Excitement for the Bears are at an all-time high, so while March Madness and the NCAA Tournament begin, we still have Bears on the mind. So we've created Chicago Bears Football Madness, pitting players from the three best Bears teams and legends head-to-head. This is the 2006 region.
1. Brian Urlacher
8. Thomas Jones
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Brian Urlacher: As strong a case as any in the field for the number one overall seed. The 2018 Hall of Fame inductee revolutionized the game at middle linebacker and did it playing for a franchise with the richest defensive identity. The eight-time Pro Bowler, five-time All-Pro, 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year, 2005 AP Defensive Player of the Year and Bears all-time leading tackler is the odds on favorite to be the last man standing at the end of this madness.
- Paul Aspan
Jones: One of the most underrated Bears players of the modern era, Thomas Jones can simply be described with one word: production. So underappreciated, in fact, that the Bears wasted the fourth overall pick drafting Cedric Benson. Ouch. With over 3,400 yards on the ground in three seasons with Chicago, Jones also racked up 22 touchdowns and caught 158 passes, too. As the “A-Train” Anthony Thomas began to fizzle away with the Bears, Jones stepped in as a low-key free agent addition that paid off in a big way.
- Slavko Bekovic
NFL
2. Lance Briggs
10. Robbie Gould
Lance Briggs: The numbers speak for themselves with Briggs: 1,176 total tackles, 32 forced turnovers and a key member for several great Bears defenses including an NFC Champion in 12 seasons with the Bears. The Robin to Brian Urlacher's Batman, Briggs could be Hall of Fame bound one day and no doubt will always be a Bears legend. Oh, what could have been with those defenses
- Matt Rooney
Gould: The fan favorite and Cinderella, Robbie knocked out one member of that vaunted 2006 defense, now he takes aim at another. Clearly the current kicking situation is on Bears fans minds, and franchise tag from the 49ers or not, the people want Gould back in Chicago. If you want to tear up your original bracket and pick Robbie to go the distance, this may be your last chance to jump on board before he cuts down the goal post at the end.
- Paul Aspan
3. Devin Hester
6. Olin Kreutz
Hester: A true game-changer. LITERALLY. Devin Hester was such a good return man that some teams around the NFL chose to just give the Bears the ball at the 40-yard line by kicking it out of bounds rather than give the “Windy City Flyer” an opportunity to take one to the house. And he took it to the house a lot, breaking Deion Sanders’ record for return touchdowns with 20 in his illustrious career. In eight years with the Bears, Hester scored on 13 punt returns, five kick returns and a memorable 108-yard missed field goal return in the Meadowlands.
His career never took off as a defensive back or as a wide receiver, but it didn’t matter, as Hester undoubtedly goes down as the greatest return man in NFL history. Devin Hester...you are ridiculous!
- Slavko Bekovic
Kreutz: The heart and soul of the soul of the Bears’ offense, Kreutz had his best season with the Bears in 2006, earning first-team All-Pro honors on a team that made the Super Bowl. Folks in Chicago know how good and important Kreutz was; he played all but 10 of the Bears’ offensive snaps that year. The Bears don’t have their most successful season since 1985 without Kreutz, literally, in the middle of it.
- JJ Stankevitz
4. Charles Tillman
5. Lovie Smith
Tillman: Peanut! Tillman’s 12-year career with the Bears should probably put him in the Hall of Fame. Even if he ultimately doesn’t get in, the Peanut Punch ain’t exactly a terrible legacy to leave on the league. Even without the Peanut Punch, 36 interceptions, *42* forced fumbles and eight touchdowns is a hell of a career. Ironically enough, 2006 was one of Tillman’s quieter years, but Peanut’s numbers speak for themselves. Just to be even MORE badass, Tillman joined the FBI after retiring and is now an active agent. An FBI Agent!
- Cam Ellis
Lovie: The steady hand of Smith produced the Bears’ most successful season since 1985, with his defense ranking among the best in the league and his team averaging the second-most points per game in 2006. While “Rex is our quarterback” may have become a telling refrain the Bears’ lack of offensive success, a team based on having an elite defense and a Hall of Fame returner wound up in the Super Bowl. How can you vote against the guy who was the coach for all that?
- JJ Stankevitz
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