Chicago Bears: History With Each of the Top 5 Picks

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of a large Chicago Bears helmet display in Draft Town in Grant Park before the 2016 NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of a large Chicago Bears helmet display in Draft Town in Grant Park before the 2016 NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of a large Chicago Bears helmet display in Draft Town in Grant Park before the 2016 NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of a large Chicago Bears helmet display in Draft Town in Grant Park before the 2016 NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

The Chicago Bears are on pace to collect their first top 5 pick in the NFL draft in what will be 12 years. That’s a long time.

Historically the franchise has held a pick in that area 18 times since the draft became a reality in 1936. As with most picks there have been highs and lows but the track record the Bears have with each pick from #1 to #5 is actually quite fascinating. Chicago currently holds the rights to the #3 selection but with six games left to go in the 2016 regular season, that is almost guaranteed to change. At 2-8 their playoff hopes are dashed. Now it’s a matter of figuring out where they’ll be picking.

Could it possible be first overall? Here is what they’ve done there in the past.

#1 Pick

  • Tom Harmon (HB, Michigan, 1941)
  • Bob Fenimore (HB, Oklahoma State, 1947)

It’s incredible to think about. The Bears are one of the old franchises in NFL history and yet they’ve held the first pick in the draft just two times. That’s a span of 80 years. The fact those two times occurred just six years apart from each other and that both picks were running backs makes it even more unusual. Turns out Chicago hasn’t had much luck with the pick either. Neither Harmon nor Fenimore amounted to much as individual talents, though both helped the team win championships during that decade.