Chicago Bears: 7 Biggest Hall of Fame Snubs in Team History

The Chicago Bears have the most Hall of Famers of any NFL team (26), so to complain about players who were snubbed may sound a bit pithy.

Still, just because the Bears have all of these busts in Canton, and have so many retired numbers that they cannot retire any more (13), does not mean that there haven't been a few who have been overlooked over the years.

Richard Dent, until his recent induction, had made the list of finalists several times, but he finally made it. Meanwhile, a couple of the players on my list do deserve enshrinement, in my opinion, while a couple more may be stretches; still, they deserve serious consideration.

The Hall of Fame selection process in football is vastly different from other sports and is a bit secretive.  

The Committee consists of one media representative from each pro football city with two from New York, a representative of the Pro Football Writers of America and 11 at-large delegates.

The Committee's current ground rules stipulate that between four and seven new members will be selected each year (source: http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/selectionprocess.aspx).

Locally, the media person from Chicago is Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.

So, c'mon, Dan, let's help get these following former Bears players enshrined. Here we go!

7. Gary Fencik

They call him "Hit Man, don't know what they mean"...this safety was the heart of the Bears' 46 defense, and he was as consistent as any player could be. 

Fencik played 12 seasons with the  Chicago Bears and is their all-time leader in interceptions and total tackles. He was the team's defensive captain through the 1980s including the 1985  Super Bowl championship season.

Fencik finished his career with 38 interceptions, which he returned for 488 yards and a touchdown.

He also recorded two sacks and recovered 14 fumbles, returning them for 65 yards.

Look, I realize he will never make the Hall of Fame, in large part because he was vastly underrated and overshadowed by the other Bears defensive greats from this era (Mike Singletary, Dan Hampton, Richard Dent, etc.) but he is worthy of strong consideration.

Photo: www.archive.chicagobreakingsports.com

6. Joe Fortunato

Fortunato was named to the Pro Bowl five times and NFL All-Pro three times. He played outside linebacker for the Bears from 1955-1966 until he was supplanted in the lineup by Doug Buffone.

Fortunato was a member of one of the greatest linebacking groups in NFL history when he teamed with Larry Morris and Bill George, who played together in the 1963 NFL Championship season.

Fortunato was named as one of the 300 best NFL players of all time. He also served as an assistant coach on Jim Dooley's staff in 1967 and 1968.

5. Doug Buffone

Buffone played 15 seasons at linebacker for the Bears, retiring in 1980 as the all-time leader in games played for the legendary organization.

In his professional career, Buffone gathered more than 1,200 tackles, going over the 100-tackle mark in seven seasons.

He also had the honor of serving as defensive captain for eight seasons, beginning in 1972. Buffone retired with 24 career interceptions to lead all Bears linebackers and had the most sacks in a season (18 in 1968).

4. Ed O’Bradovich

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

CANTON, OHIO - AUGUST 3: Ed O?Bradovich, friend and former Bears defensive end, presents the introduction speech for Dan Hampton before his induction into the National Football League Hall of Fame on August 3, 2002 at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Ha

O'Bradovich was one of those rare athletes that grew up in, went to college in, and enjoyed a long career in the same state.

"OB" as he was known throughout his career grew up in Hillside, Ill., attended the University of Illinois, and played his entire career for the Bears.

Perhaps the singular memory of O'Bradovich was when he intercepted a short pass in the 1963 NFL Championship game and rumbled down the field on a key play to help the Bears to victory.

Following his retirement, O'Bradovich has closely followed the Bears, giving both Dan Hampton's and Mike Ditka's induction speeches to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

3. Jay Hilgenberg

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

29 Sep 1991: Center Jay Hilgenberg of the Chicago Bears prepares to snap the ball during a game against the Buffalo Bills at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game, 35-20. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport

Hilgenberg earned his first Pro Bowl berth in 1985 and would play the position in that game for the NFC for seven straight seasons.

He is a seven-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection. Shouldn't the best player at a position over a period of time be an automatic Hall of Famer?

Yet he has never even been a finalist.

2. Steve McMichael

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 31: Steve McMichael #76 of the Chicago Bears walks across the field during the game against the Green Bay Packers on October 31,1993 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers won 17-3. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

"Mongo" led the Bears with 11 1/2 sacks in 1988. He had 108 tackles in 1989. McMichael was named to the NFC's  Pro Bowl teams for the 1986 and 1987 seasons.

Along with Dan Hampton, he was the main reason that players like Mike Singletary and Richard Dent were able to achieve the heights they did, as his inside presence and toughness were legendary.

He came a long way for a player that the Bears picked up off the New England scrap heap!

1. Jimbo Covert

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13 Nov 1988: Offensive tacke Jim Covert of the Chicago Bears looks on during a game against the Washington Redskins at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The Bears won the game, 34-14.

Covert’s addition to the Bears starting lineup began a string of record-setting rushing titles.

The Chicago Bears led the league in rushing a record-setting four consecutive seasons, from 1983–1986, which tied the all-time mark, set by the 1939-42 Chicago Bears.

The Bears finished second in rushing twice, 1989 and 1990, and third once, 1988, during Covert’s career.

During Covert’s career, he was named to an All-Pro team four straight years (1984–1987), a first- or second-team All-NFC selection four times (1985–1987, 1990), and a first- or second-team All-NFL selection three times.

Covert was a consensus All-NFL and All-Pro pick in 1985 and 1986. He was selected to two Pro Bowls in 1985 and 1986. In 1986, he was selected as the Miller Lite NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year.

In 1990, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors selected Covert to the NFL All-Decade Team. With Covert, the Bears won six NFL Central Division titles and played in three NFC Championship games, along with the Super Bowl win.

He and safety Kenny Easley are the only two First Team 1980s All-Decade members not in the Hall of Fame.

How can an offensive tackle be named in the same breath as none other than Anthony Munoz (the other First Team 1980s All-Decade tackle), be considered as the best at his position for an entire decade, and not be a member of the Hall of Fame?