[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. ChicagoBears.com takes a look back at the complete 1985 team roster that finished 15-1 in the regular season and moved on to win Super Bowl XX. A native of Pardeeville, Wis., Bortz had a standout career at offensive guard, playing 12 seasons for the Bears, earning two Pro Bowl appearances. Chocolate - This can be one of the bear names as it is also associated with the brown color bear. There were nicknames and dances and SNL skits. He was a wide receiver from 1952 to '61 before becoming an assistant coach, seeing at different times roles as wide receivers coach and defensive coordinator. Rookies from the Bears 2018 draft class arrive at Halas Hall to be fitted for their gear and sign contracts before this weekend's rookie minicamp. Here is a rundown on the Bear players and their pet nicknames: - Mark Bortz: Bortzilla (as in Godzilla). 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. He also returned 4 kickoffs for 49 yards. ", 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. "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. Their 36-point margin of victory also topped the 29-point margin of victory that the Raiders recorded over the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVIII. With future Hall of Famer Mike Singletary (#50) flanked by the supremely athletic Wilber Marshall (#58) and Otis Wilson (#55), the linebacking unit ranked in at #5 of the greatest linebacking corps in NFL history in NFL Top 10. He had frequent clashes with team management and coaches, particularly GM Jerry Vainisi and coach Mike Ditka, which led to his eventual firing of them. In the '85 season, Wilson had 10.5 sacks. Washington's powerful offensive line paved the way to three titles and four Super Bowl appearances. Led by two-time Defensive Player of the Year Joe Greene, perennial Pro Bowler L.C. 89: Mike Ditka - 'Iron Mike Ditka' Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports No. A journeyman linebacker who previously played with Atlanta and Green Bay, Cabral spent his final six seasons as a pro with the Bears. Greatest Offense of all time, the 1999 St. Louis Rams. [43], Assisted the coaches from the coaching booth, National Football League Defensive Player of the Year Award, "ESPN.com Page2 Greatest NFL teams of all time", "100 Greatest Teams: Numbers 100-1 SUPERCUT", "1985 Bears Voted Best Super Bowl Winner", "Bears lighten their load, drop 'Refrigerator' Perry '86 Super Bowl star lost job as starter PRO FOOTBALL Baltimore Sun", "Chicago Bears' 1985 Super Bowl championship turns 25 this year: Les Frazier, Walter Payton fuel Week 1 win over Tampa Bay Buccaneers ESPN Chicago", "Hey-Let's check out the Viking Miracle (McMahon owns the Vikings)", "Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears: A Look Back at the NFL's Oldest Rivalry", "When was last time Bears allowed 2 100-yard rushers? . 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! 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. "People get destroyed on the field, lives end. The Cowboys' original "Doomsday" defense led the franchise to its first Super Bowl win. [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]). He remained with the Bears through 1989, then played with Philadelphia in 1990 and '91 before retiring. Perry held out until August 5, when he signed a four-year, $1.35million contract. Riggins and the Hogs dominated Super Bowl XVII. This might be the coolest nickname in NFL history. The 1985 Chicago Bears are one of the few teams to consistently challenge the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins for the unofficial title of the greatest NFL team of all time. I mean balls ricocheting off guys heads and flying into receivers hands. Join our linker program. 10. [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. His touchdown made the score 443. "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. 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. The quote was from Vikings Pro Bowl running back Chuck Foreman during Super Bowl IX. That attention to detail caught the eyes of the Detroit Lions, who hired Gentry in 2001 as a scout. He was the Super Bowl MVP. The 2018 class of undrafted free agents signing with the Bears. 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. Record: 15-1-0, 1st in [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. It also continued to popularize the NFL while showcasing the personalities of the players who dominated the sport. At the end of his tenure, the Bears had a 6-6 record in the postseason. Perry, McMichael and Van Horne eventually reported to training camp. 58. He also remains involved in McNeese State athletics. This led to a strained relationship. A lifelong avid outdoorsman, Wrightman purchased the 190-acre Lazy Bear ranch in Weiser, Idaho, considered one of the best hunting and fishing resorts in the country, which he still operates today. The former McNeese State standout spent three seasons in the NFL, all with the Bears. Greatest Show on Turf: Explosive Rams teams led by Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner. Dooley passed away in January 2008, one month shy of his 78th birthday. But Ryan loved his players and it showed during a meeting on Saturday night before the Super Bowl. It was the Bears' first NFL Championship title since 1963 and their most recent championship. A team comprised of legends.The 1974 #Steelers take #43 in the #NFL100 Greatest Teams countdown. Top 10: Best NFL Nicknames With the Monsters of the Midway set to host the Steelers (whose defense was known as the Steel Curtain in the 1970s), senior writer Larry Mayer ranks his top 10 favorite NFL nicknames. For an NFL team today, 104 penalties in a 16-game season is not much to scoff at. He was promoted to his current position of associate head coach/linebackers coach in 2008. 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. His website (thespeeddr.com) touts this: "Ken Taylor will teach you and your muscles to be faster. Ultimately Payton was the Bears' leading rusher during the game, but the Patriots defense held him to only 61 yards on 22 carries, with his longest run being only 7 yards. However, Mike Ditka lured Stanfel out of retirement to join him with the Saints for the second time in Stanfel's career. Caito spent more than 30 years as a trainer on the collegiate and NFL levels, primarily with the Bears. Since leaving the Bears, Caito has kept busy as fitness coordinator and trainer at the Niles Family Fitness Center in north suburban Niles. 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. The nicknames, or in the case of the 2014 Bears, the lack of nicknames. However, after an unimpressive showing at training camp, defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan tabbed Perry as a "wasted draft-pick". It almost had that sort of aura to it," said Ken Valdiserri, the team's longtime PR and marketing director. Haeger spent more than a decade with the Bears as assistant and eventually head equipment manager. He is expected to be one of the top candidates to start at fullback for the Nittany Lions this season. The group is legendary on and off the field, and it ended with a Super Bowl . 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. He spent five years with the Eagles as linebackers coach and returned to the Bears for three seasons as defensive coordinator (2004-06). Patriots coach Raymond Berry then replaced Eason with Steve Grogan to see if he could spark the Patriots offense. : 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. His tenure with Indy ironically culminated with a Super Bowl XLI win over the Bears, earning him a second Super Bowl ring. Hughes passed away in 2000 at the age of 72. Singletary tied a Super Bowl record with 2 fumble recoveries. 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. His legendary 42-yard touchdown run put Washington in front to stay. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 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. A world-class runner and hurdler, he qualified for the 1980 men's Olympic track team, but the U.S. boycotted those games in Moscow. The former Penn State standout could play left and right defensive end. And you know how you are with your family. Howard Angus: Being a World Champion at two sports as an amateur! A few of them were just fun and creative while being more of a reflection of the fan base than of the actual unit. Marshall sued the NFL Players Association over total disability benefits and eventually won his case in 2008, but not before he was forced to declare bankruptcy. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Raiders after eight seasons with the Bears. 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. This allowed the rest of the Bears' offense far more opportunities to score than had the Patriots employed a more balanced defense. 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. He made 7 interceptions and 12 fumble recoveries. 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. 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). CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | The 1985 Bears were such a great team and defense that they really were more than that. 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 most iconic version of the Hogs was the unit that was first given the nickname. 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. 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. A week later, it limited the Raiders' powerful offense to 29 yards rushing. - Dick Chapura: Tank. He still resides in the area and is beginning his third season as associate head coach at Marmion Academy, a college-prep school in Aurora. LaRue spent 16 years with the Bears as secondary coach. 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. He still walks with a limp. Hammer'' seems appropriate. [35] Coupled with a solid backfield anchored by safeties Gary Fencik (FS) and Dave Duerson (22), and a defensive line that included future Hall of Famers Richard Dent (#95) and Dan "Danimal" Hampton (#99), along with the gritty Steve McMichael (#76) and breakout media superstar rookie, William "The Refrigerator" Perry (#72), the Bears were famous (or infamous) for getting to the quarterback early and often and completely disrupting their opponent's offensive game plans. Guaranteed.". One of the best centers to ever play the game, Hilgenberg was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time first-team All-Pro. What a way to go out. The Bears then scored in the third quarter, but any momentum they gained was lost when Butler muffed the ensuing kickoff, which Dolphins rookie Alex Moyer recovered at the Bears 46. "You're . 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.