The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 11:06 am ET, declared Doomsday the greatest defensive unit of all time, NFL 2023 schedule: Home and away opponents for all 32, NFL Draft superlatives: Best/worst class, ROY and more, Will Levis dropping to second round proves costly, Chiefs expected to re-sign Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs' Hunt believes Mahomes will always be underpaid, Ranking the greatest unit nicknames in NFL history, Prisco's draft grades for all 32 teams: Eagles ace it, 2024 mock: Williams No. He became quite adept at offensive quality control and breaking down the team's offense. . Gentry spent his 11-season NFL career with the Bears from 1982-92. New England kept them out of the end zone, but Butler kicked his third field goal on the last play of the half to give Chicago a 233 halftime lead. "Mama's Boy Otis" has been involved in a number of ventures in business, film and broadcasting since his retirement from the NFL in 1989. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. [6][7] Other sources rate the 1985 Chicago Bears as the greatest NFL team ever. The '72 Dolphins defense -- which boasted the league's top-ranked unit during the regular season -- did not allow a single point in Super Bowl VII. A journeyman linebacker who previously played with Atlanta and Green Bay, Cabral spent his final six seasons as a pro with the Bears. The whole team just had a swag to them, and it was electrifying! @Nelly_Mo on the 1999 St. Louis Rams #NFL100: NFL 100 GREATEST TEAMS on NFL Network pic.twitter.com/NRnlr52AkA, The NFL was growing in popularity in the '60s, which might be why this nickname is still revered by generations of football fans. Not including LB Elijah Norris, DL Abdullah Anderson, and DL Cavon Walker. The late Jim Finks, the former Bears general manager, recruited Earley to move with him from the Vikings to the Bears in 1974. The '80s was a wild time in New York City, and the Jets of that era were an extension of that craziness. It was that internship of sorts that led Fisher into a lengthy coaching career: 1986-90 with the Philadelphia Eagles (defensive backs coach and then defensive coordinator), 1991 with the Los Angeles Rams (defensive coordinator), 1992-93 with the San Francisco 49ers (defensive backs coach) and then the Houston Oilers for the 1994 season as defensive coordinator. Hey! Do you have a blog? The high point of his playing career was returning an interception 28 yards for a touchdown in the Bears' 46-10 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX. But on third and goal, Gary Fencik stuffed a pitch play for a five-yard loss and the Colts' kicker missed a 22-yard-field goal attempt wide left. He lives with his family in Nebraska City, Neb., where he is a successful real estate developer and home builder. Among the best nicknames of the current Bears are Maurice Douglass`. From there, he joined the University of Colorado -- his alma mater -- as an assistant coach, where he remains. [16], This was the Bears last victory at Candlestick Park. The Bears were first in scoring defense, allowing only 198 points in the regular season with an average of allowing only 12.4 points/game, as well as scoring more points than given up. All Rights Reserved. Tight end, 1961-1966Head coach, 1982-1992. Perry, McMichael and Van Horne eventually reported to training camp. My name is Matt and I am an experienced sports writer, anchor, reporter and multimedia journalist! Join our linker program. Led by Klecko's 21.5 sacks, the Jets led the NFL with 66 sacks in 1981. It perfectly summed up the dominance of Buddy Ryan's bunch, but similar to the 1940s, no specific unit officially claimed. 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. Simms was 14/35 for 209 yards while running back Joe Morris, the NFL's regular-season touchdown leader, finished with 32 yards on 12 carries. In their two playoff games against the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams, the Bears outscored their opponents 450 and became the first team to record back-to-back playoff shutouts. He returned to the collegiate ranks in 1993 at Iowa Wesleyan, served with the Detroit Lions from 1994 to '96, was head coach at McPherson College (Kansas) and Wayne State, and even returned briefly to the high school ranks. The 2018 class of undrafted free agents signing with the Bears. But Ryan loved his players and it showed during a meeting on Saturday night before the Super Bowl. He signed with the Bears in the off-season as a free agent. Since retiring, Waechter and his wife have built a successful agricultural supply firm in Grand Island, Neb. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, at When a team wins like that, you become family. Orange Crush: Broncos defense of 1970s led by Lyle Alzado and Randy Gradishar. He was taken in the third round of the 1983 NFL Draft. (Schedule and Results), Playoffs:Won Divisional Round 21-0 vs. New York GiantsWon Conference Championship 24-0 vs. Los Angeles RamsWon Super Bowl 46-10 vs. New England Patriots, Other Notable Asst. The '86 Giants have a claim, but most NFL Experts agree that the NFL's best defense has to be the '85 Bears. Baschnagel and his family live in the Chicago area, where he serves as vice president of corporate sales at North American Corp. in north suburban Glenview. Raiders after eight seasons with the Bears. He was unable to transfer that leadership ability to the helm of the Bears. The selection of Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus in the first round of the 1965 draft remains the only time a team has selected two Hall of Fame players in the first round of one draft. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Krenk was a tight end at Nebraska. Mongo. The song's popularity led to it being #41 on the US Billboard Hot 100,[40] and the song funded $300,000 in profit for the Chicago Community Trust to help needy families in Chicago with clothing, shelter, and food, hence Walter Payton's rap lyric: "now we're not doing this because we're greedy, the Bears are doing it to feed the needy". Well, the Bears have their share of colorful nicknames, a tradition that really took off during the 1985 Super Bowl season. 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. Led by the great Walter Payton, who ran for . The group played a vital role in the Vikings winning the 1969 NFL title, Minnesota's first and last championship. He signed with the Bears in the off-season as a free agent. The nicknames spoke for their personalities: "Danimal . His legendary 42-yard touchdown run put Washington in front to stay. The Jets' lack of postseason success is what ultimately led to them not being higher on this list. McMahon, who completed 12 out of 20 passes for 256 yards, became the first quarterback in a Super Bowl to score 2 rushing touchdowns. No, they weren't the '85 Bears. Matt Lively returns with his profile of the incredible defensive unit that was the 1985 Chicago Bears. Emery and Aaron became the NFL's first father-son duo to have both played in and won Super Bowl games (Emery in 1986 with the Bears and Aaron in 2006 with the Colts). He also can be heard regularly as an analyst on the Bears on WSCR-AM 670. Unique 85 Bears Posters designed and sold by artists. On the next possession, Theismann punted for 1 yard (his only punt in the NFL), and Chicago scored on the very next play to take a 1410 lead, and they cruised from there. The '85 Bears defense was filled with superstars, which added to their must-see TV allure. Fearsome Foursome: Dominant Rams defensive line of 1960s led by Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen. After shutting out their first two playoff opponents, the Bears famously embarrassed the New England Patriots. "Put a chip on your shoulder, and don't let anyone knock it off until we win the super bowl!". It almost had that sort of aura to it," said Ken Valdiserri, the team's longtime PR and marketing director. [42] At that time, Obama called them the greatest team ever; however, he called his own words into question when hosting the 1972 Dolphins, the only NFL team with a perfect season. We're a Grabowski. On the ensuing drive, Walter Payton sealed the victory with a 27-yard touchdown run, putting Chicago up for keeps 1610. The Slaughter won the championship in 2009 but were 6-8 in 2010. Gault continues to pursue an acting/screenwriting/producing career in Hollywood. Still, he got a Super Bowl ring out of his brief stint in Chicago. While the entire unit has been hailed the Steel Curtain, the nickname -- the greatest for a unit in league annals -- was created initially for Pittsburgh's dominant defensive front. ''Kool Mo D'' and Lemuel Stinson`s ''Lemonhead,'' because of his resemblance to the character on the box of Lemonhead candies. After a 15-season NFL career (one year with New England, 13 with the Bears and a final season in 1994 with Green Bay), McMichael spent time as a broadcaster and five years as a pro wrestler. Every NFL hit still carries the fury of the disgraced Indian, prowling the field, seeking justice.. Here are some of the grades they received. Becker, born in west suburban Aurora, was an offensive guard who played for the Bears from 1982-88 and again in 1990 (sandwiched around the 1989 season with the L.A. Rams). and their last win at San Francisco until 2014 at Levi's Stadium. Haupt was a longtime defensive line coach and coordinator. Matt is also the uncle of Penn State quarterback Kevin Suhey. He was the NFL Coach of the Year by the Associated Press in 1985. 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. He remains active with weightlifting and still stops by Halas Hall frequently, where the weight room is named in his honor. He is still immortalized at the infamous Fraser Street Deli in State College, Pa., with a sandwich named in his honor (a lox and cream cheese bagel). Chocolate - This can be one of the bear names as it is also associated with the brown color bear. Chicago finally pulled ahead on a 16-yard Walter Payton TD run near the end of the third quarter, and held on for a 1710 victory. The Steel Curtain obliged, sort of, yielding 17 rushing yards on21 carries. Greenwood, and menacing linemen Dwight White and Ernie Holmes, the unit led the Steelers to their first two Super Bowl wins of the decade. Hartenstine used to work at the infamous Lantern restaurant and bar in Lake Forest and is a frequent participant at sports memorabilia shows and autograph shows. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Today, Morrissey works as a financial consultant and public speaker and also spends time working with the Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. No. He is retired, with the exception of taking part each year in the Texas vs.The Nation game. Friedman spent 21 years as director of video services, filming all games and practices with the Bears from 1974 to 1994 before leaving the team. Page, Eller and Marshall played in four Super Bowls together, but the trio came up short in each game. The irony of the defense's success was that two of the Bears' top defensive players, linebacker Al Harris and strong safety Todd Bell, missed the entire season due to contract disputes. The 1985 Bears defense ranked first in yards allowed and fewest points allowed. 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. Please do buy them through the site, it doesnt cost you anything and you buy everything at Amazon anyway. Hammer'' seems appropriate. Through the NFL's first 102 seasons, several units were so memorable that a nickname was bestowed upon them. The Bears had not allowed 31 points in one half since the 1972 season opener. In promoting Cabral, Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins said, "no one person has had more influence in the success of Colorado football than Brian Cabral.". Our NFL experts rank the ten best team nicknames of all time. Who can forget Iron Mike, Sweetness, The Punky QB, Mongo, Danimal, Samurai Mike, The Fridge, and Butthead? The Rams also showed a growing football audience that hard-hitting, physical football can be as enjoyable to watch as high-scoring affairs. 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. Van Horne lives in the Chicago suburbs and can be found occasionally at sports memorabilia and autograph sessions, as well as being a regular at the annual Bears' fan convention. There was Walter Payton. Miami's bland, yet iconic nickname was born from the Dolphins' perception that they were underrated and under-appreciated. Matt's son Joe marks the fourth generation of Suhey family members who have played football at Penn State. The nickname, which was originally given to the University of Chicago's football team, was unofficially transferred to George Halas' Bears after the school dropped their football program. There were nicknames and dances and SNL skits. 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. The former TCU standout and College Football Hall of Fame member played just one season in the NFL, but what a year it was as the Bears went on to win Super Bowl XX. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. This nickname is more than just awesome. Unfortunately, the somewhat confusing origins of the nickname dropped it a few pegs on this list. 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 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. Since retiring following the 1994 season, Bortz has lived in the north suburbs and spends much of his time with his family, making public appearances and also farming. Michael McCaskey announced in April that he will retire at the end of the 2010 season. Thomas was also involved this year in a joint effort with the Chicago Public Schools to encourage residents to fill out the U.S. Census. He also remains involved in McNeese State athletics. Dent played for the Bears for 10 seasons. 1 / 13 Linebacker, 1981-1992 2 / 13 Center/linebacker, 1920-1932 3 / 13 Quarterback, 1982-1988 4 / 13 Running back, 1965-1971 5 / 13 Tight end, 1961-1966Head coach, 1982-1992 6 / 13 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota, The following week against rival Minnesota, backup quarterback Steve Fuller was called up to take the place of Jim McMahon, who was sidelined with a pinched nerve. Since retiring as a player, he has enjoyed a successful career in commercial real estate in Phoenix, selling more than $3 billion in properties during that time. Reynolds, Bubba Smith, Ed ''Too Tall'' Jones, Gene ''Big Daddy'' Lipscomb, Ted ''Mad Stork'' Hendricks. Having played with the Bears from 1984-87, Marshall is one of the NFL's rare players, winning Super Bowl rings with two teams ('85 Bears and '91 Washington Redskins). Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Pro Football Hall of Fame. [15] Coach Ditka acknowledged feeling crushed when Coach Landry complimented his team after the game. In five seasons, Ryan made the playoffs three years and once lost to the Bears in the NFC Divisional Game in 1988. Matt graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and has worked for outlets like ABC News, Fox Sports Arizona, The Athletic, and many more!You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @mattblively to see all of his work! Hughes passed away in 2000 at the age of 72. . He is permanently disabled because of severe injuries to his spine, knees and shoulders that he sustained in his 12-year NFL career. But don't judge this Creighton team by its soft nickname the Bluejays will not be an easy out in the third round. Simpson to a mere 49 rushing yards in the divisional round. Grogan completed 17 out of 30 passes for 177 yards and 1 touchdown, with 2 interceptions. She goes on trial for those charges Sept. 13. : Jim Dooley (Offensive Consultant), Ted Plumb (Receivers) and Dick Stanfel (Offensive Line), Secretary of the Board of Directors: Virginia Halas McCaskey, Training Camp: UW Platteville (Platteville, Wisconsin), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 2:31PM. For the past four years, Thomas has worked as a coach for Pro Sports Experience, a company owned by the son of former Bears president Jim Finks that runs more than 20 Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps around Chicagoland. Behind the Hogs, "The Diesel" ran for a playoff record 610 yards in four playoff games. The players he dutifully watched over gave him a memorable sendoff: He rode in a limo to and from work on his final day as a member of the Bears organization. Prior to that, Becker spent several years working in youth football programs and camps with the Fox Valley Park District and the Aurora Catholic League. He lives just outside Washington, D.C. Perhaps one of the more prolific yet at times underrated linebackers to play the game, Rivera spent nine seasons with the Bears before eventually embarking on a coaching career that started where he left off as a player, with the Bears, as defensive quality coach (1997-98). Bears backup Steve Fuller then threw a 69-yard pass to Willie Gault, and eventually snuck in for a 1-yard touchdown. He is the longest-serving coach (now at 21 years) of any sport in school history. The Bears struck back with a 7-play, 59-yard drive, featuring a 43-yard pass completion from Jim McMahon to wide receiver Willie Gault, to set up a field goal from Kevin Butler, tying the score 33. A few plays later, McMahon's 27-yard completion to receiver Dennis Gentry moved the ball to the 1-yard line, setting up perhaps the most memorable moment of the game. The Evanston native also has stayed true to his home state of Illinois since retiring from a 12-year NFL career that included three seasons with the New York Giants, one with the Broncos and the final eight with the Bears. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. "Baring Their Teeth,", "Wilber Marshall's return of a fumble against the Los Angeles Rams is an enduring memory of the 1985 Chicago Bears ESPN Chicago", "Just how crazy good was the 1985 Chicago Bears defense? Cup of coffee Bears: "The Red Rifle" Andy Dalton (#73) "Riverboat" Ron Rivera (#47) Marion "The Barbarian" Barber (#41) Craig "Ironhead" Heyward (#20) No doubt many fans will disagree with the placement of some of these Chicago Bears icons on the list. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Consider: Broadway Joe Namath, Mean Joe Greene, Jack ''Hacksaw''. He was returning a kick when he was taken out and never played in another NFL game. Green Bay's Mark Lee and Ken Stills intensified the game after Lee sent Payton over a bench and Stills leveled Matt Suhey. After five years in the NFL -- three with the Bears (1984-86) and the last two with Denver -- Humphries remained in the Mile High City to attend medical school at the University of Colorado-Denver, followed by a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. A track and football star at Oregon State, the former Bears cornerback resides in Temecula, Calif., where he owns "The Speed Doctor," a private training service dedicated to improving speed and conditioning for athletes of all ages in several Southern California counties. The Bears and Nike teamed up with Rello and Joe Freshgoods of Fat Tiger Workshop to open a pop-up shop this weekend featuring an exclusive line of Bears gear at Legacy Made Chicago in West Town. We're family, man. Page was flanked by fellow Hall of Famer Carl Eller, Jim Marshall and Gary Larsen. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. The Bears won their first twelve games of the season before losing to the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football. The nickname made a resurgence with the Bears' Super Bowl run in 1985. They still have reunions and while some players and coaches are no longer with us, they still have a great relationship. [38], After the loss to the Miami Dolphins, most of the team recorded the song The Super Bowl Shuffle (defensive lineman Dan Hampton refused to participate due to the song's arrogance), becoming the first sports team to record a rap song (The 49ers recorded a post-disco song the year before[39]). 2 / 10 [3] The Bears won the NFC Central Division by seven games over the second-place Green Bay Packers and earned the NFC's top seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs at Soldier Field. We present them here for purely educational purposes. McMahon finished the game with 216 passing yards, while running back Walter Payton rushed for 94 yards. . [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. [17], The Bears defeated the Packers on Monday Night Football in a decisive 237 victory, with Perry becoming a folk hero after scoring his first career touchdown on a 1-yard run.[18]. "You're . Thus, Chicago head coach Mike Ditka opted to go for other plays to counter the Patriots defense. After the Bears scored on a Kevin Butler field goal, Marino hit Mark Duper on a crossing pattern for 52 yards. Since 2007 he has coached with the San Diego Chargers, first as linebackers coach and now as defensive coordinator. Mike Ditka set the tone, as he told the team that this was their year. But I remember it as the family in the backyard at the picnic, Steve McMichaels said. 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). Record: 15-1-0, 1st in But nobody else better mess with your family, right?". [25][26], The Bears' defense dominated the game by allowing only 32 rushing yards and sacked Giants quarterback Phil Simms for 60 yards. [10], During training camp, seven players, including Mike Singletary, Steve McMichael, Keith Van Horne and rookie William Perry, were either unsigned or holding out due to their contracts. The 1985 season was the Chicago Bears' 66th in the National Football League (NFL) and their fourth under head coach Mike Ditka. The unit helped turn the Rams from an irrelevant team to a title contender by the end of the decade. For an encore, the Steel Curtain sacked Roger Staubach seven times in Super Bowl X. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. CHI Dennis McKinnon 20-yard pass from Jim McMahon (Kevin Butler kick). But the relationship he had with Buddy Ryan was not great. Patriots coach Raymond Berry then replaced Eason with Steve Grogan to see if he could spark the Patriots offense. There are some teams that are fair-haired; there are some teams that are not fair-haired. Later, the Dolphins would increase their lead to 3110. Chicagobears.com cameras were with Bears great Brian Urlacher before, during and after he received a knock on the door telling him that he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California, Nine months after their humiliating defeat at the hands of the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, the Bears claimed their revenge by sacking Joe Montana a then-career high seven times. Fuller hit Ken Margerum for a 19-yard touchdown, but that would be the last score of the night for the Bears. He's still regarded as one of the greatest offensive linemen in University of Michigan history, starting all 36 games he played with the Wolverines. That charge was overturned on appeal in June and Richardson was released in early August. And now, as the Bears celebrate the 25th anniversary of Chicago's only Super Bowl winners, ESPNChicago.com tracked down the players, coaches and support staff to see what they are doing today. [15] In return for 49ers coach Bill Walshs idea of sending lineman Guy McIntyre in as fullback the season before, Mike Ditka sent in rookie William Perry, but as a runner rather than a blocker. The Bears also dominated Patriots starting running back James, holding him to 1 yard on 5 carries, with 1 fumble. He went to four consecutive Pro Bowls, two Super Bowls and in the 85 season, he had five interceptions. No. Simpson? He finished as the Bears' first or second leading tackler each of his last 11 seasons. Well needless to say, there was something different about that game, and there were some things happen that night, that were really strange. Gault, who turns 50 in September, spent five seasons with the Bears and six with the Raiders before retiring after the 1993 season with 44 touchdown passes in his career. He spent one year with the L.A. He also is on the board of directors of Innovative Designs Inc. A father of six, Baschnagel also takes part in various NFL Charities events. "The public remembers 'The Super Bowl Shuffle' and the shenanigans. Richardson was arrested on drug charges more than 20 times after his playing career and sent to prison for 13 years in 2008 for violating probation. He made 7 interceptions and 12 fumble recoveries. Here's a look at where Bears players ranked on the list, including three players in the top 10. However, the Bears had the last laugh against their hated rival, winning 1610, and Perry scored his first career receiving touchdown along the way. With Mike Ditka at the helm and Buddy Ryan as the defensive coordinator, the Bears were set up to have one of the greatest runs on the defensive side of the ball, ever. This might be the coolest nickname in NFL history. The unit also had historical cultural significance, as the quartet was featured on the cover of Time magazine. 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. Perry held out until August 5, when he signed a four-year, $1.35million contract. From 'The Fridge' to 'Bulldog,' a ranking of the 10 best nicknames in Chicago Bears history, along with a few honorable mentions. In addition to involvement in various charities and businesses (including owning Shaun Gayle LLC, a marketing, promotion and talent representation firm), he has spent the past several seasons as an analyst on NFL broadcasts that air on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom. Chicago's first touchdown resulted on a New York punt attempt from their own 12-yard line. That was probably true, as only one member of that defense -- linebacker Nick Buoniconti -- is in the Hall of Fame. I think it's the same reason people look with disfavor on the Raiders. (Schedule and Results), Playoffs:Won Divisional Round 21-0 vs. New York GiantsWon Conference Championship 24-0 vs. Los Angeles RamsWon Super Bowl 46-10 vs. New England Patriots, Other Notable Asst.

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