List of Chicago Bears first-round draft picks

Teams that qualified for the NFL playoffs select after non-qualifiers, and their order depends on how far they advanced, using their regular season record as a tie-breaker.

The team's first-round pick in the inaugural NFL draft was Joe Stydahar, a tackle from West Virginia University; he was the 6th overall selection.

[23] In the most recent draft, held in 2024, the Bears selected USC quarterback Caleb Williams and Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze.

[23] Eleven of the team's first-round picks—Dick Butkus, Jim Covert, Mike Ditka, Dan Hampton, Chuck Howley, Sid Luckman, Walter Payton, Gale Sayers, Joe Stydahar, Clyde Turner, and Brian Urlacher—have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

[22][23] Three of the team's first-round picks—Dave Behrman, Steve DeLong, and George Rice—chose to sign with the NFL's pre-merger direct competitor, the American Football League (AFL), instead.

Mike Ditka, wearing sunglasses, from the shoulders up.
Mike Ditka was the Bears' first-round selection in the 1961 NFL draft . [ 1 ] Ditka would later become the team's head coach for 11 seasons, during which time they won Super Bowl XX . [ 2 ] In 1988, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a player. [ 3 ]
Brian Urlacher on a football field wearing his Chicago Bears uniform and helmet.
Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher was drafted by the Bears with the 9th overall pick in the 2000 NFL draft . He spent his whole career with the Bears ( 2000 – 2012 ), during which time he won NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2005), made the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team , and was selected to eight Pro Bowls . [ 29 ] [ 30 ]
Walter Payton carrying a football and giving a stiff arm to another player on the New Orleans Saints.
Running back Walter Payton was drafted by the Bears in 1975 and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. He won the NFL MVP award in 1977 and was unanimously selected for the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team . [ 31 ] [ 32 ]
Headshot of Gayle Sayers in 2008.
Gale Sayers , a running back drafted in 1965 , spent his entire 7 season career with the Bears before being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977. Sayers was a five-time All-Pro and was selected for the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team . [ 33 ] [ 32 ]
Dick Butkus sitting and holding a Marlboro magazine.
Dick Butkus was a linebacker drafted by the Bears in the 1965 NFL draft . During his 9-year career with the Bears, he was the Defensive Player of the Year twice, made eight Pro Bowls , and was selected as an All-Pro eight times. He was also unanimously selected for the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team . [ 34 ] [ 35 ]