Highlighted Year: Richard Dent, 1984

Defensive End, Chicago Bears

Age: 24 (Dec. 13)

2^nd season in pro football & with Bears

College: Tennessee State

Height: 6’5”   Weight: 240

Prelude:

Dent accumulated 39 sacks in college and was chosen by the Bears in the eighth round of the 1983 NFL draft. He had an undistinguished rookie season, starting three games at right defensive end and recording three sacks.

1984 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 17.5 [3, 1^st in NFC]

Most sacks, game – 4.5 vs. LA Raiders 11/4

Multi-sack games – 5

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Forced fumbles – 4

Tackles – 39

Postseason: 2 G

Sacks – 3

Most sacks, game – 3 at Washington, NFC Divisional playoff

Interceptions – 0

TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: Pro Football Weekly

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

1^st team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Bears went 10-6 to finish first in the NFC Central while leading the NFL in sacks (a league-record 72), fewest yards allowed (3863), and fewest rushing yards allowed (1377). Won NFC Divisional playoff over Washington Redskins (23-19). Lost NFC Championship to San Francisco 49ers (23-0).

Aftermath:

Dent followed his breakout year with a 1985 season in which he led the NFL with 17 sacks. The Bears, fueled by their outstanding defense, went 15-1 and won the Super Bowl, a game in which Dent was named MVP, capping a postseason in which he recorded six sacks. An explosive pass rusher with great speed, he compensated for lack of size against the run with great agility and quickness. Dent went on to play a total of 12 seasons with the Bears and remained a potent pass rusher, even as injuries began to hinder his performance. He received second-team All-NFL honors from the Associated Press in 1988 and ’90 and first-team All-NFC recognition in those seasons from UPI and Pro Football Weekly, with Pro Football Weekly naming him again in 1993. Dent was also chosen to a total of four Pro Bowls. He moved on to the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent in 1994 but was limited to two games due to a knee injury. He returned to the Bears in ’95 and then played a year apiece for the Colts and Eagles before retiring after the 1997 season. Overall, he finished with 137.5 sacks, which ranked third in NFL history at the time, as well as eight interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a TD. He added another 10.5 sacks in 12 postseason games. Dent was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2011.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970