Chicago Bears history with top ten draft picks

Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

1965

The 1965 draft may be the Bears’ greatest draft ever. They had three of the top six picks in that draft, and hit on two of them. When I say they hit on them, I mean they hit the ball from Wrigley Field to Jupiter.

With the third pick of the draft, the Bears selected Dick Butkus out of Illinois who went on to become one of the most feared and greatest linebackers in NFL history.

Butkus was a Chicago guy through and through. He was born there, went to Chicago Vocational High School and the University of Illinois. The only professional team he played for was with the Chicago Bears.

When you think of the Chicago Bears history of great hitters, the first thought in your head should be Dick Butkus. He did not just hit people, he went through them and took their souls.

Butkus played in nine seasons, and was named to eight Pro Bowls and six All Pro first teams. He was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year.

Butkus was named the 70th greatest athlete in ESPN’s Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century. He was ranked the ninth-best football player in the Sporting News 100 greatest football players, and NFL.com listed him as the tenth greatest football player.

They were not done yet, though. With the fourth pick, the Bears selected the “Kansas Comet” Gale Sayers. Sayers became one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, even though he suffered through a devastating knee injury.

In his career, he was named to four Pro Bowls, and named five times to the All Pro first team. He was the Rookie of the Year and the Comeback Player of the Year, and won two rushing titles.

Even though he played for only seven seasons, he is still considered one of the best to play. In 1999, the Sporting News ranked him #22 in their list of 100 greatest football players.

Next: 1967-1974