Wally Chambers obit

Former Mount Clemens, Chicago Bears player Wally Chambers dies

He was not on the list.

Wally Chambers, the former Mount Clemens High School football player who starred for the Chicago Bears, has died. He was 68.

An administrator in the athletic department at Eastern Kentucky University, Chambers’ alma mater, confirmed the death, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Chambers died Sept. 22, the newspaper said.

He was born May 15, 1951, in Alabama.

Chambers, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound defensive tackle, played five seasons for the Bears during his seven-year NFL career. He also played two seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bears selected Chambers at No. 8 in 1973. He started all 14 games that season and 55 of his first 56 with the team. He was a first-team All-Pro in 1976, when he unofficially recorded 14 sacks, a second-team All-Pro twice and a three-time Pro Bowl selection (1973, 1975, 1976).

In his rookie season, Chambers led the Bears in tackles with 101 and assists with 31, and he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Chambers was named to 1972 college All-America teams selected by The Sporting News and Time magazine.

Chambers led Eastern Kentucky in tackles and assists for three straight years and was co-recipient of EKU’s Most Valuable Player Award his senior year. He was a first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference choice in 1972. His jersey No. 78 was retired by the university, and he was a member of the school's hall of fame.

A wall poster honoring Chambers was a fixture at the Mount Clemens gymnasium for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Patsy.

To celebrate the Bears' 100 years, the Chicago Tribune this summer named the team's top 100 players. Chambers was No. 52.

His notable teammates were: Bobby Douglass, Doug Buffone, Dick Butkus, Walter Payton, Bob Avellini, Mike Hartenstine, Doug Plank, Vince Evans, Dave Pear, Lee Roy Selmon, Dewey Selmon, Doug Williams, Ricky Bell, Jimmie Giles, Chuck Fusina, Dave Lewis and Greg Roberts.

He was coached by: Abe Gibron, Jack Pardee, and John McKay.