Last year, the Chicago Bears furthered their lead of representatives within the Pro Football Hall of Fame, reaching 39 total inductees.
On Wednesday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame unveiled its list of 167 modern-era nominees for the 2025 induction class. While the list didn’t include any potential first-ballot inductees, there are plenty of Bears players who could get the famous knock on their door this time around.
Though they’re eligible for enshrinement, will any of these Bears legends earn the honors of being remembered in NFL history forever?
Note: We didn’t include short-term Bears on the list, such as Doug Flutie, Thomas Jones, Muhsin Muhammad, Jared Allen, and others.
CB Charles “Peanut” Tillman
As one of the most notable players in recent Bears history, this will be Charles “Peanut” Tillman’s fourth year of eligibility to be recognized as one of the best players in NFL history.
Tillman has yet to be named a semifinalist, let alone a finalist, since becoming eligible. However, when looking at his career, it’s not easy to imagine why.
Throughout his career with the Bears, Tillman accumulated 36 interceptions and nine defensive touchdowns (both the most in Bears history). However, the part of Tillman’s game that should earn him this honor on its own is the ability he had to force fumbles seemingly anytime he wanted.
The most forced fumbles ever by a DB.@peanuttillman’s Peanut Punch was devastating 🥜🥊 @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/72zurzSFSn
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) March 8, 2019
In 12 seasons with Chicago, Peanut Tillman forced 42 fumbles, donning the term “Peanut Punch” to live on for years and years after his retirement in 2015.
With a Pro Football Reference HOF Monitor score of 36.20, his chances might not be as high statistically. However, considering his contributions to the defensive nomenclature of the NFL, the likelihood seems to grow.
Prediction: Will get in.
LB Lance Briggs
As one of the pillars of the early 2000s Bears defense alongside Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, linebacker Lance Briggs enters his sixth consecutive year of eligibility for enshrinement.
In his 12-year career with Chicago, Briggs was a seven-time Pro Bowler, earning this honor for more than half of his career.
Briggs totaled 1,566 tackles, 15 sacks, 16 interceptions, and 18 forced fumbles in his career with the Bears. Something not all Bears fans know about Briggs is that he’s the first linebacker in NFL history to return an interception for a touchdown in each of his first three seasons.
However, while he’ll be remembered as legend in Chicago, it’s not as likely that he earns the same respect from a national audience. Briggs’ PFR Monitor Score is just 59.45, while the average Hall of Fame outside linebacker has a score of 103.48.
Prediction: Won’t get in.
C Olin Kreutz
When it comes to offensive linemen who dominated in the early 2000s, Hawaii-born Olin Kreutz comes to mind immediately.
As a third-round pick in 1998 out of Washington, Kreutz was named to six Pro Bowls, earning a first-team All-Pro nod in 2006.
One part of Kreutz’s game that went unrecognized was his ability to be consistently available. Through 13 seasons with the Bears, Kreutz played in 191 games and started in 183, coming up just one start shy of the franchise record set by Walter Payton.
While he hasn’t been inducted into the Hall of Fame individually, Kreutz was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-Decade team for the 2000s. Kreutz is the only member of that team’s offensive line who isn’t also in the Hall of Fame individually.
In 2020, Kreutz was a semifinalist for induction, but his name wasn’t selected.
His PFR Monitor Score is 58.08, which ranks 15th among centers. Hall of Fame centers have an average score of 102.92, making Kreutz’s likelihood a little lower.
However, as a member of the All-Decade team, it appears he won’t have to wait much longer to join the 39 (or more after this year) busts representing the Bears.
Prediction: Will get in.
WR Brandon Marshall
While Brandon Marshall didn’t spend the majority of his career with the Bears, two of his best seasons happened while in Chicago.
In Marshall’s 13 seasons, he spent just three with the Bears, but he made an impact in those three that will be remembered for many years.
As a Bear, Marshall earned his only first-team All-Pro nod in 2012 and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2013.
Marshall’s 2012 season with Chicago remains one of his best years throughout his career, as the 6’5″, 232-pound receiver caught a career-high 118 receptions for a career-high 1,508 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Remember when @BMarshall had 21 catches… in ONE GAME?! (Dec. 13, 2009)
Happy 36th birthday, Brandon! 🎂 pic.twitter.com/ENTyy92mYQ
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) March 23, 2020
Though it didn’t happen with Chicago, his single-game record of 21 receptions in a game does help his case as a future Hall of Fame receiver.
When looking at wide receivers in the Hall of Fame, however, there’s stiff competition across the board. And with his 69.26 PFR Monitor Score (101.40 average HOF WR), his likelihood of making the Hall of Fame this year isn’t the highest.
He could be a strong contender for the Hall of Very Good, though.
Prediction: Won’t get in.