- Tom Waddle
- Wide Receiver
- Cincinnati, OH.
- 2/20/1967 (43)
- Boston College
The Bears signed Waddle as an undrafted free agent from Boston College. During his first years with Bears, he struggled to make an impact as a wide receiver. Due to his size and speed, he fell to the lower ranks of the team’s depth chart. Waddle did possess great ball handling abilities and would soon prove to be a vital part of the Bears offense. In 1991, Waddle caught a game-winning touchdown by diving for the football. During one of his best games in 1991, Waddle caught 102 yards on eight receptions, establishing himself as one of the Bears’ most solid play makers. Later in the season, he caught nine passes for 104 yards.
In 1992, Waddle earned a starting position, and became a fan favorite. He had several productive performances with quarterback, Jim Harbaugh, including a performance against the Atlanta Falcons where he outran Deion Sanders for a touchdown. In 1993, he was Bears’ leading receiver in both receptions and yard’s amassed. His career with the Bears’ began to fallout in 1994, when Dave Wannstedt demoted Waddle to third string wide receiver. The following year, Waddle left the Bears after failing to negotiate a proper contract. To this day, Waddle reminisces about his wavering role on the team during episodes of The Final Word and the Charge for the Championship, two shows he would eventually co-host.
Fans remember Waddle from his rigorous work ethic and effort. Even after sustaining big hits and injuries from bigger players, Waddle was eager to bounce back and play during the following week. His contract and career transactions also tell an interesting story, as the Bears released and resigned him six times. Even after leaving he football scene, Waddle was still a well known and respected figure in the Chicagoland.