5 Players the Chicago Bears gave up on way too early

CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: Tight end Greg Olsen #82 of the Chicago Bears catches a 58-yard touchdown in the first quarter in front of Lawyer Milloy #36 of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on January 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO – SEPTEMBER 29: Willie Gault, #83 of the Chicago Bears, carries the ball during the game against the Washington Redskins at Soldier Field on September 29, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Redskins 45-10. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Chicago sends WR Willie Gault to the Las Vegas Raiders in 1987

Willie Gault had better numbers with the Bears than he did with the Raiders. That’s a known fact. However, the reason this move ends up here is that, without Gault, there was a void in the Bears’ passing game that was not fully replaced. This is despite Chicago being in a run-heavy scheme during the 80s.

Drafted out of Tennessee in 1983, Gault played a pivotal role in Chicago’s run to Super Bowl XX in 1985. Gault had over 700 yards in 1985, but issues between Gualt and quarterback Jim McMahon ultimately led to the organization opting to move in a different direction. Gault joined the Raiders in 1988—leading to six seasons with the Raiders and 149 catches for 2,985 yards with 17 touchdowns.

Numbers-wise, Gault was better in Chicago than he was with the Raiders, but his absence hurt the passing game in Chicago during the late 80s and 90s, one of the darker times within the organization’s history.

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