Eddie Macon

A running back and return specialist, Macon became the first African-American player in Bears history in 1952 when he appeared in 11 games after being selected in the second round of the 1952 draft out of Pacific.

Macon played two seasons with the Bears, appearing in 23 games with 13 starts before rejoining his college coach in the Canadian Football League.

During a 2011 interview with ChicagoBears.com, Macon discussed a meeting he had had with Bears founder and coach George Halas after being drafted.

"He told me what he expected of me, and that was to come in and just be a football player and be a gentleman," Macon said at the time.

Macon passed away on April 19, 2017 at the age of 90. From 2012 until his death, Macon had lived in The Commons on Thornton, a senior community in Stockton, Calif., with his wife of 71 years, Jessie.

Macon's arrival with the Bears in 1952 didn't cause much of a stir. Jackie Robinson had broken baseball's color barrier five years earlier, and several African Americans had played in the NFL from 1920-33.

In two seasons with the Bears, Macon averaged 30.5 yards on 22 kickoff returns and 5.9 yards on 24 punt returns while also rushing for 324 yards and two touchdowns on 70 carries and catching 14 passes for 49 yards and 2 TDs.

Asked in 2011 about the role he played in Bears history, Macon said: "There always has to be a pioneer. Someone has to be the first and I was the first and I feel very proud that I was the first."

George Taliaferro

The Bears became the first NFL team to draft an African-American player in 1949 when they picked Taliaferro in the 13th round out of Indiana. Therunning back never played for the Bears, however, signing instead with the Los Angeles Dons of the rival All-American Football Conference.