Chicago Bears: 15 greatest running backs of all time

If we were going purely based on where each of these guys ranked among the Bears’ all-time leading rushers, Bronko Nagurski would check in at a modest No. 13 overall. However, that’s not taking into consideration everything he did for the Bears over his nine seasons.

Nagurski was a rare and special breed. You want to talk about the Mount Rushmore of toughness and physicality? This is your guy, right here. It’s Nagurski.

"“I always used my strength in football. I liked to meet guys head-on when I was carrying the ball. Then I’d drop my shoulder, and catch him with that, and then brush him off with my arm. It worked — most of the time.” -Pro Football Hall of Fame website"

Nagurski was more of an old-school fullback than anything else, but he ran the ball with a vengeance. There was nothing tricky about the way he ran the ball. You never saw the moves of a Saquon Barkley or LaDainian Tomlinson when watching Nagurski run.

Watching this tank run the football was like watching a wrecking ball crash through a brick wall. Nagurski ran it straight up the gut. The quickest way from Point A to Point B is always a straight line, right?

That’s how Nagurski saw the football field. There were no short cuts. He took out anybody in his way to gain those necessary yards.

The fact that this guy also played multiple positions on both sides of the ball is pretty incredible. Of course, back then, it was the norm for many players to line up on both sides. The funny thing was, Nagurski played every position the same way. He was out to bash heads in — and fans loved it.