5 Former Long-Time Chicago Bears Who Deserve To Be in the Hall of Fame

Olin Kreutz

He might be one of the best centers to ever play the game. He was a six-time Pro Bowler along with making the All-Pro first team once (he also earned a second-team nod during his career). He was named to the All-2000s team.

He started 187 games during his career. Between 2001-2010, Olin missed just one game. Kreutz committed just 66 penalties during his 13 seasons with the Bears (he played four games in 2011 with the New Orleans Saints). He did not commit a holding penalty between 2002-2005.

Kreutz anchored one of the best offensive lines the Chicago Bears ever had in 2006 with Ruben Brown (who also deserves Hall of Fame consideration) and Roberto Garza as the guards and John Tait and Fred Miller as the guards. That offensive line along with the Bears' defense got Chicago to the Super Bowl that season.

Jay Hilgenberg

This is another center that deserves induction to the Hall of Fame.

Hilgenberg was named to seven straight Pro Bowls from 1985-1991. He was also named twice to the All-Pro first team and made the second team twice.

Hilgenberg took over the starting job in 1983 and only missed two games not counting the 1987 players strike. He played in three NFC Championship Games and blocked for Walter Payton when he broke Jim Brown's rushing record in 1984.

He was part of "The Black-N-Blues Brothers" line (a poster every Bears fan hung proudly from 1985 until 1993) that won the 1985 Super Bowl for the Bears. Hilgenberg along with Tom Thayer, Mark Bortz, Keith Van Horne, and Jimbo Covert protected Jim McMahon and blocked for Payton during that magical run to the franchise's only Super Bowl victory.

Hilgenberg will need the Senior Committee's recommendation to become a finalist to be eligible to be voted into the Hall of Fame. Covert is already a Hall of Famer and should have his teammate join him.