While some teams are trading for future HOF defensive ends and others are celebrating their QB on the cover of a video game, most of us are existing in the doldrums of the offseason. Join us in our quest to provide the best Bears centered topics around. Our next topic?
Who is your favorite Bears RB of all time?
He may not have been Sweetness, but none are. Former Bears RB Neal Anderson somehow managed to not only follow in the footsteps of Walter Payton, but the former 27th overall pick out of Florida did so quite admirably. The 5’11”, 210lb
dual threat RB was a 4x Pro Bowler and 1x All-Pro (Second Team) and sits at #3 on the all time rushing leaders list behind Payton and Matt Forte and is 2nd only behind Payton in rushing TDs. Neal Anderson played his entire 8-year career in Chicago and averaged 860 yards rushing per season with a 4.1 ypc average and 7 TDs as a starter in addition to 42.5 catches, 383 yards receiving and and 2.7 receiving TD per season.
As a young fan growing up on the tail-end of Payton’s career, Neal Anderson was the guy I watched and played with in Tecmo Super Bowl. He was a difference maker in the game and just behind Christian Okoye and Barry Sanders as far as dominance. Neal was easily the best offensive player on the team in real life as well as they never had a 1,000 yard receiver when he was playing either. The former Florida Gator played with underrated speed and elusiveness with more of a one cut nature but also possessed soft hands and enough toughness to run between the tackles and break free of defenders down field.
In Bears terms, Neal Anderson reminds me of a combination of Thomas Jones and Matt Forte. Was he the best to ever wear a ‘C’ on his helmet? No, but he was close, he was my favorite and he is a large reason why I am a Bears fan.
Honorable Mentions:
- Rashaan Salaam
- Anthony Thomas
- Thomas Jones
- Matt Forte
