Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.
How many times have the Bears spent their first pick in the draft on a tight end as they did this year with Cole Kmet?
Roy B.
Eagan, Minnesota
Selected with the 43rd pick in the second round of this year's draft, Cole Kmet is the fourth tight end the Bears have taken with their first choice in a draft. He follows Mike Ditka (No. 5 in first round in 1961), John Allred (No. 38 in second round in 1997) and Greg Olsen (No. 31 in first round in 2007).
In your answer about brothers on the same Bears team, didn't Walter and Eddie Payton play together in the 1980s?
Travis J.
Indiana
The Payton brothers both played in the NFL at the same time, but they were never teammates. While Walter spent his entire Hall of Fame career with the Bears from 1975-87, Eddie played six seasons primarily as a return specialist with the Browns (1977), Lions (1977), Chiefs (1978) and Vikings (1979-82). In case you were wondering, the Payton brothers played against each other six times—and Eddie won four of those meetings. Here are two fun facts about Eddie: 1) He had the same number of punt and kickoff returns in his career (156); 2) Two of his three career touchdown returns came in the same game—a 98-yard kickoff return and an 87-yard punt return for the Lions in a 30-21 loss to the Vikings at the Pontiac Silverdome on Dec. 17, 1977.
What is the lowest round draft pick to ever make the Bears roster?
Wally M.
Vancouver, Washington
The NFL Draft was 32 rounds during some years in the 1940s and 30 rounds throughout the 1950s. The lowest Bears draft pick who appeared in a regular-season game I could find while researching your question was quarterback Jim Haluska. Selected by the Bears in the 30th round of the 1954 draft out of Wisconsin, he played in five games in 1956, completing 1of 4 passes for 8 yards. Haluska, whose nickname was "Bombo," grew up in Racine, Wis. In 1952, he led Wisconsin to the Big Ten title and the Badgers' first Rose Bowl appearance. He was inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. Haluska is also a member of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Hall of Fame, having coached at Milwaukee's Don Bosco High School and St. Thomas More High School. Haluska passed away on Sept. 20, 2012 at the age of 79.
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