George is credited with creating the middle linebacker position when he dropped back off the line of scrimmage in 1954. He was named All-NFL eight times in nine years and was selected to eight straight Pro Bowls from 1955-62.
The Wake Forest product was voted to the league’s All-Decade Team for the 1950s and was a member of the 1963 Bears championship squad. His No. 61 was retired by the Bears and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974.
Singletary was voted to 10 Pro Bowls in 12 seasons from 1981-92, the most in franchise history. He was named NFL defensive player of the year in 1985 and ’88 and was voted to the league’s All-Decade Team for the 1980s.
An integral part of a dominant defense, Singletary helped lead the Bears to six NFC Central Division titles and the franchise’s first Super Bowl championship. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.
Hester spent his first eight NFL seasons with the Bears from 2006-13, becoming the NFL’s most prolific return specialist. He rewrote the league’s record book, setting all-time marks with 18 kick return touchdowns and 13 punt return TDs. And that doesn’t even count his magical 92-yard touchdown return on the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI.
Hester set an NFL single-season record with five kick return touchdowns as a rookie in 2006 and then eclipsed the mark the following year with six. He was named to the NFL All-Decade Team for both the 2000s and 2010s.
Some of the Bears’ top playmakers over the past 20 years have been second-round picks. They include safety Mike Brown (2000), cornerback Charles Tillman (2003), running back Matt Forte (2008) and receiver Alshon Jeffery (2012).
Brown spent his first nine NFL seasons with the Bears from 2000-08, appearing in 100 games with 99 starts and recording 20 interceptions and seven defensive touchdowns, the second most in team history. Before being plagued by injury problems later in his career, Brown played in all 64 games (with 63 starts) during his first four seasons.