The Bears were originally established as the Decatur Staleys by A. E. Staley in Decatur, Illinois. They moved to Chicago in 1921 and became the Bears in 1922.1)
The Bears are one of the two remaining original franchises from the NFL’s founding in 1920 (the other being the Arizona Cardinals).2)
George Halas, nicknamed “Papa Bear,” was the founding father of the Bears. He coached the team for 40 seasons, winning six championships.3)
Halas owned the team for over 60 years and helped shape the NFL. The NFC Championship trophy is named in his honor, the “George Halas Trophy.”4)
The Bears have the 2nd most wins of any NFL franchise in history.5)
Before the Super Bowl era, the Bears won 8 NFL championships. Their ninth championship came with their Super Bowl XX victory in 1985.6)
The nickname “Monsters of the Midway” originally came from the University of Chicago's football team in the 1930s, but it became synonymous with the Bears' intimidating defense in the 1940s.7)
The Bears won their only Super Bowl in 1985, defeating the New England Patriots 46-10, led by coach Mike Ditka and a dominant defense.8)
The '85 Bears defense is widely considered one of the greatest in NFL history, allowing just 198 points in the regular season and recording two playoff shutouts.9)
Hall of Fame running back Walter “Sweetness” Payton is considered one of the greatest players in NFL history. He spent his entire career (1975-1987) with the Bears.10)
At the time of his retirement, Payton held the NFL records for most career rushing yards (16,726), rushing attempts, and touchdowns.11)
The Bears have called Soldier Field home since 1971. The stadium, located in Chicago, is one of the oldest in the NFL.12)
Soldier Field has the smallest seating capacity in the NFL, holding around 61,500 fans after renovations.13)
George Halas and his staff revolutionized football by popularizing the T-formation in the 1940s, which transformed offensive strategies in the NFL.14)
The Bears played in the first NFL game ever televised, on October 22, 1939, against the Philadelphia Eagles.15)
Quarterback Sid Luckman led the Bears to four championships in the 1940s and is widely considered one of the NFL’s first great passers.16)
In the 1940 NFL Championship Game, the Bears beat the Washington Redskins 73-0, still the largest margin of victory in NFL history.17)
Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher was a cornerstone of the Bears defense from 2000 to 2012, earning eight Pro Bowl selections.18)
William “The Refrigerator” Perry, a 335-pound defensive lineman, became famous for scoring a rushing touchdown in Super Bowl XX.19)
During their 1985 Super Bowl run, the Bears recorded “The Super Bowl Shuffle,” a novelty rap song, which became a huge hit and earned a Grammy nomination.20)
George Halas signed Joe Lillard in 1932, who is often credited as one of the first African-American players in modern NFL history.21)
The Bears have retired nine jersey numbers, the most of any NFL team. Some of the numbers include Walter Payton (#34), Dick Butkus (#51), and Mike Ditka (#89).22)
Widely regarded as one of the most feared linebackers in NFL history, Butkus played for the Bears from 1965 to 1973 and was known for his brutal tackling.23)
Nicknamed “The Kansas Comet,” Gale Sayers was one of the most dynamic running backs in NFL history, despite his career being cut short by injuries.24)
The Bears have more Hall of Fame inductees (30) than any other NFL franchise.25)
Several Bears players, including Bronko Nagurski and Red Grange, played both offense and defense in the early days of the NFL.26)
George Halas holds the record for the longest tenure of any coach in NFL history, serving as Bears head coach for 40 seasons.27)
In 2007, Lovie Smith became the first African-American head coach to lead the Bears to a Super Bowl (Super Bowl XLI).28)
The Bears selected the first-ever NFL draft pick in 1936, taking Joe Stydahar, who later became a Hall of Fame tackle.29)
Before they moved to Chicago, the Bears had a fierce rivalry with the Chicago Cardinals (now Arizona Cardinals), who shared the city until the 1960s.30)
The Bears' famous 46 defense, designed by defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, was instrumental in the team's 1985 success.31)
The only person to win an NFL championship with the Bears as both a player (1963) and a coach (1985), Ditka is a Chicago legend.32)
Known as “The Meanest Man in Football,” Sprinkle was a feared defensive end for the Bears from 1944 to 1955.33)
Beattie Feathers of the Bears was the first NFL player to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season (1934).34)
The Bears-Packers rivalry is the longest-running rivalry in NFL history, dating back to 1921.35)
In 2018, the Bears made headlines by trading for star linebacker Khalil Mack, in one of the biggest defensive trades in NFL history.36)
Bears kick returner Devin Hester set an NFL record with a 108-yard touchdown return in 2006.37)
Considered the greatest return specialist in NFL history, Hester holds the record for most return touchdowns in a career.38)
The Bears played in the first-ever Monday Night Football game on September 21, 1970, against the Cleveland Browns.39)
The NFL’s prestigious community service award is named after Walter Payton, honoring his contributions on and off the field.40)
From 1940 to 1960, the Bears led the NFL in defensive rankings 10 times, reflecting their early dominance.41)
In the 1930s and 1940s, the Bears were known for producing some of the greatest linemen, including George Musso and Bulldog Turner.42)
The Bears are known for having a long tradition of great running backs, from Bronko Nagurski to Walter Payton and Matt Forte.43)
The Bears are still owned by the Halas family, with George Halas' granddaughter Virginia Halas McCaskey acting as the principal owner.44)
In recent years, the Bears have committed to rebuilding with young talent, hoping to return to their historic winning ways.45)