Chicago Bears

Retired WR Curtis Conway ranks the top 5 Chicago Bears of all time

Published Jun. 30, 2015 10:09 a.m. ET

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Former Chicago Bears wide receiver Curtis Conway was on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access" recently, providing his take on the team's top-five players of all time.

Conway kicked off his ranking with defensive end Richard Dent at No. 5. Conway and Dent shared the field for one season (1993), so he had the ideal opportunity to observe him up close.

"You talk about intimidating," Conway said about Dent, via the official website of the Chicago Bears. "We talk about the edge rushers of today. He was one of the best back in his day."

After Dent came Mike Singletary, a 10-time Pro Bowler at middle linebacker, at No. 4 and running back/return specialist Gale Sayers, nicknamed "The Kansas Comet," at No. 3. Legendary linebacker Dick Butkus, who Conway described as "the blueprint of Chicago Bears football," was the No. 2 player on the list.

There was no surprise about the player Conway picked to top his list—Walter Payton. Still regarded by many as the greatest running back of all time, Payton retired with 16,726 rushing yards to his name in 1987. Only one player, Emmitt Smith, has eclipsed that total since.

Conway wasn't a shabby Bear himself with 329 receptions for 4,498 yards and 31 touchdowns from 1993-1999. However, the receiver isn't enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame like all five of the players named in his ranking.

(h/t Chicago Bears)

Photo Credit: Tony Tomsic/Getty Images