Chicago Bears: 15 greatest running backs of all time

One thing you will notice about this list, to begin with, is that the Bears have had some great players at both the running back and fullback positions. This franchise has had some tough dudes, no question. Ronnie Bull is no exception to that rule, as he enters in at No. 12 on the Bears all-time rushing list with 2,871 yards on the ground to go along with nine touchdowns.

1962 was a busy year for Bull. It began by playing in the Gator Bowl against the University of Florida. At that point, he played for the Bears, but not Chicago — the Baylor Bears of the old Southwest Conference.

Bull also represented his class in the Senior Bowl where he earned MVP of the game.

Back then, the AFL and NFL were still split. That year, Bull was drafted by the Dallas Texans with the No. 3 overall pick in the 1962 AFL Draft. Bull ended up electing to play in the NFL, though, where he was drafted with pick no. 7 overall by the Bears.

To give you an idea of just how much the league has changed, get this: Bull was named the 1962 NFC Rookie of the Year after he rushed for just 363 yards on 113 carries (3.2 yards-per-carry average) and only one score on the ground.

Bull did catch 31 passes for 331 yards, including a long of 52. But, if you were to tell me that someone could win NFL Rookie of the Year with under 700 total yards from scrimmage in today’s NFL, I’d think you were joking.