When the Bears travel to Green Bay on Thanksgiving, the Packers will honor future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre. The Bears decided to honor one of their all-time greats when the Packers visit Soldier Field for the season opener.
The Bears will honor former linebacker Doug Buffone, who passed away in April at the age of 70.
#Bears will honor the legacy of @RealDougBuffone during home opener vs. #Greenbay #55 4-ever. #RonnieBull '62 R.O.Y pic.twitter.com/gX4iKw2RY8
— Chet Coppock (@ChetCoppock) September 3, 2015
Buffone played 14 seasons with the Bears and retired after the 1979 season. The former Bears linebacker had 24 career interceptions, the most for any Bears linebacker. He also held the Bears’ record for most games played with 186.
According to NFL.com, Buffone is thought as one of the most underrated Bears players of all-time.
From NFL.com:
The Bears have a littany of iconic, Hall of Fame caliber linebackers in their history (Dick Butkus, Bill George, Bronko Nagurski, Mike Singletary, and so on) yet because Buffone was lost in the middle of those names, he’s never discussed.
There’s no indication if the Bears will retire Buffone’s number 55 as well.
