The Chicago Bears are a major professional American football team in Chicago playing in the National Football League. The franchise was founded in the American Professional Football Conference in 1920 in Decatur, Illinois as the Decatur Staleys. The league was renamed prior to commencing play the American Professional Football Association. The team relocated in 1921 to Chicago and was renamed in 1922 the Chicago Bears as the league was renamed the National Football League. The league was renamed the National-American Football League in 1950-51 but reverted to the National Football League prior to commencing play. The team relocated in 2002-03 to Champaign, Illinois but returned to Chicago in 2003-04.
Franchise Overview
Name | League | Venue | Municipality | Start | End |
Chicago Bears | National Football League | Soldier Field | Chicago | 2003-04 | |
Memorial Stadium | Champaign, Illinois | 2002-03 | 2002-03 | ||
Soldier Field (1924) | Chicago | 1971-72 | 2001-02 | ||
Wrigley Field | 1950-51 | 1970-71 | |||
National-American Football League | 1950-51 | DNP | |||
National Football League | 1922 | 1949 | |||
Decatur Staleys | American Professional Football Association | 1921 | 1921 | ||
Staley Field | Decatur, Illinois | 1920 | 1920 | ||
American Professional Football Conference | 1920 | DNP |
Trophy Case
- National Football League Championships: 8 (1932, 1933, 1940, 1941-42, 1943, 1946, 1963-64, 1985-86)
- American Football League-National Football League Interleague Championships: 0
- National Football Conference Championships: 2 (1985-86, 2006-07)
- Western Conference Championships: 2 (1956-57, 1963-64)
- National Conference Championships: 0
- National Football Conference North Division Championships: 4 (2005-06, 2006-07, 2010-11, 2018-19)
- National Football Conference Central Division Championships: 7 (1984-85, 1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1990-91, 2001-02)
- Central Division Championships: 0
- Western Division Championships: 8 (1933, 1934, 1937, 1940, 1941-42, 1942, 1943, 1946)
- Playoff Berths/Premierships: 28 (1932, 1933, 1934, 1937, 1940, 1941-42, 1942, 1943, 1946, 1950-51, 1956-57, 1963-64, 1977-78, 1979-80, 1984-85, 1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1994-95, 2001-02, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2010-11, 2018-19, 2020-21)
Seasons and Venues
Season | W | L | T | Finish | Postseason | Venues |
National Football League | ||||||
1922 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2nd | Wrigley Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
1923 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2nd | Wrigley Field, Chicago (nine regular season games, 100%) | |
1924 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 2nd | Wrigley Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
1925 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 7th | Wrigley Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 88.9%) DePaul Field, Chicago (one regular season game, 11.1%) | |
1926 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 2nd | Wrigley Field, Chicago (10 regular season games, 90.9%) Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (one regular season game, 9.1%) | |
1927 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 3rd | Wrigley Field, Chicago (nine regular season games, 100%) | |
1928 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 5th | Wrigley Field, Chicago (10 regular season games, 100%) | |
1929 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 9th | Wrigley Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
1930 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 3rd | Wrigley Field, Chicago (seven regular season games, 87.5%) Pyott’s Park, Chicago (one regular season game, 12.5%) | |
1931 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3rd | Wrigley Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 88.9%) Loyola Stadium, Chicago (one regular season game, 11.1%) | |
1932 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 1st | Defeated Portsmouth Spartans 9-0 in regular season tiebreaker (single-elimination) | Wrigley Field, Chicago (seven regular season games, 100%) Chicago Stadium, Chicago (one regular season tiebreaker game, 100%) |
1933 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1st in Western Division | Defeated New York Giants 23-21 (single-elimination) | Wrigley Field, Chicago (five regular season games, 83.3% + one postseason game, 100%) Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (one regular season game, 16.7%) |
1934 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1st in Western Division | Defeated by New York Giants 30-13 (single-elimination) | Wrigley Field, Chicago (five regular season games, 100%) |
1935 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3rd in Western Division | Wrigley Field, Chicago (five regular season games, 100%) | |
1936 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2nd in Western Division | Wrigley Field, Chicago (four regular season games, 100%) | |
1937 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1st in Western Division | Defeated by Washington Redskins 28-21 (single-elimination) | Wrigley Field, Chicago (five regular season games, 100% + one postseason game, 100%) |
1938-39 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 3rd in Western Division | Wrigley Field, Chicago (five regular season games, 100%) | |
1939-40 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 2nd in Western Division | Wrigley Field, Chicago (four regular season games, 80%) Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (one regular season game, 20%) | |
1940 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1st in Western Division | Defeated Washington Redskins 73-0 (single-elimination) | Wrigley Field, Chicago (five regular season games, 100%) |
1941-42 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1st in Western Division | Defeated Green Bay Packers 33-14 in tiebreaker (single-elimination) Defeated New York Football Giants 37-9 (single-elimination) | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100% + two postseason games, 100%) |
1942 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1st in Western Division | Defeated by Washington Redskins 14-6 (single-elimination) | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100%) |
1943 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1st in Western Division | Defeated Washington Redskins 41-21 (single-elimination) | Wrigley Field, Chicago (five regular season games, 100% + one postseason game, 100%) |
1944 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2nd in Western Division | Wrigley Field, Chicago (five regular season games, 100%) | |
1945 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 4th in Western Division | Wrigley Field, Chicago (five regular season games, 100%) | |
1946 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1st in Western Division | Defeated New York Football Giants 24-14 (single-elimination) | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100%) |
1947 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2nd in Western Division | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100%) | |
1948 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2nd in Western Division | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100%) | |
1949 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2nd in Western Division | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100%) | |
1950-51 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2nd in National Conference | Defeated by Los Angeles Rams 24-14 in tiebreaker (single-elimination) | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100%) |
1951-52 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 4th in National Conference | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100%) | |
1952-53 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 5th in National Conference | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100%) | |
1953-54 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 4th in Western Conference | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100%) | |
1954-55 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2nd in Western Conference | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100%) | |
1955-56 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2nd in Western Conference | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100%) | |
1956-57 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1st in Western Conference | Defeated by New York Football Giants 47-7 (single-elimination) | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100%) |
1957-58 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 5th in Western Conference | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100%) | |
1958-59 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2nd in Western Conference | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100%) | |
1959-60 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2nd in Western Conference | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100%) | |
1960-61 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 5th in Western Conference | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 100%) | |
1961-62 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 3rd in Western Conference | Wrigley Field, Chicago (seven regular season games, 100%) | |
1962-63 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 3rd in Western Conference | Wrigley Field, Chicago (seven regular season games, 100%) | |
1963-64 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1st in Western Conference | Defeated New York Football Giants 14-10 (single-elimination) | Wrigley Field, Chicago (seven regular season games, 100% + one postseason game, 100%) |
1964-65 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 6th in Western Conference | Wrigley Field, Chicago (seven regular season games, 100%) | |
1965-66 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 3rd in Western Conference | Wrigley Field, Chicago (seven regular season games, 100%) | |
1966-67 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 5th in Western Conference | Wrigley Field, Chicago (seven regular season games, 100%) | |
1967-68 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 2nd in Central Division | Wrigley Field, Chicago (seven regular season games, 100%) | |
1968-69 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 2nd in Central Division | Wrigley Field, Chicago (seven regular season games, 100%) | |
1969-70 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 4th in Central Division | Wrigley Field, Chicago (seven regular season games, 100%) | |
1970-71 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 4th in National Football Conference Central Division | Wrigley Field, Chicago (six regular season games, 85.7%) Ryan Field, Evanston, Illinois (one regular season game, 14.3%) | |
1971-72 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 3rd in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (seven regular season games, 100%) | |
1972-73 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 4th in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (seven regular season games, 100%) | |
1973-74 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 4th in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (seven regular season games, 100%) | |
1974-75 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 4th in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (seven regular season games, 100%) | |
1975-76 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 3rd in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (seven regular season games, 100%) | |
1976-77 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 2nd in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (seven regular season games, 100%) | |
1977-78 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 2nd in National Football Conference Central Division | Defeated by Dallas Cowboys 37-7 (single-elimination) | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (seven regular season games, 100%) |
1978-79 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 4th in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
1979-80 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 2nd in National Football Conference Central Division | Defeated by Philadelphia Eagles 27-17 (single-elimination) | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) |
1980-81 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 3rd in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
1981-82 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 5th in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
1982-83 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 5th in National Football Conference Central Division, 12th in National Football Conference | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (four regular season games, 100%) | |
1983-84 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 3rd in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
1984-85 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 1st in National Football Conference Central Division | Defeated Washington Redskins 23-19 (single-elimination) Defeated by San Francisco 49ers 23-0 (single-elimination) | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) |
1985-86 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1st in National Football Conference Central Division | Defeated New York Football Giants 21-0 (single-elimination) Defeated Los Angeles Rams 24-0 (single-elimination) Defeated New England Patriots 46-10 (single-elimination) | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100% + two postseason games, 100%) |
1986-87 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1st in National Football Conference Central Division | Defeated Washington Redskins 27-13 (single-elimination) | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100% + one postseason game, 100%) |
1987-88 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1st in National Football Conference Central Division | Defeated Washington Redskins 21-17 (single-elimination) | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100% + one postseason game, 100%) |
1988-89 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1st in National Football Conference Central Division | Defeated Philadelphia Eagles 20-12 (single-elimination) Defeated by San Francisco 49ers 28-3 (single-elimination) | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100% + two postseason games, 100%) |
1989-90 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 4th in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
1990-91 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 1st in National Football Conference Central Division | Defeated New Orleans Saints 16-6 (single-elimination) Defeated by New York Football Giants 31-3 (single-elimination) | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100% + one postseason game, 100%) |
1991-92 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 2nd in National Football Conference Central Division | Defeated by Dallas Cowboys 17-13 (single-elimination) | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100% + one postseason game, 100%) |
1992-93 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 4th in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
1993-94 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 4th in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
1994-95 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 4th in National Football Conference Central Division | Defeated Minnesota Vikings 35-18 (single-elimination) Defeated by San Francisco 49ers 44-15 (single-elimination) | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) |
1995-96 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 3rd in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
1996-97 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 3rd in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
1997-98 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 5th in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
1998-99 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 5th in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
1999-2000 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 5th in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2000-01 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 5th in National Football Conference Central Division | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2001-02 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1st in National Football Conference Central Division | Defeated by Philadelphia Eagles 33-19 (single-elimination) | Soldier Field (1924), Chicago (eight regular season games, 100% + one postseason game, 100%) |
2002-03 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 3rd in National Football Conference North Division | Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2003-04 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 3rd in National Football Conference North Division | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2004-05 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 4th in National Football Conference North Division | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2005-06 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 1st in National Football Conference North Division | Defeated by Carolina Panthers 29-21 (single-elimination) | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100% + one postseason game, 100%) |
2006-07 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1st in National Football Conference North Division | Defeated Seattle Seahawks 27-24 (single-elimination) Defeated New Orleans Saints 39-14 (single-elimination) Defeated by Indianapolis Colts 29-17 (single-elimination) | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100% + two postseason games, 100%) Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida (one Super Bowl game, 100%) |
2007-08 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 4th in National Football Conference North Division | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2008-09 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2nd in National Football Conference North Division | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2009-10 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 3rd in National Football Conference North Division | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2010-11 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 1st in National Football Conference North Division | Defeated Seattle Seahawks 35-24 (single-elimination) Defeated Green Bay Packers 21-14 (single-elimination) | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100% + two postseason games, 100%) |
2011-12 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 3rd in National Football Conference North Division | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2012-13 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 3rd in National Football Conference North Division | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2013-14 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 2nd in National Football Conference North Division | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2014-15 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 4th in National Football Conference North Division | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2015-16 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 4th in National Football Conference North Division | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2016-17 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 4th in National Football Conference North Division | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2017-18 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 4th in National Football Conference North Division | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2018-19 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1st in National Football Conference North Division | Defeated by Philadelphia Eagles 16-15 (single-elimination) | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100% + one postseason game, 100%) |
2019-20 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 3rd in National Football Conference North Division | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2020-21 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 2nd in National Football Conference North Division | Defeated by New Orleans Saints 21-9 (single-elimination) | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) |
2021-22 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 3rd in National Football Conference North Division | Soldier Field, Chicago (eight regular season games, 100%) | |
2022-23 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 4th in National Football Conference North Division | Soldier Field, Chicago (nine regular season games, 100%) |