The former U.S. Olympic weightlifter spent more than 40 years (starting in 1963, hired by team founder George Halas) as weightlifting and strength coach for the Bears. Or write about sports? But his pride and joy is as founder and chairman of the Otis Wilson Foundation, which raises money for a number of underprivileged groups (Michael Jordan sits on the foundation's board of directors). He was a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro selection. [11] Before the team's season opening game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, players Al Harris, Todd Bell and Richard Dent requested to be traded. He was considered the Bears most intimidating player. He returned to the Bears in 1981 as a defensive consultant before moving to a role as a scout and evaluator of opposing teams' game film, a role that proved crucial, particularly during the Super Bowl season of 1985. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, at [29], At the start of the week leading up to the NFC Championship Game, Ditka commented on what he perceived as the NFL's unfavorable treatment of his team by famously stating, "I don't think we come in great favor with certain people. 1 draft choice Mark Carrier doesn`t have one yet, and since he`s a hard-hitting safety, ''M.C. His tenure with Indy ironically culminated with a Super Bowl XLI win over the Bears, earning him a second Super Bowl ring. Fittingly, the MVP of Miami's first Super Bowl win was a defensive player: safety Jack Scott, whose two interceptions helped the Dolphins secure the franchise's first Super Bowl win. The late Jim Finks, the former Bears general manager, recruited Earley to move with him from the Vikings to the Bears in 1974. What's the difference between the 85' Bears and the 2014 Bears (besides obviously winning the Super Bowl)? Ultimately Payton was the Bears' leading rusher during the game, but the Patriots defense held him to only 61 yards on 22 carries, with his longest run being only 7 yards. The prodigious offensive tackle played 13 seasons with the Bears (1981-93) before retiring. Chocolate - This can be one of the bear names as it is also associated with the brown color bear. As the 2018 preseason comes to a close, take a look at the regular-season schedule with a unique take on this year's opponents. Here's a look at where Bears players ranked on the list, including three players in the top 10. Dan Hampton then tipped a Marino pass into the air, but it sailed downfield for 30 yards before landing in the hands of Clayton, who went into the end zone to make it 3817. Faulk, acquired via a trade with the Colts during the '99 offseason, became the second player in league history to record 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in the same season. Since retiring, Waechter and his wife have built a successful agricultural supply firm in Grand Island, Neb. The Bears won their first twelve games of the season before losing to the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football. But don't judge this Creighton team by its soft nickname the Bluejays will not be an easy out in the third round. Greatest Offense of all time, the 1999 St. Louis Rams. The former University of Texas standout was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on July 17. Suhey had 11 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown, and caught a pass for 24 yards. He was drafted in the eighth round of the 1983 NFL Draft. But the Bears defense dominated New England for the rest of the game, forcing another fumble, another interception, and defensive lineman Henry Waechter's sack on Grogan in the end zone for a safety to make the final score 4610. Over-the-Hill Gang: Nickname applied to the Redskins of 1970s due to abundance of veteran players. Fearsome Foursome: Dominant Rams defensive line of 1960s led by Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen. [4][8], The defense led the league in points allowed (198), yards allowed (4,135) and takeaways (54), a feat that wouldn't be accomplished again until the 2013 Seattle Seahawks defense. Read about Matts pick for Greatest Offense of all time, the 1999 St. Louis Rams. He was the MVP of Super Bowl XX. However, Mike Ditka lured Stanfel out of retirement to join him with the Saints for the second time in Stanfel's career. Still considered one of the greatest players in Michigan State history, Morrissey played almost nine full seasons at linebacker for the Bears before ending the 1993 season and his career with the archrival Green Bay Packers. The 2018 class of undrafted free agents signing with the Bears. Stanfel, 83, who has battled health issues in recent years, splits his time between Chicago and San Francisco. Bears backup Steve Fuller then threw a 69-yard pass to Willie Gault, and eventually snuck in for a 1-yard touchdown. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Top 10: Player Nicknames From 'The Fridge' to 'Bulldog,' a ranking of the 10 best nicknames in Chicago Bears history, along with a few honorable mentions. See the sights from the festivities in Canton Ohio as Brian Urlacher received his gold jacket, rode in the HOF parade, and spoke at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The nicknames spoke for their personalities: "Danimal . After an eight-year playing career as an offensive guard with the Lions and Redskins, Stanfel went on to enjoy a long career in coaching. Teddy bears are also cute and cute bear names would best fit those adorable cubs. Marshall's story is indeed one of the sadder ones on the Bears. He now owns Forest Technology and Installations in north suburban Lake Forest. Bodybuilding tight end James Thornton was tagged ''Robocop'' as a rookie for his seeming indestructiveness and the visor he wore on his helmet in 1988. The quote was from Vikings Pro Bowl running back Chuck Foreman during Super Bowl IX. Legion of Boom: Current Seahawks secondary led by Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas. Reynolds, Bubba Smith, Ed ''Too Tall'' Jones, Gene ''Big Daddy'' Lipscomb, Ted ''Mad Stork'' Hendricks. Matt is also the uncle of Penn State quarterback Kevin Suhey. The Cowboys' original "Doomsday" defense led the franchise to its first Super Bowl win. He ended his coaching career in 1990 with a brief one-year stint as defensive coordinator at Lake Forest College. Take a look at each of the 30 players in franchise history to be enshrined in Canton, the most of any team in the NFL. Who could forget ''the Snake,'' Kenny Stabler, or 1988 rookie sensation Ickey Woods? We're family, man. NFC Central Division The Rams' vaunted defensive line, which consisted of Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy, was once hailed by Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus as the greatest defensive line of all time. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Now, he's known as Dr. Stefan G. Humphries, MD. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. The unit helped turn the Rams from an irrelevant team to a title contender by the end of the decade. Known as "L.A. Mike" with the Bears, the Southern California native dropped out of sight after his playing days, to the point where the Bears didn't know what happened to him for several years. Since the adoption of the 16-game schedule in 1978, the 1985 Chicago Bears are the only team to score 400 or more points while allowing fewer than 200. Like former teammate Bortz, "Hilgy" also had an unusually long playing career (13 years, including 11 with the Bears and single seasons in Cleveland and New Orleans). A team comprised of legends.The 1974 #Steelers take #43 in the #NFL100 Greatest Teams countdown. He had frequent clashes with team management and coaches, particularly GM Jerry Vainisi and coach Mike Ditka, which led to his eventual firing of them. Thayer is an analyst on Bears game broadcasts on WBBM-AM 780, and he spends the offseason surfing in Hawaii. Chicago Bears players and coaches walk the orange carpet and enjoy their night at the annual Bears Care Gala on Saturday. That tenure included stops at Notre Dame, Cal, the Philadelphia Eagles, the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints before he initially wrapped up his coaching career with the Bears. He spent six seasons with the Bears (1980-85) before following Buddy Ryan to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Broncos' 1977 AFC Championship run was fueled by an aggressive defense that boasted five Pro Bowlers: defensive end Lyle Alzado, linebackers Randy Gradishar and Tom Jackson, cornerback Louis Wright and safety Bill Thompson. [15] The 198 points allowed were 65 less than the second-most allowed that year, while the point differential of plus-258 is 110 more than the second-ranked differential and the third-highest in NFL history. [15] Shortly after the game and the flight back to Chicago, Ditka was arrested for DWI. Olsen is flanked in Canton by Jones, who tallied 173.5 sacks during his legendary career. McMahon, who completed 12 out of 20 passes for 256 yards, became the first quarterback in a Super Bowl to score 2 rushing touchdowns. 59. He signed with the Bears in the off-season as a free agent. After retiring from the NFL, Ortego returned to his native Louisiana and spent many years working for the Lake Charles, La., Public Works Department, most recently as assistant director in the administrative division. He recovered 17 fumbles in his career. Take a look at each of the 30 players in franchise history to be enshrined in Canton, the most of any team in the NFL. Warner's 414 passing yards spearheaded the Rams' thrilling 23-16 win over the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. On 3rd and 7, he connected with Mark Clayton for 26 yards down to the Bears 1-yard line. Through the NFL's first 102 seasons, several units were so memorable that a nickname was bestowed upon them. 9. 1985 Chicago Bears roster Jan 25, 2016 at 06:24 AM ChicagoBears.com takes a look back at the complete 1985 team roster that finished 15-1 in the regular season and moved on to win Super Bowl XX. Richard Lamar Dent (born December 13, 1960) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL), primarily for the Chicago Bears. Perry, McMichael and Van Horne eventually reported to training camp. On the ensuing drive, Walter Payton sealed the victory with a 27-yard touchdown run, putting Chicago up for keeps 1610. Both of those records would stand until Super Bowl XXIV in New Orleans four years later, when the 49ers defeated the Denver Broncos by 45 points, 5510. Today, Morrissey works as a financial consultant and public speaker and also spends time working with the Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps. After his playing days, Andrews returned to Louisville, where he starred in college, and currently serves as senior director of real estate for the Papa John's pizza chain. National Football Conference Championship, Richard Dent, Super Bowl XX Most Valuable Player, 1988 Enshrinement Mike Ditka: 19611966 (player), 1993 Enshrinement Walter Payton: 19751987, 1998 Enshrinement Mike Singletary: 19811992, 2011 Enshrinement Richard Dent: 19831993, 1995, This page was last edited on 25 April 2023, at 23:33. But Grogan could only lead them to the 37-yard line and they decided to punt rather than risk a 55-yard field goal attempt. The group played a vital role in the Vikings winning the 1969 NFL title, Minnesota's first and last championship. 1985 Chicago Bears Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees Previous Season Next Season Record: 15-1-0, 1st in NFC Central Division ( Schedule and Results ) Coach: Mike Ditka (15-1-0) Points For: 456 (28.5/g) 2nd of 28 Points Against: 198 (12.4/g) 1st of 28 Expected W-L: 14.1-1.9 SRS: 15.94 (1st of 28), SOS: -0.19 Playoffs: He left the team to join his family's auto dealership business in the north suburbs, where he's believed to still live today. He was given several opportunities to score near the goal line, but New England stopped him every time before he reached the end zone (such as his 2-yard loss from the New England 3-yard line a few plays before Butler's second field goal, and his 2-yard run from the 4-yard line right before McMahon's first rushing touchdown). This cut the lead to 10-9 and the Bears got the ball at midfield following the safety free kick. Gosselin also asked which vaunted defense had the best nickname in NFL history, and here the '85 Bears finally fell short. Steve McMichael: McMichael played for the Bears from 1981-1993. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Known as "Hit Man" for his aggressive pursuit and tackling during his 12-year career (1976-87), all with the Bears, the Chicago native remains the team's all-time leader in interceptions (38) and was one of the most prolific tacklers in club history.