Who Was Bill George

 Bill George was the Chicago Bears’ second-round draft pick in 1951. He began his pro football career the following year as a middle guard in the then-standard five-man defensive front. Two years later, in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, George made a now historic move that permanently changed defensive strategy in the National Football League.

On passing plays, George’s job was to bump the center and then drop back. George, noting the Eagles success at completing short passes just over his head, decided to skip the center bump and drop back immediately. Two plays later he caught the first of his 18 pro interceptions. While no one can swear which middle guard in a five-man line first dropped back to play middle linebacker and create the classic 4-3 defense, George is the most popular choice.

Certainly he was the first to star at the middle linebacker position. It was his ability to diagnose and react quickly that led the Bears to believe he could move that step or two backwards and become a super middle linebacker – a demanding position requiring sometimes pass rushing and sometimes pass defense, along with sure tackling, the speed to move from sideline to sideline, the agility to avoid blockers, and a keen sense of anticipation.

During the 1950’s and early 1960’s, the Bears were known for their outstanding defensive teams and George was a major part reason for their fame. A ferocious all-out player, he was named All-NFL choice eight times – seven consecutive seasons (1955-1961) and then an eighth in 1963 when he was the leader of the defensive that figured in the Bears 14-10 championship win over the New York Giants.

He was also selected to play in eight consecutive Pro Bowls, 1955-1962. In addition to his eighteen career interceptions, George also recovered nineteen fumbles, and in 1954 scored 25 points on thirteen PATs and four field goals.

Bill George - Hall of Fame Acceptance Speech 

Thank you, Ed, Mr. Vice President, Mr. Mayor and all of you wonderful people of Canton. Truly this is the greatest honor and needless to say, the biggest thrill of my life was riding in the parade today. Never have I ever seen so many a gracious people. I just wish I could come back and do it all over again next year. About this honor, it has been said many times before and I truly mean that the people I wish to share this with—first of all my family, my coaches, and my teammates because even though they have told me and I firmly believe it they are the ones that have truly put me here.

Football has been very, very good to me and I hopefully will someday will put back into football a particle of what I have taken out of it. Some day we can perhaps install back the same spirit that atone time we all believed in football. I’m certainly proud at this moment to be a part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I just hope that there is no way that they can take that away from me. I thank you very, very much.