Chicago Bears facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chicago Bears |
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| Basic info | |||||||||||||
| Established | September 17, 1920 | ||||||||||||
| Stadium | Soldier Field Chicago, Illinois |
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| Headquartered | Halas Hall Lake Forest, Illinois |
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| Colors | Navy blue, orange, white |
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| Fight song | "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" | ||||||||||||
| Mascot | Staley Da Bear | ||||||||||||
| Personnel | |||||||||||||
| Owner(s) | George McCaskey | ||||||||||||
| Chairman | George McCaskey | ||||||||||||
| CEO | Kevin Warren | ||||||||||||
| President | Kevin Warren | ||||||||||||
| General manager | Ryan Poles | ||||||||||||
| Head coach | Ben Johnson | ||||||||||||
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Temporary stadiums
1970 due to renovations to Wrigley Field:
2002 due to renovations to Soldier Field:
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National Football League (1920–present)
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| Championships | |||||||||||||
League championships: 9
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Conference championships: 4
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Division championships: 19
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| Playoff appearances (28) | |||||||||||||
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The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team from Chicago. They play in the National Football League (NFL) as part of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The Bears are one of only two teams still around from when the NFL started in 1920. The other team is the Arizona Cardinals, which also began in Chicago.
The Bears played their home games at Wrigley Field until 1970. Since then, they have played at Soldier Field, which is near Lake Michigan. The team started in Decatur, Illinois, in 1919 and became a professional team in 1920. They moved to Chicago in 1921.
The Bears have won nine NFL Championships, including one Super Bowl. They hold NFL records for the most players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the most retired jersey numbers. Only the Green Bay Packers have more NFL championships and overall wins than the Bears. The Bears and Packers have a very old and exciting rivalry.
The team had a great period in the 1980s with coach Mike Ditka. They won Super Bowl XX in the 1985 season. The Bears also played in Super Bowl XLI in the 2006 season, but they lost to the Indianapolis Colts.
Since 2006, the Bears have faced some challenges. They last won a playoff game in 2011 and their last division title was in 2018. During this time, many different quarterbacks and coaches have led the team. The team's main office and practice facility, Halas Hall, is in Lake Forest, Illinois. The team started holding training camp there in 2020 after big updates. In September 2025, a small part of the team was sold, valuing the Bears at $8.9 billion.
Contents
- The Story of the Chicago Bears
- How the Bears Began (1919–1939)
- The "Monsters of the Midway" Era (1940s)
- Halas's Later Years (1950s–1968)
- Challenges and a Star Player (1969–1982)
- Super Bowl Champions! (1983–1985)
- After the Super Bowl Win (1986–2003)
- The Lovie Smith Years (2004–2012)
- Marc Trestman's Time (2013–2014)
- The John Fox Era (2015–2017)
- Matt Nagy and New Hopes (2018–2021)
- Building for the Future (2022–2024)
- A New Chapter with Ben Johnson (2025–Present)
- Ownership
- Team Sponsors
- Team Look: Logos and Uniforms
- Team Spirit and Fun
- Big Games: Team Rivalries
- Where the Bears Play and Practice
- Watching and Listening to the Bears
- Amazing Records and Stats
- Special Players
- The All-Time Best Bears Team
- Images for kids
- See also
The Story of the Chicago Bears
How the Bears Began (1919–1939)
The team started as the Decatur Staleys. It was a company team for the A. E. Staley food starch company in Decatur, Illinois. This was a common way for early professional football teams to begin. In 1919, the team won the Central Illinois Championship.
In 1920, George Halas and Edward Sternaman were hired to manage the team. The 1920 season was their first in the new American Professional Football Association. This league later became the National Football League (NFL) in 1922.
Halas and Sternaman took full control of the team in 1921. Halas is known as the founder because he led the team when it became a founding member of the NFL. The team moved to Chicago in 1921 and was renamed the Chicago Staleys.
In 1922, Halas changed the team name to the Bears. They moved to Wrigley Field, which was also home to the Chicago Cubs baseball team. The name "Bears" was chosen because bears are bigger than cubs. Halas also chose the team's orange and blue colors, inspired by his college, the University of Illinois.
The Staleys/Bears were very strong in the early years. They had a big rivalry with the Chicago Cardinals. This rivalry helped them win many early league titles. The Bears also had 34 shutout wins during this time.
The Bears' rivalry with the Green Bay Packers is one of the oldest in sports. It started in 1921. George Halas once got the Packers removed from the league to sign a player, then helped them get back in after the player joined the Bears.
The team found early success under Halas, winning the NFL Championship in 1921. They stayed competitive throughout the 1920s.
In 1924, the Bears thought they won the Championship after beating the Cleveland Bulldogs. However, the NFL decided that games after November 30 did not count. So, the Bears finished second that year. Their only losing season in this period was in 1929.
The Bears also caused a new NFL rule. They quickly signed college star Red Grange right after his last college game. The NFL then made a rule that players could only be signed after their college class graduated.
Even with success, the team needed more fans. College games drew huge crowds, but the Bears only had a few thousand. Signing Red Grange helped a lot. Grange was a huge star, and his games brought in many more fans. The Bears even went on a tour to show him off.
In 1931, George Halas became the sole owner of the Bears. He coached the team for 40 seasons, which is an NFL record. In 1932, the Bears won the "Unofficial" NFL Championship against the Portsmouth Spartans. This game was played indoors at Chicago Stadium because of a blizzard. It was the first indoor American football game ever!
This successful playoff game led the NFL to create an official championship game. In the first NFL Championship, the Bears beat the New York Giants 23–21. They met again in 1934, where the Giants, wearing sneakers on an icy field, defeated the Bears.
The "Monsters of the Midway" Era (1940s)
From 1940 to 1947, quarterback Sid Luckman led the Bears to win four out of five NFL Championship Games. The team earned the nickname "Monsters of the Midway" and adopted their famous "wishbone-C" helmet logo. They also got a new theme song, "Bear Down, Chicago Bears".
A famous victory from this time was their 73–0 win over the Washington Redskins in the 1940 NFL Championship Game. This score is still an NFL record for the biggest win. The secret to this win was a new offensive play called the T-formation, created by Halas. Luckman became one of the team's best quarterbacks, setting many passing records that lasted for decades.
Halas's Later Years (1950s–1968)
After a tough time in the 1950s, the team won its eighth NFL Championship in 1963. This was their last championship until 1985. In the late 1960s, players like Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, and Brian Piccolo became famous. Brian Piccolo sadly passed away from illness in 1970. A movie called Brian's Song was made about him in 1971. Even though Butkus and Sayers were amazing players, their careers were cut short by injuries.
Halas retired as coach in 1967 but continued to work in the front office. He was involved with the NFL for its first 60 years. He was also one of the first people inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963. The NFL honored him by naming the NFC Championship trophy the George Halas Memorial Trophy.
Challenges and a Star Player (1969–1982)
After the NFL merged with the American Football League, the Bears struggled in 1969 and 1970. In 1975, the Bears drafted Walter Payton from Jackson State University. He became an NFL Most Valuable Player in the 1977–78 season. Payton broke Jim Brown's NFL rushing record in 1984 and held it until 2002. Fans loved Payton, calling him "Sweetness." He passed away in 1999 at age 45.
On November 1, 1983, after George Halas passed away, his oldest daughter, Virginia McCaskey, became the main owner. Her husband, Ed McCaskey, became the chairman. Their son Michael became the team's third president. Virginia was a very important leader for the team. Her family called her "The First Lady of Sports."
Super Bowl Champions! (1983–1985)
Mike Ditka, a former Bears player, became the team's coach in 1982. His tough personality earned him the nickname "Iron Mike." In 1984, the team reached the NFC Championship game but lost.
In the 1985 season, the Bears had an amazing year. They used defensive tackle "Refrigerator" Perry as a running back in one game, which was very exciting. The Bears won their ninth NFL Championship, and their first Super Bowl, in Super Bowl XX. They had a powerful defense and even recorded a rap song called "The Super Bowl Shuffle". The team only lost one game that season, to the Miami Dolphins. This loss meant the 1972 Dolphins remained the only NFL team with a perfect season.
After the Super Bowl Win (1986–2003)
After their Super Bowl win in 1985, the Bears remained strong in the 1980s. However, they did not reach another Super Bowl under Coach Ditka. He led them to the playoffs five more times, getting as far as the NFC Championship in 1988.
After Ditka was fired, the Bears had two more head coaches, Dave Wannstedt and Dick Jauron. Both led the team to the playoffs once, but neither achieved a winning record or brought the Bears back to the Super Bowl. The 1990s were a challenging time for the team.
In 1999, Ted Phillips became president, the first person outside the Halas-McCaskey family to lead the team. In 2001, quarterback Jim Miller helped the Bears have a great 13–3 record and win their division. However, they lost in the playoffs. The team struggled in 2002 and 2003, and Jauron was fired.
The Lovie Smith Years (2004–2012)
Lovie Smith became the head coach on January 15, 2004. He brought a strong defensive strategy to Chicago. In 2005, the Bears won their division and made it to the playoffs. They did even better in 2006, winning their division again and reaching Super Bowl XLI. They lost the Super Bowl 29–17 to the Indianapolis Colts.
The Bears have played over a thousand games since joining the NFL in 1920. They led the NFL in overall franchise wins for a long time. In 2010, they earned their 700th franchise win against the Miami Dolphins.
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In 2009, the Bears made a big trade, getting Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos. After a tough 2009 season, the team made it to the playoffs in 2010. They won their first playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. Then, they played the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game, a rare playoff meeting between the two rivals, but lost.
The 2011 season started well, but injuries to Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forté hurt the team. General manager Jerry Angelo was fired, and Phil Emery took over. The Bears also traded for star receiver Brandon Marshall. In 2012, the Bears had a 10–6 record but missed the playoffs, and Lovie Smith was fired.
Marc Trestman's Time (2013–2014)
Marc Trestman became the new head coach. In 2013, the Bears won their first game under Trestman. They finished the season 8–8, just missing the playoffs. Their offense was very good, setting many team records, but the defense struggled.
The 2014 season was difficult. The offense was not as strong, and the defense allowed many points. The team finished 5–11, last in their division. Trestman and general manager Emery were both fired after this season.
The John Fox Era (2015–2017)
Ryan Pace became the new general manager, and John Fox was hired as head coach in 2015. In Fox's first year, the Bears improved, winning six games. This included a Thanksgiving win against the Packers.
However, the team struggled in 2016, finishing with a 3–13 record. Many key players, including quarterback Jay Cutler, were injured. In the 2017 NFL draft, the Bears picked quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. The team finished 5–11 again in 2017, and Fox was fired.
Matt Nagy and New Hopes (2018–2021)
Matt Nagy became the new head coach in January 2018. General manager Ryan Pace signed new receivers and traded for star linebacker Khalil Mack. Nagy's Bears won the NFC North division in 2018 with a 12–4 record. They lost in the first round of the playoffs after a field goal attempt hit the upright, a play known as the "Double Doink". Nagy was named Coach of the Year.
In 2019, the team finished 8–8. Renovations to Halas Hall were completed, allowing the team to move its training camp there in 2020. The 2020 season started strong with a 5–1 record, but the team then lost six games in a row. They finished 8–8 and made the playoffs, but lost to the New Orleans Saints.
After the 2020 season, Mitchell Trubisky left the team. Before the 2021 season, the Bears drafted quarterback Justin Fields. The team finished 6–11 and missed the playoffs. Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace were fired after the season.
Building for the Future (2022–2024)
On January 25, 2022, Ryan Poles was hired as the new general manager. Two days later, Matt Eberflus became the team's 17th head coach. The Bears had a tough 2022 season, losing 10 games in a row. They finished with the worst record in the NFL, 3–14, which gave them the first pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
The Bears traded this first pick to the Carolina Panthers for wide receiver D. J. Moore and other draft picks. The 2023 season started with four losses, extending their losing streak to 14 games. However, the team improved later, winning five of their last eight games to finish 7–10. They still finished last in their division.
Because of their trade with the Panthers, the Bears received the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. They used this pick to draft quarterback Caleb Williams from USC. Coach Eberflus was fired on November 29, 2024, before the end of the season. He was the first Bears head coach to be fired during a season.
A New Chapter with Ben Johnson (2025–Present)
On January 21, 2025, the Bears hired Ben Johnson as their 18th head coach. Johnson is known for his creative offensive plays. He was brought in to help develop quarterback Caleb Williams and lead the team into a new and exciting era.
Ownership
The team is mainly owned by the family of George Halas. For many years, George Halas's daughter, Virginia Halas McCaskey, was the main owner. She controlled most of the team's shares, including those of her children and other family members. Virginia McCaskey passed away in February 2025 at the age of 102.
George McCaskey is now the chairman and owner. Other people, like Pat Ryan, also own parts of the team. The McCaskey family has the first chance to buy any shares that are sold.
In 2020, Forbes magazine said the team was worth $3.525 billion. This made them the seventh richest team in the NFL. Chicago is a very large media market in the United States. In September 2025, the McKenna family sold their shares to the McCaskey and Ryan families. This deal valued the team at $8.9 billion.
Who Has Owned the Bears?
The A. E. Staley Manufacturing Company owner, Augustus Eugene Staley, founded the club in 1919. He owned it until 1921. Then, Staley transferred ownership to George Halas and paid him for a sponsorship. Halas then added Edward "Dutch" Sternaman as a co-owner.
In 1931, Sternaman sold his share to Halas. Halas then had full control of the Bears until he passed away in 1983.
Halas's children, George "Mugs" Halas Jr. and Virginia McCaskey, also received shares in the team. After Mugs passed away in 1979, Virginia McCaskey became the main leader of the family's ownership. In 1988, the Bears bought back Mugs's ownership stake. This was a big financial step for the team.
Team Sponsors
The Bears have important sponsorship deals with companies like Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Miller Brewing Company, PNC Financial Services, United Airlines, Verizon, Xfinity, and Proven IT. The team was the first in the NFL to have a main sponsor, with the 2004 season being "Bears Football presented by BankOne." Also, WFLD (a Fox TV station in Chicago) broadcasts preseason games.
Team Look: Logos and Uniforms
The Bears have used a few official logos over the years. When they were the Decatur Staleys in 1920, they used the A. E. Staley company logo. The first Chicago Bears logo in 1940 showed a black bear running with a football. In 1946, a navy blue bear on top of a football was used.
In 1962, the Bears introduced their famous "wishbone-C" logo. It was white with a black outline and looked like the "C" used by the Cincinnati Reds baseball team and the University of Chicago Maroons. This change happened when NFL teams started adding logos to their helmets.
In 2023, the orange bear head, which was a secondary logo since 1999, became the main logo. Even though the "C" is now a secondary logo, it is still on the team's helmets and at the 50-yard line of their home field.
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Primary logo (1962–1973)
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Primary logo (1974–2022)
Secondary logo (2023–present) -
Wordmark logo (1974–present)
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Secondary logo (1999–2022)
Primary logo (2023–present)
Team Spirit and Fun
Mascots and Cheerleaders
Before 2003, the team had two unofficial mascots named "Rocky" and "Bearman." Rocky was a fan who led chants at Soldier Field. Bearman was a season ticket holder who wore face paint and a bear costume. He would run across the field with a large Bears flag.
In 2003, the team introduced Staley Da Bear. Staley is an animated bear mascot with a No. 00 jersey and blue and orange eyes. His name comes from A. E. Staley, who founded the team. Staley entertains fans at games and visits charity events and parties.
The team used to have a cheerleading squad called the Chicago Honey Bears. They started in 1976 but were discontinued after the 1985 season.
Giving Back to the Community
Since 1998, the Bears have worked with 'A Safe Place,' a shelter for people affected by domestic violence in Waukegan, Illinois. Bears employees have helped renovate the shelter and the team has provided financial support over the years.
Big Games: Team Rivalries
Rivals in Our Division
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are the Bears' biggest rivals. This rivalry started in 1920. The Packers currently have a slight lead in wins. The teams have met twice in the playoffs, with the Bears winning in 1941 and the Packers winning in 2011. Their first game was a 20–0 shutout win for the Bears in 1921.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions and Bears have played each other since 1930. The Bears have won more games in this series. The rivalry became more intense in 1932 when the Bears beat the Lions (then called the Portsmouth Spartans) in the first-ever NFL playoff game. This game was also the first professional indoor football game.
Minnesota Vikings
The Bears first played the Minnesota Vikings in the Vikings' very first game, which Minnesota won. The Vikings currently have a slight lead in this series.
Classic Rivalries
Chicago/St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals
The Bears and the Arizona Cardinals have the oldest continuing matchup in the NFL. This rivalry started as an intense local rivalry in Chicago. It became less important after the Cardinals moved to St. Louis and then to Arizona. The Bears lead the all-time series.
New York Giants
The Bears and the New York Giants have played in six NFL championship games, more than any other matchup. The Bears won four of these, including a famous game where the Giants wore sneakers on an icy field in 1934. They also met in the playoffs in 1985 and 1990. The Bears currently lead the all-time series.
San Francisco 49ers
The Bears and San Francisco 49ers were regular opponents when both teams played in the Western Conference. Their rivalry grew in the 1980s as both teams were strong playoff contenders. The 49ers currently lead the series.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bears have a historic rivalry with their former division opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bears currently lead this series.
Washington Commanders
The Bears and the Washington Commanders have a historically important rivalry, going back to 1932. They often met in the NFL Championship Game. A memorable game was in 1940 when the Bears beat the Commanders 73–0, which is still the largest win margin in league history. Washington has a slight lead in the all-time series.
Other Notable Games
Cleveland/Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams
The Rams and the Bears played in the same division for many years. Their games often drew large crowds. The Bears currently lead the all-time series.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins and the Bears have played less than 15 times, but many games were memorable. The most famous was in 1985, when Miami gave the Bears their only regular-season loss of the year. This kept the 1972 Dolphins as the only perfect team in NFL history. The Dolphins currently lead this series.
Where the Bears Play and Practice
Soldier Field: Our Home Stadium
Soldier Field, located in Chicago, is the home of the Bears. The Bears moved there in 1971 because they needed a bigger stadium than Wrigley Field, where they played for 50 years. The NFL wanted teams to play in stadiums that could hold at least 50,000 fans. The original home of the Bears was Staley Field in Decatur, Illinois.
Soldier Field's playing surface has changed over time, from artificial turf to natural grass. The field maintenance has sometimes caused disagreements with the city. In 2002, the stadium was closed for a major rebuild, keeping only the outer walls. It reopened in 2003. During the 2002 season, the Bears played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
Some critics have called the rebuilt stadium the "Mistake on the Lake" because they believe its new look is not as good as before. Soldier Field lost its National Historic Landmark status in 2006.
In 2005, the Bears won their division and hosted a playoff game at Soldier Field, which was the first since the stadium reopened. The field's end zones and midfield have had different designs over the years, including "Chicago" and the wishbone "C" logo.
In June 2021, the Bears started looking into buying the Arlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights, Illinois. After discussions with the city of Chicago about upgrading Soldier Field, the Bears decided in September 2021 to buy the Arlington Heights property. The sale was completed in February 2023.
In 2024, the Bears considered building a new stadium near Soldier Field. However, in May 2025, they told Chicago's mayor that they planned to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights due to a lack of public funding. In September 2025, the team confirmed they are moving to Arlington Heights and will finalize stadium plans soon, without needing state money.
Where the Bears Train
Until 1930, the Bears trained at their home stadiums. From 1931 to 1934, they moved to different locations in Chicago and nearby universities. In 1935, they began a nine-year period of training at St. John's Northwestern Military Academy in Wisconsin.
From 1944 to 1974, the Bears trained at St. Joseph's College in Indiana. Sadly, in 1964, two Bears players, Willie Galimore and Bo Farrington, passed away in a car accident near the training camp.
From 1975 to 1984, the Bears trained at Lake Forest College. From 1984 to 2001, they held training camp at the University of Wisconsin–Platteville. In 2001, the Bears moved their training camp to Illinois.
From 2002 to 2019, the Bears trained at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais. In 2020, they moved their training camp to the newly renovated Halas Hall.
Halas Hall: Team Headquarters
The team's headquarters, Halas Hall, is named after founder George Halas. It is located in Lake Forest, Illinois. The Bears practice at facilities next to Halas Hall during the season. The building opened in 1997 and was expanded in 2013 and 2018.
The team also has an office in downtown Chicago for sales and events.
Watching and Listening to the Bears
Radio Broadcasts
Currently, WMVP (1000 AM) broadcasts Bears games. Jeff Joniak does the play-by-play, and Tom Thayer provides commentary. Many famous broadcasters have worked for the Bears over the years.
Spanish radio stations WRTO and WVIV-FM also broadcast Bears games in Spanish.
| Chicago Bears Network Radio affiliates | ||
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| Market | Station | Notes |
| Chicago | WMVP (1000 AM) | All games Bears Insider Bears All-Access |
| WRTO (1200 AM) / WVIV-FM (93.5 FM) | All games (in Spanish) | |
TV Broadcasts
Preseason games are shown on WFLD (channel 32). Adam Amin is the play-by-play announcer, Jim Miller provides commentary, and Lou Canellis is the sideline reporter. WFLD also shows most of the team's regular season games through the NFL on Fox.
Any Bears home games against AFC teams are shown on WBBM-TV (CBS). Sunday Night games are on WMAQ-TV (NBC), and ESPN Monday Night Football games are on ESPN or WLS-TV (ABC).
| Chicago Bears Network Television affiliates | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market | Station | Notes |
| Regional cable | Marquee Sports Network | Bear Essentials Bears Den The Official Bears Postgame Live |
| Chicago | WFLD | Preseason and Fox regional/national games Bears Gameday Live Bears Gamenight Live |
| Cedar Rapids, Iowa | KFXA | Preseason and Fox regional/national games |
| Champaign–Urbana | WCCU | Preseason and Fox regional/national games |
| Peoria | WMBD-TV | Preseason and CBS regional/national games |
| Quad Cities | KLJB | Preseason and Fox regional/national games |
| Rockford | WIFR | Preseason and CBS regional/national games |
| WQRF | Preseason and Fox regional/national games | |
| Springfield | WRSP-TV | Preseason and Fox regional/national games |
| South Bend | WSBT-TV | Preseason and CBS regional/national games |
Amazing Records and Stats
Patrick Mannelly played the most seasons for the Bears with 16. Steve McMichael holds the record for playing the most consecutive games, with 191. Walter Payton played 186 games, missing only one in 13 seasons, which is amazing for a running back.
Kicker Robbie Gould became the Bears' all-time leading scorer in 2015, passing Kevin Butler. Payton holds the team record for career rushing yards with 16,726. This was an NFL record until Emmitt Smith broke it in 2002. Matt Forte is the closest to Payton's record. Forte also holds rookie records for rushing attempts, yards, and receptions.
The 1940 Chicago Bears team holds the NFL record for the biggest win, beating the Washington Redskins 73–0 in the 1940 NFL Championship Game. The Bears' largest home win was 61–7 against the Green Bay Packers in 1980. Their biggest loss was 52–0 against the Baltimore Colts in 1964.
The team had undefeated regular seasons in 1934 and 1942. However, they lost the championship game in both those years. Coach George Halas holds the team record for coaching the most seasons (40) and having the most career victories (324). Don Shula later broke Halas's win record in 1993.
During the 2006 season, return specialist Devin Hester set many kick return records. He holds the team record for most return yards. He also set a record for most touchdown returns in a single season. Hester even set a Super Bowl record by returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. In 2010, Hester set an NFL record for most touchdowns on punt or kickoff returns.
In 2012, Charles Tillman set a record for forcing four fumbles in one game. Tillman and teammate Lance Briggs also made NFL history by returning interceptions for touchdowns in two games in a row.
How the Bears Have Played Each Season
Here are the Bears' results for their last five completed seasons. This list shows regular season results only.
| Super Bowl champions (1970–present) | Conference champions | Division champions | Wild Card berth |
| Season | Team | League | Conference | Division | Regular season | Postseason results | Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Wins | Losses | Ties | |||||||
| 2020 | 2020 | NFL | NFC | North | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | Lost to New Orleans Saints in NFC Wild Card Game. | — |
| 2021 | 2021 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 6 | 11 | 0 | — | — |
| 2022 | 2022 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 3 | 14 | 0 | — | — |
| 2023 | 2023 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 7 | 10 | 0 | — | — |
| 2024 | 2024 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 5 | 12 | 0 | — | — |
Top Players and Their Records
| All-time Bears leaders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Leader | Player | Record | Years with Bears |
| Passing | Jay Cutler | 23,443 passing yards | 2009–2016 |
| Rushing | Walter Payton | 16,726 rushing yards | 1975–1987 |
| Receiving | Johnny Morris | 5,059 receiving yards | 1958–1967 |
| Points | Robbie Gould | 1,142 points | 2005–2015 |
| Coaching Wins | George Halas | 318 wins | 1920–1929, 1933–1942 1946–1955, 1958–1967 |
Special Players
Meet the Current Team
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Chicago Bears roster
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
→ AFC rosters → NFC rosters |
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Bears in the Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame honors the best players in football history. The Bears have the most players inducted into the Hall of Fame as primary members, with 32. George Halas, Bronko Nagurski, and Red Grange were among the very first players inducted in 1963. The most recent Bears inducted were Devin Hester and Steve McMichael in 2024.
Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame
The Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame honors great athletes connected to the Chicago area. As of 2023, 59 people linked to the Bears are in this hall.
Retired Jersey Numbers
The Bears have retired 14 jersey numbers, which means no other player on the team can wear those numbers. This is the most in the NFL. It's a special way to honor legendary players. Mike Ditka's number 89 jersey was the last one retired, in 2013.
| Chicago Bears retired numbers | ||||||
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| Bronko Nagurski FB/LB/T 1930–1937, 1943 Minnesota |
George McAfee RB/DB/PR 1940–1941, 1945–1950 Duke |
George Halas End/HC Owner/Founder 1920–1983 Illinois |
Willie Galimore RB 1957–1963 Florida A&M |
Walter Payton RB 1975–1987 Jackson State |
Gale Sayers RB/KR 1965–1971 Kansas |
Brian Piccolo RB/FB 1965–1969 Wake Forest |
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| Sid Luckman QB/DB/P 1939–1950 Columbia |
Dick Butkus MLB 1965–1973 Illinois |
Bill Hewitt End 1932–1936 Michigan |
Bill George MG/MLB 1952–1965 Wake Forest |
Clyde Turner C/LB 1940–1952 Hardin-Simmons |
Red Grange RB/DB 1925, 1929–1934 Illinois |
Mike Ditka TE 1961–1966 HC 1982–1992 Pittsburgh |
Top 100 Bears Players Ever
To celebrate the team's 100th anniversary in 2019, the Chicago Bears announced a list of their Top 100 players. This list was chosen by famous football writers. It included many Hall of Famers and even some players who were still active at the time.
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Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.
Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist.
Helms Athletic Foundation Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.
PFRA Hall of Very Good inductee.
The All-Time Best Bears Team
In June 2019, the Bears announced their All-Time Team, featuring the best players in franchise history. Bold names mean they are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Offensive Stars
| Position | Player | Tenure | Honors* |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Sid Luckman | 1939–1950 |
|
| FB | Bronko Nagurski | 1930–1937, 1943 |
|
| RB | Walter Payton | 1975–1987 |
|
| WR | Harlon Hill | 1954–1961 |
|
| Ken Kavanaugh | 1940–1941, 1945–1950 |
|
|
| TE | Mike Ditka | 1961–1966 |
|
| OT | Joe Stydahar | 1936–1942, 1945–1946 |
|
| Jim Covert | 1983–1990 |
|
|
| G | Stan Jones | 1954–1965 |
|
| Danny Fortmann | 1936–1943 |
|
|
| C | Clyde "Bulldog" Turner | 1940–1952 |
|
Defensive Heroes
| Position | Player | Tenure | Honors* |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE | Doug Atkins | 1955–1966 |
|
| Richard Dent | 1983–1993, 1995 | ||
| DT | Dan Hampton | 1979–1990 |
|
| Steve McMichael | 1981–1993 |
|
|
| MLB | Dick Butkus | 1965–1973 |
|
| OLB | George Connor | 1948–1955 |
|
| Joe Fortunato | 1955–1966 |
|
|
| CB | George McAfee | 1940–1941, 1945–1950 |
|
| Charles Tillman | 2003–2014 | ||
| S | Gary Fencik | 1976–1987 |
|
| Richie Petitbon | 1959–1968 |
|
Special Teams Legends
| Position | Player | Tenure | Honors* |
|---|---|---|---|
| P | Bobby Joe Green | 1962–1973 | |
| PK | Robbie Gould | 2005–2015 | |
| PR | Devin Hester | 2006–2013 |
|
| KR | Gale Sayers | 1965–1971 |
|
* As a Chicago Bear
Images for kids
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Bears founder George Halas (right) with NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle (early 1980s).
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1961 Bears offensive line practicing for the Armed Forces Benefit Football Game.
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Payton set several franchise and NFL records in rushing during his 13-season career with the Bears.
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Bears Hall of Famer Mike Ditka is the only person in the modern era to win an NFL championship as a player and coach for the Chicago Bears.
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See also
In Spanish: Chicago Bears para niños
