Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears are a National Football League team based in Chicago, Illinois.

Founded: 1920 in Decatur, Illinois. One of the charter NFL franchises.

Formerly known as: the Decatur Staleys (1920) and the Chicago Staleys (1921), after their corporate sponsors, a starch company.

Home stadium: Soldier Field, Chicago. (Played for two years in Champaign, Illinois under the same name while Soldier Field was being renovated)

Uniform colors: Home: Navy blue jerseys with orange trim, and white pants. Away: white jerseys, white pants.

Helmet design: Navy blue, with an orange "C".

League championships won:1921 (as the Chicago Staleys), 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1963, 1985.

Super Bowl appearances: XX (won)

Franchise history

The Bears are one of the storied NFL teams. They were founded by George Halas, who maintained control of the team until his death in 1985. Halas also coached the team off-and-on for forty seasons, an NFL record. The Bears have stayed in the Halas family; the team is currently owned by Halas' grandson Michael McCaskey.

Players of note

'86 Super Bowl Championship Roster:

• Mark Bortz
• Willie Gault
• Jay Hilgenberg
• Dennis McKinnon
• Jim McMahon
• Emery Moorehead
• Walter Payton
• Matt Suhey
• Tom Thayer
• Keith Van Horne
• Richard Dent
• Dave Duerson
• Gary Fencik
• Leslie Frazier
• Dan Hampton
• Wilber Marshall
• Steve McMichael
• William Perry
• Mike Richardson
• Mike Singletary
• Otis Wilson

Current stars:

• Anthony Thomas
• Brian Urlacher

Retired numbers:

• 3 Bronko Nagurski
• 5 George McAfee
• 7 George Halas
• 28 Willie Gallimore
• 34 Walter Payton
• 40 Gale Sayers
• 41 Brian Piccolo (the subject of the film Brian's Song)
• 42 Sid Luckman
• 51 Dick Butkus
• 56 Bill Hewitt
• 61 Bill George
• 66 Bulldog Turner
• 77 Red Grange

Not to be forgotten:

• Jim McMahon
• William Perry ("the Refrigerator")
• Doug Flutie

See also The Bears Shufflin' Crew.

Chicago Bears official web site