The up-and-down season of the Bears was not enough to sour voters among players, coaches and fans entirely on a team that has lost five straight as five Bears have been voted to the Pro Bowl, the most since the Super Bowl season of 2006.
Linebacker Lance Briggs, running back Matt Forte, special teamer Corey Graham, cornerback Charles Tillman and linebacker Brian Urlacher will represent the Bears on the conference all-star team.
Of the group, only Graham, who leads the Bears with 20 special teams tackles, is a starter.
The 49ers led the NFC with eight selections, matching the total for the New England Patriots. Green Bay had seven and the Bears and Saints had five.
Briggs becomes just the fourth Bears linebacker to be selected to seven straight Pro Bowls, joining Dick Butkus (eight), Bill George (eight) and Mike Singletary (10) at that elite level. Clay Matthews from Green Bay and Dallas Demarcus Ware are the starting outside linebackers.
Forte, who was leading the NFL in total yardage prior to his injury and still ranks fifth with 1,487 yards despite missing the last two games, is the first offensive player drafted by GM Jerry Angelo to make the Pro Bowl. Philadelphia Eagles tailback LeSean McCoy is the starter, with Gore listed along with Forte as the reserves. Forte went on injured reserve Tuesday and will not make the trip.
Tillman has two interceptions on the season, matching his season-low since 2004, but he also forced his 27th fumble against San Diego, most by any defensive back since 2003. Tillman returned an interception of Detroits Matthew Stafford for a TD in Week 10 and also turned in an acrobatic INT against Tim Tebow in Denver in a nationally televised game.
NFL
Urlacher is returning to the Pro Bowl roster for the eighth time. Patrick Willis of NFC West champion San Francisco was selected as the starter.