Chicago Bears: Black History month

This is the first Friday in Black history month and for one of my blogs this week I want to do a new segment and talk about the impact some black players have made to the Chicago Bears organization. I do not want to make a huge deep dive on African American players in the NFL because that will involve alot more research that will be done at a later time and is actually a very complex story. But a brief back story to understand. Baseball had Jackie Robison football had Kenny Washington. Jackie Robison and Kenny Washington both went to UCLA and actually played baseball together some say Kenny Washington was actually better then Robison. The NFL use to have African American players early on in the league but not many. Then World War II came and went and that is where Kenny Washington comes in he reintegrated football

Kenny Washington actually has a minor connection with the Chicago Bears. George Halas coached the college all star game and wanted to get him to play for the bears. He was unable to convince the league to reintegrate and let him play again. Kenny Washington  went on to coach UCLA, became a cop, played for the Hollywood bears, served in the military, and final made the NFL in 1946 when the rams left Cleveland to go to LA. [ keep going off track from the bears] But the reason why he he was able to play for the rams because the rams played in the LA coliseum a public/ tax payer funded stadium.   Who pays taxes everyone no matter what race. The Rams organization thought we need a African American to play in the stadium since everyone has to pay for it.

Now let's fast forward to 1949. Where the Chicago Bears drafted with the 13th pick George Taliaferro. He did not play one game for the bears he choose to go to the AFL LA Dons. He was a running back and the 1st QB in the modern reintegrated NFL.

The Chicago Bears finally in 1952 drafted Eddie Macon. He was a return specialist He played 23 games in two seasons, then he returned with his college coach in the CFL. According to Chicago Bears.com some of his stats where averaged 30.5 yards on 22 kickoff returns and 5.9 yards on 24 punt returns while also rushing for 324 yards and two touchdowns on 70 carries and catching 14 passes for 49 yards and 2 TDs.

 One player who gets very over look and that I did not learn about till this year is Willie Thrower. As un undrafted free agent the bears decided to pick up Thrower.  He was one of the first black Qb in Chicago bears history and 1st/ 2nd African American qb to every take a snap under center. He entered the game October 18,1953. Bears down George Blanda playing kinda poor was pulled in the 4th quarter for a couple plays and Willie Thrower went in the game moved them down the field to get them to the 15 yard line, before Blanda came back in for the goal line. Many of his teammates wanted Thrower to score, I'm not 100% sure why he was pulled out by Halas. Willie Thrower went 3/8 that day throwing 27 yards. The Bears would go on to lose that day Bears 28 - 49ers 35. But the Breaking down the walls of being the first black bears QB was a bigger win.  Willie Thrower went on to play one more game that season for the bears before being cut in the off season.

Willie Thrower entering the game is bigger then most thing and has gone over looked for many years. It showed that any one can play the quarter back postion no matter what you skin color was as long as you where good. Opening the door for

The Chicago Bears and the terrible ability to draft or even manage any QB has limit their list of African American Qb's[ Do not get me started on that Mitchell Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson debate]

But those who played where Kordell "Slash"Stewart he played QB/WR/HB. He played one season and it did not go so well. He is know as one of the worse free agent signing is Chicago bears history. 7 touchdowns to 12 picks in only 9 games. and was 2-5 as a starter.

Looking back at Vince Evans time as a bear, people should bring him up more solely for his beating that he gave to Green Bay in 1980 a 61-7 win. [ Side note both 1980's Bears V. Packers match ups where amazing, first game's ending and the story behind it ] His 7 years with the Bears

Cool Picture taken on the bench with is running back Walter Payton

From 1977-1995 Evans played the game of football, spending 7 years with the Bears before trying his luck in the UFL, which did not work out. Even do he wasn't the best Bears Qb if he stuck with the Bears he would of gotten a Super Bowl ring and probably actually help win more championships with Jim McMahon being injured. Would of had better qb play more consistency.  Some  records Vince Evans has with the bears are 13 in passing 6172 passing yards 53 picks and 12-20 record as a starter. Not the best Qb but definitely not the worse am I right Cade McNown

And in my opinion the best Quarterback in Chicago Bears history is Walter Payton in the 1984 NFC championship game and on the HB option Walter Payton to Jim McMahon what a duo. 34 throwing attempts and 331 yards. 0 sacks just don't look to in depth in his QB stats. Trust me Walter Payton on the HB option best bears QB ever.

 Gale Sayers and Brain Piccolo can not go with out being talked about.Their friendship was immortalized in a made for tv in 1971 named Brian Song. It depicts  the friendship that started in the 1960's. In the NFL it was very rare for a black and white player to stay in the same room and Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers where placed in the same room during training camp and away games they become very good friends during that time. Gale sayers was at Brian Piccolo side during his cancer battle, seems fitting that Gale Sayers was 40 and Brian Piccolo was number 41 and their numbers are retired and will stay side beside for the test of time. It was a friend ship that only lasted a few years but showed that everyone can get along when you talk and get to know them

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

I still haven't seen Brians song nor can I find a copy on youtube but hers a link if you would like to see the film

I don't know how I almost forget, someone who lead the team to victory was Coach Lovie Smith, Lovie Smith was the only African American head coach of the bears. There probably has been other coaches for the bears, position coaches, that where African American but not a head coach. Lovie Smith was one of the coaches in the first ever Super Bowl [41 XLI] that had two African American Coaches the other being Tony Dungy of the Colts, and sadly we did not win that Super Bowl.
His record as the 12th Bears head coach from 2004-2012 was 81-63, making him the 3rd most winning coach in Bears History. George Halas, and Mike Ditka are infront of him.

Lovie Smith with the GSH trophy after he won the NFC Championship game 

Chicago bears have alot of history. I know it was a long read, hope you learned something, read the whole thing and tune in next week for black history of the Chicago Bulls.