In Chicago Bears history, the 1980s were one of the most famous decades. The '80s gave the Bears and their fans their first Super Bowl victory. It gave them some of the best performances by Bears players and some of the worst. There were many colorful faces, some very fascinating plays and some great games during this decade and, which could probably be called one of the best (and perhaps the best) decade in Chicago Bears football.

Some of the success that the Bears experienced during the '80s came as a result of the players they drafted. The following is a look at some of the players that the Bears drafted during the 1980s, how they fared and a little on what they are doing now.

The Bears started out the decade by choosing Louisville linebacker Otis Wilson in the first round of the 1980 NFL Draft. Wilson would team up with fellow linebackers Mike Singletary and Wilber Marshall to form one of the best linebacking groups in NFL history. Wilson played with the Bears from 1980 to 1987 before moving on to play with the Los Angeles Raiders.

During that same draft, the Bears selected running back Matt Suhey in the second round. Suhey played for the Bears from 1980 to 1989 and is most noted for his friendship with the late Walter Payton.

In 1981, Chicago drafted USC offensive tackle Keith Van Horne with their first pick in the draft. Van Horne was one of the offensive linemen who helped get the Bears to their first Super Bowl victory and he played with the Bears from 1981 to 1993.

That same year, in the second round, the Bears took a linebacker out of Baylor University named Mike Singletary. Singletary would end up being one of the most feared middle linebackers to ever play the game. Singletary would be selected to ten Pro Bowl appearances and was also selected to the All-Pro team eight times.

Most people will remember Singletary for the look in his eyes, shown many times on the cameras during football games, as well as being well known as an aggressive middle linebacker who loved to hit. Singletary left the Bears in 1992 and has since been elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame. Currently, Singletary is the linebackers coach and assistant head coach for the San Francisco 49ers.

In the third round of the 1981 NFL draft, the Bears took Stanford wide receiver Ken Margerum. Margerum was part of the Bears Super Bowl team in 1985 and he had a quiet career with the Bears playing from 1981 to 1986.

Safety Todd Bell was drafted by the Bears in the fourth round of the 1981 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. Bell played for the Bears from 1981 to 1987 and would have been a participant on the team during the Super Bowl season, but he missed all of 1985 due to a holdout over his contract. Bell would eventually leave Chicago and, ironically, his career would end against the Bears after he broke his leg while playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. Bell passed away two years ago after suffering a heart attack at the wheel of his car.

Finally, in the seventh round of the 1981 draft, Chicago selected defensive back Jeff Fisher out of USC. Fisher was with the team from 1981 to 1984 and then went on to several assistant coaching jobs before landing the head coaching job with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans where he still coaches today.

In the 1982 draft, with their first pick, the Bears selected Brigham Young quarterback Jim McMahon. McMahon would become one of the most popular figures on the team in the 1980s and would also help lead the Bears to their Super Bowl victory in 1985. McMahon had some memorable moments in his career with the Bears, such as his wearing of headbands including one with the name Rozelle (the former NFL Commissioner), which he wore in protest. McMahon was injured quite often during his career with the Bears, but was very effective and helped to make the Bears a winner. McMahon's last season with the Bears was in 1988.

In the third round of the 1982 NFL Draft, the Bears took UCLA tight end Tim Wrightman. Wrightman played with the Bears from 1982 until 1986 and wasn't overly productive during that time. He was a part of the Bears 1985 Super Bowl team as well.

After the Bears took Wrightman, they selected Baylor wide receiver Dennis Gentry in the fourth round. Gentry played with the Bears from 1982 to 1992 and was instrumental in helping them get to the Super Bowl in 1985.

Also taken in 1982, in the sixth round, was guard Kurt Becker out of Michigan. Becker was with the Bears from 1982 to 1988 and then back again in 1990.

In the seventh round of this draft, Chicago took Nebraska defensive tackle Henry Waechter. Waechter played six seasons for the Bears and was a part of their 1985 Super Bowl Championship team.

The 1983 NFL Draft would bring a significant amount of players that would be the core group that would help get to the Super Bowl in 1985.With their first pick in the first round (they had two that year) the team selected Jim "Jimbo" Covert, an offensive tackle out of Pittsburgh. Covert played with the Bears from 1983 to 1990 and during that time, he was named to two Pro Bowls and was also an integral part of the Bears 1985 championship team.

After they chose Covert, they selected speedy Tennessee wide receiver Willie Gault. Gault, an Olympic sprinter, played with the Bears from 1983 to 1987 and was instrumental in their success during the 1985 season. Following his career with the Bears he went on to play with the Raiders and then tried acting for a while.

After Gault, the Bears selected defensive back Mike Richardson. Richardson played for the Bears from 1983 to 1988 and was also a part of their 1985 Super Bowl team.

With their third round selection, Chicago selected Notre Dame safety Dave Duerson. Duerson was instrumental during the 1985 season, replacing Todd Bell and helping the Bears defense dominate the NFL. Duerson went to four Pro Bowls and won the NFL's Man of the Year Award. He was with the Bears from 1983 to 1989.Since his retirement, Duerson has been a successful business man and is now involved with the NFL's retirement plan.

With their fourth round selection, Chicago took then center Tom Thayer out of the University of Notre Dame. Thayer was part of an offensive line that helped pave the way to Super Bowl XX and he didn't get enough recognition for that. Thayer's last season with the Bears was in 1992.Since his time in the NFL Thayer has been on the radio covering Chicago Bears news in Chicago.

With their first pick in the eighth round, Chicago selected a defensive end from Tennessee that would become one of their greatest players ever. Richard Dent would become one of the most influential players in the NFL during his time with the Bears. Some of Dent's accomplishments include being named as the MVP of Super Bowl XX as well as being selected to four Pro Bowls. Dent left the Bears in 1993, but would return again in 1995 for one season. Dent finally retired after the 1997 season and is a prime candidate for selection into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Finally, in the 1983 draft, with their second eighth round selection, the Bears chose guard Mark Bortz out of the University of Iowa. Bortz played with the Bears from 1983 to 1994 and was a key part of the Bears 1985 Super Bowl team.

With their first pick in 1984 NFL Draft, the Bears selected Florida linebacker Wilber Marshall and he was a huge reason why the Bears made it to the Super Bowl in 1985. Marshall will be remembered best for his play during the playoffs during the Bears march to glory and is still revered by Bears fans today. Marshall was also selected to three Pro Bowls during his career. He left the Bears in 1987.

Linebacker Ron Rivera, from California, was taken in the second round of the draft and he went on to backup at the linebacker spot and then eventually took over as a starter. Rivera was there for their Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots and left the Bears, as a player, in 1998. Rivera came back to the Bears in 2004 to coach the defense but has since left to coach linebackers with the San Diego Chargers.

After the Bears took Rivera, they selected Stefan Humphries, an offensive guard out of the University of Michigan with their third round selection. Humphries was part of the Bears Super Bowl team in 1985.

With their pick in the tenth round, the Bears selected Ohio State safety Shaun Gayle. Gayle played for Chicago from 1984 until 1994 and was part of that famous 1985 Super Bowl team. Gayle also went to one Pro Bowl.

With their first round pick in the 1985 NFL Draft, the Bears took a player who would become one of the most the most popular in Bears history. Defensive tackle William "The Refrigerator" Perry became an overnight hit after he was used as a lead blocker for Walter Payton and scored a touchdown at points during the Bears Super Bowl Season. In fact, during the Super Bowl, he tried to throw a pass and then was allowed to carry the ball into the end zone. Some people thought this was wrong because, basically, it held the franchises best running back, Walter Payton, without a touchdown in the Super Bowl. As fast as his fame came it went away and pretty soon due to weight problems and a change in philosophy, the Bears and Perry parted ways. His last season with the Bears was in 1993.

With their second pick in the 1985 NFL Draft, the Bears took defensive back Reggie Phillips. The only real notable thing that Phillips did while he was with the Bears was return an interception for a touchdown in the Super Bowl. Phillips was with the Bears from 1985 until 1988.

With their fourth round selection they chose Georgia kicker Kevin Butler. Butler would go on to break the Bears all time scoring record (a record that he olds yet today) and would help the Bears make their way to the Super Bowl. Butler was with the Bears until 1995.

In the ninth round, the Bears took Texas A&M running back Thomas Sanders. Sanders played for the Bears from 1985 to 1989.

With their 11th pick in draft, the Bears took Michigan State linebacker Jim Morrissey. Morrissey had a quiet but solid career with the Bears and played with them from 1985 to 1993.

The first pick in the 1986 NFL Draft came to be the eventual replacement at running back for Payton. Neal Anderson, a Florida Gator, took over for Payton after his retirement in 1987 and set several rushing records and still stands as the Bears second leading rusher. He was selected to four Pro Bowls but his career was cut short due to injury and he left the team in 1993.

In the second round, the Bears took cornerback Vestee Jackson out of the University of Washington. Jackson played with the Bears from 1996-1990 eventually moving on to the Miami Dolphins.

With their eighth pick in the 1986 NFL Draft, the Bears took Kentucky defensive back Maurice Douglass. Douglass would go on to be one of the Bears better players in the secondary and on special teams. His last season with the Bears was in 1994.

After Douglass, the Bears took BYU wide receiver Glen Kozlowski. Kozlowski was a fan favorite of the Bears while he was with them and is still popular with Bears fans today. Kozlowski's last season with the Bears was in 1992.

In the first round of the 1987 NFL Draft, the Bears selected Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh was to be the future at the quarterback position and had a solid career, but not a spectacular career, with the Bears and, quite frankly, had a better career with the Indianapolis Colts. Harbaugh did pass for over 3,000 yards in 1991, but never really caught on with the Bears. His last season with the team was in 1993.

With their second round pick in the 1987 NFL Draft, the Bears took SMU wide receiver Ron Morris. Morris was with the Bears from 1987 until 1992 and, while he was there, he won the Brian Piccolo award for his teamwork and dedication.

The Bears had two first round selections in the 1988 NFL Draft. With their first pick they took Stanford running back Brad Muster. Muster played with the Bears from 1988 to 1992. Muster actually played fullback for the Bears and excelled at blocking.

Their other pick in the first round that year was LSU wide receiver Wendell Davis. Davis played with Chicago from 1988 to 1993 but his career was cut short after he suffered simultaneous knee injuries in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

In the final year of the decade the Bears had two notable picks, both in the first round. The first of these two picks taken was Clemson cornerback Donnell Woolford. Woolford had a solid career playing with the Bears from 1989 to 1996 and was even selected to the Pro Bowl in 1993.

With the next pick in the first round, Chicago selected defensive end Trace Armstrong out of Florida. While Armstrong's career with the Bears wasn't that long (playing from 1989 to 1994) he managed to stay in the league until 2003.