Though you may be familiar with the great Chicago Bear linebackers Mike Singletary and Dick Butkus, you may not be familiar with the first great middle linebacker for the Bears. Bill George was the first start at the middle linebacker position, not only for the Bears, but for the NFL. He is also the best NFL athlete to wear the jersey number 61.
He was selected with the 23rd overall pick by the Bears in the 1951 NFL draft out of Wake Forest. Bill was an eight time consecutive Pro Bowler (1954 to 1961). He started his career as middle defensive guard, but then switched to middle linebacker, becoming the first great one at that position.
He played with the Bears between the years of 1952 to 1965, and with the Rams in 1966. He is a member of the 1950s All-Decade team and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
Did you know.......The Sporting News named Bill George number 49 on it's 1999 list of the NFL's 100 greatest players?
Additional Considerations: Curley Culp, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Oilers
Rick Nash
ReplyDeleteWhat about MLB Pitcher Livan Hernandez? 200 wins with some dog-face teams in Montreal/Washington, two World Series Champion (one WS and NLCS MVP), and a pivitol role in a second WS run.
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