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5 Best Wide Receivers in Chicago Bears History

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5 Best Wide Receivers in Chicago Bears History

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zach Kaplan | Last updated Jun 25, 2026 2:57 PM ET

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Over the course of their storied history, the Chicago Bears have thrived in a few areas: running back and defense, with Walter Payton standing as one of the greatest rushers in NFL history and Dick Butkus and Brian Urlacher representing the all-time greats on the other side of the ball.

Wide receiver, though, is a position widely overshadowed by the franchise's legends. The team's top two leaders in receptions are actually running backs (Payton and Matt Forte).

Still, we attempted to rank the five best wideouts in Bears history, and no, Mike Ditka doesn't make this list as a tight end.

5. Ken Kavanaugh (1940-1941, 1945-1950)

Kavanaugh is a monumental figure in Bears history and a reminder of just how deep this franchise's story goes.

A staple of the "Monsters of the Midway" era (that also included Hall of Fame fullback Bronko Nagurski), Kavanaugh was on the receiving end of countless Sid Luckman passes and won three NFL titles with the Bears.

Kavanaugh is also Chicago's all-time leader in career touchdown receptions (50).

4. Alshon Jeffery (2012-2016)

Jeffery's 2013 season will go down as one of the greatest in team history, as he brought down 89 receptions for 1,421 yards and seven touchdowns, making his lone Pro Bowl despite quarterback turmoil between Jay Cutler and Josh McCown (who replaced Cutler after his torn groin).

Jeffery picked up right where he left off in 2014, recording 1,133 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, and still managed a solid 2015 campaign despite injuries. It was a brief run for the South Carolina product, but an electric one.

3. Brandon Marshall (2012-2014)

Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall reacts during a game against the Miami Dolphins.Mike DiNovo-Imagn Images

On the other side of Jeffery during those mid-2010s Bears teams was Brandon Marshall, who also had a brief-but-memorable run with Chicago.

In just three seasons, Marshall made two Pro Bowls. That hardly does his 2012 season justice, as Marshall put together the most receiving yards in a season in franchise history (1,508). He put together a sweet encore in 2013 with 1,295 yards and another Pro Bowl.

In those two years, Marshall posted two of the Bears' five 100-reception seasons in franchise history.

Chicago was Marshall's third team, having been drafted out of UCF by the Broncos and later going to the Dolphins for a brief stint. However, the Bears traded for him at the right time in his career while reuniting him with Cutler, a former Broncos teammate.

2. Harlon Hill (1954-1961)

One of the most dominant wide receivers of the 1950s, Hill put together what many consider the greatest rookie year in Bears history, recording 1,124 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns (both records) while the Bears split time at quarterback between George Blanda and rookie Zeke Bratkowski.

Hill's best moment in that 1954 season was his record-breaking 214 receiving yards and four touchdowns (tied for most in franchise history) on October 31 against the 49ers.

While Kavanaugh later eclipsed his 40 career touchdowns, Hill still ranks second in that category.

1. Johnny Morris (1958-1967)

A lifelong Bear, Morris' path to professional football was far from guaranteed. He weighed in at just 160 pounds and received zero athletic scholarship offers after high school, but became a star halfback for head coach Ed Cody at UCSB.

After receiving no interest from NFL teams, Cody, who played for Bears head coach George Halas in 1949-1950, recommended Morris, who was later picked in the 12th round of the 1958 NFL draft.

That proved to be one of the best decisions of Halas' career, as Morris would go down as the franchise's all-time leader in receiving yards (5,059) and won an NFL championship in 1963 along with quarterback Billy Wade.

His best season came in 1964, when he led the NFL in receptions (93, then an NFL record), receiving yards (1,200), and tied Washington wideout Bobby Mitchell for most receiving touchdowns (10).

His 31 career touchdown catches are tied with Marshall for fifth-most in the team's record books. Still impressive considering the differences in passing nearly a half-century earlier.