Chicago Football Madness Sweet 16: All-time great special teams battle in 2006 region

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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
4. Charles Tillman

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

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

3.   Devin Hester
10. Robbie Gould

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

Gould: The fan favorite and Cinderella, Robbie has now knocked out two members of that vaunted 2006 defense: Alex Brown & Lance Briggs. 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. Whether or not there’s an eventual fairytale ending for Robbie in a Bears uniform, it sure looks like this Cinderella story could go the distance.  

- Paul Aspan

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