Jerry Azumah and Olin Kreutz are College Football Hall of Famers
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Jerry Azumah #23 of the Chicago Bears returns a kick for a touchdown in 2003 at Soldier Field. Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Former Bears stars Jerry Azumah and Olin Kreutz are Chicago royalty, and now, they are Hall of Famers.
Driving the news: The National Football Foundation on Wednesday announced its All-Star 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class, which includes Azumah (University of New Hampshire) and Kreutz (University of Washington).
- Both Azumah and Kreutz played for the Bears in the 2000s and have stayed in town after their retirements, covering the current Bears for CHGO Sports and The Score.
What they're saying: "It's truly humbling," Azumah, who was a first-ballot selection, tells Axios. "It's just a testament to the support I've gotten from my parents, teammates and coaches over the course of my college journey."
- "I'm just glowing right now."
Azumah played defensive back and returned kicks for the Bears, but he was a record-setting running back in college, running wild for 2,195 yards in 1998.
- He still holds most school records and holds several D1-AA (now NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision) records for rushing.
- "My father idolized Walter Payton. So growing up, I always wanted to be like Walter Payton," Azumah adds. "That's why I played running back."
Zoom in: He was drafted by the Bears in the 5th round of the 1999 NFL Draft.
- Azumah played seven years with the team and was selected to the 2004 NFC Pro Bowl roster, but his promising career was ended by a neck injury.
Kreutz was a first-team All-American at Washington and was drafted by the Bears in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft.
- He had a monster career with the Bears, being selected to the Pro Bowl six times. He also led an offensive line that took the team to the Super Bowl in 2007.
- Kreutz was one of four former Bears who have been nominated for this year's National Football Hall of Fame ballot. The 2026 class will be announced before this year's Super Bowl.
Zoom out: Former Northern Illinois University quarterback Jordan Lynch was also part of this year's college class.