Chicago Bears: 15 greatest linebackers of all time

Drafted by the Bears in 1981, Mike Singletary was the biggest reason that the 1985 Bears had such a historic defense. During his playing days, Singletary earned various nicknames such as “Samurai Mike” considering he’d play every game with an unmatched level of focus and intensity.

Throughout his time in Chicago, Singletary would make the Pro Bowl on 10 different occasions and be named a First-Team All-Pro eight times. Singletary is also a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He is the only Bears defender to have won the award twice.

In 1998, Singletary would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was cited as being one of the main reasons that the Bears were able to run the famous 46 defense under defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan.

The 1985 Bears are talked about as being the greatest defense in NFL history. It’s clear that without Singletary, the Bears wouldn’t have achieved such an honor. If there’s one thing that Singletary is responsible when it comes to the 1985 Bears defense, it’s holding opposing offenses to fewer than 11 points a game all year.

In Singletary’s lone Super Bowl appearance with the Bears, he had two fumble recoveries and helped hold the New England Patriots to just seven rushing yards. As the Bears would go onto win their first Super Bowl in franchise history, Singletary would dominate in the playoffs.

Singletary is one of those players that won’t ever be forgotten in Bears’ history. Along the streets of Chicago, he’s still one of the most respected names that older Bears fans still talk about with a passion.