#1: Doug Buffone
Let’s put it this way. Not only is it a crime that Doug Buffone never went to the Pro Bowl, he should be a name mentioned for the Hall of Fame. That’s right. Buffone just happened to have the worst luck on the planet. Not only did he arrive during the bad years of the late 1960s and 1970s, he often had to live in the shadow of others. Specifically all-time great teammate Dick Butkus. That made it to where few people noticed just how great Buffone actually was.
Stats are hard to come by but here are a few that stick out. Unofficially he was credited with 18 sacks during the 1968 season. Still a team record for linebackers. This doesn’t include the dozens upon dozens of tackles for loss or the several forced fumbles he had. One stat that does stick out though is his 24 interceptions. That’s official, and for a linebacker it’s crazy good. It’s fitting that the last year Buffone played for the Bears they made the playoffs. He deserved a moment in the sun after all he’d done with little recognition.
