My All-Time Historical Bears Team: Chicago Gridiron Greats

My All-Time Historical Chicago Bears team is full of Hall of Famers, Top 100 Bears, All Pros, and Pro Bowlers, and the few players who lack those accolades all fit a specific need on my squad. This is, without a shadow of a doubt, the greatest team assembled in our exercise, so the only name that fits is the Gridiron Greats.

• By now, you all know the basic rules of our All-Bears Historical Fantasy Draft. We each picked a team consisting of 25 players. We got 11 picks on offense, 11 picks on defense, and three picks on special teams.
• The offensive picks require a full offensive line, a quarterback, a running back, two wide receivers, and a tight end. The 11th pick on offense could go to any skill position of the team’s choosing.
• Given the Bears’ historical preference for a 4-3 base defense over a 3-4, we required two defensive ends, two defensive tackles, two linebackers, two cornerbacks, and two safeties. The 11th pick could be used at any position of the team’s choosing, whether it be a nickel defender, a third linebacker, or an extra defensive lineman.
• For the special teams picks, we were asked to take one kicker, one punter, and one miscellaneous contributor (returner, coverage defender, long snapper).
• Each player’s skill level will be transported to the modern age. For example, a Hall of Fame offensive lineman from the 1940s, while smaller than the modern o-lineman, will still be a Hall of Famer.
• We also only get the player’s ability as it was when he played in Chicago. For example, Jason Peters made 9 Pro Bowls from 2007-2016 while in Philly, and if he were drafted in this exercise, the drafter would only get his abilities in 2021 as a 39-year-old Bear.

Chicago Gridiron Greats

OFFENSE

QB – Sid Luckman (1st Round): Chicago’s best quarterback of all time led them to 4 NFL Championships in the 1940s, and he still holds League and franchise passing records. He was named the 4th greatest Bear of all time as part of the 100th anniversary celebration.

FB – Bronko Nagurski (3rd Round): I picked Bronko as my extra offensive skill player because he could run like a tailback, block like a fullback, and he even lined up as an offensive tackle, which would translate into some awesome 12 personal packages for my team. Nagurski was named the 3rd greatest Bears player of all time.

RB – Willie Galimore (13th Round): “The Wisp” made 2nd Team All-Pro and the Pro Bowl team in 1958, and was a member of the Bears’ 1963 Championship team. The speedy Galimore played in an era where they spit carries, and he’d be the lightning to Bronko’s thunder on my squad. He was 61 on the Bears’ Top 100.

WR – Ken Kavanaugh (8th Round): His 50 touchdown receptions are still the most in franchise history, and he last took a snap 76 years ago. Those...