My All-Time Historical Bears Team: The Blue Ridge Better Bests

Check out BChuk44’s All Bears Historical Fantasy Team – it doesn’t get better than the best.

My strategy was simple in this exercise. Much like the GMs and their salary expenditure across the league today, I focused my attention on QB and rushing the QB.

Everybody knows that Quarterback is not just the most important position in football, but in all of sport. Once I knew I didn’t have a chance on the greatest football player of all time in Sweetness, I pivoted to the QB position and with the quality of QBs pretty dismal for this franchise, securing Caleb Williams was critical.

Apparently there are still some out there who have yet to be convinced that Iceman is the best QB in franchise history, but not me.

My focus then shifted to getting after the passer and 3 of my next 4 picks were top-tier pass rushers in Julius Peppers, Steve McMichael and Montez Sweat. Having three pass rushers with a proven track record of notching double-digit sacks in a single season was a priority as I am a firm believer in Richard Dent’s “Rule of Three.”

The other of those 4 picks was one of the top RTs in franchise history in Darnell Wright. Though Wright only has one 2nd team All-Pro to his name so far, his advanced blocking metrics have been elite for a couple seasons now for a RT.

The rest of my draft was loaded with playmakers at each level. Some were better than most we’ve ever seen at their positions. And some were simply the best.

Offense

Quarterback: Caleb Williams

Does it get better in franchise history than “The Iceman?” I think not. From his clutch factor to uncanny arm ability and vastly underrated athleticism. Caleb gives his team a chance no matter who is lined up with him or against him. Caleb is the foundation of the Blue Ridge Better Bests.

Running Back: Thomas Jones

Speaking of clutch, in the playoffs (including Super Bowl) as a Bear, Thomas Jones had 55 carries for 301 yards and 4 TDs for a 5.47 yard per carry average. Not only did he lead the team in rushing in each of his three years with the team, but Thomas Jones stepped up in the biggest moments and goes down as one of the more underrated backs in Bears history.

Wide Receivers: Tom Waddle / Rome Odunze

Size, effort, toughness and production with this group. “No block, no rock” was innately part of the job description when Waddle played, much like “Catch the rock.” Boasting a career catch rate of 62.2%, Waddle simply got his job done and helped move the chains as a dependable target for his QB. Meanwhile, before his injury last season, Rome was leading the entire league with 5 TD catches in the first 4 games. Both players play a physical brand of ball at WR in both run and passing game and will compliment each other nicely.

Tight End: Colston Loveland

Though he was the second TE taken in this draft behind only Mike Ditka, Loveland is ahead of every TE in NFL history when it comes to most receiving yards in playoff history as a rookie. Not only does Caleb trust him in the biggest moments (like this walk-off 58 yard TD against Bengals above) but the rookie has endeared himself to head coach Ben Johnson as well, with his effort and technique as a blocker, route running and dependable hands. Loveland is a matchup nightmare for any defense, regardless of era.

Utility: Justin Fields, QB/WR/RB/KR

What Fields vs. Caleb debate?! On this team, but freaks of nature are on the same team! In the 2025 season, Bears QB Caleb Williams recorded 4 of the top 5 fastest speeds by a QB including a top speed of 21.01 mph. In the 2022 season, Justin Fields went over 20mph on NINE separate occasions, second only to Tyreek Hill, with a top speed of 21.23 mph. Get these two Bears on the field at the same time and prepare for fireworks. I would also use Fields as my second kick returner where he will be another lethal weapon in the 3rd phase.

Offensive Line: Bill Wightkin, Joe Kopcha, Drew Dalman, Jonah Jackson, Darnell Wright

Left Tackle: Bill Wightkin – a dual threat athlete who settled into the LT role for his final four seasons in Chicago and became a 1st Team All-Pro. He will be tasked with protecting Caleb’s blindside.

Left Guard: Joe Kopcha – He may not be Joe Thuney, but Dr. Joe Kopcha is closer than you may think with his three First Team All-Pro’s and one 2nd Team All-Pro seasons. Spoiler: Thuney played nearly twice as many years and only has one more 2nd Team All-Pro’s under his belt.

Center: Drew Dalman – In his lone year as a Chicago Bear, Drew Dalman was a Pro-Bowler and one of the top run-blocking centers in the entire league. Caleb calls him Hulk. And Hulk doesn’t retire in this scenario.

Right Guard: Jonah Jackson – a dependable mauler at the position, Jackson started all 17 games in his first season in Chicago and was one of the top guards in the league, solidifying Chicago’s elite, new-look OL.

Right Tackle: Darnell Wright – the former top 10 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Darnell Wright has continued to ascend each season, quietly becoming one of the leagues absolute best RTs. Wright enjoyed a 2nd Team All-Pro season in 2025 and has been called “a unicorn” by his head coach, Ben Johnson for his ability to do so many things as an OL to help the offense.

Defense

Defensive Ends: Julius Peppers / Montez Sweat

Setting the edge for this 4-3 defense will be perennial All-Pro Julius Peppers and Pro-Bowler Montez Sweat. With Peppers at 6’7″, 295 and Sweat at 6’6″, 270, these Twin Towers not only effectively set the edge in the run game, but both have proven throughout their time as Bears that they can notch double digit sacks despite never having someone as capable opposite them on the DL. Everyone knows Peppers was a freak of nature coming out as a dual-sport athlete from North Carolina, but Sweat was somehow freakier. Good luck blocking these guys.

Defensive Tackle: Steve McMichael / Chris Zorich

When he started at least half of the games in a season, Mongo averaged 8.6 sacks per year. From the defensive tackle spot. His 95 career sacks are the third most in NFL history by a DT. And what’s craziest is how his run defense might have been his strongest suit! Pairing with him is the former 2nd rounder out of Notre Dame, Chris Zorich. Did you know that Zorich recorded 121 tackles during the 1993 season? More than the leading LB on the team Joe Cain that season. Mongo only topped 100 tackles once in his entire career – something All-World DT Aaron Donald never accomplished. Zorich’s energy and tenacity will pair nicely with all the pass rushers around him on this loaded defense.

Linebackers: Otis Wilson / Doug Buffone

These two studs have more in common than their number and affinity for tape on their wrists. Both players were big play enforcers with the ability to both rush the passer and defend in coverage. Otis Wilson had 38 sacks in his eight seasons in Chicago including 10.5 in his Pro Bowl and All-Pro 1985 season where he also had 3 INT including one pick-six. Buffone, meanwhile, tallied 24 career INTs, which is 2 more than Brian Urlacher ever did – for reference. Buffone also notched 15 sacks as a Bear. Bottom line: think twice about passing on these LBs.

Safeties: Gary Fencik / Chris Harris

At Safety, the Blue Ridge Better Best’s boast two “Hitmen.” Did you know both players were dubbed “Hitman” during their careers, despite playing 30 years apart? Fencik and Harris were both heady defenders who understood the assignment of everyone around them and used their elite awareness to put themselves in position for a game-changing INT or bone-crushing tackle. Fencik was a two-time All-Pro while Harris was a one time All-Pro, but both players held down the back-end in the Super Bowl for their teams. Fun Fact: Known for his hitting, Chris Harris actually had 1o INT in his three seasons in Chicago.

Cornerback: Tim Jennings / Nahshon Wright

Ball skills is the name of the game for BRBB at the CB spot. The speedy 5’8″ Jennings led the league in 2012 with 9 INT during his All-Pro season while Nahshon Wright led the team with 8 turnovers (5 INT, 3 FR) in his lone season as a Bear where he also made the Pro Bowl. While Wright doesn’t have the speed or quickness of Jennings, his 6’4″ frame allows these two to match up nicely against opposing WRs with CBs that possess elite ball-skills and toughness.

Defensive Utility: Kyler Gordon

Considering this exercise is assuming full health, nabbing the versatile ‘Spidey’ was crucial for me. Not only can Kyler help immediately in the passing game, but his size and toughness are key in the run game. Kyler will be a chess piece for the BRBB’s.

Special Teams

Kicker: Jake Moody / Punter: Todd Sauerbrun

Moody finally showed his 3rd round talent when he arrived in Chicago where he hit 88.9% of his FGs and 100% of his extra points. His power and consistency led many a Bears fan to debate if the younger Moody should supplant Cairo Santos as the lone kicker on the roster. Sauerbrun, meanwhile, was another highly drafted special teamer (2nd round) and at 5’10”, 215lb could double as backup RB for the BRBB’s.

Special Teamer: Cordarrelle Patterson

Not only is “Flash” an elite returner, he was also an elite cover asset on kicking teams and I will leave you with this.

Assets all over the field on both sides of the ball. Those other teams are definitely good. But not quite at the level of the Blue Ridge Better Bests.

You can check out our full draft here.

Once all eight teams are announced, we’ll hold a tournament and ask you, the WCG readers, to pick the winner.

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