Dan Hampton Biography: Chicago Bears Hall of Famer

Dan “Danimal” Hampton anchored one of the most dominant defensive lines in NFL history, terrorizing opposing quarterbacks and powering the Chicago Bears to Super Bowl glory.

Football Bio

Dan Hampton was a defensive lineman from the University of Arkansas, born September 19, 1957, in Oklahoma City.

The Chicago Bears selected Dan with the fourth overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft.

He was a versatile player who played both defensive tackle and defensive end for the Bears, and he earned four Pro Bowl selections and first- or second-team All-Pro honors at both positions.

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, and Dan Hampton was a big part of it.

Big Dan Hampton was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the class of 2002. [National Football Foundation]

Dan Hampton cemented his legacy as a cornerstone of the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears defense. His punishing physical style, relentless motor, and remarkable versatility across the defensive line rightfully earned him a permanent place among the all-time greats in Canton.

Accolades and Football Accomplishments

• Inducted into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor in 1992.
• Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
• Super Bowl XX Champion (1985 season).
• Selected to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team.
• Four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection (1980, 1982, 1984, 1985).
• Four-time First-team All-Pro (1982, 1984, 1986, 1988).
• Two-time Second-team All-Pro (1980, 1985).
• Named the Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA) NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1982.
• Named a First-team All-American at the University of Arkansas in 1978.

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