Quenton Nelson has worn number 56 since high school, but if the Bears draft him this month that will change. That’s because number 56 is retired here for a player whose Bears career ended 82 years ago.
His name was Bill Hewitt. He played end (the early version of receiver) and defensive end for the Bears for his first five NFL seasons, from 1932 to 1936. He made four All Pro teams during that time, helped the Bears win two championships, finished his career in 1943, died in a car accident in 1947 and had his Bears number retired in 1949.