Staley Da Bear
Well-known member
- Mar 16, 2019
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With the NFL set to celebrate its 100th birthday on Sept. 17, 2020, here's a look at what transpired this week in Bears history:
In 1998, the Bears traded a 1999 fifth-round draft pick to the San Diego Chargers in exchange for defensive tackle Shawn Lee. Lee appeared in 15 games with 14 starts in his only season with the Bears in 1998, registering 38 tackles and 2.0 sacks. He scored the only touchdown of his 11-year NFL career as a member of the Bears Nov. 22, 1998 when he returned a fumble 15 yards against the Falcons in Atlanta.
In 1977, former center Olin Kreutz was born. Selected by the Bears in the third round of the 1998 out of Washington, Kreutz was voted to six Pro Bowls in 13 seasons in Chicago from 1998-2010, anchoring the offensive line while winning four division championships and one conference title. The Washington product appeared in 191 games with 183 starts, one shy of Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton's franchise record.
In 1994, Bears outside linebacker Isaiah Irving was born. Irving is entering his fourth season with the Bears after appearing in 33 games, all as a reserve, since joining the team in 2017 as an undrafted free agent from San Jose State.
In 1961, the Bears signed fullback Rick Casares. Chosen by the Bears in the second round of the 1954 draft out of Florida, Casares spent his first 10 NFL seasons in Chicago from 1955-64. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first five years and led the NFL in all rushing categories in 1956 when he ran for 1,126 yards and 12 touchdowns on 234 carries. Casares helped lead the Bears to the NFL championship in 1963 and left the team following the 1964 season as the franchise's all-time leading rusher with 5,657 yards.
In 1954, former Bears safety Gary Fencik was born. Fencik played his entire 13-year NFL career with the Bears, appearing in 164 games with 160 starts. He is the franchise's all-time leader with 38 interceptions and was a key starter on the 1985 Super Bowl XX championship team.
In 2001. Jerry Angelo was hired as Bears general manager. In 11 seasons with the team, the Bears won four division championships and one conference title, reaching Super Bowl XLI.
In 1903, Bears Hall of Famer Red Grange was born. Grange played six seasons with the Bears in 1925 and 1929-34 and headlined a barnstorming tour from coast-to-coast that helped popularize pro football. He helped the Bears win back-to-back NFL championships in 1932 and 1933. Grange is a charter member of the Hall of Fame whose No. 77 jersey is retired by the Bears.
In 1997, Bears rookie outside linebacker Trevis Gipson was born. Gipson was selected by the Bears in the fifth round of this year's draft out of Tulsa.
In 1936, former Bears cornerback Dave Whitsell was born. Whitsell played six seasons with the Bears from 1961-66 and recorded six interceptions for the 1963 NFL champions.
In 1955, former Bears quarterback Vince Evans was born. Selected by the Bears in the sixth round of the 1977 draft out of USC, he spent his first six seasons in Chicago from 1977-83, appearing in 56 games with 32 starts and completing 48.7 percent of his passes for 6,172 yards with 31 touchdowns, 53 interceptions and a 71.5 passer rating. Evans posted a perfect 158.3 passer rating Dec. 7, 1980, connecting on 18 of 22 passes for 316 yards with three TDs in a 61-7 win over the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field.