Dan Hampton aka "Danimal" - A Chicago legend
Dan Hampton aka "Danimal" was born September 19, 1957. Dan is a retired Hall of Fame defensive tackle who played in the NFL for twelve seasons for the Chicago Bears from 1979 to 1990. He is a Chicago sports legend who was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
College Career
Hampton played college football at Arkansas. He was part of a Razorback team that defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in the 1978 Orange Bowl.
As a senior Hampton was an All-American as he logged 98 tackles with 18 (!) coming from behind the line of scrimmage. He was also named the Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1978.
Dan was drafted in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Bears.
In 1991 he was elected to the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor and the following year he was voted to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. In 1994 Hampton was voted to the All-Century team of the University of Arkansas. Hampton was named one of the state of Arkansas' Top 50 greatest athletes in the 20th century.
NFL Career
Hampton was drafted by the Bears in the first round of the 1979 draft. His tremendous rookie season resulted in an All-Rookie award by the Pro Football Writers Association.
The following year he was a Second-team All-Pro selection and was voted to his first Pro Bowl after recording 11½ sacks.
Over his career he was selected to four Pro Bowls and was a key defensive member of the Bears' Super Bowl XX win against the New England Patriots in 1985.
During Hampton's tenure in Chicago (1979–90), the Bears defense ranked #1 in the NFL in allowing the fewest rushing yards, the fewest rushing touchdowns, the fewest total yards, the fewest points and inflicted the most sacks.
Retirement
Dan Hampton retired from the Chicago Bears after the 1990 season. That same year Hampton was the recipient of the George S. Halas Courage Award by the Pro Football Writers Association. This award is given to the player or coach who "has performed with abandon despite injury". Other winners over the years have been Robert Edwards, Dick Butkus, as well as others.
Hampton was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
