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Chicago Bears: Wins Have Followed Their Trades for Pass Rushers

By Erik Lambert

LOS ANGELES - 1986: Defensive tackle Dan Hampton #99 of the Chicago Bears rushes after quarterback Marc Wilson #6 of the Los Angeles Raiders during a game in 1986 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - 1986: Defensive tackle Dan Hampton #99 of the Chicago Bears rushes after quarterback Marc Wilson #6 of the Los Angeles Raiders during a game in 1986 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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Some people might not remember, but the Chicago Bears actually have a bit of a history when it comes to trading for gifted pass rushers.

Don’t get it wrong. If things go as they could, Khalil Mack may actually end up being the best they ever got. Still, he has some stiff competition. The truth is some of the best pass rushers in Bears history were acquired thanks to a savvy trade, be it for the player directly or in the draft. Each time it happened, good things tended to follow.

Sure that meant a lot of flattened quarterbacks and often dominant defense, but also a good amount of winning as well. People these days love to say that great pass rushers don’t affect the bottom line, but here’s a news flash. It’s the same for great quarterbacks too if they don’t have a little help around them. The bottom line is adding these men made the Bears TEAM better.

Here are the examples and their results.

Traded for Doug Atkins (1955)

The Cleveland Browns drafted Doug Atkins in the 1st round in 1953. They tried to make it work for two years but head coach Paul Brown, who was notorious for hating players with personality, chose to deal him in 1955. Bears head coach and owner George Halas, who actually loved players who brought some attitude to the game, jumped at the chance.

Composition:

  • Atkins to the Bears
  • 3rd and 5th round picks to the Browns

It proved to be one of the all-time steals in Bears history. Atkins was most definitely a character and carried some baggage for Halas to deal with, but there’s no questioning his talent. The man was a freak of nature at 6’8, 257 lbs. He was so ferocious, athletic and powerful that opposing offensive linemen actually warned each other not to cut block him for fear of earning his wrath.

With Atkins in place, the Bears would reach two NFL championship games in 1956 and 1963, winning the latter in what would be Halas’ curtain call as a coach. The defensive end went to eight Pro Bowls and landed in the Hall of Fame.

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