Chicago Bears: 15 greatest running backs of all time

The quest to find a replacement for one of the greatest running backs the league has ever seen began with the 1986 NFL Draft. The Bears selected former Florida Gators standout running back Neal Anderson with the No. 27 overall pick that year.

Following a career like Walter Payton was no easy task but, all things considered, Anderson did a strong job overall — it just took a couple of years to see him break out.

Anderson appeared in 25 games over his first two seasons but started only 11 of them. Over his first two seasons, Anderson compiled 732 yards on 164 carries, while scoring three touchdowns (all coming in his second year).

As the surefire starter in his third season, Anderson started all 16 games. Breaking out in that third year, Anderson rushed for 1,106 yards on 249 carries and scoring 12 touchdowns on the ground. That season, Anderson was selected to the 1988 Pro Bowl.

Over the next three seasons, Anderson capped off a four-year span which saw him voted to the Pro Bowl in all four campaigns. That four-year stretch (1988-91) was one of the best chunks of rushing in Bears history, as he ran for a total of 4,206 yards and 39 touchdowns. He also topped 1,600 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions over those years.

Anderson’s career ended as the Bears’ second all-time leading rusher (only to be passed by Matt Forte later) with 6,166 yards and 51 touchdowns. Still somewhat overlooked by today’s fans, Anderson was no slouch — and he did a fine job taking over for the greatest of all time.