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For current information on this topic, see 2008 Chicago Bears season |
| Chicago Bears | |||||
| Established 1919 Play in Chicago, Illinois Based in Chicago since 1921 |
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Independent (1919)
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| Team colors | Navy blue and orange | ||||
| Fight song | "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" | ||||
| Mascot | Staley Da Bear | ||||
| Personnel | |||||
| Owner | Virginia Halas McCaskey | ||||
| Chairman | Michael McCaskey | ||||
| General Manager | Jerry Angelo | ||||
| Head Coach | Lovie Smith | ||||
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| Championships | |||||
League Championships (9)
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| Conference Championships (4) | |||||
| Division Championships (17) | |||||
| Playoff Appearances (25) | |||||
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The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. George Stanley Halas Sr ( February 2 1895 &ndash October 31 1983) nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr Edward Sternaman ( February 9 1895 – February 1 1973) better known as Dutch, was an American player coach George Stanley Halas Jr ( September 4 1925 - December 16 1979) nicknamed "Mugs" was one of four presidents in the history of the Ted Phillips, a graduate of Bishop Guertin High School, is the President and CEO of the NFL 's Chicago Bears American football American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive Team sport known for mixing strategy with Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The National Football Conference ( NFC) is one of the two conferences of the National Football League (NFL The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. The team is legally and corporately registered as Chicago Bears Football Club, Incorporated.
The Bears have won nine Professional American Football league championships (eight NFL Championships and Super Bowl XX), trailing only the Green Bay Packers, who have twelve. Throughout its history the National Football League and other leagues have used several different formats to determine their league champion including a period of interleague Wikipedia talkFeatured lists#Proposed change to all featured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below Super Bowl XX was an American football game played on January 26, 1986 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans Louisiana to The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay Wisconsin. The Bears have the most enshrinees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with 26 members. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the Hall of fame of the National Football League (NFL
The club was founded in Decatur, Illinois, in 1919[2], and moved to Chicago in 1921. Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. Along with the Arizona Cardinals, it is one of only two remaining extant franchises since the NFL's founding. The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale Arizona, just outside of Phoenix. The team played home games at Wrigley Field on Chicago's North Side through the 1970 season. With the exception of the 2002 season, they have played their home games at Chicago's Soldier Field every year since 1971. Soldier Field (formerly Municipal Grant Park Stadium) is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago Illinois, and is currently home to the NFL The stadium is located next to Lake Michigan, and was recently remodeled in a modernization intended to update stadium amenities while preserving a historic Chicago structure. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. The team has a fierce, long-standing rivalry with the Packers, whom they have played in over 170 games.
The team headquarters, Halas Hall, is actually located in the Chicago suburb of Lake Forest, Illinois. Halas Hall is a building complex in Lake Forest Illinois that serves as the Chicago Bears ' headquarters Lake Forest is a city known for its affluence located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. The team scrimmages at adjoining practice facilities there during the season. Currently, the team holds its annual training camp from late July to mid-August on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Olivet Nazarene University (ONU is a Christian Liberal arts college located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Bourbonnais is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union.
Contents |
Franchise history
- Further information: History of the Chicago Bears and Chicago Bears seasons
1920–1970
Originally named the Decatur Staleys, the club was established by the A. E. Staley Company of Decatur, Illinois in 1919 as a company team. This article details the elaborate history of the Chicago Bears American Football Club. The Chicago Bears franchise was originally founded as the Decatur Staleys a charter member of the American Professional Football Association (APFA A E Staley is a Decatur Illinois based processor of corn owned by Tate & Lyle, PLC Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. This was the typical start for several early professional football franchises. The company hired George Halas and Edward "Dutch" Sternaman in 1920 to run the team, and turned over full control of the team to them in 1921. George Stanley Halas Sr ( February 2 1895 &ndash October 31 1983) nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr Edward Sternaman ( February 9 1895 – February 1 1973) better known as Dutch, was an American player coach [3] However, official team and league records cite Halas as the founder as he took over the team in 1920 when it became a charter member of the NFL. [4]
Along with the Arizona Cardinals (originally from Chicago themselves), the Bears are one of only two charter members of the NFL still in existence. The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale Arizona, just outside of Phoenix. The team relocated to Chicago in 1921, where the club was renamed the Chicago Staleys. Under an agreement reached by Halas and Sternaman with Staley, Halas purchased the rights to the club from Staley for US$100. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been
The Bears dominated the league in the early years. Their rivalry with the Cardinals, the oldest in the NFL (and a crosstown rivalry from 1920 to 1959), was key in four out of the first six league titles (see History of the Chicago Bears). This article details the elaborate history of the Chicago Bears American Football Club. During the league's first six years, the Bears lost twice to the Canton Bulldogs (who took two league titles over that span), and split with their crosstown rival Cardinals (going 4–4–2 against each other over that span), but no other team in the league defeated the Bears more than a single time. The Canton Bulldogs were a professional American football team based in Canton Ohio, in the National Football League from 1920 to 1923 and 1925 to During that span, the Bears posted 34 shutouts.
The Bears' rivalry with the Green Bay Packers is one of the oldest, fiercest and most storied in American professional sports, dating back to 1921. In one infamous incident that year, Halas got the Packers expelled from the league in order to prevent their signing a particular player, and then graciously got them re-admitted after the Bears had closed the deal with that player. [5]
In 1922, Halas changed the team name from the Staleys to the Bears. The team moved into Wrigley Field, which was home to the Chicago Cubs baseball franchise. The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each As with several early NFL franchises, the Bears derived their nickname from their city's baseball team. Halas liked the bright orange-and-blue colors of his alma mater, the University of Illinois, and the Bears adopted those colors as their own, albeit in a darker shade of each (the blue is a Navy Blue, and the orange is Pantone 1665, similar to burnt orange). This article is about the flagship campus For other uses and locations of University of Illinois, see University of Illinois (disambiguation The University of Pantone Inc is a corporation headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey, USA
The franchise was an early success under Halas, capturing the NFL Championship in 1921 and remaining competitive throughout the decade. The 1921 NFL season was the 2nd Regular season of the National Football League (then called the American Professional Football Association) In 1924 the Bears claimed the Championship after defeating the Cleveland Bulldogs on December 7, even putting the title "World's Champions" on their 1924 team photo. The Cleveland Bulldogs was a team that played in Cleveland Ohio in the National Football League. Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways But the NFL had ruled that games after November 30 did not count towards league standings, and the Bears had to settle for second place behind Cleveland. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats [6] Their only losing season came in 1929. The 1929 NFL season was the 10th Regular season of the National Football League.
During the 1920s the club was responsible for triggering the NFL's long-standing rule that a player could not be signed until his college's senior class had graduated. The NFL took that action as a consequence of the Bears' aggressive signing of famous University of Illinois player Red Grange within a day of his final game as a collegian. Harold Edward "Red" Grange ( June 13, 1903 &ndash January 28, 1991) was a professional and college American football [7]
After the financial losses of the 1932 Championship season, Halas' partner Dutch Sternaman left the organization. The 1932 NFL season was the 13th Regular season of the National Football League. Halas maintained full control of the Bears until his death in 1983. He also coached the team off-and-on for forty seasons, an NFL record. In the 1932 "Unofficial" NFL Championship, the Bears defeated the Portsmouth Spartans in the first indoor American football game at Chicago Stadium. The 1932 NFL Playoff Game was the first ever playoff game held by the National Football League (NFL the major professional American football sports league in the The Detroit Lions are an American football team based in Detroit Michigan. The Chicago Stadium was a famed and historic indoor sports arena in Chicago Illinois.
The success of the playoff game led the NFL to institute a championship game. In the very first NFL Championship, the Bears played against the New York Giants, defeating them 23–21. Throughout its history the National Football League and other leagues have used several different formats to determine their league champion including a period of interleague The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York City suburb of East Rutherford New Jersey. The teams met again in the 1934 NFL Championship where the Giants, wearing sneakers[8] defeated the Bears 30–13 on a cold, icy day at the Polo Grounds. The 1934 National Football League Championship Game, also known as The Sneakers Game, was played at the Polo Grounds in New York City The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different Stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City used by Baseball 's New York Giants
From 1940–1947, quarterback Sid Luckman led the Bears to victories in four out of the five NFL Championship Games in which they appeared. Quarterback ( QB) is a position in American and Canadian football. Sidney Luckman, known as Sid Luckman, (November 21 1916 – July 5 1998 was an American football Quarterback for the Chicago Bears from 1939 The team acquired the University of Chicago's discarded nickname "Monsters of the Midway" and their now-famous helmet "C", as well as a newly-penned theme song that declared them "The Pride and Joy of Illinois". The University of Chicago is a Private university located principally in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. The " Monsters of the Midway " is most widely known as the Nickname for the National Football League 's Chicago Bears &mdash particularly the dominant Bear Down Chicago Bears is the Fight song of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. One famous victory during that period was their 73–0 victory over the favored Washington Redskins at Griffith Stadium in the 1940 NFL Championship Game; the score is still an NFL record for lopsided results. The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team based in the Washington D Griffith Stadium was a Sports Stadium that stood in Washington D The 1940 National Football League Championship Game, was the 8th in NFL history [9] The secret behind the one-sided outcome was the introduction of a new offensive formation by Halas. The T-formation, as Halas named it, involved two running backs instead of the traditional one in the backfield. In American football, a T formation is a formation used by the Offensive team in which three Running backs line up in a row about five yards behind A running back ( RB) is the position of a player on an American or Canadian football team who usually lines up in the offensive backfield. Luckman's success at the quarterback position for the Bears has not been matched, as he still holds club records for passing. [10]
After declining throughout the 1950s, the team rebounded in 1963 to capture their 8th NFL Championship, which would be their last until 1985. The 1963 NFL season was the 44th Regular season of the National Football League. The late 1960s and early 1970s produced notable players like Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, and Brian Piccolo, who died of Embryonal carcinoma in 1970. Richard Marvin "Dick" Butkus (born 9 December 1942) is a former American football player widely regarded as the greatest Linebacker Gale Eugene Sayers (b May 30 1943, Wichita Kansas) also known as "The Kansas Comet", was a professional football player Louis Brian Piccolo ( October 31, 1943 &ndash June 16, 1970) was a professional football player for the Chicago Bears The Embryonal Carcinoma is one of the several types of testicular (or ovarian) Germ cell tumors, which also include the Seminoma ( Dysgerminoma The American television network ABC aired a movie about Piccolo in 1971 entitled Brian's Song, starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams in the roles of Piccolo and Sayers respectively; Jack Warden won an Emmy Award for his performance as Halas. The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. Brian's Song is a 1971 made-for-TV movie recalling the details of the life of Brian Piccolo (played by James Caan) a white James Edmund Caan (born March 26, 1940) is an American Academy Award - Emmy - and Golden Globe -nominated American Billy Dee Williams (born April 6, 1937) is an American Actor, Artist, and Writer, best known for his role as Lando Calrissian Jack Warden ( September 18 1920 – July 19, 2006) was an Emmy Award -winning Academy Award -nominated American The movie was later released for theater screenings after first being shown on television.
Halas retired as coach in 1967 and spent the rest of his days in the front office. He became the only person to be involved with the NFL throughout the first 60 years of its existence. He was also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's first induction class in 1963. As the only living founder of the NFL at the February 1970 merger between the NFL and the American Football League, the owners honored Halas by electing him the first President of the National Football Conference, a position that he held until his death in 1983. Note There were three earlier and unrelated major American professional football leagues of the same name One in 1926, one in 1936-1937 and one in 1940-1941 The National Football Conference ( NFC) is one of the two conferences of the National Football League (NFL In his honor, the NFL named the National Football Conference Championship trophy as the George Halas Memorial Trophy. The National Football Conference ( NFC) is one of the two conferences of the National Football League (NFL The NFC Championship Game is one of the two Semi-final matches of the National Football League the largest professional American football league in the United
1970–present
After the merger, the Bears finished the 1970 season with a last-place finish in the division, a repeat of their placing in the 1969 season. In 1975 the Bears drafted Walter Payton from Jackson State University with their first pick, and he made an immediate impact on the football landscape. The 1975 National Football League Draft was held on January 28–29 1975 Walter Jerry Payton (July 25 1954 – November 1 1999 was an American football player who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League Jackson State University (also known as Jackson State or JSU) is a historically black university located in Jackson Mississippi founded in 1877 He won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award in the 1977–78 season. The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award is given by various entities most notably the Associated Press, to the player who is considered most valuable The 1977 NFL season was the 58th Regular season of the National Football League. [11][12] Payton would go on to eclipse Jim Brown's NFL career rushing record in 1984 before retiring in 1987, and would hold the mark until 2002, when Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys surpassed it. James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown (born February 17, 1936) is an American former professional football player who has also made In American football, rushing has two different meanings Offense Best Record-Breaking Performance ESPY Award --> The 2002 season of the National Football League (NFL was the 83rd one played by the major professional American football league in the United Emmitt James Smith III (born May 15 1969 in Pensacola Florida) is a former American football player who played for the Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC in the National [13] Payton's career and great personality would capture the hearts of Bear fans, who called him "Sweetness". He died from a rare liver cancer in 1999 at the age of 45.
From 1977 through 1985 the club's official cheerleaders were the Honey Bears, who were hired by then General Manager Jim Finks. Jim Finks ( August 31, 1927 - May 8, 1994) was an American sports executive primarily for American football. They cheered at Soldier Field during all Bears home games and performed at halftime for the viewing public. halftime show is a performance given between the first and second halves or the 2nd and 3rd quarters of a sporting event The group's founder and choreographer, Cathy Core, was contacted by Finks on the topic of organizing the cheerleading squad, but as she didn't believe that Finks was actually calling she hung up. When she later found out the call was genuine, she apologized. [14]
The idea of a cheerleading squad was thought up by Halas himself, who called them "dancing girls". [14] Halas was quoted as saying that the Honey Bears would be around as long as he was alive. [14] After his death in 1983, his heirs in the McCaskey family decided to end their relationship with the Honey Bears, declining to renew their contract following the Bears' championship season of 1985. The 1985 NFL season was the 66th Regular season of the National Football League. Word has it that as long as the McCaskey family owns the team, the Honey Bears will remain a memory. [14]
On November 1, 1983, a day after the death of George Halas, his oldest daughter, Virginia McCaskey, took over as the majority owner of the team. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Her husband, Ed McCaskey, succeeded her father as the Chairman of the Board. [15] Their son Michael became the third president in team history. [16] Mrs. McCaskey holds the honorary title of "secretary of the board of directors", but the 82–year–old matriarch has been called the glue that holds the franchise together. A matriarch, clan-mother or 'chief' is an Autocratic female ruler of a human family Clan, or Kinship, or of an animal grouping [17] Mrs. McCaskey's reign as the owner of the Bears was not planned, as her father originally earmarked her brother, George "Mugs" Halas, Jr. as the heir apparent to the franchise. George Stanley Halas Jr ( September 4 1925 - December 16 1979) nicknamed "Mugs" was one of four presidents in the history of the However, he died of a massive heart attack in 1979, and four years later she inherited the team upon George Halas' death. Her impact on the team is well-noted as her own family has dubbed her "The First Lady of Sports", and the Chicago Sun-Times has listed her as one of Chicago's most powerful women. The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily Newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. [18]
Mike Ditka, a tight end for the Bears from 1961 to 1966, was hired to coach the team in 1982. Michael Keller Ditka Jr (born October 18, 1939, in Carnegie Pennsylvania) also known as Iron Mike Ditka or Da Coach, is a former The tight end ( TE) is a position in American football on the Offensive team. In the 1985 season the fire in the Bears–Packers rivalry was relit when Ditka used 350–plus pound lineman "Refrigerator" Perry as a truly "wide" receiver in a touchdown play at Lambeau Field, flagrantly taunting the Packers. In American football, each team has 11 players on the field at one time William Perry (born December 16 1962 in Aiken South Carolina) is a former professional American football player and brother of former professional football player A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football A touchdown is the primary method of scoring in American and Canadian football. Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay Wisconsin, the home of the NFL 's Green Bay Packers. The Bears won their ninth NFL Championship, first since the AFL-NFL merger, in Super Bowl XX after the 1985 season in which they dominated the NFL with their then-revolutionary 46 defense and a cast of characters that recorded the novelty rap song "The Super Bowl Shuffle". The AFL-NFL merger of 1970 was the merger of the two major professional American football leagues The 46 defense (also known as the "46" or the 46) is an American football defensive formation popularized by Chicago Bears " The Super Bowl Shuffle " is a rap song recorded by members of the Chicago Bears football team prior to their appearance The season was notable in that the Bears had only one loss, the "unlucky 13th" game of the season, a Monday night affair in which they were defeated by the Miami Dolphins. Monday Night Football ( MNF) is a Live television broadcast of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami Florida Metropolitan Area. At the time, much was made of the fact that the 1972 Dolphins were the only franchise in history to have had an undefeated season and post-season. The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd Regular season of the National Football League. The Dolphins came close to setting up a rematch in the Super Bowl, but lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC title game. The New England Patriots, commonly called the " Pats " by sports writers and fans are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston The American Football Conference Championship Game, otherwise known as AFC Championship Game, is one of the two Semi-final matches of the National Football League "The Super Bowl Shuffle" was videotaped the day after that Monday night loss in Miami.
After the 1985 Championship season, the Bears remained competitive throughout the 1980s but failed to return to the Super Bowl under Mike Ditka. professional American football, the Super Bowl is the Championship game of the National Football League (NFL Since the firing of Ditka at the end of the 1992 season, the Bears have only made the playoffs five times. The club has also gone through three coaching changes since 1993. Dave Wannstedt was the head coach from 1993 through 1998. Dave Wannstedt (born May 21, 1952 in Baldwin Pennsylvania) is the current Head coach of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers Dick Jauron succeeded Wannstedt after the 1998 season. Richard Manual Jauron (born October 7, 1950 in Peoria Illinois) has been the Head coach of the Buffalo Bills of the National After having his contract extended through 2004 after the Bears went 13-3 in 2001, Jauron was fired at the end of the 2003 season. Before the Bears hired Jauron in January 1999, Dave McGinnis (Arizona's defensive coordinator, and a former Bears assistant under Ditka and Wannstedt) backed out of taking the head coaching position. Dave McGinnis is the Linebackers coach of the Tennessee Titans. The Bears scheduled a press conference to announce the hiring before McGinnis agreed to contract terms. [19] Incidentally, soon after Jauron's hiring, Mrs. McCaskey fired her son Michael as president, replacing him with Ted Phillips and promoting Michael to chairman of the board. Ted Phillips, a graduate of Bishop Guertin High School, is the President and CEO of the NFL 's Chicago Bears American football McCaskey's reign as president has been viewed as a disaster with mishap after mishap. [20] Phillips, the current Bears president, became the first man outside of the Halas-McCaskey family to run the team. [21]
Lovie Smith, hired by the franchise on January 15, 2004, is the third and current (as of 2007) post-Ditka head coach. Lovie Lee Smith (born in Gladewater Texas) is the Head coach of the Chicago Bears professional football team of the NFL. Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Joining the Bears as a rookie head coach, Smith brought the highly successful Tampa 2 defensive scheme with him to Chicago. The Tampa 2 is an American football defensive strategy popularized by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers National Football League (NFL team in the mid 1990s-early Before his second season with the Bears, the team rehired their former offensive coordinator and then Illinois head coach Ron Turner to improve the Bears' struggling offense. This article is about the flagship campus For other uses and locations of University of Illinois, see University of Illinois (disambiguation The University of Ron Turner (born December 5, 1953 in Martinez California) has had two separate stints as the Offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears [22] In 2005, the Bears won their division and reached the playoffs for the first time in four years. The 2005 season of the National Football League (NFL was the 86th season played by the major professional American football league in the United States The National Football League playoffs following the 2005 National Football League season led up to Super Bowl XL. Their previous playoff berth was earned by winning the NFC Central in 2001. The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League. The Bears improved upon their success the following season, by clinching their second consecutive NFC North title during week thirteen of the 2006 season, winning their first playoff game since 1995, and earning a trip to Super Bowl XLI. The 2006 season of the National Football League (NFL was the 87th one played by the major professional American football league in the United Super Bowl XLI was an American football game played on February 4 2007 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, a suburb of [23] However, they fell short of the championship, losing 29-17 to the Indianapolis Colts. The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis Indiana. Following the 2006 season, the club decided to give Lovie Smith a contract extension through 2011, at roughly $5 million per year. This comes a season after being the lowest paid head coach in the National Football League. [24]
The club has played in over a thousand games since becoming a charter member of the NFL in 1920. The 1920 NFL season was the inaugural Regular season of the National Football League. Through the 2007 season, they lead the NFL in overall franchise wins with 693 and have an overall record of 693–508–42 (going 677–491–42 during the regular season and 16–17 in the playoffs). [25]
Ownership
Virginia McCaskey, her children, and grandchildren control 80% of the team, and Mrs. McCaskey votes her children's stock as well as her own. Patrick Ryan, executive chairman of Aon Corp., and Aon director Andrew McKenna own 19. 7% of the club. [26] Many Bears fans have expressed their displeasure with the McCaskey family. In a Crain's Chicago Business article, one businessman described his wishes for the team to maximize its potential. Crain Communications Inc is a major publishing conglomerate based in Detroit Michigan. There have been rumors that the McCaskey family might split up over the team. [17]
As of 2007, Forbes magazine has reported that the Chicago Bears franchise is worth $984 million,[27] making it the seventh richest franchise in the NFL. Forbes is an American Publishing and media company Its flagship publication Forbes magazine is published bi-weekly The team has major sponsorship deals with Chase, Miller Brewing Company, Cadillac, Motorola, and Coca-Cola. JPMorgan Chase & Co ( is the largest Banking institution in the United States by deposits and market capitalization and is one of the oldest operating Miller Brewing Company is the second largest American style Beermaker and is based in Milwaukee Wisconsin, United States. Cadillac is a Brand of Luxury vehicles owned by General Motors. Motorola Inc ( is an American, multinational Fortune 100, Telecommunications company based in Schaumburg Illinois. Coca-Cola is a carbonated Soft drink sold in stores restaurants and Vending machines in more than 200 countries [28] The team was the first in the NFL to have a presenting sponsor, with the 2004 season advertised as "Bears Football presented by BankOne (now Chase)". Bank One Corporation, based in Chicago Illinois, was the sixth-largest Bank in the United States. Additionally, the Bears have an agreement with WMAQ-TV (the NBC affiliate in Chicago) to broadcast pre-season football games. WMAQ-TV, channel 5 is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, located in Chicago Illinois. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's [29]
Team colors and mascots
Logo
The club has had few official logos throughout their history. See also Chicago Bears Logos The club has had few official logos throughout their history The first was introduced in the early 1950s as a black bear on top of a football. The team kept this until 1962, when the Bears trademark 'C' logo was first introduced by the team. [30]
The change in their logo from the black bear was due to the addition of logos on helmets, which pro football teams started adding in the late 1950s and early 1960s. A football helmet is a protective device used primarily in American football and Canadian football, the modern hard plastic version of which was created by Unlike some NFL franchises that have had many different looks over time, the Bears have kept the wishbone 'C' for over 40 years.
In 1974, the team decided to keep the same white 'C' logo but to change the color of it from white to orange with a white trim. This is the current logo to this date; however, the club has experimented with some alternative logos throughout the past decade, including a black bear inside of the orange wishbone 'C', introduced in 1995, and an orange bear head, introduced in 1999.
Uniforms
- For a gallery of all the uniform combinations worn by the 2007 club, see Uniform combinations. The 2007 Chicago Bears season was the team's 88th regular season in the National Football League.
In 1920 the team introduced the official team uniforms containing brown and blue stripes. In the 1930s, the franchise's team uniform underwent some substantial alterations. After many subtle and not-so-subtle changes, by 1933 the Bears donned all-orange jerseys with navy numbers and matching black helmets. In 1936, they modified this design into "an early version of psychedelia" by adding three orange stripes to their helmets, changing the color of the jerseys from orange to white, complementing the new white jerseys with fourteen navy and orange alternating stripes on the sleeves, and introducing socks with a similar striped pattern extending from ankle to knee. Psychedelic art is art inspired by the psychedelic experience induced by drugs such as gymnastics take place in the world the art is LSD, Mescaline, and Psilocybin Due to poor response from the fans and the media, this design lasted only one season. [31]
By 1949, the team was wearing the familiar navy blue shirts with white, rounded numbers. In 1956, the team added "TV numbers" to the sleeves. The Bears 'C' logo first appeared on the helmets in 1962. The logo changed from white to a white-bordered orange logo eleven years later, and has remained unchanged ever since. The Bears added the initials GSH to the left sleeve of their jerseys in 1984 in memory of George Halas. George Stanley Halas Sr ( February 2 1895 &ndash October 31 1983) nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr
Other variations to the Bears uniforms over the years include the addition of navy blue pants as a part of the road kit in 1984. During the 1994 season, the Bears – with most of the other NFL franchises – introduced throwback uniforms to be worn in the honor of the NFL's 75th Anniversary. Throwback uniforms and jerseys are one-time or limited-time variations on a sports team's uniforms styled to resemble uniforms from that team's past. These uniforms with brown and blue stripes resemble the original uniforms worn by the team in the 1920s. On October 7, 2002 the Bears wore navy blue pants with their navy blue home jerseys for the first time, and lost at home to Green Bay before a national Monday Night Football audience. Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Bears did not wear the all-blue combination again until the 2006 regular season finale against the Packers, also a loss, on December 31. Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia.
Also, the Bears wore all-white uniforms during their final two road games in the 2006 season. On November 13, 2005 and October 29, 2006 (both times in games against the San Francisco 49ers), the Bears introduced an orange alternate home jersey. Events 1002 - English king Ethelred orders the killing of all Danes in England, known today as the St Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 437 - Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team The orange swaps roles with the navy blue on this alternate jersey, as it becomes the dominant color while the navy complements. The Bears previously wore orange jerseys as part of a throwback uniform in a Thanksgiving Day game at the Dallas Cowboys in 2004. Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American Holiday, which is a form of harvest festival. The classic look of the club's uniforms has given it the title of one of the best uniform kits in the league. [32]
Mascots
Before the introduction of Staley Da Bear, the club had two unofficial mascots named "Rocky" and "Bearman". Staley Da Bear is the official Mascot of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. "Rocky" was a man who donned a "1" Bears jersey, carried a megaphone, and started chants all over Soldier Field during the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. A megaphone, speaking-trumpet, bullhorn or loud hailer is a portable usually hand-held funnel-shaped device whose application is to amplify There is no known source of who "Rocky" was, except that he disappeared from Soldier Field in the early 1990s and presumably lived in Northwest Indiana. Overview The five counties of Lake, Porter, Jasper, Newton, and LaPorte are included in the Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City [33] Don Wachter, also known as "Bearman", is a season ticket holder who decided in 1995 that he could also assist the team by cheerleading. A season ticket is a ticket that grants privileges over a defined period of time The club allowed him to run across the field with a large Bears flag during player introductions and each team score. In 1996, he donned his "costume" of face paint, bear head and arms, and a number 46 jersey. "Bearman" was forced to stop wearing his costume with the introduction of Staley Da Bear in 2003; however, in 2005 Wachter was allowed in costume again. Staley Da Bear is the official Mascot of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. [34]
Stadium
Soldier Field, located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, is the current home to the Bears. Soldier Field (formerly Municipal Grant Park Stadium) is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago Illinois, and is currently home to the NFL Lake Shore Drive (colloquially referred to as LSD or simply Lake Shore or The Drive) is a mostly Freeway -standard Expressway running The Bears moved into Soldier Field in 1971 after Wrigley Field, the Bears' home for 50 years, became too small to hold an NFL event, and neighbors to Northwestern University objected to the team's playing in at Dyche Stadium, now called Ryan Field. After the AFL-NFL Merger, the newly merged league wanted their teams to play in stadiums that could hold at least 50,000 fans. The AFL-NFL merger of 1970 was the merger of the two major professional American football leagues Even with the portable bleachers that the team brought into Wrigley, the stadium could still only hold 46,000. [35] The stadium's playing turf was changed from astroturf to natural grass in time for the start of the 1988 season. AstroTurf is a brand of Artificial turf. Though the term is a Registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind The stadium was the site of the infamous Fog Bowl playoff game between the Bears and Philadelphia Eagles. In American football, the Fog Bowl was the name given to the December 31, 1988 National Football League (NFL The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [36]
In 2002, the stadium was closed and rebuilt with only the exterior wall of the stadium being preserved. It was closed on Sunday, January 20, 2002, a day after the Bears lost in the playoffs. Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The NFL playoffs following the 2001 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXVI. It reopened on September 27, 2003 after a complete rebuild (the second in the stadium's history). Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. [37] Many fans refer to the rebuilt stadium as New Soldier Field. [38] During the 2002 season, the Bears played their home games at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium in Champaign, where they went 3-5. The 2002 season of the National Football League (NFL was the 83rd one played by the major professional American football league in the United Memorial Stadium is a football Stadium located in Champaign Illinois, on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States.
Many critics have negative views of the new stadium. They believe that its current structure has made it more of an eyesore than a landmark; some have dubbed it the "Mistake on the Lake". [39] Soldier Field was stripped of its National Historic Landmark designation on February 17, 2006. A National Historic Landmark (NHL is a Building, site, Structure, Object, or District, that is officially recognized by the Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. [40]
In the 2005 season, the Bears won the NFC North Division and the No. 2 Seed in the NFC Playoffs, entitling them to play at least one home game in the postseason. The team hosted (and lost) their divisional round match on January 15, 2006 against the Carolina Panthers. Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Carolina Panthers are a professional football team based in Charlotte North Carolina, representing both North Carolina and South Carolina in the This was the first playoff game at Soldier Field since the stadium reopened.
The stadium's end zones and midfield were not painted until the 1982 season. The end zone is a term used in both Canadian football and American football. The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd Regular season of the National Football League. [41] The design sported on the field included the bolded word "Chicago" in both end zones. In 1983, the end zone design returned, with the addition of a large wishbone "C" Bears logo painted at midfield. These field markings remained unchanged until the 1996 season. The 1996 NFL season was the 77th Regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end [42] In 1996 the midfield wishbone "C" was changed to a large blue Bears head, and the end zone design were painted with "Bears" in cursive. This new design remained until the 1999 season, at which point the artwork was returned to the classic "Chicago" and the "C". The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. In the new Soldier Field, the artwork was tweaked to where one end zone had the word "Chicago" bolded and the other had "Bears". [43]
The Bears in popular culture
While the Super Bowl XX Champion Bears were a fixture of mainstream American pop culture in the 1980s, the Bears made a prior mark with the 1971 American TV movie Brian's Song starring Billy Dee Williams as Gale Sayers and James Caan as Brian Piccolo. Brian's Song is a 1971 made-for-TV movie recalling the details of the life of Brian Piccolo (played by James Caan) a white Billy Dee Williams (born April 6, 1937) is an American Actor, Artist, and Writer, best known for his role as Lando Calrissian James Edmund Caan (born March 26, 1940) is an American Academy Award - Emmy - and Golden Globe -nominated American The film told of how Piccolo helped Sayers recover from a devastating knee injury to return to his status as one of the league's best players, and how Sayers in turn helped the Piccolo family through Brian's fatal illness. [44][45] A 2001 remake of the movie for ABC starred Sean Maher as Piccolo and Mekhi Phifer as Sayers. Sean Maher (born April 16, 1975 in Pleasantville New York) is an American Actor, best known for his role as Simon Tam Mekhi Thira Phifer (born December 29, 1974 a non-profit organization established in 2000 to provide educational resources to universities in Africa. [46]
The 1985 team is also remembered for recording the song "The Super Bowl Shuffle", which reached number forty-one on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for a Grammy Award. " The Super Bowl Shuffle " is a rap song recorded by members of the Chicago Bears football team prior to their appearance The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences [47][48] The music video for the song depicts the team gyrating awkwardly and rapping that they are "not here to start no trouble" but instead "just here to do the Super Bowl Shuffle". Rapping (also known as emceeing, MCing, spitting, or just rhyming) is the Rhythmic spoken delivery of Rhymes wordplay and The team took a risk by recording and releasing the song before the playoffs had even begun, but were able to avoid embarrassment by going on to win Super Bowl XX by a then record margin of 46-10. That game was one of the most watched television events in history according to the Nielsen Ratings system; the game had a rating of 48. Nielsen Ratings are audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the Audience size and composition of television 3, ranking it seventh in all-time television history. [49]
In addition to the "Super Bowl Shuffle"[50] rap song, the Bears' success in the 1980s – and especially the personality of head coach Mike Ditka – inspired a recurring sketch on the American sketch comedy program Saturday Night Live, called "Bill Swerski's Superfans". Television is one of the major major mass media of the United States. Sketch comedy consists of a series of short Comedy scenes or vignettes called "sketches" commonly between one and ten minutes long A television program (US television programme (UK or television show (U Saturday Night Live ( SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute American Sketch comedy / Variety show based in New York City Bill Swerski's Superfans was a recurring sketch about Chicago sports fans on the American Sketch comedy program [51] The sketch featured Cheers co-star George Wendt, a Chicago native, as host of a radio talk-show (similar in tone to WGN radio's "The Sportswriters"), with co-panelists Carl Wollarski (Robert Smigel), Pat Arnold (Mike Myers) and Todd O'Connor (Chris Farley). Cheers is an American Situation comedy television series that ran eleven seasons from 1982 to 1993 George Robert Wendt (born October 17, 1948) is an American Actor, best known for the role of Norm Peterson on the classic Television WGN (720 AM) is a Radio station in Chicago Illinois, USA. It is owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship Robert Smigel (born February 7 1960) is an American Humorist, Comedian and Writer known for his Saturday Night Michael John "Mike" Myers (born May 25, 1963) is a Canadian Actor, Comedian, Screenwriter and Film producer Christopher Crosby "Chris" Farley (February 15 1964 &ndash December 18 1997 was an American Comedian and Actor. To hear them tell it, "Da Bears" and Coach Ditka could do no wrong. The sketch stopped after Ditka was fired in 1993. The sketch usually showed the panelists drinking lots of beer and eating lots of Polish sausage, and often featured Todd getting so agitated about what was happening with the Bears that he suffered a heart attack, but quickly recovered (through self-administered CPR). Kielbasa comes from the Polish word kiełbasa for traditional Polish sausage. The sketch also features the cast predicting unrealistic blowout victories for Bears games. [52] A significantly overweight Farley died in 1997 from a drug overdose exacerbated by arteriosclerosis,[53] and Da Super Fan sketch has not been brought back by SNL, with the exception of a single appearance by Horatio Sanz as a Super Fan for the Cubs on Weekend Update in 2003. Arteriosclerosis refers to a hardening of medium and large Arteries. Horatio Sanz ( June 4, 1969) is an Chilean-American Comedian and Actor, best known as a former cast member of Saturday Night Live Weekend Update is a Saturday Night Live sketch which comments on and parodies Current events. The year 2003 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 2003. Outside of SNL George Wendt reprised his role of Swerski in the opening promo of Super Bowl XL on ABC. Super Bowl XL featured the American Football Conference (AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football Conference (NFC champion Seattle The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network.
Ditka's success and popularity in Chicago has led him to land analyst roles on various American football pregame shows. Ditka worked for both the NFL on NBC and CBS's The NFL Today, and he currently works on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown and provides Friday night analysis on the Bears on CBS 2 Chicago, the CBS Chicago affiliate, called "2 on Football" with CBS 2 Sports Director Mark Malone. The NFL on NBC is the brand given to NBC Sports coverage of National Football League games until 1998 when NBC lost the NFL American The NFL Today is also the name of the Radio show that corresponds with the television show Sunday NFL Countdown is a pregame show of all the NFL action for that week WBBM-TV, channel 2 is the CBS owned and operated Television station in Chicago, Illinois. Mark M Malone (born November 22, 1958 in El Cajon California) is a former American football Quarterback in the NFL. [54] He is also the color analyst for all local broadcasts of Bears preseason games. Ditka also co-starred himself alongside actor Will Ferrell in the 2005 comedy film Kicking & Screaming. John William "Will" Ferrell (ˈfærəl born July 16, 1967) is an American Comedian, Actor, Voice actor, The year 2005 in film involved some significant events Releases of sequels took place with movies like The Devil's Rejects, Cheaper Comedy film is a genre of Film in which the main emphasis is on humor. Kicking & Screaming is a 2005 Comedy film, directed by Jesse Dylan starring Will Ferrell. [55]
Also, Ditka, Dick Butkus, Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, William "Refrigerator" Perry and Brian Urlacher are among Bears figures known for their appearances in TV commercials. Richard Marvin "Dick" Butkus (born 9 December 1942) is a former American football player widely regarded as the greatest Linebacker Walter Jerry Payton (July 25 1954 – November 1 1999 was an American football player who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League James Robert "Jim" McMahon (born August 21, 1959 in Jersey City New Jersey) is a former American football player playing collegiately William Perry (born December 16 1962 in Aiken South Carolina) is a former professional American football player and brother of former professional football player Brian Keith Urlacher (UR lack er (born May 25 1978 in Pasco Washington) is an American football player for the Chicago Bears of the National Football Urlacher, whose jersey was among the league's best-selling in 2002, was featured on Nike commercials with Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. Nike Inc ('naɪki ( is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The Atlanta Falcons are an American football team based in Atlanta Georgia. Michael Dwayne Vick (born June 26 1980 in Newport News Virginia) is a suspended National Football League (NFL Quarterback under contract [56][57]
Statistics and records
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For more details on this topic, see Chicago Bears statistics. This page details statistics about the Chicago Bears American football team
Bill George and Doug Buffone hold the record for the most seasons in a Bears uniform with 14. William J George ( October 27, 1929 - September 30, 1982) was a product of the Pittsburgh area town of Waynesburg Pennsylvania Douglas John Buffone (born June 27, 1944 in the near- Pittsburgh rural town of Yatesboro Pennsylvania) is a former American football [58] George did it between the 1952 and 1965 seasons and Buffone during the 1966 through 1979 seasons. On the other hand, Steve McMichael holds the record for most consecutive games played by a Bear with 191;[58] he accomplished the feat from 1981 to 1993. Steven Douglas McMichael (born October 17, 1957 in Houston Texas) is an American former Football Defensive tackle who played for In second place is Payton, who played 186 games from 1975 to 1987 at running back, a position considered to be conducive to injury, only missing one game in a span of 13 seasons.
Placekicker Kevin Butler holds the club record[58] for scoring the most points in his ten-year Bear career. Placekicker, or simply kicker ( PK or K) is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the Kevin Gregory Butler (born July 24, 1962 in Savannah Georgia) is a former professional American football Placekicker who played He scored 1,116 points as the Bears kicker from 1985 to 1995. He is followed in distant second place by Payton, with 750 points. Payton holds the team record for career rushing yards with 16,726. [58] That was an NFL record until Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys broke it in 2002. Emmitt James Smith III (born May 15 1969 in Pensacola Florida) is a former American football player who played for the Dallas Cowboys The 2002 season of the National Football League (NFL was the 83rd one played by the major professional American football league in the United Neal Anderson, who played from 1986 to 1993, is the closest to Payton's record with 6,166 yards. Neal Anderson (born August 14, 1964 in Graceville Florida) is a retired American Football player who played for the University of Florida Mark Bortz holds the record for most Bear playoff appearances, with 13 between 1983 and 1994, and is followed by Kevin Butler, Dennis Gentry, Dan Hampton, Jay Hilgenberg, Steve McMichael, Ron Rivera, Mike Singletary, and Keith Van Horne, who have each played in 12 playoff games. Mark Steven Bortz (born February 12, 1961 in Pardeeville Wisconsin) was a guard in the National Football League for the Dennis Louis Gentry (born February 10, 1959 in Lubbock Texas) is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Daniel Oliver Hampton (born September 19, 1957) is a retired Hall of Fame American football Defensive tackle who played twelve seasons Jay Walter Hilgenberg (born March 21, 1959 in Iowa City Iowa) is a former American football center in the NFL for the Ronald Eugene Rivera (born January 7, 1962 in Fort Ord California) was the first American of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent to Michael Singletary (born October 9, 1958 in Houston Texas) is a former American football Linebacker who played his entire career Keith Van Horne (born November 6 1957 in Mt Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U
The 1940 Chicago Bears team holds the record for the biggest margin of victory in an NFL game (playoff or regular season) with a 73–0 victory over the Washington Redskins in the 1940 NFL Championship Game. The National Football League (NFL Playoffs are a Single-elimination tournament held at the end of the 16-game Regular season to determine the The 1940 National Football League Championship Game, was the 8th in NFL history The largest home victory for the Bears came in a 61–7 result against the Green Bay Packers in 1980. The largest defeat in club history was a 52–0 loss against the Baltimore Colts in 1964. The club recorded undefeated regular seasons in 1934 and 1942, but (unlike the 1972 Dolphins) did not win the championship game in either season. In 1934, the club completed a 13–0 record but were defeated by the New York Giants, and in 1942 the club completed an 11–0 record but were defeated by the Redskins. Had the Bears won either championship, the club would have completed a championship three-peat – a feat completed only by the Packers (twice), although no team has done it since the AFL-NFL merger. [59] Halas holds the team record for coaching the most seasons with 40 and for having the most career victories of 324. Halas' victories record stood until Don Shula surpassed Halas in 1993. Donald Francis Shula (born January 4, 1930 in Grand River, Ohio) is an American former professional football coach The 1993 NFL season was the 74th Regular season of the National Football League. Ditka is the closest Bears coach to Halas, with 112 career victories. No other Bears coach has recorded over 100 victories with the team. [58]
During the 2006 season, return specialist Devin Hester set several kick return records. The 2006 Chicago Bears season was their 87th regular season and 25th post-season completed in the National Football League. Devin Hester (born November 4 1982 is an American football Wide receiver and Return specialist for the Chicago Bears of the National Football He had six touchdown returns, setting a record for most returns in a single season. [60] In 2007, he recorded another six touchdown season from returns. One of the most notable of these returns came on November 12, 2006, when he returned a missed field goal for a 108-yard touchdown. Events 764 - Tibetan troops occupy Chang'an, the capital of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, for fifteen days Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. [61] The record tied teammate Nathan Vasher's previous record, which was set almost a year earlier. Nathaniel deWayne Vasher (born November 17, 1981 in Wichita Falls Texas) is an American football Cornerback, who plays for the [62] Additionally, Hester set a Super Bowl record by becoming the first person to return an opening kick of a Super Bowl for a touchdown. [63]
Season-by-season results
- This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Bears. For the full season-by-season franchise results, see Chicago Bears seasons. The Chicago Bears franchise was originally founded as the Decatur Staleys a charter member of the American Professional Football Association (APFA
Note: The Finish, Wins, Losses, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play.
Record as of December 30, 2007
| Super Bowl Champions | Conference Champions | Division Champions | Wild Card Berth |
| Season | Team | League | Conference | Division | Regular season | Post Season Results | Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Wins | Losses | Ties | |||||||
| 2003 | 2003 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | ||
| 2004 | 2004 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2005 | 2005 | NFL | NFC | North | 1st | 11 | 5 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Panthers) (29-21)[64] | Brian Urlacher (NFL DPOY) Lovie Smith (NFL COY) |
| 2006 | 2006 | NFL | NFC | North | 1st | 13 | 3 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Seahawks) (27-24 OT) Won Conference Championship (Saints) (39-14) Lost Super Bowl XLI (Colts) (29-17) |
|
| 2007 | 2007 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 7 | 9 | 0 | ||
Players of note
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For more details on this topic, see List of Chicago Bears players. Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Wikipedia talkFeatured lists#Proposed change to all featured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below This is a list of seasons of the National Football League. 1920s 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 This is a list of current and defunct leagues of American football and Canadian football. The National Football League (NFL season begins the weekend after Labor Day. The National Football League (NFL Playoffs are a Single-elimination tournament held at the end of the 16-game Regular season to determine the The 2003 season of the National Football League (NFL was the 84th one played by the major professional American football league in the United The 2003 Chicago Bears season was their 84th regular season completed in the National Football League. The 2004 season of the National Football League (NFL was the 85th season for the major professional American football league in the United States The 2004 Chicago Bears season was their 85th regular season completed in the National Football League. The 2005 season of the National Football League (NFL was the 86th season played by the major professional American football league in the United States The 2005 Chicago Bears season was their 86th regular season and 24th post-season completed in the National Football League. The National Football League playoffs following the 2005 National Football League season led up to Super Bowl XL. The Carolina Panthers are a professional football team based in Charlotte North Carolina, representing both North Carolina and South Carolina in the The NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award is given by the Associated Press to the league's most outstanding defensive player at the end of every NFL season since Lovie Lee Smith (born in Gladewater Texas) is the Head coach of the Chicago Bears professional football team of the NFL. The National Football League Coach of the Year Award is presented annually by various news and sports organizations to the NFL head coach who has done the most outstanding job The 2006 season of the National Football League (NFL was the 87th one played by the major professional American football league in the United The 2006 Chicago Bears season was their 87th regular season and 25th post-season completed in the National Football League. No original research and Verifiability. All content regarding the officiating or controversial calls that is unsourced The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle Washington, USA No original research and Verifiability. All content regarding the officiating or controversial calls that is unsourced Super Bowl XLI was an American football game played on February 4 2007 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, a suburb of The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis Indiana. The 2007 season of the National Football League (NFL was the 88th season played by the major professional American football league in the United The 2007 Chicago Bears season was the team's 88th regular season in the National Football League. The following is a list of notable past players of the Chicago Bears professional American football team
Current roster
Pro Football Hall of Famers
In the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Bears are have the most enshrined primary members with twenty-six, however the club also have had five Hall of Famers spend a minor portion of their career with the franchise. Rex Daniel Grossman III (born August 23, 1980 in Bloomington, Indiana) is an American football Quarterback for the Caleb Jeffrey Hanie (born September 11, 1985 in Dallas Texas) is an American football Quarterback for the Chicago Bears Nick Hill (born April 5, 1985 in) is an American football Quarterback who is currently a Free agent. Kyle Orton (born November 14 1982 in Altoona Iowa) is an American football Quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football Matthew Garrett Forté (born December 10, 1985 in) is an American football Running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Jason McKie (born May 22, 1980 in Gulf Breeze Florida) is an American football fullback for the Chicago Bears of the Adrian Nicholas Peterson (born July 1, 1979 in Gainesville Florida) Early years Born to Porter R Lousaka Romon Polite (born September 14, 1981 in) is an American football fullback who is currently a Free agent. William Leroy "P J" Pope Jr (born February 26, 1984 in) is an American football Running back who is a Practice squad J D Runnels (born June 19, 1984 in) is an American football fullback who is currently a Free agent. Garrett Wolfe (born August 17, 1984 in Chicago Illinois) is a Running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League Earl Bennett (born March 23, 1987, in) is a American football Wide receiver for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League Marty Montez Booker (born July 31, 1976 in Marrero, Louisiana) is an American football Wide receiver for the Chicago For the US Air Force general see Mark Edward Bradley For the footballer see Mark Bradley (footballer Mark Bradley Rashied Khalid Davis (born July 24, 1979) is an American football Wide receiver for the Chicago Bears of the National Football Mike Hass (born January 2 1983 in) is an American football Wide receiver who is a member of the Practice squad of the Chicago Bears of the Devin Hester (born November 4 1982 is an American football Wide receiver and Return specialist for the Chicago Bears of the National Football Brandon Matthew Lloyd (born July 5, 1981 in Kansas City, Missouri) is an American football Wide receiver for the Chicago Marcus Monk (born April 26, 1986 in) is a American football Wide receiver who is currently a Free agent. Brandon Rideau (born October 18, 1982 in) is an American football Wide receiver who is a Practice squad player for the Chicago Desmond Darice Clark (born April 20, 1977 in Lakeland Florida) is an American football Tight end for the Chicago Bears Kellen Davis (born October 11, 1985 in) is an American football Tight end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League Fontel Mines (born February 2, 1985 in) is an American Football Tight end who is a Practice squad player for the Chicago Bears Gregory Olsen (born March 11, 1985 in Wayne New Jersey) is a Tight end for the Chicago Bears. Chester Adams (born February 6, 1985 in) is an American football guard who is currently a Free agent. Kirk Barton (born November 04, 1984 in) is an American football Offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football Josh Beekman (born June 30, 1983 in Amsterdam New York) is an American football Offensive guard who currently plays for the Roberto Garza (born March 26, 1979 in Rio Hondo Texas) is an American football guard for the Chicago Bears of the Olin George Kreutz (kroots (born June 9, 1977 in Honolulu Hawaii) is a center and current member of the Chicago Bears in the Terrence Orlando Metcalf (b January 28 1978, Clarksdale Mississippi) is an American football guard for the Chicago Bears Anthony Oakley (born August 16, 1981 in) is an American football guard who is a Practice squad player for the Kansas City Chiefs Tyler Blake Reed (born Oct 6, 1982 in) is an American football guard who is currently a Free agent. John Bradley St Clair (born July 15, 1977 in Roanoke Virginia) is an Offensive tackle for the Chicago Bears of the National John Bernard Tait (born January 26, 1975 in Phoenix Arizona) is an Offensive lineman for the Chicago Bears of the National Football Christopher Joseph Williams (born August 26, 1985 in Glynn, Louisiana) is an American football Offensive tackle for the Anthony Adams (born on June 18, 1980 in Detroit Michigan) is a player in the National Football League. Mark Anderson (born May 26, 1983 in Tulsa Oklahoma) is a Defensive end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League Ervin Baldwin (born August 25, 1986 in) is an American football Defensive end who is a Practice squad player for the Chicago Daniel Bazuin (born July 22, 1983 in) is an American football Defensive end who is currently a Free agent. Alex Brown (born June 4, 1979 in Jasper Florida) is a National Football League Defensive end for the Chicago Bears. Dusty Dvoracek (born March 3, 1981, in Lake Dallas Texas) is an American football player who attended the University of Oklahoma and played Tommie Harris Jr (born April 29, 1983 in) is an American football Defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears of the National Football Marcus Harrison (born July 10, 1984 in) is an American football Defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears of the National Football Israel Idonije (born November 17, 1980 in Lagos, Nigeria, later immigrated with his family to Brandon Manitoba) is a Canadian Adewale Ogunleye ( A-dey-WAH-lay Oh-goon-LAY-yay ( August 9, 1977) is an American football defensive end for the Chicago Bears. Matt Toeaina (born October 9 1982 in San Francisco California) is an American football Defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears of the Lance Marell Briggs (born November 12, 1980 in Sacramento California) is an American football Linebacker for the Chicago Bears Hunter Taverner Hillenmeyer (born October 28, 1980 in Nashville Tennessee) is an American football Linebacker for the Chicago Joey LaRocque (born March 15, 1986 in) is an American football Linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League Darrell McClover (born April 25, 1981 in Hollywood Florida) is a current American Football Linebacker for the Chicago Bears Michael Okwo (born January 24, 1985 in Redondo Beach California) is an American football Linebacker for the Chicago Bears Nicholas Alexander Roach (born June 16, 1985 in Milwaukee Wisconsin) is an American football Linebacker for the Chicago Bears Brian Keith Urlacher (UR lack er (born May 25 1978 in Pasco Washington) is an American football player for the Chicago Bears of the National Football Jamar Williams (born in June 14, 1984) is an American football Linebacker for the National Football League Chicago Bears Rodriques Wilson (born November 12, 1981 in) is an American football Linebacker who is currently a Free agent. Mike Brown (born February 13, 1978 in Scottsdale Arizona) is an American football safety for the Chicago Bears of the Josh Gattis (born January 15, 1984 in) is an American football safety who is currently a Free agent. Corey Graham (born July 25, 1985) is a Cornerback, who currently plays for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. Danieal Manning (born August 9, 1982 in Corsicana Texas) is a professional American football Free safety for the Chicago Bears Richard "Ricky" Manning Jr (born November 18, 1980 in) is an American football Cornerback for the St Trumaine McBride (born September 24, 1985 in Clarksdale Mississippi) is an American football Cornerback for the Chicago Bears Brandon McGowan (born September 16, 1983 in) is an American football Safety for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League Kevin Payne (born December 5, 1983) is an American football safety for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League Leonard Peters (born December 26, 1981 in Fagaalu American Samoa) is an American football safety who is currently a Practice Craig Joseph Steltz (born May 7, 1986 in) is an American football safety for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League Charles "Peanut" Tillman (born February 23, 1981 in Chicago Illinois) is an American football Cornerback for the Chicago Nathaniel deWayne Vasher (born November 17, 1981 in Wichita Falls Texas) is an American football Cornerback, who plays for the Robert Paul Gould III (Gōld (born December 6 1982) is an American football Placekicker for the Chicago Bears of the National Patrick Mannelly (born April 18, 1975 in Atlanta Georgia) is an American football Long snapper for the Chicago Bears of Bradley "Brad" Alan Maynard (born February 9, 1974 in Tipton Indiana) is an American football punter and holder 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year The following is a list of current National Football League (NFL team rosters__NOEDITSECTION__ AFC East Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins [65] George Halas, Bronko Nagurski, and Red Grange were a part of the original class of inductees in 1963, while defensive end Dan Hampton, the most recent Bear inducted, was a part of the Class of 2002. Bronislau "Bronko" Nagurski ( November 3, 1908 &ndash January 7, 1990) was an Canadian American football player Harold Edward "Red" Grange ( June 13, 1903 &ndash January 28, 1991) was a professional and college American football Daniel Oliver Hampton (born September 19, 1957) is a retired Hall of Fame American football Defensive tackle who played twelve seasons
| Chicago Bears Hall of Famers (26/5) | |||||||||
| Primary Hall of Famers (26) | |||||||||
| No. | Player | Positions | No. | Player | Positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paddy Driscoll | QB-S-K, Head Coach | 42 | Sid Luckman | QB-CB | ||||
| 3 | Bronko Nagurski | RB-OT-LB | 50 | Mike Singletary | LB | ||||
| 5 | George McAfee | RB-S | 51 | Dick Butkus | LB | ||||
| 7 | George Halas | founder, owner Head Coach, TE-DE |
56 | Bill Hewitt | TE-DE | ||||
| 11 | Link Lyman | OT-DT | 61 | Bill George | LB | ||||
| 13 | George Trafton | C-DT | 66 | Clyde (Bulldog) Turner | C-DT | ||||
| 13 | Joe Stydahar | OT-DT | 71 | George Connor | OT-LB | ||||
| 16 | Ed Healey | OT-DT | 77 | Harold (Red) Grange | RB-CB | ||||
| 16 | George Musso | C-DT | 78 | Stan Jones | OT | ||||
| 16 | George Blanda | QB | 81 | Doug Atkins | DE | ||||
| 21 | Danny Fortmann | OG-DT | 89 | Mike Ditka | TE, Head Coach | ||||
| 34 | Walter Payton | RB | 99 | Dan Hampton | DE | ||||
| 40 | Gale Sayers | RB | -- | Jim Finks | General Manager | ||||
| Hall of Famers with minor portion of career with Bears (5) | |||||||||
| N/A | Guy Chamberlin | TE-DE | N/A | Jimmy Conzelman | QB | ||||
| N/A | Walt Kiesling | OL-DL | N/A | Bobby Layne | QB | ||||
| 82 | Alan Page | OL-DL | |||||||
Retired numbers
The Bears have retired 13 numbers, which is the most in the NFL, and ranks third behind the basketball Boston Celtics and baseball New York Yankees for the most in American professional sports. John Leo "Paddy" Driscoll ( January 11 1895 - June 28 1968) was a Pro Football Hall of Fame Quarterback. Quarterback ( QB) is a position in American and Canadian football. In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage they Placekicker, or simply kicker ( PK or K) is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the Sidney Luckman, known as Sid Luckman, (November 21 1916 – July 5 1998 was an American football Quarterback for the Chicago Bears from 1939 A cornerback ( CB) (also referred to as a corner) is a positional role played by a member of the defensive team in American and Canadian Bronislau "Bronko" Nagurski ( November 3, 1908 &ndash January 7, 1990) was an Canadian American football player A running back ( RB) is the position of a player on an American or Canadian football team who usually lines up in the offensive backfield. In American and Canadian football, offensive tackles ( OT, T) are a part of the Offensive line. This article relates to Sports. For the Vietnam War bombing raids see Operation Linebacker and Operation Linebacker II. Michael Singletary (born October 9, 1958 in Houston Texas) is a former American football Linebacker who played his entire career George Anderson McAfee (born March 13, 1918) played College football at Duke University. Richard Marvin "Dick" Butkus (born 9 December 1942) is a former American football player widely regarded as the greatest Linebacker George Stanley Halas Sr ( February 2 1895 &ndash October 31 1983) nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr The tight end ( TE) is a position in American football on the Offensive team. Defensive end ( DE) is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football. William Ernest Hewitt ( October 8, 1909 - January 14, 1947) was a former professional American football player in the National William Roy "Link" Lyman ( November 30, 1898 &mdash December 28, 1972) was a professional American football player Defensive tackle ( DT) is a position on the defensive line in American and Canadian football. William J George ( October 27, 1929 - September 30, 1982) was a product of the Pittsburgh area town of Waynesburg Pennsylvania George Edward Trafton ( December 6, 1896 - September 5, 1971) was an American football center for the Decatur Staleys Center ( C) is a position in American football and Canadian football ( spelled centre in Canadian English) Clyde Douglas (Bulldog Turner ( March 10, 1919 &ndash October 30, 1998) was a professional football player for the Chicago Bears. Joseph Lee Stydahar (born as Stajduhar ( March 17, 1912 – March 23, 1977) was an American football Offensive tackle for Edward Francis Healey Jr ( December 28, 1894 - December 9, 1978) was a professional football player for the Rock Island Independents Harold Edward "Red" Grange ( June 13, 1903 &ndash January 28, 1991) was a professional and college American football George Francis Musso ( April 8, 1910 in Collinsville Illinois &mdash September 5, 2000 in Edwardsville Illinois was an American Stanley Paul Jones (born November 24, 1931 in Altoona, Pennsylvania) is a former American football guard and George "The Fossil" Blanda (born September 17 1927, Youngwood Pennsylvania) is a former American football Placekicker and Douglas Leon Atkins (born May 8, 1930 in Humboldt Tennessee) is a former American football Defensive end who played for the Daniel John Fortmann ( April 11, 1916 - May 23, 1995) was a professional football player for the Chicago Bears. In American and Canadian football, a guard ( G) is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line Michael Keller Ditka Jr (born October 18, 1939, in Carnegie Pennsylvania) also known as Iron Mike Ditka or Da Coach, is a former Walter Jerry Payton (July 25 1954 – November 1 1999 was an American football player who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League Daniel Oliver Hampton (born September 19, 1957) is a retired Hall of Fame American football Defensive tackle who played twelve seasons Gale Eugene Sayers (b May 30 1943, Wichita Kansas) also known as "The Kansas Comet", was a professional football player Jim Finks ( August 31, 1927 - May 8, 1994) was an American sports executive primarily for American football. Berlin Guy "Champ" Chamberlin ( January 16, 1894 - April 4, 1967) was a professional American football player and coach in James Gleason Dunn, ( Jimmy Conzelman) ( March 6, 1898 - August 5, 1970) was a former professional football player and coach Walt Andrew Kiesling ( May 27, 1903 &ndash March 2, 1962) was an American football player and coach Robert Lawrence Layne ( December 19 1926 &ndash December 1 1986) was born in Santa Anna Texas, USA Alan Cedric Page (born August 7, 1945 in Canton Ohio) is a Jurist and former professional American football player The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City, New York.
| Chicago Bears retired numbers | |||
| No. | Player | Pos. | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Bronko Nagurski | FB | Minnesota |
| 5 | George McAfee | RB | Duke |
| 7 | George Halas | DE,WR,HC | Illinois |
| 28 | Willie Galimore | RB | Florida A&M |
| 34 | Walter Payton | RB | Jackson State |
| 40 | Gale Sayers | RB | Kansas |
| 41 | Brian Piccolo[66] | RB | Wake Forest |
| 42 | Sid Luckman | QB | Columbia |
| 51 | Dick Butkus | LB | Illinois |
| 56 | Bill Hewitt | DE | Michigan |
| 61 | Bill George | LB | Wake Forest |
| 66 | Clyde (Bulldog) Turner | C, LB | Hardin-Simmons |
| 77 | Harold (Red) Grange | RB | Illinois |
Coaches of note
Head coaches
As of December 30, 2007. Bronislau "Bronko" Nagurski ( November 3, 1908 &ndash January 7, 1990) was an Canadian American football player George Anderson McAfee (born March 13, 1918) played College football at Duke University. George Stanley Halas Sr ( February 2 1895 &ndash October 31 1983) nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr Willie Galimore ( March 30, 1935 - July 27, 1964) was an American football Running back for the Chicago Bears Walter Jerry Payton (July 25 1954 – November 1 1999 was an American football player who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League Gale Eugene Sayers (b May 30 1943, Wichita Kansas) also known as "The Kansas Comet", was a professional football player Louis Brian Piccolo ( October 31, 1943 &ndash June 16, 1970) was a professional football player for the Chicago Bears Sidney Luckman, known as Sid Luckman, (November 21 1916 – July 5 1998 was an American football Quarterback for the Chicago Bears from 1939 Richard Marvin "Dick" Butkus (born 9 December 1942) is a former American football player widely regarded as the greatest Linebacker William Ernest Hewitt ( October 8, 1909 - January 14, 1947) was a former professional American football player in the National William J George ( October 27, 1929 - September 30, 1982) was a product of the Pittsburgh area town of Waynesburg Pennsylvania Clyde Douglas (Bulldog Turner ( March 10, 1919 &ndash October 30, 1998) was a professional football player for the Chicago Bears. Harold Edward "Red" Grange ( June 13, 1903 &ndash January 28, 1991) was a professional and college American football Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Only regular season and postseason games are counted.
| Name | From | To | Record | Titles[67] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | ||||
| Fritz Wasem | 1919 | 1919 | Not Available[68] | |||
| Red Brannon | ||||||
| James Cook | ||||||
| George Halas[69] | January 1920 | December 1929 | 84 | 31 | 17 | 1 |
| Ralph Jones | January 1930 | December 1932 | 24 | 10 | 7 | 1 |
| George Halas | December 1932 | November 1942 | 88 | 24 | 4 | 3 |
| Hunk Anderson[70] | November 1942 | December 1945 | 24 | 12 | 2 | 1 |
| Luke Johnsos[70] | ||||||
| George Halas | January 1946 | December 1955 | 76 | 43 | 2 | 1 |
| Paddy Driscoll | December 1955 | December 1957 | 14 | 10 | 1 | |
| George Halas | December 1957 | May 27, 1968 | 76 | 53 | 6 | 1 |
| Jim Dooley | May 27, 1968 | December 1971 | 20 | 36 | 0 | |
| Abe Gibron | December 1971 | December 17, 1974 | 11 | 30 | 1 | |
| Jack Pardee | December 31, 1974 | January 19, 1978 | 20 | 23 | 0 | |
| Neill Armstrong | February 16, 1978 | January 4, 1982 | 30 | 35 | 0 | |
| Mike Ditka | January 20, 1982 | January 1993 | 112 | 68 | 0 | 1 |
| Dave Wannstedt | January 19, 1993 | December 28, 1998 | 41 | 57 | 0 | |
| Dick Jauron | January 24, 1999 | December 29, 2003 | 35 | 46 | 0 | |
| Lovie Smith | January 15, 2004 | Present | 38 | 30 | 0 | |
Current staff
|
Chicago Bears staff
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
|
|||||
Radio and television
The Bears flagship radio station is WBBM-AM 780 and features a broadcast team of Jeff Joniak, Tom Thayer, and Zach Ziedman. George Stanley Halas Sr ( February 2 1895 &ndash October 31 1983) nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr This article is about the football coach See Ralph Jones (GC for the article about Private Ralph Jones the Australian George Cross recipient Heartley "Hunk" William Anderson ( September 22, 1898 – April 24, 1978) was a college football coach at NC State, and Luke Andrew Johnsos Sr ( December 9, 1905 Chicago Illinois - December 10, 1984 Evanston Illinois) was an American John Leo "Paddy" Driscoll ( January 11 1895 - June 28 1968) was a Pro Football Hall of Fame Quarterback. Events 927 - Simeon the Great, Tsar of Bulgaria, dies 1120 - Richard III of Capua is anointed Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. James William Dooley ( February 8, 1930 &ndash January 8, 2008) was a former American football player and coach Events 927 - Simeon the Great, Tsar of Bulgaria, dies 1120 - Richard III of Capua is anointed Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Abraham Gibron ( September 22, 1925 - September 23, 1997) was a former American football Offensive lineman and Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. John Perry Pardee (born in Exira, Iowa) is a former American football Linebacker and the only head coach to join a team in the National Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) For the astronaut see Neil Armstrong. Neill Ford Armstrong (born March 9, 1926 in Tishomingo Oklahoma Events 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Michael Keller Ditka Jr (born October 18, 1939, in Carnegie Pennsylvania) also known as Iron Mike Ditka or Da Coach, is a former Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Dave Wannstedt (born May 21, 1952 in Baldwin Pennsylvania) is the current Head coach of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Events 1065 - Westminster Abbey is Consecrated. 1308 - The reign of Emperor Hanazono, Emperor of Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Richard Manual Jauron (born October 7, 1950 in Peoria Illinois) has been the Head coach of the Buffalo Bills of the National Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Lovie Lee Smith (born in Gladewater Texas) is the Head coach of the Chicago Bears professional football team of the NFL. Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Virginia Halas McCaskey (born January 5, 1923) is the principal owner of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. Michael McCaskey is the current Chairman of the Chicago Bears in the National Football League. Ted Phillips, a graduate of Bishop Guertin High School, is the President and CEO of the NFL 's Chicago Bears American football Jerry Angelo has been the General manager for the National Football League 's Chicago Bears franchise since 2001 Bobby DePaul is the current Director of Pro Personnel for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. Lovie Lee Smith (born in Gladewater Texas) is the Head coach of the Chicago Bears professional football team of the NFL. Ron Turner (born December 5, 1953 in Martinez California) has had two separate stints as the Offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears Pep Hamilton is the current Quarterbacks coach of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. Timothy Spencer (born December 10, 1960 in Martins Ferry Ohio) is a former professional American football Running back who played Darryl Drake is the current Wide receivers coach of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. Rob Boras is the current Tight ends coach of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. Harry Hiestand (born November 19, 1958 in Malvern Pennsylvania) has been the Offensive line coach for the National Football League Lucas J Butkus (born June 26, 1979 in Steger Illinois) is an American assistant Offensive line coach with the Chicago Bears Charles London (born in Dunwoody Georgia in 1975 is the Offensive Quality Control coach of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. Bob Babich is an American football coach currently the Defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears. Brick Haley (born in Gadsden Alabama) is the current assistant defensive line coach of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League Lloyd Lee is the current Linebackers coach of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. Steven Wilks (born 1969-08-08) is the Defensive backs coach of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. Gill Arnette Byrd (born February 20, 1961 in San Francisco, California) is a former professional American football player Dave Toub (born in Ossining New York on June 1, 1962) is the current Special Teams coordinator of the Chicago Bears of the Rusty Jones is the current strength and conditioning coordinator for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. Jim Arthur is the current assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. The following is a list of current National Football League (NFL team staffs__NOEDITSECTION__ AFC East Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins WBBM (AM also known on-air as "Newsradio 780" is an all-news CBS Radio station in Chicago Illinois broadcasting on the AM Thomas "Tom" Allen Thayer (born August 16, 1961 in Joliet Illinois) was a center / guard in the National Football League A pre-game show usually airs 3 hours prior to kickoff.
The Chicago Bears Network will produce three preseason games in 2008 airing locally on Fox Chicago WFLD channel 32, a Fox Television Network affiliate. WFLD, channel 32 is an owned-and-operated television station of the News Corporation -owned Fox Broadcasting Company, based in Chicago Illinois. WFLD is also the primary station for Bears regular season broadcasts as they are a National Football Conference franchise and Fox is the primary network for NFC teams of the NFL Some broadcasts involving the Bears and teams from the American Football Conference are shown on WBBM-TV channel 2 which is an affiliate of CBS the network for AFC broadcasts. The National Football Conference ( NFC) is one of the two conferences of the National Football League (NFL The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. The American Football Conference ( AFC) is one of the two conferences of the National Football League (NFL WBBM-TV, channel 2 is the CBS owned and operated Television station in Chicago, Illinois. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Any Sunday night games are broadcast on WMAQ-TV channel 5 which broadcasts the NBC Sunday Night Football game of the week. WMAQ-TV, channel 5 is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, located in Chicago Illinois. NBC Sunday Night Football is a weekly Television broadcast of Sunday evening National Football League games on NBC that began airing on Other games may be seen on ESPN, or the NFL Network. ESPN, originally an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American Cable television network dedicated to NFL Network is an American television Specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League (NFL and is also shown in Canada From time to time simulcasts of games produced by ESPN, or the NFL Network will be carried on WCIU-TV channel 26 (a local independent station). WCIU-TV is an independent television station, located in Chicago Illinois. Independent station is a term for a broadcast radio or Television station which is more independent in some way compared to other "dependent" (NFL policy dictates that games that originate nationally on a cable/satellite network be simulcast on a broadcast station in the participating teams' market. )
Notes and references
- ^ George Halas, Jr.. Chicago Bears Official Website. Retrieved on 13 December 2006.
- ^ Halas By Halas, by George Halas, Gwen Morgan & Arthur Veysey, McGraw Hill, 1979, p. 53-54
- ^ The Decatur Staleys. Local Website. Retrieved on 15 June 2006. Information on Dutch Sternaman
- ^ George Halas: Hall of Fame Member. Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 14 May 2006.
- ^ Bears-Packers: Love-Hate Relationship. Packers. com. Retrieved on 28 September 2000.
- ^ 1924: THE THIRD TIME IS CHARMED. PFRA. Retrieved on 2007-02-07. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 457 - Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire. 1074 - Battle of Montesarchio in which the Prince
- ^ Galloping Ghost scared opponents. ESPN. com. Retrieved on 1 December 2005.
- ^ See NFL Championship Game, 1934 for more information on how the Giants wore sneakers and defeated the Bears
- ^ General History — Chronology (1940 to 1959). The 1934 National Football League Championship Game, also known as The Sneakers Game, was played at the Polo Grounds in New York City Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 1 January 2006.
- ^ Sid Luckman. Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 12 July 2006.
- ^ Walter Payton's Statistics. Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 3 June 2006.
- ^ Remembering Walter Payton. Daily Herald. Retrieved on 11 June 2006.
- ^ Smith passes Payton as NFL's career rushing leader. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on 16 June 2006.
- ^ a b c d The Honey Bears and Chicago Bears Mascots. Bearshistory. com. Retrieved on 1 May 2006.
- ^ Ed McCaskey. Cook County Clerk. Retrieved on 13 December 2006.
- ^ Mike McCaskey. ChicagoBears Official Website. Retrieved on 13 December 2006.
- ^ a b McCaskey. Cranes Chicago Business. Retrieved on 12 July 2006.
- ^ Chicago's Most Powerful Women. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved on 16 April 2004.
- ^ Dave McGinnis. Bears History. Retrieved on 13 December 2006.
- ^ Michael McCaskey. Cranes Chicago Business. Retrieved on 12 July 2006.
- ^ Ted Phillips. Chicago Bears. com. Retrieved on 12 July 2006.
- ^ About the Chicago Bears. Vividseats. com. Retrieved on 16 October 2006.
- ^ GameCenter: Recap — Superbowl.com. Superbowl. com. Retrieved on 21 January 2007.
- ^ ESPN - Bears coach Smith, GM Angelo ink contract extensions - NFL
- ^ All-Time Chicago Bears Record. Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 15 June 2006.
- ^ Bears Minority Owners. Cranes Chicago Business. Retrieved on 12 July 2006.
- ^ NFL Franchise Values: # 7 Chicago Bears. Forbes Magazine. Retrieved on 30 September 2007.
- ^ NFL Franchise Sponsors: Chicago Bears. Forbes Magazine. Retrieved on 1 December 2005.
- ^ NBC O&Os to Air NFL Preseason. Adweek. com. Retrieved on 13 May 2005.
- ^ History of the Chicago Bears Logo. Chicago Bears. Retrieved on 1 August 2005.
- ^ History of the Chicago Bears Uniform. Chicago Bears. Retrieved on 1 August 2005.
- ^ Jay Mohr: Breaking down the best and worst NFL uniforms. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on 9 November 2005.
- ^ Rocky. Bearshistory. com. Retrieved on 3 May 2006.
- ^ "Bearman". Bearshistory. com. Retrieved on 1 May 2006.
- ^ Soldier Field History. BearsHistory. com. Retrieved on 16 July 2006.
- ^ Flashback: Eagles fly into fog. NFL. com. Retrieved on 28 September 2004.
- ^ Soldier Field History. Bears History. com. Retrieved on 16 July 2006.
- ^ Soldier Field History. ChicagoBears. com. Retrieved on 16 July 2006.
- ^ Mistake on the Lake. The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved on 1 September 2003.
- ^ Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties, 4/17/06 through 4/21/06. National Register of Historic Places Listings.
- ^ Bears History "Bits". Bears History. com. Retrieved on 16 July 2006.
- ^ Bears Midfield Logo. Bears History. com. Retrieved on 16 July 2006.
- ^ New Soldier Field Art. Bears History. com. Retrieved on 16 July 2006.
- ^ Brian's Song (1971). IMDb. Retrieved on 14 July 2006.
- ^ Reel Life: Brian's Song. ESPN. Retrieved on 14 July 2006.
- ^ Brian's Song (2001). IMDb. Retrieved on 14 July 2006.
- ^ Top 10 Greatest NFL Team's of All-Time. WatchMojo. com. Retrieved on 16 July 2006.
- ^ These records were meant to be broken. Floridan. Retrieved on 28 January 2001.
- ^ Nielsen's Top 10. Nielsen Ratings. Retrieved on 16 July 2006.
- ^ Remembering the Super Bowl Shuffle. ESPN. Retrieved on 1 August 2004.
- ^ Bill Swerski's Super Fans. SNL Transcripts. Retrieved on 14 July 2006.
- ^ SNL Super Fans Transcripts. SNL Transcripts. Retrieved on 14 July 2006.
- ^ Chris Farley. Find a Death. Retrieved on 14 July 2006.
- ^ Ditka joins CBS2. CBS 2 Chicago (WBBM-TV). Retrieved on 14 July 2004.
- ^ Kicking and Screaming (2005). IMDb. Retrieved on 12 April 2008.
- ^ Urlacher's not going anywhere. USA Today. Retrieved on 3 June 2003.
- ^ A Different Campaign for Nike. The New York Times. Retrieved on 24 February 2004.
- ^ a b c d e Chicago Bears Team Records. Chicago Bears. Retrieved on 1 August 2005.
- ^ NFL History. NFL. com. Retrieved on 1 August 2006.
- ^ Super Bowl. com, Hester is Chicago's not-so-secret weapon Retrieved on February 28, 2007
- ^ ESPN. Events 202 BC - coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty 's rule Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. com, Hester's record return pushes Bears past sleeping Giants Retrieved on March 11, 2007
- ^ ESPN. Events 1425 BC - Thutmose III, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies (according to the Low Chronology of the 18th Dynasty Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. com Page 2, The Damn! Moment of Week 10 Retrieved on March 11, 2007
- ^ Yahoo! Sports, Indianapolis 29, Chicago 17 Retrieved on February 5, 2007
- ^ This was the first playoff game played at the newly renovated Soldier Field. Events 1425 BC - Thutmose III, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies (according to the Low Chronology of the 18th Dynasty Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1576 - Henry of Navarre converts to Roman Catholicism in order to ensure his right to the throne of France. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
- ^ Hall of Famers by Team. Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 1 February 2006.
- ^ the subject of the film Brian's Song
- ^ NFL Championships (1920–1969) and Super Bowl Championships (1970–present) collected during a coaching tenure
- ^ No official records have been found for the 1919 season
- ^ George Halas coached the Bears four different times, his overall record in those four stints come out to 324–151–31
- ^ a b Anderson and Johnsos were co-Head Coaches appointed by Halas went he left for the US Navy
Sources
- Taylor, Roy (2004). Brian's Song is a 1971 made-for-TV movie recalling the details of the life of Brian Piccolo (played by James Caan) a white Chicago Bears History. Arcadia Publishing (SC). ISBN 0-7385-3319-X.
External links
- Chicago Bears Official Club Homepage
- Chicago Bears at the National Football League Official Homepage
- Chicago Bears at the Chicago Sun-Times Online Website
- Chicago Bears at the Chicago Tribune Online Website
- Chicago Bears History at BearsHistory. The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily Newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Tribune is a major daily Newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and owned by the Tribune Company com
- Chicago Bears Information at Sports E-Cyclopedia. com
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