​With all the talk about the strength of Chicago’s pass catchers this year and the worries surrounding the pass rush, I found myself thinking about past Bears position groups that either carried the team or weighed it down. Here, we examine some of the most notable groupings in recent memory. We’ve already discussed the weakest units; now it’s time to spotlight the strongest. I had intended to finish this piece soon after the previous one about a month ago, but WCG has been unusually busy. Not only have we tackled a brand-new topic every day, but we’ve also recently hosted a “Historical All-Time Bears Fantasy Draft.” That event proved wonderfully instrumental in shaping this article, so let’s dive in.
If you love interceptions, you would have adored the 2018 Chicago Bears defensive backfield. With All-Pros Eddie Jackson and Kyle Fuller, plus veterans like Prince Amukamara, Adrian Amos, and Bryce Callahan, this group totaled twenty interceptions. Three of those picks were returned for touchdowns, including the memorable one pictured here. Describing this unit as dangerous would be an understatement; there wasn’t a weak link to exploit. They also combined for 63 pass breakups, four sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and another touchdown via a recovery—courtesy of BoJack, of course. The entire league watched with bated breath each week to see what inventive celebration they would unveil next. It was an all-time great unit, no doubt about it.
Before 2013, you’d have to travel back to 1941 to find the last time at least three offensive skill players earned Pro Bowl honors in the same year; and that was when the league contained only ten teams and the game looked very different. Chicago’s 2013 squad, however, could rival any modern offense. Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte and wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery fueled the offense that season, while tight end Martellus Bennett was far from a slouch. In 2013, Bennett posted 65 receptions for 759 yards and five touchdowns. He would go on to accumulate even more yards the following year, but at the time his 759 was the fifth-most all-time for a Bears tight end. And by then, he was the least productive of the trio that season. Forte recorded 1,339 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, plus 74 receptions for 594 yards and three more TDs. Marshall notched 100 catches for 1,295 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Alshon pulled in 89 receptions for 1,421 yards and seven touchdowns. And all of this was happening with Jay Cutler throwing the ball—the franchise’s passing leader, no less.
Having the franchise’s all-time leader in sacks anchoring the lineup signals a real contender for “best ever.” That’s precisely the case with this unit, guided by Richard Dent, Chicago’s all-time sack leader. The 1985 season stands as the franchise’s peak, and it’s easy to understand why those years are revered when you examine the talent and impact of that era.