Chicago Bears - Decyfr Sport

ONE

The Chicago Bears are one of the most historic franchises in the entire NFL. Founded in 1920, the Bears are one of only two of the NFL’s (originally named the American Professional Football Association) founding members that still play today - alongside the Arizona Cardinals. Currently playing at Soldier Field, Chicago are valued as the fifth-most valuable franchise in the league at $6.3 billion - a significant increase from the $100 franchise fee paid to start the team over 100 years ago.

Soldier Field

TWO

The Bears initially began life as the Decatur Staleys, with George Halas being hired to assist with football operations. Halas took full control of the team in 1921 and relocated them to Chicago, Illinois that same year. After the team won the Championship in their inaugural season in the Windy City, Halas decided to keep the changes coming. The team adopted a new blue and orange colour scheme and took inspiration for a new name from the city’s Major League Baseball franchise, the Chicago Cubs. The Chicago Bears played their first NFL season in 1922.

Chicago Bears Flag

THREE

Into the early 1930s, the team with the best regular season record was crowned NFL Champions. That was until Chicago won their second title in groundbreaking fashion - finishing the 1932 season tied with the Portsmouth Spartans for first place - resulting in the first playoff game in NFL history. Chicago won 9-0 in front of 11,198 fans, prompting the introduction of the annual NFL Championship Game between the best team in each of two newly created divisions. Head coach Ralph Jones took over from the then-retired Halas in 1930, but the 1932 NFL Championship victory was Jones’ last contribution to the team, as Halas returned to coaching the following season.

George Halas, Head Coach 1920-1929, 1933-1942, 1946-1955, 1958-1967

FOUR

The Bears won the first true NFL Championship Game in the 1933 season, defeating the New York Giants. However, Chicago went on to lose both the rematch in the following season’s title game and the 1937 Championship Game to Washington. In the 1940s, Chicago won four more NFL Championships - including a 73-0 obliteration of Washington in 1940. Hall of Fame quarterback Sid Luckman led the Bears through most of the decade - establishing himself as one of the franchise’s greatest-ever signal-callers. Despite becoming a force to be reckoned with and subsequently earning the nickname ‘Monsters of the Midway’, the Bears soon entered a period of decline.

FIVE

While Chicago only made the playoffs twice between the 1947 and 1962 seasons, 1963 saw the franchise secure their eighth NFL championship - led by iconic tight end, and soon-to-be head coach, Mike Ditka. George Halas - affectionately nicknamed ‘Papa Bear’ - ended his coaching career after the 1967 season with the most victories in league history. Legendary players like linebacker Dick Butkus and running back Gale Sayers became NFL superstars after entering the league in 1965, but their domination on the field went unrewarded, as neither made a single playoff appearance during their careers. In fact, following their 1963 title, Chicago didn’t return to the postseason until the 1977 season.

Dick Butkus, Linebacker 1965-1973

SIX

In 1975, the Bears made one of the team’s greatest-ever draft picks, selecting Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton with the fourth overall pick. Payton, the 1977 league MVP, sliced through NFL defenses for the next decade - making nine Pro Bowls and even eclipsing the great Jim Brown’s all-time rushing record in 1984 - a season in which the team fell just one game shy of Super Bowl XIX. Chicago had built a team of stars - alongside Payton the team boasted quarterback Jim McMahon, linebacker Mike Singletary, and defensive end Richard Dent.

Mike Singletary, Linebacker 1981-1992

SEVEN

Under coach Mike Ditka, Walter Payton’s stylish domination helped the Bears soar to a 15-1 record in 1985. But it was the team’s prowess on the other side of the ball that stole the headlines - with the 1985 Bears’ defense widely regarded as one of the greatest units in NFL history. Chicago shut out both the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs by a combined 45-0, before decimating the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX - securing the first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. The season even featured a hit single - ‘The Super Bowl Shuffle’ - with Bears players famously rapping about their intentions to win the big game.

Super Bowl XX - Walter Payton, Running Back 1975-1987

EIGHT

Following their Super Bowl XX victory, the Bears remained competitive throughout the 1980s. However Mike Ditka was eventually fired in 1993 as Chicago never returned to the big game. The end of the Ditka era aligned with the immense popularity of the ‘Bill Swerski’s Superfans’ sketch on Saturday Night Live, where the distinctive pronunciation of the phrase ‘Da Bears’ was born. Chicago only made the playoffs once more that decade. The ‘90s ended in heartbreak for the franchise - as Walter Payton passed away in 1999, aged 46, after struggling with liver disease. The NFL subsequently named their ‘Man of the Year Award’ after Payton following his death, honouring his incredible character and reputation as a humanitarian.

NINE

The Bears returned to prominence under head coach Lovie Smith, who was hired in 2004. Thanks to the help of star linebacker Brian Urlacher, Smith’s Bears reached Super Bowl XLI - the first to feature two African-American head coaches - in just his third season in charge. Chicago appeared to be on the right track - when Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown - but the Indianapolis Colts eventually won 29-17. Six years later, Chicago lost the 2010 NFC Championship Game to their greatest enemies, the Green Bay Packers, writing another chapter in the story of the NFL’s oldest rivalry. Despite boasting stars such as quarterback Jay Cutler, running back Matt Forte and receiver Brandon Marshall, Chicago have struggled to compete in the NFC North ever since - reaching the postseason only twice. To make matters worse, in 2017 they traded up to select quarterback Mitchell Trubisky - passing on future two-time league MVP Patrick Mahomes. In an attempt to find their long-awaited QB1, the Bears drafted Justin Fields in 2021. Despite his dynamic style of play, Fields was eventually traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers following the 2023 season. After trading the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Carolina Panthers, the Bears held two picks in the top 10 of this year’s draft. With those picks, Chicago selected Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze - pairing them with new signings Keenan Allen and D’Andre Swift to give Bears fans a lot to be excited about heading into 2024.

Caleb Williams, Quarterback 2024-Present

BEFORE YOU GO

Following George Halas’ death in 1983, the NFC Championship Trophy was renamed the ‘George Halas Trophy’ in honour of the long-time Bears owner.

In 2018, quarterback Mitch Trubisky led the Bears to a 12-4 season, but in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, kicker Codey Parkey’s game-winning field goal attempt hit the upright and then the crossbar, giving birth to the infamous ‘Double Doink’ expression.

The Bears long-standing rivalry with the Green Bay Packers dates back to 1921. The Packers were removed from the American Professional Football Association after a fellow team accused them of fielding ineligible college players. When Green Bay rejoined the league, it was revealed that the complaint was made by George Halas - and thus the rivalry began.