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RetroSeasons recaps past sports seasons through stories, photos, videos, and stats from every team, league, and stadium in history. Coverage includes the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, as well as vintage media from defunct teams and leagues.
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Chicago Bears logo

Chicago Bears
Seasons 1919-2021 (103 seasons)

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Teams Chicago Bears 1934-chicago-bears-game-program Seasons

Recap

Originally named the Decatur Staleys, the club was established by the A. E. Staley food starch company of Decatur, Illinois as a company team. This was the typical start for several early professional football franchises. The company hired George Halas and Edward "Dutch" Sternaman in 1920 to run the team. The 1920 Decatur Staleys season was their inaugural regular season completed in the newly formed American Professional Football Association (later renamed the National Football League (NFL) in 1922).

Full control of the team was turned over to Halas and Sternaman in 1921. Official team and league records cite Halas as the founder as he took over the team in 1920 when it became a charter member of the NFL.

The team relocated to Chicago in 1921, where the club was renamed the Chicago Staleys. Under an agreement reached by Halas and Sternaman with Staley, Halas purchased the rights to the club from Staley for US$100.

In 1922, Halas changed the team name from the Staleys to the Bears. The team moved into Wrigley Field, which was home to the Chicago Cubs baseball franchise. As with several early NFL franchises, the Bears derived their nickname from their city's baseball team (some directly, some indirectly – like the Bears, whose young are called "cubs"). Halas liked the bright orange-and-blue colors of his alma mater, the University of Illinois, and the Bears adopted those colors as their own, albeit in a darker shade of each (the blue is Pantone 5395, navy blue, and the orange is Pantone 1665, similar to burnt orange).

The Staleys/Bears dominated the league in the early years. Their rivalry with the Chicago Cardinals, the oldest in the NFL (and a crosstown rival from 1920 to 1959), was key in four out of the first six league titles. During the league's first six years, the Bears lost twice to the Canton Bulldogs (who took two league titles over that span), and split with their crosstown rival Cardinals (going 4–4–2 against each other over that span), but no other team in the league defeated the Bears more than a single time. During that span, the Bears posted 34 shutouts.

The Bears' rivalry with the Green Bay Packers is one of the oldest and most storied in American professional sports, dating back to 1921 (the Green Bay Packers were an independent team until they joined the NFL in 1921). In one infamous incident that year, Halas got the Packers expelled from the league in order to prevent their signing a particular player, and then graciously got them re-admitted after the Bears had closed the deal with that player.

Close
Season Overviews Seasons List
2021 Chicago Bears Season
2021 Chicago Bears
6-11 (.353)
Missed Playoffs
2020 Chicago Bears Season
2020 Chicago Bears
8-8 (.500)
Lost Wild Card Game
2019 Chicago Bears Season
2019 Chicago Bears
8-8 (.500)
Missed Playoffs
2018 Chicago Bears Season
2018 Chicago Bears
12-4 (.750)
Lost Wild Card Game
2017 Chicago Bears Season
2017 Chicago Bears
5-11 (.313)
Missed Playoffs
2016 Chicago Bears Season
2016 Chicago Bears
3-13 (.188)
Missed Playoffs
2015 Chicago Bears Season
2015 Chicago Bears
6-10 (.375)
Missed Playoffs
2014 Chicago Bears Season
2014 Chicago Bears
5-11 (.313)
Missed Playoffs
2013 Chicago Bears Season
2013 Chicago Bears
8-8 (.500)
Missed Playoffs
2012 Chicago Bears Season
2012 Chicago Bears
10-6 (.625)
Missed Playoffs
2011 Chicago Bears Season
2011 Chicago Bears
8-8 (.500)
Missed Playoffs
2010 Chicago Bears Season
2010 Chicago Bears
11-5 (.688)
Lost AFC/NFC Championship
2009 Chicago Bears Season
2009 Chicago Bears
7-9 (.438)
Missed Playoffs
2008 Chicago Bears Season
2008 Chicago Bears
9-7 (.563)
Missed Playoffs
2007 Chicago Bears Season
2007 Chicago Bears
7-9 (.438)
Missed Playoffs
2006 Chicago Bears Season
2006 Chicago Bears
13-3 (.813)
Lost Super Bowl
2005 Chicago Bears Season
2005 Chicago Bears
11-5 (.688)
Lost Division Championship
2004 Chicago Bears Season
2004 Chicago Bears
5-11 (.313)
Missed Playoffs
2003 Chicago Bears Season
2003 Chicago Bears
7-9 (.438)
Missed Playoffs
2002 Chicago Bears Season
2002 Chicago Bears
4-12 (.250)
Missed Playoffs
2001 Chicago Bears Season
2001 Chicago Bears
13-3 (.813)
Lost Division Championship
2000 Chicago Bears Season
2000 Chicago Bears
5-11 (.313)
Missed Playoffs
1999 Chicago Bears Season
1999 Chicago Bears
6-10 (.375)
Missed Playoffs
1998 Chicago Bears Season
1998 Chicago Bears
4-12 (.250)
Missed Playoffs
1997 Chicago Bears Season
1997 Chicago Bears
4-12 (.250)
Missed Playoffs
1996 Chicago Bears Season
1996 Chicago Bears
7-9 (.438)
Missed Playoffs
1995 Chicago Bears Season
1995 Chicago Bears
9-7 (.563)
Missed Playoffs
1994 Chicago Bears Season
1994 Chicago Bears
9-7 (.563)
Lost Division Championship
1993 Chicago Bears Season
1993 Chicago Bears
7-9 (.438)
Missed Playoffs
1992 Chicago Bears Season
1992 Chicago Bears
5-11 (.313)
Missed Playoffs
1991 Chicago Bears Season
1991 Chicago Bears
11-5 (.688)
Lost Wild Card Game
1990 Chicago Bears Season
1990 Chicago Bears
11-5 (.688)
Lost Division Championship
1989 Chicago Bears Season
1989 Chicago Bears
6-10 (.375)
Missed Playoffs
1988 Chicago Bears Season
1988 Chicago Bears
12-4 (.750)
Lost AFC/NFC Championship
1987 Chicago Bears Season
1987 Chicago Bears
11-4 (.733)
Lost Division Championship
1986 Chicago Bears Season
1986 Chicago Bears
14-2 (.875)
Lost Division Championship
1985 Chicago Bears Season
1985 Chicago Bears
15-1 (.938)
Won Super Bowl
1984 Chicago Bears Season
1984 Chicago Bears
10-6 (.625)
Lost AFC/NFC Championship
1983 Chicago Bears Season
1983 Chicago Bears
8-8 (.500)
Missed Playoffs
1982 Chicago Bears Season
1982 Chicago Bears
3-6 (.333)
Missed Playoffs
1981 Chicago Bears Season
1981 Chicago Bears
6-10 (.375)
Missed Playoffs
1980 Chicago Bears Season
1980 Chicago Bears
7-9 (.438)
Missed Playoffs
1979 Chicago Bears Season
1979 Chicago Bears
10-6 (.625)
Lost Wild Card Game
1978 Chicago Bears Season
1978 Chicago Bears
7-9 (.438)
Missed Playoffs
1977 Chicago Bears Season
1977 Chicago Bears
9-5 (.643)
Lost Division Championship
1976 Chicago Bears Season
1976 Chicago Bears
7-7 (.500)
Missed Playoffs
1975 Chicago Bears Season
1975 Chicago Bears
4-10 (.286)
Missed Playoffs
1974 Chicago Bears Season
1974 Chicago Bears
4-10 (.286)
Missed Playoffs
1973 Chicago Bears Season
1973 Chicago Bears
3-11 (.214)
Missed Playoffs
1972 Chicago Bears Season
1972 Chicago Bears
4-9 (.321)
Missed Playoffs
1971 Chicago Bears Season
1971 Chicago Bears
6-8 (.429)
Missed Playoffs
1970 Chicago Bears Season
1970 Chicago Bears
6-8 (.429)
Missed Playoffs
1969 Chicago Bears Season
1969 Chicago Bears
1-13 (.071)
Missed Playoffs
1968 Chicago Bears Season
1968 Chicago Bears
7-7 (.500)
Missed Playoffs
1967 Chicago Bears Season
1967 Chicago Bears
7-6 (.536)
Missed Playoffs
1966 Chicago Bears Season
1966 Chicago Bears
5-7 (.429)
Missed Playoffs
1965 Chicago Bears Season
1965 Chicago Bears
9-5 (.643)
Missed Playoffs
1964 Chicago Bears Season
1964 Chicago Bears
5-9 (.357)
Missed Playoffs
1963 Chicago Bears Season
1963 Chicago Bears
11-1 (.857)
Won NFL Championship
1962 Chicago Bears Season
1962 Chicago Bears
9-5 (.643)
Missed Playoffs
1961 Chicago Bears Season
1961 Chicago Bears
8-6 (.571)
Missed Playoffs
1960 Chicago Bears Season
1960 Chicago Bears
5-6 (.458)
Missed Playoffs
1959 Chicago Bears Season
1959 Chicago Bears
8-4 (.667)
Missed Playoffs
1958 Chicago Bears Season
1958 Chicago Bears
8-4 (.667)
Missed Playoffs
1957 Chicago Bears Season
1957 Chicago Bears
5-7 (.417)
Missed Playoffs
1956 Chicago Bears Season
1956 Chicago Bears
9-2 (.792)
Lost NFL Championship
1955 Chicago Bears Season
1955 Chicago Bears
8-4 (.667)
Missed Playoffs
1954 Chicago Bears Season
1954 Chicago Bears
8-4 (.667)
Missed Playoffs
1953 Chicago Bears Season
1953 Chicago Bears
3-8 (.292)
Missed Playoffs
1952 Chicago Bears Season
1952 Chicago Bears
5-7 (.417)
Missed Playoffs
1951 Chicago Bears Season
1951 Chicago Bears
7-5 (.583)
Missed Playoffs
1950 Chicago Bears Season
1950 Chicago Bears
9-3 (.750)
Lost Tiebreaker Game
1949 Chicago Bears Season
1949 Chicago Bears
9-3 (.750)
Missed Playoffs
1948 Chicago Bears Season
1948 Chicago Bears
10-2 (.833)
Missed Playoffs
1947 Chicago Bears Season
1947 Chicago Bears
8-4 (.667)
Missed Playoffs
1946 Chicago Bears Season
1946 Chicago Bears
8-2 (.773)
Won NFL Championship
1945 Chicago Bears Season
1945 Chicago Bears
3-7 (.300)
Missed Playoffs
1944 Chicago Bears Season
1944 Chicago Bears
6-3 (.650)
Missed Playoffs
1943 Chicago Bears Season
1943 Chicago Bears
8-1 (.850)
Won NFL Championship
1942 Chicago Bears Season
1942 Chicago Bears
11-0 (1.000)
Lost NFL Championship
1941 Chicago Bears Season
1941 Chicago Bears
10-1 (.909)
Won NFL Championship
1940 Chicago Bears Season
1940 Chicago Bears
8-3 (.727)
Won NFL Championship
1939 Chicago Bears Season
1939 Chicago Bears
8-3 (.727)
Missed Playoffs
1938 Chicago Bears Season
1938 Chicago Bears
6-5 (.545)
Missed Playoffs
1937 Chicago Bears Season
1937 Chicago Bears
9-1 (.864)
Lost NFL Championship
1936 Chicago Bears Season
1936 Chicago Bears
9-3 (.750)
Missed Playoffs
1935 Chicago Bears Season
1935 Chicago Bears
6-4 (.583)
Missed Playoffs
1934 Chicago Bears Season
1934 Chicago Bears
13-0 (1.000)
Lost NFL Championship
1933 Chicago Bears Season
1933 Chicago Bears
10-2 (.808)
Won NFL Championship
1932 Chicago Bears Season
1932 Chicago Bears
7-1 (.714)
Won NFL Playoff Game
1931 Chicago Bears Season
1931 Chicago Bears
8-5 (.615)
Missed Postseason
1930 Chicago Bears Season
1930 Chicago Bears
9-4 (.679)
Missed Postseason
1929 Chicago Bears Season
1929 Chicago Bears
4-9 (.333)
Missed Postseason
1928 Chicago Bears Season
1928 Chicago Bears
7-5 (.577)
Missed Postseason
1927 Chicago Bears Season
1927 Chicago Bears
9-3 (.714)
Missed Postseason
1926 Chicago Bears Season
1926 Chicago Bears
12-1 (.844)
Missed Postseason
1925 Chicago Bears Season
1925 Chicago Bears
9-5 (.618)
Missed Postseason
1924 Chicago Bears Season
1924 Chicago Bears
6-1 (.727)
Missed Postseason
1923 Chicago Bears Season
1923 Chicago Bears
9-2 (.792)
Missed Postseason
1922 Chicago Bears Season
1922 Chicago Bears
9-3 (.750)
Missed Postseason
1921 Chicago Staleys Season
1921 Chicago Staleys
9-1 (.864)
Won de facto Championship Game
1920 Decatur Staleys Season
1920 Decatur Staleys
10-1 (.846)
Missed Postseason
1919 Decatur Staleys Season
1919 Decatur Staleys
6-1 (.857)
Won the Central Illinois Championship

Related Content

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The Big One  1956 NFL Championship game video clip
The Big One 1956 NFL Championship game
28 minutes Dec 30, 1956Dec 30, 1956
New York Football Giants blow out the Chicago Bears at Yankee Stadium...
The Big One 1956 NFL Championship game / New York Football Giants blow out the Chicago Bears at Yankee Stadium
Chicago Bears Media Guidepublication
Chicago Bears Media Guide
106 issues 1920-2025
This media guide is a comprehensive resource created by the team to provide detailed information about its players, coaches, history,...
/ This media guide is a comprehensive resource created by the team to provide detailed information about its players, coaches, history, and season schedule. Released annually, it serves journalists, broadcasters, and fans by offering accurate profiles, statistics, and historical records. The guide enhances media coverage, fan engagement, and promotional efforts.
Sammy Baugh and Jack Manders in 1935 Bears vs. Redskins Football Gamepublication
Sammy Baugh and Jack Manders in 1935 Bears vs. Redskins Football Game
Page from publication Sep 1, 1948
Billed as "The illustrated digest of all sports". Monthly digest magazine that competed with Sports...
/ Billed as "The illustrated digest of all sports". Monthly digest magazine that competed with Sports Digest in covering stories in sports such as baseball, football, basketball, swimming, horse racing, boxing, tennis, and golf.
Sid Luckman Connects with Teammates in 1941 NFL All-Star Game Actionpublication
Sid Luckman Connects with Teammates in 1941 NFL All-Star Game Action
Page from publication Sep 1, 1948
Billed as "The illustrated digest of all sports". Monthly digest magazine that competed with Sports...
/ Billed as "The illustrated digest of all sports". Monthly digest magazine that competed with Sports Digest in covering stories in sports such as baseball, football, basketball, swimming, horse racing, boxing, tennis, and golf.
Hugh Gallarneau and Bill Osmanski Lead Bears to Victory in 1942 All-Star Gamepublication
Hugh Gallarneau and Bill Osmanski Lead Bears to Victory in 1942 All-Star Game
Page from publication Sep 1, 1948
Billed as "The illustrated digest of all sports". Monthly digest magazine that competed with Sports...
/ Billed as "The illustrated digest of all sports". Monthly digest magazine that competed with Sports Digest in covering stories in sports such as baseball, football, basketball, swimming, horse racing, boxing, tennis, and golf.
Gary Famiglietti Scores Touchdown in 1944 NFL All-Star Gamepublication
Gary Famiglietti Scores Touchdown in 1944 NFL All-Star Game
Page from publication Sep 1, 1948
Billed as "The illustrated digest of all sports". Monthly digest magazine that competed with Sports...
/ Billed as "The illustrated digest of all sports". Monthly digest magazine that competed with Sports Digest in covering stories in sports such as baseball, football, basketball, swimming, horse racing, boxing, tennis, and golf.
Buddy Young's Breakaway Play in 1947 All-Star Football Gamepublication
Buddy Young's Breakaway Play in 1947 All-Star Football Game
Page from publication Sep 1, 1948
Billed as "The illustrated digest of all sports". Monthly digest magazine that competed with Sports...
/ Billed as "The illustrated digest of all sports". Monthly digest magazine that competed with Sports Digest in covering stories in sports such as baseball, football, basketball, swimming, horse racing, boxing, tennis, and golf.
Bears Quarterbacks Lujack, Luckman, and Layne Aim for NFL Title in 1948publication
Bears Quarterbacks Lujack, Luckman, and Layne Aim for NFL Title in 1948
Page from publication Sep 1, 1948
Billed as "The illustrated digest of all sports". Monthly digest magazine that competed with Sports...
/ Billed as "The illustrated digest of all sports". Monthly digest magazine that competed with Sports Digest in covering stories in sports such as baseball, football, basketball, swimming, horse racing, boxing, tennis, and golf.
George Halas and Noble Kizer: All-Star Game Insights from 1948publication
George Halas and Noble Kizer: All-Star Game Insights from 1948
Page from publication Sep 1, 1948
Billed as "The illustrated digest of all sports". Monthly digest magazine that competed with Sports...
/ Billed as "The illustrated digest of all sports". Monthly digest magazine that competed with Sports Digest in covering stories in sports such as baseball, football, basketball, swimming, horse racing, boxing, tennis, and golf.
George Ratterman Leads All-Stars to Victory Against Chicago Bears in 1948publication
George Ratterman Leads All-Stars to Victory Against Chicago Bears in 1948
Page from publication Sep 1, 1948
Billed as "The illustrated digest of all sports". Monthly digest magazine that competed with Sports...
/ Billed as "The illustrated digest of all sports". Monthly digest magazine that competed with Sports Digest in covering stories in sports such as baseball, football, basketball, swimming, horse racing, boxing, tennis, and golf.
1967 Chicago Bears Key Players Roster and Career Highlightspublication
1967 Chicago Bears Key Players Roster and Career Highlights
Page from publication 1967
...
/
1967 Chicago Bears Key Players: Roster Highlights and Statspublication
1967 Chicago Bears Key Players: Roster Highlights and Stats
Page from publication 1967
...
/
1967 Chicago Bears Play Chart Featuring Gale Sayers and George Halaspublication
1967 Chicago Bears Play Chart Featuring Gale Sayers and George Halas
Page from publication 1967
...
/
1967 Chicago Bears Player Depth Chart Overview for NFL Football Teampublication
1967 Chicago Bears Player Depth Chart Overview for NFL Football Team
Page from publication 1967
...
/
1967 Chicago Bears: Bernie McRae Intercepts Deflected Pass vs. Lionspublication
1967 Chicago Bears: Bernie McRae Intercepts Deflected Pass vs. Lions
Page from publication 1967
...
/
1969 NFL Vintage: Gale Sayers and Paul Robinson Illustrationspublication
1969 NFL Vintage: Gale Sayers and Paul Robinson Illustrations
Page from publication 1969
This series focused on profiling prominent NFL players of the time, offering fans biographical sketches, career highlights, and...
/ This series focused on profiling prominent NFL players of the time, offering fans biographical sketches, career highlights, and personal anecdotes. Each book typically included a mix of established stars and emerging talents, providing a snapshot of the league's top performers. These books served as both a historical record and a way for fans to connect with their favorite players beyond the field.
1970 NFL Action: Chicago Bears' Gale Sayers and Jack Concannonpublication
1970 NFL Action: Chicago Bears' Gale Sayers and Jack Concannon
Page from publication 1970
The official NFL guide, published under several different titles over the years....
/ The official NFL guide, published under several different titles over the years.
1970 NFL: Gale Sayers' Comeback with Chicago Bearspublication
1970 NFL: Gale Sayers' Comeback with Chicago Bears
Page from publication 1970
The official NFL guide, published under several different titles over the years....
/ The official NFL guide, published under several different titles over the years.
1970s Chicago Bears Linebacker Dick Butkus NFL Action Shotpublication
1970s Chicago Bears Linebacker Dick Butkus NFL Action Shot
Page from publication 1970
The official NFL guide, published under several different titles over the years....
/ The official NFL guide, published under several different titles over the years.
1970s NFL Action: Chicago Bears Linebacker in Pro Bowl Playpublication
1970s NFL Action: Chicago Bears Linebacker in Pro Bowl Play
Page from publication 1970
The official NFL guide, published under several different titles over the years....
/ The official NFL guide, published under several different titles over the years.

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