Chicago Bears Trophy Case

The Bears are in Lake Forest preparing for the first season of their second century. Their fans, as always, are ready for some football--but not sure whether the Bears' arrow is pointed up or down and not sure just how strange the season will prove to be as the NFL tries to navigate through the pandemic. 

 

Here's a look back at some of the men who have made the Bears Chicago's favorite team and one of the greatest franchises in all of sports.

 

Bears Retired Numbers:

  3 - Bronko Nagurski 

  5 - George McAfee 

  7 - George Halas 

28 - Willie Galimore
34 - Walter Payton
40 - Gale Sayers
41 - Brian Piccolo
42 - Sid Luckman
51 - Dick Butkus
56 - Bill Hewitt
61 - Bill George
66 - Clyde "Bulldog" Turner
77 - Red Grange   

89 - Mike Ditka

World Champion Head Coaches:
1921 - George Halas
1932 - Ralph Jones
1933 - George Halas
1940 - George Halas
1941 - George Halas
1943 - Luke Johnsos (co-coach)
1943 - Hunk Anderson (co-coach)
1946 - George Halas
1963 - George Halas
1985 - Mike Ditka

Super Bowl Most Valuable Player:

1986 - Richard Dent

 

NFL Most Valuable Player:
1943 - Sid Luckman
1977 - Walter Payton

 

Bert Bell NFL Player of the Year Award:

1985 - Walter Payton

NFL Leading Rusher:
1934 - Beattie Feathers
1939 - Bill Osmanski
1956 - Rick Casares
1969 - Gale Sayers
1977 - Walter Payton

NFL Leading Passer:
1943 - Sid Luckman
1945 - Sid Luckman
1946 - Sid Luckman
1949 - Johnny Lujack

NFL Leading Scorer:
1934 - Jack Manders

1937 - Jack Manders
1965 - Gale Sayers
1985 - Kevin Butler

Offensive Player of the Year:

1977 - Walter Payton

 

Defensive Player of the Year:
1985 - Mike Singletary
1988 - Mike Singletary
2005 - Brian Urlacher

Offensive Rookie of the Year:
1961 - Mike Ditka

1962 - Ronnie Bull

1965 - Gale Sayers

2001 - Anthony Thomas

Defensive Rookie of the Year:
1973 - Wally Chambers
1990 - Mark Carrier
2000 - Brian Urlacher

NFL Coach of the Year:
1963 - George Halas
1965 - George Halas
1985 - Mike Ditka
1988 - Mike Ditka
2001 - Dick Jauron
2005 - Lovie Smith

2018 - Matt Nagy

 

Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award*

1977 - Walter Payton

1987 - Dave Duerson

1990 - Mike Singletary 

2000 - Jim Flanigan

2013 - Charles Tillman

 

* Named for Walter Payton in 1999.