T-shirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more, designed and sold by independent artists around the world. 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. On the ensuing drive, Walter Payton sealed the victory with a 27-yard touchdown run, putting Chicago up for keeps 1610. . Ditka was a tight end when he played in the NFL but with the help of Buddy Ryan, the team was considered a defensive team first. After retiring from the NFL, Ortego returned to his native Louisiana and spent many years working for the Lake Charles, La., Public Works Department, most recently as assistant director in the administrative division. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Record: 15-1-0, 1st in He also returned 4 kickoffs for 49 yards. Since retiring, he's become a top investment strategist and advisor for Chicago-based Adams Street Partners, where he is a partner and head of business development. "I couldn't believe, if you look at the '85 team, that Walter Payton was the first person to pass away," said Gary Fencik, a Bears safety from 1976-87. - Jim Harbaugh: Dog. The Punky QB. Some nicknames captured their effectiveness as a unit, while others perfectly depicted their utter dominance. 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. Record: 15-1-0, 1st in Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Pro Football Hall of Fame. McMahon, who completed 12 out of 20 passes for 256 yards, became the first quarterback in a Super Bowl to score 2 rushing touchdowns. Here was the NFL's youngest group, coached by a team legend, that happened to have the greatest defense that football had ever seen up to that point. The 1985 Bears were such a great team and defense that they really were more than that. Combined, Page, Eller and Marshall tallied an astounding 412.5 sacks during their careers. 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). 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. A team's nickname can define an offensive or defensive unit, especially in the NFL. "It was like following The Beatles, quite honestly. (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. : 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. A week later, it limited the Raiders' powerful offense to 29 yards rushing. The Bears then marched 72 yards in 11 plays, moving the ball inside the Patriots 10-yard line. In a student vs teacher matchup, the Bears shut out the Cowboys, handing them the worst loss in franchise history, as well as the first time they were shut out in 15 years. Haupt was a longtime defensive line coach and coordinator. His touchdown made the score 443. Known as "L.A. Mike" with the Bears, the Southern California native dropped out of sight after his playing days, to the point where the Bears didn't know what happened to him for several years. A veteran coach who held positions with seven NFL teams, four colleges and two high schools in a 38-year career, Plumb was an offensive specialist. The 1985 Bears rapped and shuffled their way to a win over New England in Super Bowl XX in 1986 with a colorful cast of characters, perhaps the greatest single-season achievement by any pro sports team in Chicago history. The nicknames spoke for their personalities: "Danimal . 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. He left the team to join his family's auto dealership business in the north suburbs, where he's believed to still live today. "The public remembers 'The Super Bowl Shuffle' and the shenanigans. Rich Cohen wrote the book, Monsters: The 1985 Chicago Bears and the Wild Heart of Football. [19] With the Bears in trouble and trailing 107 in the 4th quarter, a Steve McMichael safety proved to be the key play that turned the game. He spent five years with the Eagles as linebackers coach and returned to the Bears for three seasons as defensive coordinator (2004-06). Since the adoption of the 16-game schedule in 1978, the 1985 Chicago Bears are the only team to score 400 or more points while allowing fewer than 200. [15] Coach Ditka acknowledged feeling crushed when Coach Landry complimented his team after the game. "C'mon, you mothers," Foreman told the group, "give us a yard.". He was the MVP of Super Bowl XX. The defense led the league in points allowed (198), yards allowed (4,135) and takeaways (54), a feat that wouldn't be accomplished again until the 2013 Seattle Seahawks defense. [15] The 198 points allowed were 65 less than the second-most allowed that year, while the point differential of plus-258 is 110 more than the second-ranked differential and the third-highest in NFL history. In promoting Cabral, Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins said, "no one person has had more influence in the success of Colorado football than Brian Cabral.". 178 for 313, 2,392 yards, 15 td, 11 int, & 47 rushes for 252 yards and 3 td, 324 rushes for 1,551 yards, 9 td, & 49 catches for 483 yards and 2 td, 115 rushes for 471 yards, 1 td, & 33 catches for 295 yards and 1 td, 33 catches for 704 yards, 1 td, & 5 rushes for 18 yards and 0 td, 31 catches for 555 yards, 7 td, & 1 rush for yards and 0 td, 6.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 3 fumbles recovered, 8.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered, 5.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered, 17.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered, 10.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered, 3.0 sacks, 1 interception, 3 fumbles recovered, 6.0 sacks, 4 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered, 0.0 sacks, 4 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered, 0.0 sacks, 6 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered, 2.0 sacks, 5 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered, 0.0 sacks, 5 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered. The Super Bowl Shuffle Super Bowl XX Media (4 of 25) Most memorable Super Bowl moments of all time", "1985 Chicago Bears Visit the White House | The White House", "President Obama Honors the 1973 Super Bowl Champion Miami Dolphins", "Bert Bell Award Professional Player of the Year", "Mike Singletary Hired as 49ers Head Coach Yahoo! Fisher missed the 1985 season because of an ankle injury that ultimately led to his retirement after the Super Bowl. Since then, he has served as player liaison/operations assistant, director of player and staff development and co-director of the Bears' training camp operations. After an illustrious playing career with the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Giants, the two-time Pro Bowl selection elected to remain in the game as a coach. He also qualified as a member of the U.S. Olympic bobsled team in 1988. The brains of the operation was Joe Klecko, who earned Pro Bowl selections at four different positions. Warner's 414 passing yards spearheaded the Rams' thrilling 23-16 win over the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. His legendary 42-yard touchdown run put Washington in front to stay. Ditka was a Bears player himself who was hired to bring back greatness to Chicago. It held O.J. In the '85 season, Wilson had 10.5 sacks. Or, how about ''the Assassin,'' Jack Tatum? 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. Legion of Boom: Current Seahawks secondary led by Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas. McMahon finished the game with 216 passing yards, while running back Walter Payton rushed for 94 yards. Led by a fearless leader, the 1985 Chicago Bears are the greatest defense in NFL history. Maness saw limited action in eight games, returning two punts and catching one pass in his brief NFL career. The Rams' offense was the best show on any surface. The nicknames, or in the case of the 2014 Bears, the lack of nicknames. After shutting out their first two playoff opponents, the Bears famously embarrassed the New England Patriots. The '82 unit, a group that included Russ Grimm, Joe Jacoby and Mark May, powered an offense that featured ageless fullback John Riggins. The early '40s Bears were dominant, and the nickname certainly added to their fame. Simpson? His website (thespeeddr.com) touts this: "Ken Taylor will teach you and your muscles to be faster. You couldn't buy a break, it was like a nightmare, when something is happening and youre in the middle of it, and youre thinking this can't be happening, please let this be a dream. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. From 1982-1992 the Bears won six NFC Central titles, had dozens of all All-Pro selections and even more Pro Bowl appearances. Leslie Frazier had a short-lived career, playing from just 1981-1985. Not many nicknames capture the essence of an era and a city much like this one. He retired for good in 1999. During the season, Dent had 17 sacks. None combined complete domination with wild fun like the '85 Bears. Bears quarterback Jim McMahon later threw two touchdown passes in the third quarter, both to Dennis McKinnon. A father of six, Baschnagel also takes part in various NFL Charities events. (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. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Earley remained in Chicago through the 1987 season before retiring back to Maplewood (a suburb of St. Paul) in his native Minnesota. . 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. "[30], The Bears defense dominated the game by limiting Rams running back Eric Dickerson to 46 yards, and holding quarterback Dieter Brock to 10 out of 31 completions for 66 passing yards. - Mike Ditka: MD, the Doctor. [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. Perhaps the most heart-breaking story of any player on the Super Bowl Bears, Richardson's life dramatically spiraled downward after his playing career ended in 1989 with San Francisco (he spent 1983-88 with the Bears). 1; Cards have top 2, Best, worst, most interesting pick for all, Six things that experts got wrong about the NFL Draft, Undrafted free agent tracker: Team-by-team list of signings, How much Will Levis' fall to Round 2 will end up costing, Bills sign the Broncos' leading rusher from 2022, Washington offensive line, 1980s/early '90s. The list below goes over the cute bear names we love. There are some teams that are fair-haired; there are some teams that are not fair-haired. In the fourth quarter, defensive lineman Richard Dent forced Brock to fumble, and linebacker Wilber Marshall picked up the loose ball and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown. Since retiring, Waechter and his wife have built a successful agricultural supply firm in Grand Island, Neb. [15] Shortly after the game and the flight back to Chicago, Ditka was arrested for DWI. And you know how you are with your family. The Steel Curtain obliged, sort of, yielding 17 rushing yards on21 carries. He used to be an offensive lineman. The win also gave the Bears the NFC Central division title. That tenure included stops at Notre Dame, Cal, the Philadelphia Eagles, the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints before he initially wrapped up his coaching career with the Bears. 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. ''Kool Mo D'' and Lemuel Stinson`s ''Lemonhead,'' because of his resemblance to the character on the box of Lemonhead candies. This might be the coolest nickname in NFL history. Week 4 saw Chicago trailing 10-0 early to the Joe Theismann-led Washington Redskins. The late Jim Finks, the former Bears general manager, recruited Earley to move with him from the Vikings to the Bears in 1974. They may be under-represented in Canton, Ohio, but the Dolphins' "No Name" defense has a unique place in NFL history as the only unit that did not lose a game for an entire season. With only 24 spots in each NFL team's Inner Circle at the 2023 NFL Draft, some of the Bears most loyal fans detailed their exciting experiences of being some of the select few just feet away from one of the sport's biggest stages. Unique 85 Bears Posters designed and sold by artists. Please do buy them through the site, it doesnt cost you anything and you buy everything at Amazon anyway. In a lot of ways the team's ability to enjoy themselves is what made the '85 Bears Super Bowl run so legendary, McMichael said. Roland spent 10 years with the Bears, primarily as running backs coach, before moving on to similar positions with the New York Jets, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints. 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. It perfectly summed up the dominance of Buddy Ryan's bunch, but similar to the 1940s, no specific unit officially claimed the nickname, even though it is largely attributed to the '85 Bears defense. But the "Monsters of the Midway" moniker didn't allude to a particular unit during that point in time. New England took the ensuing kickoff and ran one play before the first quarter ended, which resulted in positive yardage for the first time in the game (a 3-yard run by James). Hammer'' seems appropriate. . He has a coaching record of 136-110 and is 5-6 in postseason play, including a loss to the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. The unit was at its apex during the 1974 playoffs. The nickname made a resurgence with the Bears' Super Bowl run in 1985. What a way to go out. Sanders serves on the coaching staff of St. Charles-based Junior Rank, one of the nation's top youth-athlete talent evaluation services. Jim Thorpe is the spirit of the game. . All rights reserved. Chicago quarterback Jim McMahon scored on a 16-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and later threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Willie Gault in the third quarter. Here is a rundown on the Bear players and their pet nicknames: - Mike Singletary: Samurai. He still competes in Masters athletics events, setting records in the 45- to 49-year-old age group in recent years in the 100 and 200 meters. After a post-playing career in business, a chance offer to become running backs coach for the then-XFL's Chicago Enforcers in 2000 wound up ultimately changing Gentry's life. 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. 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). Goldie - Can be a nickname for grizzly bear in reference to its Golden Color. 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. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. Senior writer Larry Mayer ranks the top 10 games of Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher's career with the Bears. He ended his career with single-season stints with Houston, Arizona and the New York Jets (1993-95). They recorded two shutouts and dominated offenses that came at them. The Bears had not allowed 31 points in one half since the 1972 season opener. Fuller hit Ken Margerum for a 19-yard touchdown, but that would be the last score of the night for the Bears. Not only did the Bears improve on that record, but they also put together one of the greatest seasons in NFL history. . He played with Chicago through 1986 before ending his career with a brief stint with the Redskins in 1987. That attention to detail caught the eyes of the Detroit Lions, who hired Gentry in 2001 as a scout. The Jets' lack of postseason success is what ultimately led to them not being higher on this list. He was considered the Bears most intimidating player. Prior to that, he served with several teams, including head coach from 1959 to '66 at the University of Arizona, which featured a 15-1-1 streak early in his tenure. 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. He went to four consecutive Pro Bowls, two Super Bowls and in the 85 season, he had five interceptions. It also brought about the fact that the Bears solidified their position as THE team in town.". A native of Pardeeville, Wis., Bortz had a standout career at offensive guard, playing 12 seasons for the Bears, earning two Pro Bowl appearances. Plumb performed the Heimlich maneuver. They also ranked #2 behind only the Dolphins on the 100 greatest teams of all time presented by the NFL on its 100th anniversary. Even though he was listed on the 1985 roster, he did not play because of injuries and eventually retired. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. He was named head coach in 1968 when legendary team patriarch and founder George S. Halas retired from coaching at the age of 73. The Bears have assigned uniform numbers to their 10 picks in this year's draft, beginning with first-round selection Darnell Wright, who will wear No. Among the best nicknames of the current Bears are Maurice Douglass`. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE 2014 BEARS? The oldest grandchild of George Halas was known as a business and management expert prior to joining the Bears as team president in 1983 following Halas' death. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. A journeyman linebacker who previously played with Atlanta and Green Bay, Cabral spent his final six seasons as a pro with the Bears. He lives with his family in Nebraska City, Neb., where he is a successful real estate developer and home builder. He was considered the Bears most intimidating player. 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, Phillips has worked as a real estate agent and investor and also owns Home Court Properties (formerly Reggie Phillips Properties) in his native Houston. "There's nothing like it, nothing that I think could ever be replicated in professional sports. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The Rams also showed a growing football audience that hard-hitting, physical football can be as enjoyable to watch as high-scoring affairs. He lost the team presidency following a botched attempt to hire former Bears assistant coach Dave McGinnis, prompting team patriarch Ed McCaskey to not only issue a personal apology to McGinnis, but also ultimately "promote" Michael to the essentially powerless position as the team's chairman. 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. Join our linker program. Miami's bland, yet iconic nickname was born from the Dolphins' perception that they were underrated and under-appreciated. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The star of the unit, Mark Gastineau, was a hard-charging, gregarious player who recorded a then-NFL-record 22 sacks in 1984. Do you have a sports website? Bart - This is a Hebrew name that means furrow. Kicker Kevin Butler kicked a 34-yard field goal in the first period. Steel Curtain: Steelers defensive line of 1970s that included "Mean Joe" Greene. From there, he joined the University of Colorado -- his alma mater -- as an assistant coach, where he remains. After an eight-year playing career as an offensive guard with the Lions and Redskins, Stanfel went on to enjoy a long career in coaching. - Dick Chapura: Tank. 59. 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 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). After Matt Forte announced his retirement Wednesday, ChicagoBears.com ranked the running back's 10 best games with the Bears. The story of the 1981 New York #Jets, the "Talk of the Town." He enters his 40th season coaching football this year, a career that has taken him across the country to several posts as an assistant and head coach. He also coached at Utah and Wake Forest and with the Buffalo Bills. Grogan completed 17 out of 30 passes for 177 yards and 1 touchdown, with 2 interceptions. Otis Wilson was the Bears first-round pick of the 1980 NFL Draft. "When I think of it, I think of it fondly and with a lot of adoration to the people that were part of it.