Professional Career
The Chicago Bears selected Anderson in the first round (twenty-seventh pick overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft, and he played for the Bears for eight seasons from 1986 to 1993. He joined the franchise as a rookie immediately following the Bears' 1985 championship season. The Bears picked Anderson to back up, and eventually succeed, Walter Payton, who became the Bears and NFL's all-time rushing leader during his lengthy career. After Payton's retirement in 1987, Anderson became the team's starting running back.
Anderson's best years came during the late 1980s, where he rushed for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. In all three seasons, Anderson scored over ten touchdowns and averaged over four yards per carry. Ultimately, his best season came in 1989, when he rushed for 1,275 yards, received 434 yards, and scored fifteen touchdowns. He was invited to the Pro Bowl in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991. He was the last Bears running back to be invited to the Pro Bowl until Matt Forté was invited in 2011.
Over his eight-year career, Anderson appeared in 116 regular season games, and started ninety-one of them; he amassed 6,166 yards and scored fifty-one touchdowns rushing, and 2,763 yards and twenty touchdowns receiving—a career total of seventy-one touchdowns. Anderson's career was shortened by injuries and the Bears' fall-out during the early 1990s. He is currently the Bears' second all-time franchise rusher, immediately behind his predecessor, Walter Payton (16,726 yards), and immediately ahead of Rick Casares (5,657 yards) and Gale Sayers (4,956 yards).
Read more about this topic: Neal Anderson
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