The Pro Bowl, for all the hate it gets these days, is still an important measuring stick in the NFL. Players who make at least one of the games are validated for having been one of the best at their position. Even if it’s just for one year. The more times a player makes it, the greater the likelihood they can reach the Hall of Fame. At the same time, NFL careers can’t always be measured by Pro Bowl appearances. Some of the best Chicago Bears in history can attest to that.
There have been several players in the teams’ history who went their entire careers being highly productive. Yet for one reason or another they never got that official recognition with a trip to Hawaii. It’s a personal shame for them and an indictment on the league voting process. So who stands out the most among those names? Follow along to find out.
#5: Jerry Fontenot
Chicago forgot former center Jerry Fontenot rather quickly after he left in 1997. Mostly that’s because a year later they drafted Olin Kreutz. That said the man was a steady, reliable presence in the middle for eight seasons. He had the unenviable task of replacing the great Jay Hilgenberg in 1992. Unfortunately this is when the team went into a steep decline. However, Fontenot never missed a game in a Bears uniform. He helped them make the playoffs in 1994 and they were the ninth best offense in 1995. So there was plenty of success late in his run before departing for New Orleans.
