Staley Da Bear
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- Mar 16, 2019
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Bears defensive tackle Akiem Hicks has been voted the 39th best player in the NFL in a poll of league players conducted by NFL Network.
The eight-year NFL veteran was featured on Sunday night’s episode of “The Top 100 Players of 2019,” which unveiled players ranked Nos. 31-40.
Hicks helped lead the Bears to the NFC North title with a 12-4 record last season. He was named to his first career Pro Bowl after topping the team with 12 tackles-for-loss and ranking second behind Khalil Mack with 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 16 quarterback hits.
Hicks recorded a career-high five tackles-for-loss in a Nov. 18 win over the Vikings that gave the Bears sole possession of first place. He also scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal Dec. 2 against the Giants, becoming the first Bears defensive lineman to rush for a touchdown since William “Refrigerator” Perry in Super Bowl XX.
Hicks has performed exceptionally well since signing with the Bears as a free agent in 2016. While he made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2018, his numbers were even better in 2017 when he registered 8.5 sacks and 15 tackles-for-loss.