Dan Hampton

And finally, we come to a 1957 birthday on September 19.

Dan, Danimal Hampton, was a defensive lineman from the University of Arkansas. Dan was the fourth overall pick in the 1979 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears. He was a versatile player and played both defensive tackle and defensive end for the Bears, and was elected to four Pro Bowls and was named first or second team All-Pro at defensive line positions, both of which he played.

Danimal was part of the Chicago Bears’ championship defense that won Super Bowl 20. And in that game, he registered two tackles and one sack for 10 yards against the Patriots in the 46 to 10 romp by the Bears. That 1985 Bears defense has gone down in history as one of the best assembled to play the game, and Dan Hampton was a big part of that.

Big Dan Hampton was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the class of 2002.