win.
Detroit was knocked out of the playoffs because of that loss. Williams, the hero of the day, played one more season in Chicago and was out of the league by 1982.
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