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, IL – NOVEMBER 22: Wilber Marshall #58 of the Chicago Bears tackles Butch Woolfolk #21 of the Detroit Lions during the NFL football game November 22, 1987, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Marshall played for the Bears from 1984-87. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Chicago lets LB Wilber Marshall sign with the Washington Redskins in 1988

In 1984, Chicago took Wilber Marshall with their first-round pick, and he wound up playing a massive role in their run to a World Championship. The hit on Joe Ferguson of Detroit lives large in the Windy City, and given the tradition of great linebackers in the Windy City, Marshall fit right in with the Monsters of the Midway.

However, in 1988, Marshall signed with the Washington Redskins and wound up helping the club win their third Super Bowl in 1991. Marshall also went on to make two more Pro Bowls. While Chicago was able to replace Marshall and keep their defense among the league’s best, it was hard to fully replace what Marshall brought to the team.

Oh, and did we mention that Marshall earned the NFC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1992? Chicago would have loved to have had that type of player on their roster had they been willing to pay him. They didn’t, and they suffered as a result of this move.

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