For the first time in 77 years and just the third time in team history, the to the Chicago Bears.
Here’s a look at the team’s two previous No. 1 picks.
Tom Harmon
Bears owner George Halas’ as the Tribune called it, gave the team three of the first 10 picks in the 1940 draft, including the top spot.
Harmon, a Gary native, was considered by many who covered college football — — to be its best player that year. He was a two-time All-American, named the Associated Press athlete of the year in 1940 and received the as the college football player of the year.
When the paper gave him its in early 1941, he said, “This moment is perhaps the happiest in my life.” That was just months after the University of Michigan running back became the school’s first winner.
But instead of signing a contract with the Bears, Harmon with Columbia Pictures — to star in a film called “Harmon of Michigan.” The Tribune called the movie’s storyline “, punctuated with banal dialog and incident.” He followed that up with a in Detroit.
Harmon did play football in Chicago in 1941, but not for the Bears — before more than 98,000 fans at Soldier Field as part of the .
He also played four games during the 1941 season with the of the original American Football League, then spent four years in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was awarded a Purple Heart and a Silver Star for his bravery and survived two plane crashes — one in which he was the .
Harmon spurned the Bears after the war and was traded to the for halfback Dante Magnani and tackle Fred Davis. He later became a television sportscaster.
Harmon in 1990 after a round of golf. He was married to model/actress , whose wedding dress was fashioned from the parachute that saved Harmon’s life during World War II. They had three children, including former “NCIS” actor and Kristin, who was married to actor/musician Ricky Nelson. Their grandchildren include actress Tracy Nelson and singer-songwriters Matthew and Gunnar Nelson.
Bob Fenimore
Unlike Harmon, Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University) halfback “Blonde Bomber” Bob Fenimore did sign with the Bears — but not before a trade was considered with the Buffalo Bisons of the All-American Conference. Trade talk was abandoned, however, after Bisons team doctors reported on Fenimore’s injured knee.
The two-time All-American with 1,758 yards during the Aggies’ 8-1 season in 1944 and helped the team win the Cotton Bowl. He did the same the following year with 1,641 yards, pushing the Aggies to a perfect 9-0 record and the 1945 Sugar Bowl win but was sidelined with the injury most of the 1946 season.
Fenimore was Halas’s choice for the No. 1 pick — despite the ailment.
“As for calcium spots on Fenimore’s knee, that’s the bunk,” in January 1947.
As he prepared to play in the College All-Stars game in August 1947, Fenimore told reporters: “ I should, but it slows me down. Every bit of speed counts, you know.” He in the game, however, because of the injury.
Fenimore played in 10 games during the 1947 season but stating he would sit out the next one because of back and groin injuries incurred from exercising on a horse apparatus at a gym. He remained in Oklahoma, where he became an insurance salesman.
He in 2010.
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