Brandon Marshall, Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman among ex-Bears on initial Hall of Fame list
Former Bears Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman and Brandon Marshall are among the 167 modern-era players nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class this year.
Others with Bears ties include defensive end Jared Allen, who came close to enshrinement last year, and offensive linemen Olin Kreutz and Josh Sitton. Running back Thomas Jones and receiver Muhsin Muhammad are on the list, as is quarterback Doug Flutie, guard Ruben Brown, defensive linemen Clyde Simmons and Ted Washington, linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo and running back/receiver Glyn Milburn.
Briggs, a linebacker, made seven Pro Bowls from 2003-14. Tillman, a cornerback, made two during his Bears career, which ran the same years, and popularized the “Peanut Punch,” a way of forcing fumbles.
Marshall set Bears records with 118 receptions, 192 targets and 1,508 receiving yards in 2012.
Fifteen finalists from the modern-day group — plus three seniors, a coach and a contributor — will be chosen and presented to the 50-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Committee. The committee will whittle the modern-era list from 20 to 15 to 10 and then to seven. It will pick five winners.