Chicago Bears: Current Bears Who Will Be Canton Bound After They Retire
When any player steps onto the field in the NFL for the first time, virtually, they have a chance to make it to the Hall of Fame.
They may have not been the best player in college or have been drafted high, but what they do in the NFL is what really matters.
Factors like MVP awards, Super Bowl rings, being a record holder and/or reaching milestones help make the decision on whether or not a player deserves to be apart of the historic building in Ohio.
Currently, the Chicago Bears have 27 primary players in the Hall of Fame (the most throughout the NFL). Additionally, there are three other players who suited up in a Bears uniform for small parts of their career and eventually inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Players who play for the Bears now are on the fast track to an HOF induction in years to come. Others have the potential to get there but have to improve a little bit more or maybe win a championship to be considered for the HOF.
However, the Bears have a couple of guys on the roster who will be able to make it there someday.
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Devin Hester
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He'll never make it to the Hall of Fame purely on him being a wide receiver/cornerback for Chicago. The chance of him being inducted relies on his return talents.
Hester ranks second and third for many NFL records as well as first (record holder) in others. One more punt return for a touchdown, and he'll surpass Eric Metcalf for most in a career.
The record for most combined returns for touchdowns is held by Hester himself. It happened last season against the Minnesota Vikings in December after he returned a punt for 64 yards.
It may be a while until Hester makes it to the HOF, but undoubtedly (if continues his career like so), he'll be known as one of the greatest return specialists of all time.
Olin Kreutz
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I've said this before and I'll say it again, Kreutz has been one of the only Bear's o-linemen to keep his position throughout the years. All other positions surrounding him have seen various faces season after season.
Kreutz is a six time pro= bowler and has been nominated to the First-Team All Pro and Second-Team All Pro both once.
He is an excellent run blocker and wears his heart on his sleeve play in and play out. An all-around player, Kreutz should be seeing a molding of his face in the HOF within the next 10 years.
Jay Cutler
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Has he shown the sports world that he is worthy of a spot in Canton yet? Not really. Does he have the potential? More than anyone else in the NFL.
Everyone is waiting for Cutler to blossom. That is, be a more productive quarterback than he already is. He makes things happen out on the grass even with lack of a supporting cast; however, that has been a downfall that he's been brought down with.
During his time in Denver, Cutler put up impressive numbers, mainly the reason why Chicago saw interest in him when he "whined" (as "experts" put it) his way out of Denver.
Protection and big receivers are the remaining two ingredients for Cutler's success as well as Chicago's.
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Julius Peppers
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Peppers still has five more seasons with the Bears. Imagine what he can do with them.
He'll make the Hall of Fame mainly on what he did with the Carolina Panthers during his seven year stay there. He went to the Super Bowl once, the Pro Bowl five times and was named the defensive rookie of the year back in 2002.
But so far for the Bears, he's made one Pro Bowl, almost made it to the Super Bowl and was named to the All-Pro team.
Regardless of what he did for both teams, his talents make him worthy of being in the Hall of Fame.
Brian Urlacher
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Saving the best for last. I think just his name speaks for itself—a description isn't even really necessary.
Brian Urlacher has been a trademark player for the Bears—perhaps for the entire NFL as well—ever since he came onto the scene back in 2000. He's achieved so many trophies and honors; there is just not enough space to list them all on here.
As of lately, however, he's been nagged with injuries, missing the entire 2009 season. Regardless of his injuries, he's still managed to make his presence known on the field.
He holds a franchise record of 153 tackles in 2002 and 1,192 total tackles.
A very notorious linebacker and NFL player, there is no doubt in my mind that Urlacher will make the HOF less than five years after he retires.
Honorable Mentions
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Lance Briggs: Urlacher's partner in crime for eight seasons now and a consistant defensive threat for opposing offenses.
Charles Tillman: Not the greatest of cornerbacks out there, but has been taking control of the Bears secondary for also eight seasons now—usually all by himself.
Matt Forte: Entering his "senior" season in the NFL now, Forte is still developing into the Bears premiere and franchise running back. Improvement over the next few seasons could land him a spot in Canton.
Thomas Jones: Although he's not a current Chicago Bear, he spent three years with the Bears, putting up respectable numbers—averaged at least four yards a carry for all three season. He's continued to do well on every other team he's been with.
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