There was a time when a case could be made that Wilber Marshall was the best Linebacker in football.  In 1985, he was a member of the most dominant team of the decade, the Super Bowl XX Champion Chicago Bears.  The year after, he was a First Team All-Pro, led the league in Approximate Value (23), and was a Pro Bowler for the first time.  Marshall was overshadowed by some of his teammates (William Perry & Richard Dent), but those in the know saw Marshall as one of the most versatile outside linebackers in the NFL.

Marshall would later join the Washington Redskins, and he was a significant cog in their dominant defense.  Winning Super Bowl XXVI, Marshall was a First Team All-Pro the season after and was the NFC Defensive Player of the Year.  He finished his career with a season in Houston, Arizona, and the New York Jets. 

The Chicago Bears had many stars throughout the 1980s, and many were flashy and unforgettable.  Jay Hilgenberg was an unsung hero of that squad and an anchor of the Offensive Line.

For eleven seasons, Jay Hilgenberg played Center for Chicago.  On seven of those campaigns, Hilgenberg was named to the Pro Bowl and twice was a First Team All-Pro.  His game really blossomed in the magical Super Bowl Season of 1985, and it was there that he became one of the most consistent centers of the decade, though he is often overlooked because of the loaded team he played on.

Despite those seven consecutive Pro Bowl appearances, he was always in the shadow of much bigger stars in Chicago.  Still, his resume may warrant a look from the Hall in the future.