14 former Bears nominated for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 |
The NFL has officially announced the 167 players nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Of those 167 players, 14 of those players used to play for the Chicago Bears, including center Olin Kreutz, linebacker Lance Briggs and cornerback Charles “Peanut” Tillman.
Kreutz played for Chicago almost his entire career from 1998 to 2010 before playing one final season with the New Orleans Saints. He was selected in the third round at No. 64 overall by the Bears. While he was not a starter his rookie year, he would become a starter in his second year. Kruetz’s prime years were from 2001 to 2006 where he made the Pro Bowl every season. In 2005, he was a second-team All-Pro while in 2006, he was a first-team All-Pro. In addition, he was named to the Hall of Fame second-team all-2000s team. Briggs was also a third round draft pick of the Chicago Bears. Selected in 2003, he became an immediate starter and would spend his entire career with the Bears. In all but two seasons, he recorded an interception. Between 2005 and 2011, he was named to the Pro Bowl and also became an All-Pro in 2005. That year, Briggs was also sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. One of the many highlights of his career was in 2008 when he recorded his only career scoop-and-score in the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts; the Bears went on to win that game 29-13. Everyone remembers the Peanut Punch, named after Charles “Peanut” Tillman. He was also a product of Chicago’s 2003 NFL Draft class, selected in the second round at No. 35 overall. The Chicago native came in No. 5 for Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after he had four interceptions, two forced fumbles and a sack. In 2005, he had a 95-yard pick-six against the Green Bay Packers en route to Chicago’s 19-7 win that game; it was his fourth of that season. His fifth interception of the season came in the Bears’ second game against the Packers; the Bears won that game 24-17. Tillman is not remembered for his interceptions as much as his forced fumbles. In total, he recorded 44 forced fumbles with 10 of those coming in the 2012 season when he would lead the league and become an All-Pro. His 44 career forced fumbles remains the sixth-most of anyone in the league. Another prominent name nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 is wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Marshall only played with the Bears for three years, he was a Pro-Bowler for two of those seasons and an All-Pro in 2012. He still holds the franchise record for most receptions in a season (108) and receiving yards in a season (1,508) from the 2012 season. In 2013, he had 12 receiving touchdowns, which is tied for third in Chicago Bears franchise single-season history. Devin Hester’s enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 opened the door for other special teams players to get into the Hall of Fame. Glyn Milburn is part of the Class of 2025 nominated players as a running back. However, he specialized as a kick and punt returner. Milburn had some of his best seasons with the Bears from 1998 to 2000. In 1998, he led the league in kick returns (62), kick returns yards (1,550 yards) and kickoff return touchdowns (two). The following year in 1999, he was a Pro-Bowler and All-Pro after having 61 kick returns and 1,426 kick return yards. The rest of the former Chicago Bears players who were nominated as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 are quarterback Doug Flutie who played for the Bears in 1986, running back Thomas Jones (2004-2006), wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad (2005-2007), guard Ruben Brown (2004-2007), guard Josh Sitton (2016-2017), defensive end Jared Allen (2014-2015), defensive end Clyde Simmons (1999-2000), defensive tackle Ted Washington (2001-2002) and outside linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo (2005-2007).
