Kicker Kevin Butler kicked a 34-yard field goal in the first period. The Rams are a Smith. Mike Singletary talks '85 Bears, Walter Payton on GMFB The unit, despite losing Salaam after the '83 season, led the Jets to back-to-back playoff appearances in 1985-86. Bell played for $77,000 the year before, and made the 1985 Pro Bowl roster, but asked for $950,000 annually, which would have made him the highest-paid player on the team. [4][5] In 2007, the 1985 Bears were ranked as the second greatest Super Bowl championship team on the NFL Network's documentary series America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions, ranking behind only the 1972 Dolphins. He moved to the Bears (his longest tenure, 11 seasons, from 1982 to '92), where he served in a variety of roles including special teams coach, defensive assistant, tight ends coach and assistant to the head coach. On 3rd and 7, he connected with Mark Clayton for 26 yards down to the Bears 1-yard line. His website (thespeeddr.com) touts this: "Ken Taylor will teach you and your muscles to be faster. After retiring from the NFL, Suhey, who resides with his family in the northern suburbs, became an investment banker and has served as executor of Payton's estate since his death in 1999. But Grogan could only lead them to the 37-yard line and they decided to punt rather than risk a 55-yard field goal attempt. It is widely believed that Ryan wanted to be the man to take over the reins but was passed over. Mike Richardson; ''Punky QB'' Jim McMahon; ''The Bermuda Triangle'' of Mike Singletary, Otis Wilson and Wilber Marshall; the recently departed ''Double-D'' Dave Duerson and, of course, ''Sweetness,'' Walter Payton. Do you have a sports website? The 1985 season was the Chicago Bears' 66th in the National Football League (NFL) and their fourth under head coach Mike Ditka. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. "You're . 59. Kobe was taken too soon, but written in history forever, The sports that people play and watch the most, "The more often you have pushed the boundaries in practice, the easier it is to push that crucial bit harder and longer in matches. The unit helped turn the Rams from an irrelevant team to a title contender by the end of the decade. He also returned 4 kickoffs for 49 yards. Long a student of the arts even during his playing days, Gault went on to pursue an acting and modeling after hanging up his cleats. A team comprised of legends.The 1974 #Steelers take #43 in the #NFL100 Greatest Teams countdown. 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. Put another way, the 119 penalties the '85 Bears recorded in 19 games were fewer than what 25 percent of the league did in 16 contests this season. 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). It's the offseason, and while you're probably itching to read yet another Aaron Rodgers story, we invite you to check out our ranking our the top unit nicknames in NFL history. Before you do, here's the criteria we used when putting our list together. He spent the next 10 years in a variety of jobs, including one season as linebackers coach with Buffalo, and served as an assistant coach in the short-lived World Football League, as well as in private business. Perry held out until August 5, when he signed a four-year, $1.35million contract. Here is a rundown on the Bear players and their pet nicknames: - Mark Bortz: Bortzilla (as in Godzilla). In the Super Bowl XX preview, the Bears defense was able to find their groove by forcing 4 turnovers on New England, and allowing them to only score a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The nickname made a resurgence with the Bears' Super Bowl run in 1985. Leslie Frazier had a short-lived career, playing from just 1981-1985. "This is Speedy Willy and I'm world-class," Gault rapped in the Super Bowl Shuffle, which he helped organize. It held O.J. 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. After the ensuing kickoff, New England lost 13 yards in 3 plays and had to punt again, but got the ball back with great field position when defensive back Raymond Clayborn recovered a fumble from Suhey at their own 46-yard line. Find out more. The former University of Texas standout was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on July 17. Dooley spent almost his entire pro football career as a player, coach and administrator with the Bears. After both teams traded punts, Richard Dent and linebacker Wilber Marshall shared a sack on Eason, forcing a fumble that lineman Dan Hampton recovered on the Patriots 13-yard line. High quality 85 Bears-inspired gifts and merchandise. Join our linker program. He played 12 seasons in Chicago before spending his final year with Minnesota in 1987. The late Jim Finks, the former Bears general manager, recruited Earley to move with him from the Vikings to the Bears in 1974. Consider: Broadway Joe Namath, Mean Joe Greene, Jack ''Hacksaw''. [15] Coach Ditka acknowledged feeling crushed when Coach Landry complimented his team after the game. 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. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Well needless to say, there was something different about that game, and there were some things happen that night, that were really strange. This cut the lead to 10-7 and importantly, on the play, Washington's punter injured his knee and was sidelined for the remainder of the game. Greenwood, and menacing linemen Dwight White and Ernie Holmes, the unit led the Steelers to their first two Super Bowl wins of the decade. 60. He played with Chicago through 1986 before ending his career with a brief stint with the Redskins in 1987. [32] However, if one views the game and watches the Patriots' defense, it is clear that their primary goal was stopping Payton and he frequently had three and four defenders keyed on him on nearly every play. He was the first player to sign with the short-lived USFL (1983-85), where he played for two seasons before coming to terms with the Bears for a short NFL career (1985-86). Princeton vs. Creighton odds, prediction, betting trends for 2023 March Green Bay's Mark Lee and Ken Stills intensified the game after Lee sent Payton over a bench and Stills leveled Matt Suhey. 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. 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! Just start with all of the nicknames. Chicago's first touchdown resulted on a New York punt attempt from their own 12-yard line. He founded and chairs the Tony Dorsett/McGuire Memorial Celebrity Golf Outing that to date has raised nearly $5 million to help 90 severely handicapped and mentally challenged residents that reside in the McGuire Home. Has been involved in several business ventures since retiring, including his current job as a real estate developer in Wisconsin and Illinois. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Even though he was listed on the 1985 roster, he did not play because of injuries and eventually retired. NFC Central Division 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. Olsen is flanked in Canton by Jones, who tallied 173.5 sacks during his legendary career. 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. The nicknames, or in the case of the 2014 Bears, the lack of nicknames. FIRST ROW: Steve Fuller (4), Kevin Butler (6), Maury Buford (8), Jim McMahon (9), Mike Tomczak (18), Thomas Sanders (20), Leslie Frazier (21), Dave Duerson (22), Shaun Gayle (23), Jeff Fisher (24), SECOND ROW: Jerry Vainisi, Matt Suhey (26), Mike Richardson (27), Dennis Gentry (29), Ken Taylor (31), Calvin Thomas (33), Walter Payton (34), Gary Fencik (45), Reggie Phillips (48), Mike Singletary (50), Jim Morrissey (51), Michael McCaskey, THIRD ROW: Pete McGrane, Cliff Thrift (52), Dan Rains (53), Brian Cabral (54), Otis Wilson (55), Tom Thayer (57), Wilber Marshall (58), Ron Rivera (59), Tom Andrews (60), Mark Bortz (62), Jay Hilgenberg (63), Henry Waechter (70), Ray Earley, FOURTH ROW: Brian McCaskey, Andy Frederick (71), William Perry (72), Mike Hartenstine (73), Jim Covert (74), Stefan Humphries (75), Steve McMichael (76), Keith Van Horne (78), Kurt Becker (79), Tim Wrightman (80), James Maness (81), Ken Margerum (82), Gary Haeger, FIFTH ROW: Fred Caito, Willie Gault (83), Brian Bashnagel (84), Dennis McKinnon (85), Brad Anderson (86), Emery Moorehead (87), Pat Dunsmore (88), Mitch Krenk (89), Richard Dent (95), Keith Ortego (96), Tyrone Keys (98), Dan Hampton (99), Clyde Emrich, SIXTH ROW: Mike Ditka, Ted Plumb, Ed Hughes, Dale Haupt, Jim LaRue, Johnny Roland, Steve Kazor, Dick Stanfel, Buddy Ryan, Jim Dooley. The Bears had not allowed 31 points in one half since the 1972 season opener. But don't judge this Creighton team by its soft nickname the Bluejays will not be an easy out in the third round. Combined, Page, Eller and Marshall tallied an astounding 412.5 sacks during their careers. [41], In 2011, the Bears made their visit to the White House, 25 years after their originally intended visit was cancelled due to the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, as former President Barack Obama is a Bears fan. 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. 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). A look behind the scenes during the recent photo shoot at Halas Hall for the 2018 season. One play turned the game, a 99-yard kickoff return by Willie Gault. The loss to the Dolphins would be the only loss the Bears would suffer that season, as they finished with a 151 record. Since retiring from coaching, he has owned and operated radio stations and founded Reel EZ Display, a Chicago-based company. 10. That's a total of 26.5 sacks for the starting defensive line alone in 1985. There was Walter Payton. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. No. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The Jets' lack of postseason success is what ultimately led to them not being higher on this list. Washington's powerful offensive line paved the way to three titles and four Super Bowl appearances. From there, he joined the University of Colorado -- his alma mater -- as an assistant coach, where he remains. [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. 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. The Bears became the first team in history to go through the playoffs without allowing a point after they defeated the Giants 21-0 and Rams 24-0. ", The evolution and history of the Nike AF-1, The heaviest punchers in boxing history!, The only list youll need to get started or get back into Tennis, Get moving, feel healthier and feel better, The 5 most successful sportspeople ever, Player was the worlds most travelled athlete, and pretty good at golf too, "The Pro Kabaddi league has almost 200 million viewers in 100 countries", His time at Inter was destroyed by injuries, We are interested in all sports, no matter how obscure. Record: 15-1-0, 1st in At 32, Hartenstine was one of the older veterans on the '85 Bears. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE 2014 BEARS? The Joliet native has not strayed far from his roots: He is one of many members from the '85 Bears that continue to reside full-time in the Chicagoland area. Miami's bland, yet iconic nickname was born from the Dolphins' perception that they were underrated and under-appreciated. During the season, Dent had 17 sacks. 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). The New York Stock Exchange had plenty of style, they also had substance. The 1985 season was the team's cheerleading squad Chicago Honey Bears' final season with the team, as team owner Virginia Halas McCaskey eventually severed all ties with them. 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. [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. As the 2018 preseason comes to a close, take a look at the regular-season schedule with a unique take on this year's opponents. From 1982-1992 the Bears won six NFC Central titles, had dozens of all All-Pro selections and even more Pro Bowl appearances. Hogs: Nickname given to Redskins offensive line in 1980s led by Russ Grimm. It was the Bears' first NFL Championship title since 1963 and their most recent championship. Led by two-time MVP Kurt Warner, 2000 league MVP Marshall Faulk, receivers Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Az-Zahir Hakim, and offensive lineman Orlando "Pancake" Pace, the Rams led the NFL in scoring each season from 1999-01. All rights reserved. 54: 1982 @Redskins, @SuperBowl XVII Champions #HTTR: #NFL100 Greatest Teams on @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/pHZUq8wlc4. As of February, 1, 2021, this was the last time the Bears had two 100-yard rushers in a game.[20]. 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. and their last win at San Francisco until 2014 at Levi's Stadium. And you know how you are with your family. [31], at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. Clyde Emrich, weightlifting/strength coach. Now, he's known as Dr. Stefan G. Humphries, MD. Many believe that the 1985 Bears are the greatest defense ever and will never be touched again. Join our linker program. The @RamsNFL Fearsome Foursome More #NFL100 rewinds now streaming on @TIDAL: https://t.co/HdqaOJGkN4 pic.twitter.com/LKgU96jMRY. He now owns Forest Technology and Installations in north suburban Lake Forest. He is in his 10th season with the Lions in that role. Greene had an interception and a fumble recovery, while White recorded the first safety in Super Bowl history. What's the difference between the 85' Bears and the 2014 Bears (besides obviously winning the Super Bowl)? [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]. The season the New York Sack Exchange cemented itself and the organization finally made it back to the playoffs. Our NFL experts rank the ten best team nicknames of all time. 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. Although Krenk's official statistics say he spent just one season in the NFL -- with the Bears in 1984 -- he still earned a Super Bowl ring for spending the 1985 season on injured reserve. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Hughes spent nearly 40 years in football as a player and coach. Bears veteran players and coaches took a trip to Top Golf for a team outing on Thursday, enjoying the driving range, mini golf and other games. Raiders after eight seasons with the Bears. - Jim Harbaugh: Dog. 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. Before the Cowboys were branded as "America's Team," their defense was given one of the greatest nicknames ever. - Jim Morrissey: Smells. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Miami allowed just one touchdown in Super Bowl VIII, as Miami's defense played a massive role in the Dolphins going a combined 32-2 during the '72-73 seasons. Olsen's contributions to the Rams earned him a spot in the Hall of Fame. A nickname that really hasn't faded over time. 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. The Bears had Richard Dent, Otis Wilson, Steve McMichael, Leslie Frazier, Mike Singletary, Dave Duerson and Gary Fencik. Big Hitters: The Hardest Hitters In Boxing History, Tennis Equipment 101: Ultimate Guide to Essential Tennis Gear and How to Choose it, Mindful Movement: Best Exercises to Elevate Your Mental Health, The Greatest (Most Successful) Athletes of All-Time, 6 Potential Debutants at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo at Inter Milan Where Genius Met Tragedy. We are an Amazon Affiliate partner and as such receive commission payments if you buy items through the site. The Sackman. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Andrews' NFL career was brief, spending two seasons with the Bears (1984-85) and one with Seattle (1986). Chicago then drove to the 3-yard line, but had to settle for another field goal from Butler after rookie defensive lineman William "Refrigerator" Perry was tackled for a 1-yard loss while trying to throw his first NFL pass on a halfback option play. Steve McMichael: McMichael played for the Bears from 1981-1993. The Bears won their first twelve games of the season before losing to the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football. She goes on trial for those charges Sept. 13. Named after the hit 1950s song, the Vikings' defensive line was perfectly personified by its incredibly awesome nickname. He ended his career with single-season stints with Houston, Arizona and the New York Jets (1993-95). Bears or Bulls: Which team was Chicago's most dominant of the last 50 The former Drake standout played just two seasons with the Bears before he retired. FIFTH ROW: Fred Caito, Willie Gault (83), Brian Bashnagel (84), Dennis McKinnon (85), Brad Anderson (86), Emery Moorehead (87), Pat Dunsmore (88), Mitch Krenk (89), Richard Dent (95), Keith. His touchdown made the score 443. The year before they were 10-4. He is retired, with the exception of taking part each year in the Texas vs.The Nation game. Pro Football Hall of Fame. Bears backup Steve Fuller then threw a 69-yard pass to Willie Gault, and eventually snuck in for a 1-yard touchdown. The Broncos' 1977 AFC Championship run was fueled by an aggressive defense that boasted five Pro Bowlers: defensive end Lyle Alzado, linebackers Randy Gradishar and Tom Jackson, cornerback Louis Wright and safety Bill Thompson. Behind the Hogs, "The Diesel" ran for a playoff record 610 yards in four playoff games. No. The former Penn State standout could play left and right defensive end. Football seems to lend itself to exotic, crazy, zany nicknames. 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. "That's what the '85 Bears had." ROAD TO SUPER BOWL 50: A Colts fan on why Indy is pulling for Peyton Even in the '80s, the golden age of sports nicknames, it's hard to remember a team with. He made 7 interceptions and 12 fumble recoveries. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Take a look at some of the best photos of former Bears players wearing the team's orange jerseys from 2004-2011. He was named to his current position as senior director of business development in 2001.