The Chicago Bears look to add to their Hall of Fame legacy in the upcoming 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction on February 8th.
Non-Bear 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists
Finalists from other teams include but are not limited to, safety Rodney Harrison, tight end Antonio Gates, defensive end Dwight Freeney, and the likes of Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne at wide receiver.
Other finalists include Willie Anderson and Jahri Evans on the offensive line, Eric Allen and Darren Woodson in the secondary, as well as Andre Johnson, Fred Taylor, and Patrick Willis at their respective positions, all according to Pro Football Hall of Fame.
All of those listed have no shortage of accolades to make their case for a place among the stars at Canton.
(The Chicago Bears currently lead the league in Hall of Fame inductees, with 30 players inducted, per the Bears official website.)
Most Recent Bears In Canton
Since 2000, five Chicago Bears have been fitted for their gold jackets.
Offensive tackle Jimbo Covert, defensive end Ed Sprinkle, linebacker Brian Urlacher, defensive end Richard Dent, and defensive tackle Dan Hampton are those deserving five.
The five account for 5 All-Pro selections, 10 Pro-Bowls, 1 Defensive Rookie of the Year award, 1 Defensive Player of the Year award, 2 Super Bowl championships, and a Super Bowl MVP award, all compiled from Pro Football Reference.
Telling the story of the NFL and the Chicago Bears involves a great deal of history.
To make history, one has to also look forward.
These former Bears have a path forward to etch their names into the halls of that famed building in Canton, Ohio.
2024 Chicago Bears Hall of Fame Finalists
*- Senior Finalist
Jared Allen, Defensive End
It’s universally accepted that Jared Allen is not known for his time in Chicago, but rather his time in Minnesota or even with Kansas City early in his career. Allen totaled 136 sacks, 648 combined tackles, 6 interceptions, and 171 tackles for a loss throughout his career, according to Pro Football Reference. The fourth-round defensive end was also awarded four All-Pro selections.
For what it’s worth, 5.5 of those sacks came with Chicago. If anything, it’s more of an honorable mention kind of thing for the Bears when the star-studded defensive end makes it to Canton.
*Steve “Mongo” McMichael, Defensive Tackle
Steve McMichael spent 13 years with Chicago, but started his career with the New England Patriots. Drafted 73rd overall in 1980, the two-time All-Pro defensive tackle amassed 95 sacks and 847 combined tackles in his career. McMichael also won a Super Bowl with Chicago against New England in 1985-86.
McMichael has also been battling ALS, a nervous system disease, for over three years, per ABC7 Chicago.
The former Bears defensive tackle is a senior finalist for the 2024 NFL Hall of Fame Class.
Devin Hester, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist
When it comes to Devin Hester getting into the Hall of Fame, Bears fans have a strong opinion. The only question that could be asked by fans of the franchise is “Could the Hall of Fame committee make the wrong decision three years in a row?”
Widely regarded as the greatest return man in NFL history, three-time All-Pro Devin Hester has now been eligible for induction into the NFL Hall of Fame since 2022. Totaling 20 return touchdowns (14 from punt returns, 6 from kickoff returns,) Hester still holds the record for most return touchdowns in league history.
Hester is also credited with changing the game of football, as the NFL introduced a rule change in 2011, moving kickoffs from the 30 up to the 35-yard line. Many oppose that notion, stating it was changed to improve player safety.
Only time will tell when the committee decides to put Devin Hester into the Hall of Fame.
Julius Peppers, Defensive End
Three-time All-Pro defensive end Julius Peppers spent ten years total with the Carolina Panthers at the beginning and end of his career. Named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2002, Peppers had 12 sacks as a rookie and would build on that exponentially, ending his career with 159.5 sacks, per Pro Football Reference.
48 of those sacks came with the Bears from 2010-2013, along with 175 of his 719 career tackles.
The defensive end deserves a Hall of Fame bid and it’s likely he’ll get there sooner rather than later.
NFL Honors 2024
The Bears will look to continue their Hall of Fame dominance in 2024. The Hall of Fame inductees will be announced on Thursday, February 8th, 2024 during the 13th Annual NFL Honors.
Main Photo Credit: Syndication: Akron Beacon Journal
