Chicago Bears' Richard Dent : Top 10 Moments in Dent's Hall of Fame Career

Richard Dent is the fourth Chicago Bears Hall of Famer from a 1985 Super Bowl team that captured the hearts and imagination of football fans all over the country.

In fact, Dent was the MVP of Super Bowl XX in New Orleans.

"The sackman's comin', I'm your man Dent.
if the quarterback's slow,
He's gonna get bent."

Those lines sang from the Super Bowl shuffle that year were fun, but in reality Dent did most of his talking on the football field.

With that in mind, let's celebrate his introduction into the Hall of Fame by remembering some of the greatest moments of Dent's career.

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November 4, 1984: Dent Is a Sack Machine vs Raiders

In this 17-6 victory over the Oakland Raiders in 1984, Dent sacked more than a bag boy at a grocery store.

In all, the Raiders were sacked nine times, with 4.5 of them coming from Dent. The Bears defense was outstanding, picking off Raiders QBs three times, while forcing four fumbles, two of them recovered by the Bears.

In total, Dent recorded 17.5 sacks in '84, the highest single season total of his career.

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Dent Finishes 1984 with 17.5 Sacks

In 1984, though he didn't lead the league in that category, Dent recorded the highest single season sack total of his career, dropping the opposing QB 17.5 times.

It was the year before the Super Bowl, and the beginning of a dominant and stifling Bears defense led by edge rusher Dent.

Five times that season Dent recorded multiple sacks, and he had sacks in half of the games. In the playoff loss to the 49ers, however, Dent failed to record a sack.

November 17, 1985: Dent Scores the First TD of His Career

Dent scored the first of his two career touchdowns in a game against the Dallas Cowboys in 1985, the same season the Bears went on to win the Super Bowl.

The Bears crushed the Cowboys 44-0 with Dent scoring the first touchdown of the game, a one-yard interception return.

On the play, Cowboys QB Danny White passed from deep in his own end zone. The pass was deflected right into Dent's arms. All he had to do was fall forward to score the touchdown.

It was one of eight interceptions in Dent's career.

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December 27, 1987: Once Again, Dent Sacks the Raiders

Coincidentally, Dent tied for the highest single game sack total of his career against the Raiders in 1987, a repeat of the 1984 performance.

Once again, Dent recorded 4.5 sacks in a defensive struggle won by the Bears 6-3.

The Bears held Oakland to just 93 yards passing, sacking QB Marc Wilson nine times and forcing an interception.

In addition to Dent, Dan Hampton and Steve McMichael combined for another 3.5 sacks.

December 24, 1991: Dent Has Game for the Ages vs Bucs

On Christmas Eve in 1991, though Dent was starting to reach the end of his Bears career (he would leave the team after the 1993 season), he had one of his greatest games ever.

Dent not only recorded three sacks, but also had an interception in 27-0 whitewashing of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bears defense held Tampa to just 106 total yards (52 rushing, 54 passing). The Bucs recorded only seven first downs compared to Chicago's 23.

QB Jeff Carlson was sacked four times (the other sack was by John Roper (wasn't he a character on "Three's Company"?) and threw three interceptions.

Dent Leads the League in Sacks in 1985

Dent had a monstrous season in 1985, recording 17 sacks to lead the league and caused seven fumbles.

While he actually recorded a half sack more the year before, he didn't lead the league.

The total? 34.5 sacks in two seasons. When you consider today's game, with Julius Peppers earning $20 million in 2010 to produce just nine sacks, you realize what an amazing achievement that truly was.

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The Longest Fumble Return of His Career in 1990

In this game, the Detroit Lions pulled out to a 21-7 lead, but Dent brought the team back with a fumble he recovered.  

Dent ran 45 yards for what was the longest fumble return in Dent's career. It went for a touchdown, and although the Bears lost the game to Barry Sander's Lions, they went on to the playoffs. 

In all, Dent would go onto to recover 13 fumbles in his career, but this would be the only one that went for a touchdown.

Dent's Sack in 1985 Championship Game Leads to Memorable TD Run

One of Dent's most memorable sacks came in the 1985 NFC Championship Game, and it led to a fumble recovery and an incredible return for a TD by Wilbur Marshall.

Enjoy the video.

Dent Named MVP of Super Bowl XX

In January of 1986, the Bears won their first, and only, Super Bowl beating the New England Patriots 46-10. Although QB Jim McMahon had a strong game, it was Dent who would be named MVP.

Dent was part of a defense that held the Pats to just 123 yards, the second lowest total in Super Bowl history.

So what did he do? Well, other than 1.5 quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles, and a blocked pass, not much. It was a fitting end to a season known much more for the great Bears "46" defense than for offense.

On the sack he shared with Wilbur Marshall, QB Tony Eason fumbled the ball that was recovered by Dan Hampton.

The Sack Man Retires with 137.5 Sacks

Dent retired after the 1997 season, spending the last three years of his career with the 49ers, Colts and Eagles, though he spent the 1994 season injured. Much of his last two years were spent playing hurt as well.

But when the results were tallied, Dent would finish with 137.5 sacks in his career, which was third best all time at the time of his retirement. Only Reggie White and Bruce Smith had more sacks at the time.

He recorded only 13 of his sacks after he left the Bears, as he finished his Bears career with 124.5 sacks.

Still, it took him awhile to make the Hall of Fame. From 2005-2009, Dent was a top 15 finalist but it wasn't until February 5, 2011 that he was inducted into Canton.