Walter Payton is standing the test of time.

When the Sun-Times published a “50 Best Bears of All Time” list in 2010, Payton was the choice for No. 1, but it wasn’t a landslide. It wasn’t like picking Michael Jordan as the best Bull of all time.

Sid Luckman won four NFL titles and was the mastermind behind one of the league’s early dynasties. Dick Butkus made such an impact as an instinctive, ferocious player that he is still considered by many to be the best linebacker in NFL history nearly 50 years after he retired. Gale Sayers still is in a class by himself as a runner — we haven’t seen anybody quite like him. And Mike Ditka is Mike Ditka — tough to keep off any Mount Rushmore, except maybe the actual one.

But nearly a decade later, with the Bears celebrating their 100th season, Payton seems to be pulling away from the pack. The choice was even easier. And for good reason: The qualities that made Payton a great player, athlete and competitor are more admirable than ever.

I can’t put it any better than I did in 2010: ‘‘Even among those great Bears, Walter Payton stands alone. ‘Sweetness’ was the epitome of everything that’s great about football. He was physical yet durable. He was the team’s best player and its hardest worker. He had an irrepressible will to succeed.

“Without uncommon speed or size, Payton still became the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. He was as good a teammate as he was a player. He never held out. He was good even when his team was bad. He was an outstanding blocker. He’s still the Bears’ all-time leader in receptions and [is fourth] in receiving yards. He threw eight touchdown passes. And he usually was at his best against the Packers.’’

In their 99-season history, the Bears have had 28 Hall of Fame players and many more who have made an indelible mark on NFL history and team history. It’s an impressive list. But Payton is on a short list of players whose legacies are growing with age. And he’s even more deserving of being on top of that list.

1. Walter Payton

Running back (1975-86)

Hall of Fame: 1993 | All-Pro: 9 | Pro Bowls: 9 | NFL titles: 1 (1985)

Considered by many to be the greatest all-around running back in history, “Sweetness” was a physical, punishing yet durable runner and a superb blocker, receiver and teammate who always gave his offensive linemen the credit they deserved. Payton set 16 NFL records, including career marks for rushing yards (16,726) and rushing TDs (110). He also threw for eight TDs on halfback passes and was the NFL’s leading kick returner (31.7 yards) as a rookie. He was the NFL MVP in 1977 (1,852 rushing yards, 14 rushing TDs), when he set an NFL rushing mark with 275 yards vs. the Vikings. Payton played in 198 of a possible 199 career games, including the last 194 in a row.

2. Sid Luckman

Quarterback (1939-50)

Hall of Fame: 1965 | All-Pro: 9 | NFL titles: 4 (1940, 1941, 1943, 1946)

Luckman’s mastery of the T formation sparked the Bears to unprecedented dominance in the 1940s. He was the MVP in 1943, when he set NFL marks for touchdown passes (28, including 7 in one game) and passing yards (2,194) and threw 5 TD passes in the 41-21 rout of the Redskins in the NFL championship game. His 19-yard touchdown run on a then-revolutionary bootleg won the 1946 title. Nearly 70 years after he retired, Luckman still ranks second on the Bears’ all-time list in passing yards (14,686) and touchdown passes (137).

3. Dick Butkus

Linebacker (1965-73)

Hall of Fame: 1979 | All-Pro: 8 | Pro Bowls: 8

His well-earned reputation as one of the meanest, most brutal players in NFL history often overshadows the fact that Butkus was an incredibly instinctive linebacker — a textbook tackler with a nose for the ball. The Vocational graduate had an NFL-record 25 fumble recoveries and 22 interceptions for 47 career takeaways. A long snapper on punts as a rookie, Butkus played special teams throughout his career and caught two PATs after bad snaps — including a memorable game-winning conversion in a 16-15 victory over the Redskins in 1971.

4. Gale Sayers

Running back (1965-71)

Hall of Fame: 1977 | All-Pro: 5 | Pro Bowls: 4

The “Kansas Comet” was the most exciting, elusive runner ever in the NFL when he entered the league in 1965, scoring a rookie-record 22 touchdowns — including an NFL-record-tying six in one game vs. the 49ers. He scored 48 touchdowns in his first 50 games and a record six TDs on kickoff returns. After a devastating knee injury in 1968, he returned to lead the NFL in rushing (1,032 yards) in 1969. He was the youngest player ever enshrined in the Pro Football Hall Fame — at 34 in 1977 after only 68 games in the NFL. And it was a no-brainer. Sayers was that good.

5. Clyde “Bulldog” Turner

Center/linebacker (1940-52)

Hall of Fame: 1966 | All-Pro: 8 | Pro Bowls: 2 | NFL Titles: 4 (1940, 1941, 1943, 1946)

The heady, quick center/linebacker was a two-way standout on four NFL championship teams — a powerful blocker and great all-around player and leader. Turner returned an interception for a touchdown in the 73-0 rout of the Redskins in the 1940 title game. He led the NFL with eight interceptions in 1942 and returned an interception of future Hall of Famer Sammy Baugh 96 yards for a touchdown in 1947. His only carry went for a 48-yard TD in 1944.

6. Bill George

Linebacker (1952-65)

Hall of Fame: 1974 | All-Pro: 8 | Pro Bowls: 8 | NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

George popularized, if not invented, the middle-linebacker position by dropping off the line from his “middle guard” spot in 1954 and became a perennial All-Pro. Bears assistant coach George Allen called him “the smartest defensive player I ever coached.” He was defensive captain since 1956 and was voted to the Pro Bowl in eight consecutive seasons from 1954 to 1961. George had 18 interceptions and 17 fumble recoveries as a Bear. He also kicked four field goals and was 14-for-15 on extra points.

7. Dan Hampton

Defensive end/tackle (1979-90)

Hall of Fame: 2002 | All-Pro: 6 | Pro Bowls: 4 | NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

The irrepressible pass rusher played through 10 knee operations to rank third on the Bears’ sack list with 82. Hampton made the Pro Bowl twice at end and twice at tackle. In 1985, he played the first eight games at right tackle, the second eight at left end. He blocked seven kicks. A noted big-game player, Hampton had a sack and a fumble recovery in Super Bowl XX and also had two sacks in the playoff loss to the Eagles after the ’79 season. Named to the NFL Team of the ’80s by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

8. Doug Atkins

Defensive end (1955-66)

Hall of Fame: 1982 | All-Pro: 8 | Pro Bowls: 8 | NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

An athletic freak at 6-8, 255 pounds, Atkins used his speed, quickness, massive wingspan and leaping ability to become a dominant pass rusher. “The most feared player I ever saw,” teammate Ed O’Bradovich said. Atkins got better with age, too. At 33, he was still going strong in the 1963 championship game and made his eighth Pro Bowl at 35 in 1965. “He was just a vicious pass rusher,” Mike Ditka said. “He’d take the tackle all the way back to the quarterback and knock them both down.”

9. Mike Ditka

Tight end (1961-66)

Hall of Fame: 1988 | All-Pro: 6 | Pro Bowls: 5 | NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

An expert blocker, Ditka set standards for tight ends by averaging 62 catches, 918 yards, 14.8 yards per catch and 7.5 touchdowns in his first four seasons. He was the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1961, when he had 56 receptions for 1,076 yards (19.2 avg.) and 12 TDs. As tough as they come, Ditka played through a shoulder injury in 1964 to finish with 75 receptions for 897 yards and five TDs and made the All-Pro team. He became the first tight end to make the Hall of Fame.

10. Brian Urlacher

Linebacker (2000-12)

Hall of Fame: 2018 | All-Pro: 5 | Pro Bowls: 8

He parlayed his unique speed and skill at 6-4, 258 pounds to become one of the best big-play linebackers in football. Urlacher not only totaled a franchise-record 1,779 tackles (1,101 solo), but he also had 22 interceptions and 41.5 sacks. He scored five touchdowns — including a 90-yard fumble return against the Falcons in 2001 and an 85-yard interception return against Brett Favre and the Packers in 2007. Urlacher had a career-high 25 tackles in the “Miracle in the Desert” game against the Cardinals in 2006 and was the 2005 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

11. Richard Dent

Defensive end (1983-93, 1995)

Hall of Fame: 2011 | All-Pro: 5 | Pro Bowls: 4 | NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

An eighth-round pick out of Tennessee State, Dent was No. 3 on the all-time sack list (137.5) when he retired. He had 17.5 sacks in 1984 and 17 in 1985. Dent was the MVP of Super Bowl XX.

12. Mike Singletary

Linebacker (1981-92)

Hall of Fame: 1998 | All-Pro: 9 | Pro Bowls: 10 | NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

The two-time Defensive Player of the Year (1985, ’88) captained the great defenses of the ’80s and solidified the legacy of Bears middle linebackers. He missed only two games in his 12-year career. His 10 Pro Bowls are the most in franchise history. He was named to the NFL Team of the ’80s by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Singletary was first or second in tackles in his last 11 seasons and was the 1990 Man of the Year Award winner.

13. Bronko Nagurski

Running back (1930-37, 1943)

Hall of Fame: 1963 | All-Pro: 7 | NFL Titles: 3 (1932, 1933, 1943)

At 6-2, 235 pounds — bigger than most linemen of that era — Nagurski was a devastating runner, blocker and tackler who also threw touchdown passes in the 1932 and 1933 NFL championship games. He helped pave the way for Beattie Feathers’ 1,004 rushing yards in 1934 — the first 1,000-yard season in league history. Nagurski was the Bears’ all-time leading rusher (2,694 yards, 4.4 avg.) when he retired after the 1937 season to become a pro wrestler, but he returned in 1943 — rushed for 84 yards on 16 carries (5.3 avg) at 35 and won another NFL title. Unanimous Hall of Famer.

14. George Connor

Linebacker/tackle (1948-55)

Hall of Fame: 1975 | All-Pro: 7 | Pro Bowls: 4

Called “the consummate Chicago football hero” by former Tribune writer Don Pierson, Connor was a South Side native who went to De La Salle, won the first Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in the country at Notre Dame in 1946 and forced a trade to the Bears after being drafted by the Giants and acquired by the Boston Yanks. Connor was considered the premier offensive and defensive tackle in the NFL — he was an All-NFL selection on offense and defense in 1951 and 1952. But he made his mark as one of the first outside linebackers with size (6-3, 240) and speed.

15. Stan Jones

Guard/defensive tackle (1954-65)

Hall of Fame: 1991 | All-Pro: 6 | Pro Bowls: 7 | NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

A fifth-round pick in 1953, Jones began as a tackle but switched to guard in 1954 and became a seven-time Pro Bowl player. He was known as an early innovator of weight-training. One of the last two-way players in the NFL, Jones became a full-time defensive tackle in 1963 and started on the Bears’ championship team.

16. Danny Fortmann

Guard (1936-43)

Hall of Fame: 1965 | All-Pro: 8| NFL Titles: 3 (1940, 1941, 1943)

The Hall of Famer was the premier guard in football and a superb tackler. The Bears were 72-19-2 and won three titles in his eight seasons. He was named to the NFL’s all-time two-way team. Fortmann was the first pro football player to earn a medical degree during his playing days and became a surgeon after retirement.

17. Steve McMichael

Defensive tackle (1981-93)

All-Pro: 5 | Pro Bowls: 2 | NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

The rugged, colorful Texan was a consistently productive workhorse. He was second on the team’s all-time sack list with 92.5 and played in 191 consecutive games — every game for 12 consecutive seasons. McMichael set a franchise record with three safeties — all against the Packers.

18. Jimbo Covert

Offensive tackle (1983-90)

All-Pro: 4 | Pro Bowls: 2 | NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

The best O-lineman on the Ditka teams was the offensive captain from 1984-90 and was voted to the All-NFL Team of the ’80s by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Covert is still a Hall of Fame candidate despite a career-shortening back injury.

19. Jay Hilgenberg

Center (1981-91)

All-Pro: 7 | Pro Bowls: 7 | NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

An undrafted free agent from Iowa, Hilgenberg was a long snapper as a rookie but became a starter in 1983 and eventually a seven-time Pro Bowl center who started 130 of his last 134 games. He was a first-team All-Pro in 1986 and an offensive captain.

20. Lance Briggs

Linebacker (2003-14)

All-Pro: 3 | Pro Bowls: 7

Briggs was a heady, disciplined all-around linebacker. He was a tackling machine who excelled with and without Brian Urlacher next to him. Briggs led the Bears in tackles five times and was second four times. He scored six defensive touchdowns, third-most in franchise history.

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21. Devin Hester

Kick returner/wide receiver (2006-13)

All-Pro: 4 | Pro Bowls: 3

The most prolific returner in NFL history, Hester set the NFL record for combined kick- and punt-return touchdowns with 17 in his first six seasons. He holds the NFL record for punt-return touchdowns (14). Hester had 19 total return touchdowns for the Bears, including the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI — one of the most exciting moments in Bears history.

22. George McAfee

Running back (1940-41, 1945-50)

Hall of Fame: 1966 | All-Pro: 3 | NFL Titles: 3 (1940, 1941, 1946)

One of the greatest running backs of the NFL’s first 35 years, “One Play” McAfee made big plays on offense, defense and special teams. He returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Ken Kavanaugh against the Packers in his NFL debut in 1940. McAfee averaged 4.9 yards rushing and 16.0 yards receiving.

23. George Musso

Tackle/guard (1933-44)

Hall of Fame: 1982 | All-Pro: 5 | NFL Titles: 4 (1933, 1940, 1941, 1943)

Musso played in seven NFL title games. He was the anchor of the O-line on the 1940, 1941 and 1943 championship teams. George Halas called him “the greatest guard in football.” Musso was the first player to be named All-NFL at two positions — at tackle in 1936 and guard in 1937.

24. Rick Casares

Fullback (1955-64)

All-Pro: 4 | Pro Bowls: 5 | NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

The bruising fullback set team rushing records for career yards (5,657), touchdowns (49), yards in a game (190) and yards in a season (1,126). In 1956, his second year in the NFL, Casares led the league in carries (234), rushing yards (1,126) and TDs (12).

25. Joe Fortunato

Linebacker (1955-66)

All-Pro: 6 | Pro Bowls: 5 | NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

The five-time Pro Bowl linebacker tied the NFL record for career fumble recoveries with 22. He also had 16 interceptions. Fortunato was a defensive signal-caller and missed one game in 12 seasons. He was selected to the 1950s NFL All-Decade Team.

26. Olin Kreutz

Center (1998-2010)

All-Pro: 4 | Pro Bowls: 6

The tough Hawaiian was a six-time Pro Bowl player who was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team. He started all 16 games in 10 seasons, 15 in another. Kreutz was a four-time winner of the Brian Piccolo Award.

27. George Trafton

Center (1920-32)

Hall of Fame: 1964 | All-Pro: 6 | NFL Titles: 2 (1921, 1932)

The Oak Park native who played for Knute Rockne at Notre Dame was an original Decatur Staley known as “the toughest man in professional football.” Trafton became the top center in the NFL’s infancy and the first to snap the ball with one hand.

28. Bill Hewitt

End (1932-36)

Hall of Fame: 1971 | All-Pro: 4| NFL Titles: 2 (1932, 1933)

Considered the NFL’s greatest end through the 1930s, Hewitt had no equal as a pass rusher, tackler, receiver and blocker. He played without a helmet and was so quick off the line that opponents constantly claimed he was offside.

29. Ken Kavanaugh

End (1940-41, 1945-50)

All-Pro: 3 | NFL Titles: 3 (1940, 1941, 1946)

His 52 TDs ranked third in the NFL when he retired. He’s still the Bears’ all-time leader in receiving touchdowns (50), yards per catch (22.4) and single-season yards per catch (25.6). He led the NFL with 13 touchdown catches in 1947 and nine in 1949.

30. Harlon Hill

Wide receiver (1954-61)

All-Pro: 3 | Pro Bowls: 3

Hill was a sensational deep threat in a short but productive career. He had TD catches of 88, 86, 84 and 76 yards and averaged 20.4 yards per catch with the Bears. Hill was the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1954, when he took the league by storm with 45 receptions for 1,124 yards (25.0 avg.) and 12 touchdowns in 12 games.

31. Joe Stydahar

Tackle (1936-42, 1945-46)

Hall of Fame: 1967 | All-Pro: 6 | NFL Titles: 3 (1940, 1941, 1946)

A star on offense and defense on the Bears’ championship teams of 1940, 1941 and 1946.

32. Matt Forte

Running back (2008-15)

Pro Bowls: 2

The versatile running back became the first player in franchise history with 1,400 or more yards from scrimmage in his first five seasons. He’s second behind Walter Payton on the franchise rushing list (8,602 yards) and No. 3 in total touchdowns (64).

33. Charles “Peanut” Tillman

Cornerback (2003-14)

All-Pro: 1 | Pro Bowls: 2

An uncanny playmaker who earned a special niche among NFL defensive backs with the “Peanut Punch,” Tillman had 39 forced fumbles — 10 in 2012 alone — and a franchise-record nine defensive touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl in 2011 and 2012.

34. Neal Anderson

Running back (1986-93)

All-Pro: 4 | Pro Bowls: 4

The successor to Walter Payton is No. 3 on the Bears’ all-time rushing list (6,166 yards) and No. 2 in rushing touchdowns (51). From 1988-90, Anderson averaged 1,153 yards (4.4 avg.) and 11 touchdowns.

35. Wilber Marshall

Linebacker (1984-87)

All-Pro: 2 | Pro Bowls: 2 | NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

He was a gifted athlete and one of the best all-around linebackers. His 52-yard TD on a fumble return vs. the Rams in the NFC Championship Game in 1986 typified Marshall’s impact. “A defensive coordinator’s dream,” teammate Shaun Gayle said.

36. Ed Healey

End/tackle (1922-27)

Hall of Fame: 1964 | All-Pro: 4

He was one of the great two-way players of the 1920s. George Halas called him “the most versatile tackle of all time.”

37. Roosevelt “Rosey” Taylor

Safety (1961-69)

All-Pro: 3 | Pro Bowls: 2 | NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

The big-play safety set a Bears record with nine interceptions and 12 takeaways in 1963. He scored six touchdowns, including a 96-yard interception return in 1968.

38. Gary Fencik

Safety (1976-87)

All-Pro: 5 | Pro Bowls: 2| NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

The hard-hitting Yale grad from Barrington set a Bears record with 38 interceptions — the first came against Joe Namath — and 1,117 tackles and broke Dick Butkus’ mark for takeaways with 50.

39. Richie Petitbon

Safety (1959-68)

All-Pro: 4 | Pro Bowls: 4 | NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

Petitbon set a Bears record with 37 career interceptions and 44 takeaways. He returned an interception 101 yards for a touchdown against the Rams in 1962. In 1963, Petitbon had eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries. His interception in the end zone clinched the Bears’ 1963 NFL championship-game victory.

40. Ed Sprinkle

Defensive end (1944-55)

All-Pro: 5 | Pro Bowls: 4 | NFL Titles: 1 (1946)

An undersized pass rusher, Sprinkle was in a class with Trafton, Nagurski, Turner, Atkins and Butkus as one of the NFL’s most feared players.

41. Otis Wilson

Linebacker (1980-87)

All-Pro: 2 | Pro Bowls: 1 | NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

A first-round pick in 1980, Wilson’s tremendous speed and zest for the game fueled the Bears’ dominant defenses of the ’80s. He had 11.5 sacks in ’85, plus two in Super Bowl XX. Wilson scored on interception returns vs. the Buccaneers in 1982 (23 yards) and the Vikings in 1985 (39).

42. Jim McMahon

Quarterback (1982-88)

Pro Bowls: 1 | NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

A hard-nosed quarterback with a lineman’s mentality, he never played a full year but was 49-17 as a starter — 35-4 in the heart of the Ditka years, including Super Bowl XX. In a signature moment, he came off the bench to throw three touchdown passes in the third quarter to rally the Bears from a 17-9 deficit to a 33-24 victory.

43. Red Grange

Running back (1925, 1929-34)

Hall of Fame: 1963 | All-Pro: 3 | NFL Titles: 2 (1932, 1933)

Despite his reputation as a game-breaking runner, Grange suffered an injury — against the Bears — early in his NFL career and was more productive as a defender after returning to the Bears in 1929. He made a game-saving tackle to clinch the 1933 NFL championship.

44. Roy “Link” Lyman

Tackle (1926-28, 1930-31, 1933-34)

Hall of Fame: 1965 | All-Pro: 5 | NFL Titles: 1 (1933)

A standout defender in the 1920s who was hired to block for Red Grange, Lyman is credited with pioneering the shifting pre-snap style of line play.

45. Wally Chambers

Defensive tackle (1973-77)

All-Pro: 3 | Pro Bowls: 3

A dominant pass rusher in his brief Bears career, Chambers was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1973. He had 11 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 1975. Chambers won the Bulldog Award as the best defensive lineman in the NFL in 1976. He was traded to the Buccaneers for a 1979 first-round pick the Bears used to draft Dan Hampton.

46. Johnny Morris

Flanker (1958-67)

All-Pro: 1 | Pro Bowl: 1 | NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

He set an NFL record with 93 receptions in 1964, when he also led the league in receiving yards (1,200) and TDs (10). Morris retired as the Bears’ all-time leader in receptions (356) and receiving yards (5,059).

47. Willie Galimore

Running back (1957-63)

All-Pro: 2 | Pro Bowls: 1 | NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

A dazzling, big-play RB with Sayers-like skills, Galimore scored on a 99-yard kickoff return, 84-yard catch and 77-yard run. He scored four touchdowns vs. the Rams in 1957 to tie the Bears’ single-game record.

48. Doug Buffone

Linebacker (1966-79)

The longtime defensive captain had eight years with 99 tackles or more. Buffone had 18 sacks in 1968. His 24 interceptions are the most by a Bears linebacker. He set franchise records with 186 games played and 142 in a row.

49. Dave Duerson

Safety (1983-89)

All-Pro: 3 | Pro Bowls: 4 | NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

An aggressive, opportunistic safety, he had seven sacks — an NFL record for a defensive back — and six interceptions in 1986. Duerson made the Pro Bowl in four consecutive seasons from 1985-88. He was the NFL Man of the Year in 1987.

50. Jim Osborne

Defensive tackle (1972-84)

An often-underappreciated but impactful player, he had a franchise-record 81.5 sacks when he retired after the 1984 season. Osborne had 15 sacks in 1976. He was voted “Chicago Man of the Year” in 1983.

51. Mark Bortz

Guard (1983-94)

Pro Bowls: 2 | NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

A defensive tackle at Iowa drafted in the eighth round in 1983, the hard-nosed Bortz brought a defensive mentality to the offensive line in 11 years as a starter. He was a starting guard on the Bears’ Super Bowl XX championship team. He played in a club-record 13 playoff games.

52. Ed O’Bradovich

Defensive end (1962-71)

NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

A tough, aggressive Proviso East product, he provided a fear factor in the 1960s Bears defenses. His interception set up the winning touchdown in the Bears’ 14-10 victory over the Giants in the 1963 NFL championship game. Credited with 71 “reaches” — sacks/hurries — from 1967-70.

53. Julius Peppers

Defensive end (2010-13)

All-Pro: 2 | Pro Bowls: 3

One of the NFL’s greatest pass rushers, Peppers was a productive all-around player and leader in four seasons with the Bears, with 37.5 sacks, 47 tackles for loss and 10 forced fumbles in 64 games.

54. Robbie Gould

Kicker (2005-15)

All-Pro: 1 | Pro Bowls: 1

The Patriots castoff became the most accurate kicker in franchise history (276-for-323, 85.4 percent). He made 23 of 31 field goals from 50-plus yards (74.2 percent) — the third-best percentage in NFL history. The Bears’ all-time leading scorer (1,207 points), he set the club mark with a 58-yard field goal in 2013.

55. Paddy Driscoll

Running back (1926-29)

All-Pro: 3

A favorite of George Halas going back to 1920, Driscoll was a star running back, quarterback, punter and noted kicker who drop-kicked 40 field goals in the NFL, including an NFL-record 50-yarder.

56. George Halas

Receiver/defensive end (1920-29)

All-Pro: 1 | NFL Titles: 1 (1921)

Halas was named to the NFL’s All-Pro team for the 1920s. His 98-yard return of a Jim Thorpe fumble for a TD against the Oorang Indians at Cubs Park in 1923 was an NFL record that stood until 1972.

57. Keith Van Horne

Offensive tackle (1981-93)

NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

A first-round pick in 1981 (11th overall), Van Horne was a mainstay on the Ditka-era offensive lines, starting at right tackle for 12 consecutive seasons, including the 1985 Super Bowl season. He was at his best vs. Reggie White in the “Fog Bowl” in 1988.

58. Johnny Lujack

Quarterback (1948-51)

All-Pro: 1 | Pro Bowls: 2

The fourth overall pick of the 1948 draft after winning the Heisman Trophy at Notre Dame, Lujack made two Pro Bowls and set NFL records with 468 passing yards in one game in 1949 and 11 rushing TDs in 1950.

59. Mike Brown

Safety (2000-08)

All-Pro: 1 | Pro Bowls: 1

Brown sparked the 2001 playoff run with back-to-back game-ending pick-sixes against the 49ers and Browns and ignited the ‘‘Miracle in the Desert’’ against the Cardinals in 2006 with a fumble-return TD.

60. Kevin Butler

Kicker (1985-95)

NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

He set an NFL rookie record with a league-leading 144 points in ’85 (31 of 37 field goals) and was 3-for-3 in Super Bowl XX. The Bears’ second all-time scorer (1,116 points), Butler held 19 team records when he was cut in 1996.

61. James “Big Cat” Williams

Offensive tackle (1991-2002)

Pro Bowls: 1

A defensive tackle at Division II Cheyney State, Williams was switched to offensive tackle in his second season and became a dependable mainstay, finally making the Pro Bowl in 2001.

62. Joe Kopcha

Guard (1929, 1932-35)

All-Pro: 3 | NFL Titles: 2 (1932, 1933)

A standout lineman on the Bears’ NFL championship teams in 1932 and 1933 — and the 1934 team that lost in the championship game — Kopcha was a three-time All-Pro.

63. Ed Brown

Quarterback/punter (1954-61)

Pro Bowls: 2

A sixth-round pick, Brown led the Bears to the 1956 NFL championship game. In ’56, he led the NFL with a 57.1 percent completion rate and 9.9 yards per attempt. He’s second to Sid Luckman in career yards per attempt (7.8).

64. Ray Bray

Guard (1939-42, 1946-51)

Pro Bowls: 4 | NFL Titles: 3 (1940, 1941, 1946)

He’s considered the best offensive lineman on the championship teams of 1940, 1941 and 1946. Bray memorably came off the bench to tackle a Rams player on an interception return in a 1951 game.

65. J.C. Caroline

Cornerback (1956-65)

Pro Bowls: 1 | NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

The former Illinois star was the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1956, when he scored on interception returns of 59 yards vs. the Colts (Johnny Unitas’ first NFL pass) and 52 yards vs. the Packers. His hit on Herb Adderley on the opening kickoff of the 1963 season against the Packers set the tone for the game (a 10-3 victory at Lambeau Field) that started the Bears on a championship course.

66. Tommie Harris

Defensive tackle (2004-10)

All-Pro: 1 | Pro Bowls: 3

The most dominant interior lineman in the league at his peak in 2005-06, Harris suffered a severe hamstring injury in 2006 that kept him out of Super Bowl XLI and ultimately cut short his career.

67. Fred Williams

Defensive tackle (1952-63)

All-Pro: 1 | Pro Bowls: 4 | NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

A four-time Pro Bowl player, Williams was a starter on the 1956 team that played in the NFL championship game. His final game with the Bears was the 1963 NFL championship-game victory over the Giants.

68. Bennie McRae

Cornerback (1962-70)

All-Pro: 1 | NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

Part of arguably the best defensive backfield in Bears history on the 1963 NFL championship team, McRae had 27 career interceptions — fifth-most in team history — and four touchdowns.

69. Mike Hartenstine

Defensive end (1975-86)

NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

A second-round pick (31st overall) in 1975 after the Bears had taken Walter Payton fourth overall, Hartenstine played in a then-franchise-record 179 consecutive games.

70. Kyle Long

Guard (2013-present)

All-Pro: 1 | Pro Bowls: 3

Unusually athletic at 6-6, 315 pounds, the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons — at guard in 2013-14 and offensive tackle in 2015 — before injuries stalled his career.

71. Khalil Mack

Outside linebacker (2018-present)

All-Pro: 1 | Pro Bowls: 1

Acquired in a trade with the Raiders in 2018, Mack led the Bears with 12.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries and had an interception return for a touchdown, sparking the Bears to the NFC North title.

72. Alshon Jeffery

Wide receiver (2012-16)

Pro Bowls: 1

The big-play wide receiver had 1,421 yards in 2013 and 1,133 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2014. Though he played only 63 games, he’s third on the Bears’ all-time receiving-yardage list (4,549).

73. Mark Carrier

Safety (1990-96)

All-Pro: 3 | Pro Bowls: 3

A first-round pick (sixth overall) from USC, Carrier was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1990, when he led the NFL and set a franchise record with 10 interceptions and also had five forced fumbles. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

74. Akiem Hicks

Defensive lineman (2016-present)

Pro Bowls: 1

After signing with the Bears as a free agent, the 6-5, 332-pound Hicks blossomed into a star in Vic Fangio’s defense, making the Pro Bowl in 2018, when he had 7.5 sacks, five pass breakups and three forced fumbles.

75. Jay Cutler

Quarterback (2009-16)

Acquired in a trade with the Broncos for two first-round picks, a third-rounder and QB Kyle Orton, Cutler set franchise marks for passing yards (23,443) and TD passes (154) but was haunted by inconsistency, injuries and bad luck. He was 51-51 as a starter.

76. Brandon Marshall

Wide receiver (2012-14)

All-Pro: 1 | Pro Bowls: 2

The enigmatic big-play receiver was a two-time Pro Bowl player who set single-season franchise records for yardage (1,508) and receptions (118) and scored 11 TDs in his first season with the Bears in 2012. He caught 31 TD passes in 45 games.

77. Dick Gordon

Wide receiver (1965-71)

All-Pro: 2 | Pro Bowls: 2

A big-play receiver, he came in the same draft that produced Butkus and Sayers. Gordon made the All-Pro team in 1970, when he led the NFL with 71 receptions (for 1,026 yards) and 13 touchdown receptions.

78. Matt Suhey

Fullback (1980-89)

NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

The dependable, hard-nosed fullback blocked for Walter Payton, threw a 74-yard TD pass to Payton and caught two TD passes from Payton. He had three 100-yard games. Suhey scored the first TD of Super XX — an 11-yard run.

79. Jack Manders

Kicker/running back (1933-40)

NFL Titles: 2 (1933, 1940)

“Automatic Jack” was the NFL’s premier placekicker in the early days of the held-placement kick. He led the league in field goals four times and made 76 consecutive extra points — a record-setting accomplishment in that era.

80. Ray “Scooter” McLean

Running back (1940-47)

All-Pro: 1 | Pro Bowls: 2 | NFL Titles: 4 (1940, 1941, 1943, 1946)

A versatile breakaway back, he played on four championship teams (1940, 1941, 1943, 1946). He averaged 21.7 yards per catch, scored three TDs on punt returns — including a franchise-record 89-yarder — and had 18 interceptions.

81. Bill Osmanski

Fullback/linebacker (1939-43, 1946-47)

All-Pro: 3 | Pro Bowls: 3 | NFL Titles: 4 (1940, 1941, 1943, 1946)

A powerful 5-11, 200-pound back with speed, Osmanski was an integral part of the glorious run of dominance in the 1940s, playing on all four championship teams. His 68-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage ignited the 73-0 rout of the Redskins in 1940.

82. Bill Wade

Quarterback (1961-66)

All-Pro: 1 | Pro Bowls: 1 | NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

The former Vanderbilt star made the Pro Bowl in 1963, when he led the Bears to an 11-1-2 record and George Halas’ final NFL championship. Scored both touchdowns in the 14-10 title-game victory over the Giants at Wrigley Field.

83. Dick Barwegen

Guard (1950-52)

All-Pro: 3 | Pro Bowls: 3

The Fenger High School product made the All-Pro team and the Pro Bowl in his three seasons with the Bears before being traded to the Colts.

84. Doug Plank

Safety (1975-82)

He teamed with Gary Fencik to form one of the hardest-hitting — and most feared — safety tandems in the NFL. Plank had 16 forced fumbles, 15 fumble recoveries and 15 interceptions. He went nearly three years without a penalty from 1977-79.

85. Tom Thayer

Guard (1985-92)

NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

The Joliet Catholic and Notre Dame product was a starter for the ’85 Super Bowl champions and did not miss a game in his eight-year Bears career. Went two full seasons without a holding penalty in 1989-90.

86. Allan Ellis

Cornerback (1973-80)

Pro Bowls: 1

He intercepted 22 passes with the Bears, plus one in the 1979 playoff loss to the Eagles. Ellis had six interceptions and made the Pro Bowl in 1977, when the Bears ended a 13-season playoff drought.

87. Willie Gault

Wide receiver (1983-87)

NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

A world-class sprinter, he averaged 19.9 yards per catch (184-3,650, 27 TDs) in five seasons. He had a 99-yard kickoff return for a TD vs. the Redskins in 1985. Gault had four catches for 129 yards in Super Bowl XX.

88. Mike Pyle

Center (1961-69)

All-Pro: 2 | Pro Bowls: 1 | NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

A seventh-round pick from Yale, Pyle was a starter from Day 1 and the offensive captain of the 1963 championship team — when he made the Pro Bowl. He missed only five games in his nine-year career.

89. Larry Morris

Linebacker (1959-65)

NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

Overshadowed by linebackers Bill George and Joe Fortunato, among others, on the vaunted Bears defenses of the 1960s, Morris was the MVP of the 1963 NFL championship game — returning an interception 61 yards to set up the Bears’ first TD in a 14-10 victory.

90. Eddie Jackson

Safety (2017-present)

All-Pro: 1 | Pro Bowls: 1

The fourth-round pick was an instant starter and playmaker, with five touchdowns in his first two seasons. He scored TDs on a fumble return (75 yards) and an interception return (76) vs. the Panthers in 2017 to become the first player in NFL history to return a fumble and an interception 75 yards or more for touchdowns.

91. Hugh Gallarneau

Running back (1941-42, 1945-47)

Pro Bowls: 1 | NFL Titles: 2 (1941, 1946)

The Morgan Park High School product was a backfield star on the Bears’ championship teams of 1941 and 1946. He led the NFL with eight touchdowns in 1941.

92. Roland Harper

Fullback (1975-82)

An effective blocking back for Walter Payton, Harper developed into an effective runner. In 1978, he rushed for 992 yards — with Payton rushing for 1,395, the Bears nearly became the third team in NFL history with two 1,000-yard rushers.

93. William “The Refrigerator” Perry

Defensive tackle (1985-93)

NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

Massive for his day at 6-2, 335 pounds, Perry became a national sensation when he scored four rushing TDs as a rookie in 1985, including a one-yard run in Super Bowl XX. He had 28.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.

94. Dennis McKinnon

Wide receiver/returner (1983-89)

NFL Titles: 1 (1985)

An underrated big-play performer for the Ditka Bears, McKinnon averaged 15.8 yards per catch (180-2,840) with 21 touchdowns — plus four touchdowns in the playoffs. He also scored on three punt returns and had one rushing touchdown.

95. Alex Brown

Defensive end (2002-09)

A consistent, durable, underrated pass rusher who played in 127 consecutive games after making his debut in Week 2 of his rookie season, Brown was a two-time Pro Bowl alternate who started on the Bears’ Super Bowl XLI team.

96. Curtis Conway

Wide receiver (1993-99)

A first-round pick (seventh overall), the speedy Conway had 285 receptions (for 4,072 yards, 14.3 avg.), which ranked second on the Bears’ all-time list among wide receivers (behind Johnny Morris). He was the first Bears receiver with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons (1,037 in 1995; 1,049 in 1996).

97. Bobby Joe Green

Punter (1962-73)

Pro Bowls: 1| NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

He averaged 46.5 yards per punt on the Bears’ 1963 NFL championship team. Green averaged 42.5 yards on 970 punts (most in the NFL in that span) in 12 seasons and had only three punts blocked. He made the Pro Bowl in 1970.

98. Dave Whitsell

Cornerback (1961-66)| NFL Titles: 1 (1963)

He was an aggressive defender who had a knack for big plays, including an interception return for a touchdown against the Lions that clinched the 1963 Western Conference title. Whitsell had 27 interceptions in six seasons with the Bears, with two touchdowns.

99. Patrick Mannelly

Long snapper (1998-2013)

The venerable long snapper with uncanny precision and accuracy was arguably the best in the NFL throughout most of his 16-year run with the Bears. He holds the franchise records for seasons (16) and games (245). Mannelly had 81 special-teams tackles.

100. Noah Jackson

Guard (1975-83)

The Bears’ best offensive lineman in the early Payton era, he headed an under-appreciated group that included tackles Ted Albrecht and Dennis Lick, guard Revie Sorey and centers Dan Peiffer/Dan Neal — who helped Payton average 1,373 yards and 10 touchdowns per season and 91.5 yards per game from 1975-81, without a Pro Bowl berth. “Buddha” came the closest — missing by two votes in 1979.