When the Bears defeated the New York Giants in the 1963 NFL championship game, it marked a brief interruption of the league’s dominance by Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers, who won the title in 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, and 1967.
It had been
17 years since the Bears’ last championship. “I have waited a long time,”
said head coach George Halas. “I guess today’s game proves that if you live long enough,
everything nice you want to happen, will happen.”
Papa Bear was
asked if he planned to retire, now that the monkey was off his back. “I guess
I will have to hang on,” he replied. “Where could a 68-year-old find another
job?”
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| GEORGE HALAS and VINCE LOMBARDI. |
Halas
finally did retire on May 27, 1968. He had played with the Bears for 10 years
(1920-1929). He had been their head coach for 40 years (four periods of 10
years each, beginning in 1920, 1933, 1946, and 1958). He had won 324 games—95
more than Curly Lambeau, who ranked second at the time—and compiled a winning
percentage of .671. He had won eight championships. (The Bears have captured one title in the subsequent 53 seasons.)
When Halas retired, a man who belonged with him on the Mount Rushmore of pro football coaches paid his fierce rival and dear friend a touching compliment. “There is only one man I embrace when we meet,” said Lombardi, “and only one I
call ‘Coach’—George Halas.”
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