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Top 10
Top 10: Bears debuts
With Nick Foles throwing for three touchdowns in the 4th quarter of his first game in Chicago, senior writer Larry Mayer ranks the top 10 Bears debuts of all time.
(10) Devin Hester
Sept. 10, 2006
Hester provided a glimpse of things to come when he returned a punt 84 yards for his first NFL touchdown to cap a 26-0 rout of the Packers in the 2006 season opener in Green Bay.
(9) Alshon Jeffery
Sept. 9, 2012
In the 2012 season opener at Soldier Field, Jeffery caught three passes for 80 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown from Jay Cutler, in a 41-21 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
(8) Zack Bowman
Oct. 19, 2008
Bowman, a rookie cornerback, recovered a muffed punt in the end zone for a touchdown, sustained a biceps injury that would require season-ending surgery, but returned to the game after getting hurt and registered an interception to preserve a 48-41 win over the Vikings at Soldier Field.
(7) Brandon Marshall
Sept. 9, 2012
In the 2012 season opener at Soldier Field, Marshall caught nine passes for 119 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown from Jay Cutler, in a 41-21 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
(6) Matt Forte
Sept. 7, 2008
In the 2008 season opener in the inaugural game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Forte rushed for 123 yards on 23 carries, including a 50-yard touchdown, in a 29-13 Sunday night win over the Colts.
(5) Harlon Hill
Sept. 26, 1954
In the 1954 season opener, Hill caught four passes for 140 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown, to lead the Bears to a 48-23 win over the Lions at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.
(4) Tarik Cohen
Sept. 10, 2017
Cohen generated 158 all-purpose yards in the 2017 season opener, rushing for 66 yards on five carries with a long of 46 yards, catching eight passes for 47 yards including a 19-yard touchdown, and returning a punt 17 yards in a 23-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
(3) Nick Foles
Sept. 27, 2020
Foles replaced an ineffective Mitchell Trubisky in the second half last Sunday in Atlanta and threw three touchdown passes to turn a 26-10 deficit into an improbable 30-26 win over the Falcons.
(2) George McAfee
Sept. 22, 1940
In the 1940 season opener at City Stadium in Green Bay, McAfee accounted for three touchdowns via a 93-yard kickoff return, 8-yard pass to Ken Kavanaugh and 9-yard run in a 41-10 win over the Packers.
(1) Khalil Mack
Sept. 9, 2018
Mack made NFL history in his first half of action with the Bears. In the 2018 season opener in Green Bay, he became the first player in league history to record a sack, interception, forced fumble, fumble recovery and touchdown in one half.
