Chicago Bears: Greatest Reclamation Projects in Team History

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 09: Roberto Garza #63 of the Chicago Bears waits in the huddle against the Indianapolis Colts during their 2012 NFL season opener at Soldier Field on September 9, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Colts 41-21. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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24 DEC 1994: CHICAGO BEARS WIDE RECEIVER JEFF GRAHAM #81 LUNGES FOR EXTRA YARDS BEFORE BEING BROUGHT DOWN BY A NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS CORNERBACK AFTER MAKING A RECEPTION DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF THEIR GAME AT SOLDIER FIELD IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. Mandat /

#3: Jeff Graham

The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t prone to making big mistakes when it comes to wide receivers, but they made a huge one when they gave up on Jeff Graham too soon. After going over 700 yards in 1992, he dropped a bit to under 600 the next year. Pittsburgh felt he’d peaked as a performer and chose to trade him to the Bears rather than wait another year. They no doubt wish they had.

Now one of the primary targets in the offense, Graham broke out with 944 yards in 1994. That was merely the warmup though. In 1995 he became almost unstoppable with 1,301 yards and averaging 15.4 per catch. To this day people wonder what might’ve happened at the Bears been more aggressive trying to re-sign him. Instead, he left for the Jets in 1996 and never reached those heights again.

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