Chicago Bears draft history

The NFL drafts were instituted in 1936 as a means to organize and control players entering Professional Football. College Football was much more popluar than professional ball. As with many things NFL, George Halas found himself at the center of controversy regarding the recruitment of top college players to the professional ranks. In his day, Red Grange of the University of Illinois was by far the most dynamic player in college and Halas wanted the marquee player to help promote professional football (and sell tickets to Bears games of course). In order to cash in the Galloping Ghosts' legend/popularity, Halas needed to sign him. But Halas wasn't alone in that regard and competition was growing to sway Grange.

Halas eventually won the services of Grange, but the circumstances surrounding the signing caused concerned that professional football would sap the talent of college football by tempting players with money. College players were already breaking rules to play professionally while in school, but under assumed names to avoid detection. Colleges protested and the NFL created the "Grange Rule" which stated that a player can not sign with a professional football team until 4 years out of high school...or basically after they played their college ball. The Grange Rule was modified in the late 60's or early 70's to 3 years out of high sshool before a player can sign a professional contract. This rule was challenged in 2003 by Maurice Clarett, RB of Ohio State University. Federal courts upheld the long standing NFL Grange Rule and Clarett had to wait until the 2005 draft (his eligibility year). Other than being big news, Clarett failed to make an NFL roster and stepped into the world of being an answer to a trivia question.

George Halas served as GM and picked his players from 1936 until 1974. In the 60s and 70s, the Bears were really feeling the void of talent. Halas had done a poor job of restocking the team with talent. Halas kept players from the 40s dynasty and 50s Monsters of the Midway for too long. The late 50s started a trend of poor selections that eroded the team. Couple the lack of talent with poor coaching choices in the late 60s and 70s made for a long drought in Chicago football. Unfortunately, a plan was lacking in how to re-stock the team.

Fortunately, Halas hired Jim Finks away from the Minnesota Vikings: a team that entered the league in 1960 and were a great power by the 1970s. Finks observed in the team's needs in 1974 and got to work in laying a foundation that would lead to the great Bears teams of the 80s. Finks' drafts year by year infused talent and hope to the team. His selections yielded players who played key roles in turning the franchise around. Finks resigned after the 1983 draft due to Halas' hiring of Mike Ditka. Finks believed his role as GM was undermined because he wasn't consulted about the hiring.

The Bears lived off of Finks selections through the 80s and his replacement, Jerry Vanisi, did a good job of maintaining the talent. It was Halas' plan to allow Vanisi and Ditka to run the organization after his passing. However, since he didn't put it in writing, his son-in-law Ed, installed eldest grandson Michael as President. This happened virtually the next day after Halas' death. The McCaskeys were second-class citizens while Papa Bear roamed the lair. Never approving of Ed and openly criticized him around the office. It took Michael 4 years to fire his grandfather's hand picked protege (Vanisi). After that happened, Michael fancied himself a GM and with the aid of Bill Tobin started participating in the drafting process during Vanisi's final year (1987). Tobin would quit after the 1993 draft.

At the conclusion of the 1992 season, Michael had the opportunity to fire Mike Ditka in favor of Dave Wannstedt. In 10 years, Michael McCaskey has successfully purged the organization of credible football people so he could sit in the big chair. The drafts he conducted were simply terrible and the once proudly restored franchise was in free-fall. His mother (Virginia Halas-McCaskey) eventually fired Michael McCaskey after a coaching hire bungle. Newly appointed President Ted Phillips hired Head Scout Jerry Angelo away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Angelo hasn't restored the franchise yet mainly due to his slow on-the-job training. Although fans were elated when Michael McCaskey stepped away from the war room, their happiness started to swoon after Angelo 'mistakes' started to become more frequent. The team hasn't won with 'his' players or coach yet. The fans are impatiently waiting for the Angelo led turnaround.

Hall of Fame draft picks

The players listed below are Hall of Fame inductees drafted by the Bears and does not list players signed pre-draft (e.g. Nagurski, Trafton, Grange) or acquired via trade/waivers (Atkins, McAfee, Page).

GM	Year	Rd	Hall of Famer	Pos	College	HOF	Seasons
Halas	1936	1	Joe Stydahar	T	West Virginia	1967	1936-1942, 1945-1946
Halas	1936	9	Dan Fortmann	G/LB	Colgate	1965	1936-1943
Halas	1939	1	Sid Luckman	QB	Columbia	1965	1939-1950
Halas	1940	1	Clyde "Bulldog" Turner	C/T	Hardin-Simmons	1966	1940-1951
Halas	1948	1	Bobby Layne	QB	Texas	1967	1948, 1949 (traded to NY Bulldogs), 1950-1957 (Lions), 1958 (Lions/Steelers), 1959-1962 (Steelers)
Halas	1949	12	George Blanda	QB/K	Kentucky	1981	1949, 1950 (Colts/Bears), 1951-1958 (Bears), 1960-1966 (Oilers), 1967-1975 (Raiders)
Halas	1951	2	Bill George	LB	Wake Forest	1974	(Cut?) 1952-1965, 1966 (Rams)
Halas	1953	5	Stan Jones	T	Maryland	1991	1954-1965, 1966 (Redskins)
Halas	1961	1	Mike Ditka	TE	Pittsburgh	1988	1961-1966, 1967-1968 (Eagles), 1969-1972 (Cowboys)
Halas	1965	1	Dick Butkus	LB	Illinois	1979	1965-1973
Halas	1965	1	Gale Sayers	RB	Kansas	1977	1965-1971
Finks	1975	1	Walter Payton	RB	Jackson State	1993	1975-1987
Finks	1979	1	Dan Hampton	DT	Arkansas	2002	1979-1990
Finks	1981	2	Mike Singletary	LB	Baylor	1998	1981-1992