Chicago Bears Insider: DE Richard Dent Finally Gets the Hall of Fame Nod
Published by Bryan Dietzler on February 5, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
After years of being close enough to almost walk into the Hall of Fame, a well deserving Richard Dent has finally been elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Dent, a member of the Chicago Bears for a majority of his career, is the third member of that vaunted Chicago Bears defense from their 1985-1986 Super Bowl season to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The other two are defensive end Dan Hampton and middle linebacker Mike Singletary.
Dent came to the Bears as an eighth round pick (203rd overall) in the NFL’s 1983 Draft out of Tennessee State University. He was a key member of a defense that came from virtually nothing to end up being one of the most dominant in the NFL for one season.
Dent, along with the rest of the Bears defense, helped lead the team to a 15-1 record and an eventual Super Bowl berth where they defeated the New England Patriots 46-10. Dent was named the Most Valuable Player of that game after he recorded two sacks, two fumbles and a blocked pass. In fact, his role in the playoffs was one of near legend as he recorded seven tackles, three and a half sacks and two forced fumbles in their game against the Giants.
For the 1985 season, Dent recorded 17 sacks, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
Dent’s last season with the Bears was in 1993, as he moved on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Indianapolis Colts. His last season as an active NFL player was in 1997.
Dent had 137.5 sacks, 13 fumble recoveries, eight interceptions and two touchdowns (one off of an interception and one off of a fumble recovery).
Dent is yet another Chicago Bear to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and is now the Bears’ 27th member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Others voted into the Hall of Fame in 2011 include tight end Shannon Sharp, cornerback Deion Sanders, NFL Films creator Ed Sabol, running back Marshall Faulk, center Les Richter and linebacker Chris Hanburger.
These players will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August 2011, and most will be present for the coin toss at tomorrow’s Super Bowl in Dallas, Texas.
Members of the Chicago Bears elected to the Hall of Fame include Doug Atkins, George Blanda, Dick Butkus, George Connor, Mike Ditka, John Driscoll, Jim Finks, Dan Fortman, Bill George, Harold Grange, George Halas, Dan Hampton, Ed Healey, Bill Hewitt, Stan Jones, Sid Luckman, William Lyman, George McAfee, George Musso, Bronko Nagurski, Walter Payton, Gayle Sayers, Mike Singletary, Joe Stydahar, George Trafton, and Clyde Turner.
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