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Chicago Bears
Current season
Chicago Bears logo
Chicago Bears wordmark
Logo Wordmark
Chicago Bears Uniforms 2022-present.png
Uniforms
Basic info
Established September 17, 1920; 104 years ago (September 17, 1920)
Colors Navy blue, orange, white
              
Fight song "Bear Down, Chicago Bears"
Mascot Staley Da Bear
Personnel
Owner(s) Virginia Halas McCaskey
Chairman George McCaskey
President Kevin Warren
General manager Ryan Poles
Head coach Matt Eberflus
Nicknames
  • Da Bears
  • The Monsters of the Midway
Team history
  • Decatur Staleys (1920)
  • Chicago Staleys (1921)
  • Chicago Bears (1922–present)
Home fields
Temporary stadiums

1970 due to renovations to Wrigley Field:

  • Dyche Stadium (one game)

2002 due to renovations to Soldier Field:

  • Memorial Stadium
League / conference affiliations
National Football League (1920–present)
  • Western Division (1933–1949)
  • National Conference (1950–1952)
  • Western Conference (1953–1969)
    • Central Division (1967–1969)
  • National Football Conference (1970–present)
    • NFC Central (1970–2001)
    • NFC North (2002–present)
Championships
League championships: 9
Conference championships: 4
  • NFL Western: 1956, 1963
  • NFC: 1985, 2006
Division championships: 19
  • NFL Western: 1933, 1934, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1946
  • NFC Central: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 2001
  • NFC North: 2005, 2006, 2010, 2018
Playoff appearances (28)
  • NFL: 1932, 1933, 1934, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1946, 1950, 1956, 1963, 1977, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2018, 2020
Owner(s)
Team president(s)
  • George Halas (1921–1953)
  • George Halas Jr. (1963–1979)
  • Michael McCaskey (1983–1999)
  • Ted Phillips (1999–2022)
  • Kevin Warren (2023–present)

The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team. They are based in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears play in the National Football League (NFL). They are part of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division.

The Bears have won nine NFL Championships. Eight of these wins were before the AFL–NFL merger. They also won one Super Bowl. The team holds NFL records for the most players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They also have the most retired jersey numbers. The Bears are second only to the Green Bay Packers in NFL championships and total wins. They have a long-standing rivalry with the Packers.

The team started in Decatur, Illinois, on September 20, 1919. It became a professional team on September 17, 1920. In 1921, the team moved to Chicago. It is one of only two teams from the NFL's founding in 1920 that are still active. The other team is the Arizona Cardinals. The Bears played home games at Wrigley Field until 1970. Since then, they have played at Soldier Field. This stadium is located near Lake Michigan.

The team's main office, Halas Hall, is in Lake Forest, Illinois. The Bears practice there during the season. They started holding their training camp at Halas Hall in 2020 after big updates to the facility.

History of the Chicago Bears

Early Years: 1919–1939

Pete Rozelle and George Halas
The team's founder George Halas (right) with NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, in the early 1980s.

The team was first called the Decatur Staleys. It was created by the A. E. Staley food company in Decatur, Illinois. This was common for early professional football teams. In 1919, the team played independently and won the Central Illinois Championship.

In 1920, the company hired George Halas and Edward "Dutch" Sternaman to manage the team. The 1920 Decatur Staleys season was their first regular season. They played in the new American Professional Football Association. This league was later renamed the National Football League (NFL) in 1922.

Halas and Sternaman took full control of the team in 1921. Halas is often called the founder because he took over when the team joined the NFL. The team moved to Chicago in 1921. It was renamed the Chicago Staleys. Halas and Sternaman paid Staley $5,000 to keep the "Staleys" name for the 1921 season.

In 1922, Halas changed the team name to the Bears. They moved into Wrigley Field, which was also home to the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Many early NFL teams got their names from their city's baseball teams. Halas chose the team's orange and blue colors from his college, the University of Illinois.

The Staleys/Bears were very strong in their early years. Their rivalry with the Chicago Cardinals was the oldest in the NFL. It helped decide four of the first six league titles. The Bears had 34 shutouts during this time.

The Bears' rivalry with the Green Bay Packers started in 1921. It is one of the oldest rivalries in American sports. In 1924, the Bears won the Championship after beating the Cleveland Bulldogs. However, the NFL later said games after November 30 did not count. So, the Bears finished second. Their only losing season in this period was in 1929.

The team signed famous college player Red Grange in 1925. This helped bring more fans to games. Grange was a big star. The Bears went on a tour to show him off. This tour helped the team make more money.

In 1932, the Bears won the "Unofficial" NFL Championship. They beat the Portsmouth Spartans in the first NFL playoff game. A blizzard in Chicago meant the game was played indoors at Chicago Stadium. This was the first indoor American football game.

This successful playoff game led the NFL to create a championship game. In the first NFL Championship, the Bears beat the New York Giants 23–21. They met again in the 1934 NFL Championship. The Giants, wearing sneakers, beat the Bears 30–13 on a cold, icy day.

The Monsters of the Midway: 1940s

From 1940 to 1947, quarterback Sid Luckman led the Bears to win four out of five NFL Championship Games. The team became known as the "Monsters of the Midway". They also got their famous helmet wishbone-C logo. A new theme song called them "The Pride and Joy of Illinois".

One famous win was their 73–0 victory over the Washington Redskins in the 1940 NFL Championship Game. This is still an NFL record for the biggest win. The secret was a new offensive formation called the T-formation. This formation used two running backs instead of one. Luckman became one of the team's best quarterbacks. He set many passing records that lasted for decades.

Later Halas Era: 1950s–1968

8X10A 1961 Chicago Bears o-line practice 1
1961 Chicago Bears offensive line practicing at Soldier Field.

After a tough time in the 1950s, the team won its eighth NFL Championship in 1963. This was their last championship until 1985. The late 1960s brought great players like Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, and Brian Piccolo. Piccolo died from a serious illness in 1970. A movie about Piccolo, Brian's Song, was made in 1971. Even though Butkus and Sayers were Hall of Famers, their careers were cut short by injuries.

Halas stopped coaching in 1967. He then worked in the front office. He was involved with the NFL for its first 60 years. He was also in the first group of players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963. When the NFL and American Football League merged in 1970, Halas was honored. He was elected the first President of the National Football Conference. He held this job until he passed away in 1983. The NFC Championship trophy is named the George Halas Memorial Trophy in his honor.

Challenges and Walter Payton: 1969–1982

1986 Jeno's Pizza - 12 - Walter Payton (Walter Payton crop)
Walter Payton set many rushing records during his 13 seasons with the Bears.

After the merger, the Bears struggled in the early 1970s. In 1975, the Bears drafted Walter Payton. He was from Jackson State University. Payton won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award in the 1977–78 season. He broke Jim Brown's NFL career rushing record in 1984. Payton retired in 1987. His record was later broken by Emmitt Smith in 2002. Fans loved Payton and called him "Sweetness". He passed away in 1999 at age 45.

On November 1, 1983, after George Halas passed away, his daughter, Virginia McCaskey, became the main owner of the team. Her husband, Ed McCaskey, became the chairman. Their son Michael became the team's third president. Virginia McCaskey is seen as the person who keeps the team together.

Super Bowl Champions: 1983–1985

Mike Ditka
Mike Ditka is the only person to win an NFL championship with the Chicago Bears as both a player and a coach.

Mike Ditka, a former tight end for the Bears, was hired as 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–Packers rivalry became even more exciting. Ditka used defensive tackle "Refrigerator" Perry as a running back for a touchdown against the Packers. The Bears won their ninth NFL Championship that season. This was their first Super Bowl win (Super Bowl XX). They dominated the NFL with their special 46 defense. The team also recorded a fun rap song called "The Super Bowl Shuffle". The Bears only lost one game that season, to the Miami Dolphins.

After the Super Bowl: 1986–2003

After their 1985 championship, the Bears stayed strong in the 1980s. However, they did not reach the Super Bowl again under Ditka. Ditka led the Bears to five more playoff appearances. They reached the NFC Championship in 1988.

After Ditka was fired, the Bears had two head coaches, Dave Wannstedt and Dick Jauron. Both coaches led the team to the playoffs once. Wannstedt in 1994 and Jauron in 2001. But neither coach had a winning record overall. The 1990s were a tough time for the team.

In the 2001 season, Jim Miller became the main starting quarterback. He helped the Bears achieve a great 13–3 record and win their division. However, they lost in the playoffs. The team struggled in 2002 and 2003. Jauron was fired after the 2003 season.

Lovie Smith Era: 2004–2012

Lovie Smith became the head coach on January 15, 2004. He brought the successful Tampa 2 defensive strategy to Chicago. In 2005, the Bears won their division and made the playoffs. This was their first playoff trip in four years.

The team did even better in 2006. They won their division again and reached Super Bowl XLI. However, they lost the championship game to the Indianapolis Colts 29–17. After the 2006 season, Smith received a contract extension.

Cutler Quinnan8 (cropped)
The Bears made a big trade to get quarterback Jay Cutler in 2009.

The Bears made a big trade in 2009. They got Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos. In 2010, the Bears signed defensive end Julius Peppers and other key players. Michael McCaskey was replaced by his brother George McCaskey as chairman.

The Bears had a strong 2010 season. They clinched a spot in the 2010–11 NFL playoffs. They beat the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round. The Bears then played the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game. This was only the second time these rivals met in the playoffs. The Bears lost that game 21–14.

The 2011 season started well, but injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forté hurt the team. The Bears missed the playoffs with a 10–6 record. Lovie Smith was fired on December 31.

Recent Years: 2013–Present

Marc Trestman and John Fox: 2013–2017

Marc Trestman became the new head coach in 2013. The Bears won his first game. The team finished the 2013 season with an 8–8 record, just missing the playoffs. While their offense was strong, the defense struggled.

The 2014 season was difficult for the Bears. The team finished last in their division with a 5–11 record. Trestman and general manager Phil Emery were fired after the season.

Ryan Pace became the new general manager in 2015. John Fox was hired as head coach. In Fox's first season, the Bears improved to a 6–10 record. However, the 2016 season was very tough. The team finished with a 3–13 record, their worst since 1978. Many players, including Jay Cutler, were injured.

In the 2017 NFL draft, the team picked quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. The Bears finished the 2017 season with a 5–11 record. Fox was fired on January 1, 2018.

Matt Nagy and Matt Eberflus: 2018–Present

Bears Defense 2018
Roquan Smith, Khalil Mack, DeAndre Houston-Carson, and Akiem Hicks of the Bears in 2018.

The Bears hired Matt Nagy as their new head coach in January 2018. General manager Ryan Pace signed new receivers. The Bears also got linebacker Khalil Mack in a big trade. Nagy's Bears won the NFC North in 2018 for the first time since 2010. They finished the season with a 12–4 record. They lost in the playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles after a field goal attempt was missed. Nagy was named Coach of the Year.

In 2019, the team finished 8–8. Renovations to Halas Hall were finished. The team moved its training camp there in 2020. The Bears started the 2020 season with a 5–1 record but then lost six games in a row. They finished 8–8 and made the playoffs. They lost to the New Orleans Saints.

Before the 2021 season, the Bears drafted quarterback Justin Fields. They also signed veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. Fields became the starting quarterback after Dalton was injured. The Bears finished 6–11 and missed the playoffs. Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace were fired.

On January 25, 2022, the Bears hired Ryan Poles as their general manager. Two days later, Matt Eberflus became the 17th head coach. The Bears had a tough 2022 season, finishing with a 3–14 record. This gave them the first pick in the 2023 NFL draft. They traded this pick to the Carolina Panthers for wide receiver D. J. Moore and other draft picks.

The Bears started the 2023 season with a 0–4 record. This extended their losing streak to 14 games. They improved later in the season, finishing 7–10. They got the first pick in the 2024 NFL draft again from the Panthers. They used this pick to draft USC quarterback Caleb Williams.

Team Ownership

The team is mostly owned by the family of George Halas. His daughter, Virginia Halas McCaskey, is the main owner. She controls about 80% of the team's ownership. Other owners include Pat Ryan and Andrew J. McKenna's estate.

In 2020, Forbes magazine said the team was worth $3.525 billion. This made it the seventh richest team in the NFL.

Ownership History

Halas-Sternaman-grange-bears
Sternaman and Halas with Grange and Pyle.

The team was founded by A. E. Staley Manufacturing Company in 1919. Staley owned the team until 1921. Then, he transferred ownership to Halas and paid him for a sponsorship. Halas then added Edward "Dutch" Sternaman as a co-owner.

In 1931, Sternaman sold his share of the team to Halas. Halas then had full control of the Bears until he passed away in 1983.

Logos and Uniforms

The Bears have had a few official logos over the years. When they were the Decatur Staleys, they used A. E. Staley's company logo. The first Chicago Bears logo in 1940 showed a black bear running with a football. In 1946, a navy blue bear on a football was used.

In 1962, the Bears introduced their famous "wishbone-C" logo. It was white with a black outline. This logo is similar to the "C" used by the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. It also looks like the "C" logo of the University of Chicago Maroons. This change happened when NFL teams started adding logos to their helmets.

In 2023, the orange bear head became the team's main logo. It was a secondary logo since 1999. The "C" logo is now secondary, but it is still on their helmets and at the 50-yard line of their home field.

Team Culture

Mascots and Cheerleaders

Staleythebear
Staley Da Bear in 2008.

Before 2003, the Bears had two unofficial mascots: "Rocky" and "Bearman". "Rocky" would lead chants at Soldier Field. "Bearman" 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. He is an anthropomorphic (human-like) bear. He wears a No. 00 jersey. His name comes from the team's founder, A. E. Staley. Staley Da Bear entertains fans and visits charity events.

The team also had a cheerleading squad called the Chicago Honey Bears. They started in 1976. However, Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey ended the squad after the 1985 season.

Rivalries

Divisional Rivals

Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers are the Bears' biggest rivals. Their rivalry started in 1920. The Packers currently lead the series. They have met twice in the playoffs. The Bears won in 1941, and the Packers won 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 Lions were first known as the Portsmouth Spartans. The Bears lead this series. Their rivalry grew in 1932. They met in the first-ever NFL postseason game. The Bears won 9–0. This game was also the first pro "indoor football" game. It was played in Chicago Stadium because of a blizzard.

Minnesota Vikings

The Bears and Minnesota first played in the Vikings' very first game. The Vikings won that game 37–13. Minnesota currently leads this series.

Historic Rivals

Arizona Cardinals

The Bears and Arizona Cardinals have the oldest ongoing rivalry in the NFL. It started as a rivalry between two Chicago teams. The Bears led the series when the Cardinals moved to St. Louis in 1959. The rivalry became less important after the Cardinals moved to Arizona in 1988. The Bears still lead the all-time series. They have not met in the playoffs yet.

New York Giants

The Bears and the New York Giants have played in six NFL championship games. This is more than any other matchup. The Bears won four of these six games. One famous game was the "Sneakers Game" in 1934, which the Giants won. The teams also met in the playoffs in 1985 and 1990. The Bears lead the all-time series.

San Francisco 49ers

The Bears and San Francisco 49ers were regular opponents when both played in the Western Conference. Their rivalry grew in the 1980s. Both teams were strong playoff teams in the NFC. The 49ers currently lead the series. They have won all three playoff games against the Bears.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bears have a historic rivalry with their former NFC Central opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bears currently lead this series.

Washington Commanders

The Bears and the Washington Commanders have a historically important rivalry. It goes back to 1932. The rivalry became intense in 1937. Both teams often met in the NFL Championship Game. The most famous game was in 1940. The Bears beat the Commanders 73–0 in the NFL Championship game. This is still the largest win margin in league history. Washington has a slight lead in the all-time series.

Facilities

Stadium

Soldier Field, Chicago
Soldier Field in 2011, as seen from the lakeshore.

Soldier Field is the home of the Bears. It is located in Chicago. The Bears moved to Soldier Field in 1971. They had outgrown Wrigley Field, where they played for 50 years. The NFL wanted teams to play in stadiums that could hold at least 50,000 fans. Wrigley Field could only hold 46,000. The Bears' first home was Staley Field in Decatur, Illinois.

Soldier Field's playing surface was changed from grass to artificial turf in 1971. It was changed back to natural grass in 1988. The Chicago Park District maintains the field. This has sometimes caused issues with the playing surface.

In 2002, Soldier Field was rebuilt. Only the outer wall was kept. It reopened in 2003. During the 2002 season, the Bears played home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.

Many people have negative views of the new stadium's design. Some call it the "Mistake on the Lake". Soldier Field lost its National Historic Landmark status in 2006.

In the 2005 season, the Bears won their division. They hosted a playoff game at Soldier Field for the first time since the stadium reopened.

The field's end zones and midfield were not painted until 1982. Then, "Chicago" was painted in the end zones. A large wishbone "C" Bears logo was added at midfield in 1983. This design stayed until 1996. In 1996, the midfield logo changed to a large blue Bears head. The end zones had "Bears" in cursive. In the new Soldier Field, one end zone says "Chicago" and the other says "Bears".

The Bears have been looking for a new stadium location. In 2021, they bid to buy Arlington International Racecourse. In 2023, they bought the property. As of 2024, the Bears are also looking at building a new domed stadium near Soldier Field.

Training Camp Locations

From the start until 1930, the Bears trained at their home stadiums. These were Staley Field and Cubs' Park. From 1935 to 1944, they trained at St. John's Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin.

From 1944 to 1974, they trained at St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana. In 1964, a car accident near the camp killed players Willie Galimore and Bo Farrington.

From 1975 to 1984, they trained at Lake Forest College. This was at the original Halas Hall. From 1984 to 2001, they trained at University of Wisconsin–Platteville.

From 2002 to 2019, the Bears held their summer training camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais. In 2020, they moved the camp permanently to the renovated Halas Hall.

Halas-hall-bears-2014
Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois, is the Bears' headquarters.

Headquarters

The team's main office is Halas Hall. It is named after founder George Halas. It is in Lake Forest, Illinois. The Bears practice there during the season. The complex opened in 1997 and was expanded in 2013 and 2018.

The team also has an office in downtown Chicago. This office is for sales and events staff.

Broadcast Media

Radio

Chicago Bears radio affiliates
Map of radio affiliates by tower location, showing WBBM's location in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Currently, WMVP (1000 AM) broadcasts Bears games. Jeff Joniak does the play-by-play. Tom Thayer, a former Bears player, is the color commentator. Many famous broadcasters have worked for the Bears over the years.

Spanish radio stations WRTO and WVIV-FM also air Bears games.

Chicago Bears Network Radio Affiliates
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)

Television

Preseason games are shown on WFLD (channel 32). Adam Amin is the play-by-play announcer. Jim Miller provides color commentary. Lou Canellis is the sideline reporter. WFLD also shows most of the team's regular season games through NFL on Fox.

Bears home games against AFC teams are shown on WBBM-TV. Sunday Night games are on WMAQ-TV. ESPN Monday Night Football games are on ESPN or WLS-TV.

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
ChampaignUrbana 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

Statistics and Records

Patrick Mannelly played the most seasons for the Bears, with 16. Steve McMichael holds the record for most consecutive games played, with 191. Walter Payton played 186 games, missing only one game in 13 seasons.

Kicker Robbie Gould is the Bears' all-time leading scorer. He passed Kevin Butler in 2015. Payton is second in scoring. Payton also holds the team record for career rushing yards with 16,726. This was an NFL record until Emmitt Smith broke it in 2002.

The 1940 Chicago Bears team holds the record for the biggest win in an NFL game. They beat the Washington Redskins 73–0 in the 1940 NFL Championship Game. This is still the largest win margin in league history. The Bears' biggest home win was 61–7 against the Green Bay Packers in 1980.

The team had undefeated regular seasons in 1934 and 1942. However, they did not win the championship game in either season. George Halas coached the most seasons (40) and has the most career victories (324) for the team. His record was broken by Don Shula in 1993.

During the 2006 season, return specialist Devin Hester set many kick return records. He holds the franchise record for most return yards. He had six touchdown returns in 2006 and another six in 2007. One famous return was a 108-yard touchdown from a missed field goal in 2006. Hester also set a Super Bowl record by returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. In 2010, he set an NFL record for most punt or kickoff return touchdowns.

In 2012, Charles Tillman set a record for forcing four fumbles in one game. Tillman and Lance Briggs were the first pair in NFL history to return an interception for a touchdown in two games in a row.

Recent Season Results

Here are the Bears' results from their last five seasons.

Note: The Finish, Wins, Losses, and Ties columns show regular season results only.

Super Bowl champions (1970–present) Conference champions Division champions Wild Card berth

As of January 8, 2023

Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results Awards
Finish Wins Losses Ties
2019 2019 NFL NFC North 3rd 8 8 0
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

Team 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

Players of Note

Current Roster

Chicago Bears roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

  • 35 Khari Blasingame FB
  • 25 Trestan Ebner
  • 21 Darrynton Evans
  • 24 Khalil Herbert
  • 32 David Montgomery

Wide receivers

Tight ends

  • 84 Ryan Griffin
  • 85 Cole Kmet
  • 88 Trevon Wesco
Offensive linemen
  • 75 Larry Borom T
  • 69 Ja'Tyre Carter G
  • 60 Dieter Eiselen C
  • 76 Teven Jenkins G
  • 70 Braxton Jones T
  • 72 Alex Leatherwood T
  • 67 Sam Mustipher C
  • 71 Riley Reiff T
  • 79 Michael Schofield G
  • 65 Cody Whitehair G

Defensive linemen

  • 90 Angelo Blackson DT
  • 94 Andrew Brown DT
  • 99 Trevis Gipson DE
  • 93 Justin Jones DT
  • 55 Al-Quadin Muhammad DE
  • 64 Mike Pennel DT
  • 91 Dominique Robinson DE
  • 96 Armon Watts DT
Linebackers
  • 44 Matthew Adams OLB
  • 47 Elijah Lee OLB
  • 53 Nicholas Morrow MLB
  • 45 Joe Thomas OLB
  • 50 Sterling Weatherford MLB

Defensive backs

  • 39 Josh Blackwell CB
  • 20 Breon Borders CB
  •  9 Jaquan Brisker SS
  •  6 Kyler Gordon CB
  • 30 Harrison Hand CB
  • 37 Elijah Hicks FS
  • 36 DeAndre Houston-Carson FS
  • 31 Jaylon Jones CB
  • 26 Michael Ojemudia CB
  • 38 A. J. Thomas SS

Special teams

  • 16 Trenton Gill P
  •  2 Cairo Santos K
  • 48 Patrick Scales LS
Reserve lists
  • 29 Dane Cruikshank SS (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 78 Dakota Dozier G (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  •  4 Eddie Jackson FS (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 33 Jaylon Johnson CB (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 68 Doug Kramer C (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 11 Darnell Mooney WR (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 62 Lucas Patrick C (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 57 Jack Sanborn OLB (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 15 Trevor Siemian QB (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 22 Kindle Vildor CB (IR) Injury icon 2.svg


Rookies in italics
Roster updated December 28, 2022
Depth ChartTransactions

53 Active, 10 Inactive, 15 Practice Squad

→ AFC rosters → NFC rosters

Pro Football Hall of Famers

The Bears have the most players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with 32 main members. Founder George Halas, halfback Bronko Nagurski, and Red Grange were in the first group of inductees in 1963. Offensive tackle Jim Covert and defensive end Ed Sprinkle were the most recent Bears inducted in 2020.

Retired Numbers

The Bears have retired 14 jersey numbers. This is the most in the NFL. It is also fourth-highest among major professional sports teams in North America. Mike Ditka's number 89 jersey was retired on December 9, 2013. It is the last number the Bears have retired.

Chicago Bears retired numbers
ChicagoBears3.png ChicagoBears5.png ChicagoBears7.png ChicagoBears28.png ChicagoBears34.PNG ChicagoBears40.png ChicagoBears41.png
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
ChicagoBears42.png ChicagoBears51.png ChicagoBears56.png ChicagoBears61.png ChicagoBears66.png ChicagoBears77.png ChicagoBears89.png
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 Greatest Bears of All-Time

In 2019, for the team's 100th anniversary, the Chicago Bears announced their Top 100 players. This list was chosen by Hall of Fame writers. At the time, it included 27 Pro Football Hall of Famers.

Among the 100 Greatest, four active players made the list. These included safety Eddie Jackson, defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, offensive lineman Kyle Long, and Khalil Mack.

     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.

All-Time Team

In June 2019, the Bears announced their All-Time Team. This team included the best defensive players, specialists, and offensive players in team history. Bold names mean the player is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Offense

Position Player Years Honors*
QB Sid Luckman 1939–1950
FB Bronko Nagurski 1930–1937, 1943
RB Walter Payton 1975–1987
  • Super Bowl champion (XX)
  • 2× NFL Most Valuable Player (1977, 1985)
  • NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
  • NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
  • NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
  • NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
  • Chicago Bears No. 34 retired
WR Harlon Hill 1954–1961
  • NFL MVP (1955)
Ken Kavanaugh 1940–1941, 1945–1950
  • NFL champion (1940, 1941, 1946)
  • NFL 1940s All-Decade Team
TE Mike Ditka 1961–1966
OT Joe Stydahar 1936–1942, 1945–1946
  • 3x NFL champion (1940, 1942, 1946)
  • NFL 1930s All-Decade Team
Jim Covert 1983–1990
G Stan Jones 1954–1965
Danny Fortmann 1936–1943
  • NFL champion (1940, 1941, 1943)
  • NFL 1930s All-Decade Team
  • Sports Illustrated 1940s All-Decade Team
  • NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
C Clyde "Bulldog" Turner 1940–1952

Defense

Position Player Tenure Honors*
DE Doug Atkins 1955–1966
  • NFL champion (1963)
  • NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
  • NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
Richard Dent 1983–1993, 1995
DT Dan Hampton 1979–1990
Steve McMichael 1981–1993
MLB Dick Butkus 1965–1973
  • 2× NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1969, 1970)
  • NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
  • NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
  • NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
  • NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
  • Chicago Bears No. 51 retired
OLB George Connor 1948–1955
  • NFL 1940s All-Decade Team
Joe Fortunato 1955–1966
CB George McAfee 1940–1941, 1945–1950
  • NFL champion (1940, 1941, 1946)
  • NFL 1940s All-Decade Team
  • Chicago Bears No. 5 retired
Charles Tillman 2003–2014
S Gary Fencik 1976–1987
Richie Petitbon 1959–1968

Special Teams

Position Player Tenure Honors*
P Bobby Joe Green 1962–1973
PK Robbie Gould 2005–2015
PR Devin Hester 2006–2013
  • 3× Special Teams Player of the Year (2006, 2007, 2010)
  • NFL 2000s All-Decade Team (PR)
  • NFL 2010s All-Decade Team (KR)
  • NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
KR Gale Sayers 1965–1971
  • NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
  • NFL 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
  • NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
  • NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
  • Chicago Bears No. 40 retired

* As a Chicago Bear

Coaching Staff

Chicago Bears staff
Front office
  • Secretary of the board of directors – Virginia Halas McCaskey
  • Chairman – George McCaskey
  • President/CEO – Ted Phillips
  • General manager – Ryan Poles
  • Assistant general manager – Ian Cunningham
  • Senior vice president/general counsel – Cliff Stein
  • Co-director of player personnel – Jeff King
  • Co-director of player personnel – Trey Koziol
  • Assistant director of pro scouting – Chris White
  • Assistant director of college scouting – Breck Ackley
  • Director of football administration – Matt Feinstein
  • Director of football research – Harrison Fried
  • Director of football analytics – Krithi Chandrakasan
Head coaches
  • Head coach – Matt Eberflus
Offensive coaches
  • Offensive coordinator – Luke Getsy
  • Quarterbacks – Andrew Janocko
  • Running backs – David Walker
  • Passing game coordinator/wide receivers – Tyke Tolbert
  • Tight ends – Jim Dray
  • Assistant tight ends – Tim Zetts
  • Offensive line – Chris Morgan
  • Assistant offensive line – Austin King
  • Offensive quality control – Omar Young
 
Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Alan Williams
  • Defensive line – Travis Smith
  • Assistant defensive line – Justin Hinds
  • Linebackers – Dave Borgonzi
  • Defensive backs – James Rowe
  • Safeties – Andre Curtis
  • Assistant defensive backs – David Overstreet II
  • Defensive quality control – Ronell Williams
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
  • Director of high performance – Brent Salazar
  • Strength and conditioning – Jim Arthur
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Noble Landry
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Jim Mangiero

Coaching staff
Management
→ More NFL staffs

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Chicago Bears para niños

kids search engine
Chicago Bears Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.