6'5" defensive lineman didn't play football in high school until the coach picked the saxophone player out of the halftime show during a game. Starred at Arkansas; selected by the Bears with the fourth overall pick in the 1979 draft they had obtained from Tampa. Immediate starter-opening the first 48 games of his career. Named to Pro Bowl four times, twice as an end, twice as a tackle. Named to all-NFL team of the 1980's. Endured over 10 operations on both knees. In 1989 the Bears began the season 4-0 with him in the lineup, then finished 2-10 after he was lost for the season with another knee injury. According to John Mullin in his book The Rise and Self-Destruction of the Greatest Football Team in History, Hampton offered to continue to play through the injury in 1989 if team President Michael McCaskey would guarantee his salary in 1990, in case his career ended. McCaskey refused, and Hampton didn't play the rest of the year. Retired following the 1990 season. Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.