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.
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.
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1968 NFL Week 8 • Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers - Radio Broadcast
On November 3, 1968, the Chicago Bears visited the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in a classic NFL rivalry clash. Coached by Jim Dooley, the Bears were aiming to even their season record, facing the Packers led by coach Phil Bengtson, who were struggling slightly below .500. This game was not just a regular matchup; it was steeped in the intense rivalry and history between these two storied franchises. At this point in the season, both teams were dealing with varying challenges but still held onto playoff aspirations, setting the stage for a tightly contested game. The Packers' quarterback Bart Starr and the Bears' Virgil Carter were pivotal figures, with their performances underpinning their teams' strategies and hopes for the season.
During the game, the Bears and Packers showed strong defenses and strategic play that kept scoring low and tensions high. The Bears' kicker Mac Percival was crucial, scoring two field goals, including a critical 43-yarder. Virgil Carter, despite modest passing statistics, added a touchdown on the ground that proved decisive. On the Packers' side, Bart Starr connected with Carroll Dale for a 50-yard touchdown pass, showcasing the aerial threat they posed. The game's flow was marked by strategic punting and field position battles, with both teams exchanging the lead in the final quarter, reflecting the close competition typical of their historic rivalry.
The Bears emerged victorious with a narrow 13-10 win, which shifted their season record to an even 4-4, while the Packers moved to 3-5-1. The 1968 season, remembered for its pivotal moments and the intense playoff races in the NFL, saw both teams fighting hard but ultimately not making a significant impact in the postseason.
Mike Ditka interviewed outside his Dallas home about retiring from football and possibly beginning his...
WFAA Interview with the Dallas Cowboys' Mike Ditka / Mike Ditka interviewed outside his Dallas home about retiring from football and possibly beginning his coaching career. March 1973.
On October 24, 1971, the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions met at Tiger Stadium in...
1971 - Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions - NFL Radio Broadcast / On October 24, 1971, the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions met at Tiger Stadium in a closely contested NFC Central game. Both teams entered with 3-2 records, with the Bears led by quarterback Bobby Douglass and coach Jim Dooley, while the Lions, coached by Joe Schmidt, were guided by quarterback Greg Landry. Detroit, featuring standout players like wide receiver Chuck Hughes and running back Steve Owens, sought a crucial win to gain an edge in the divisional standings. This game, however, would tragically be marked by an unexpected event, casting a somber tone on a competitive season.
The game unfolded with back-and-forth scoring, as Chicago found the end zone first with a 21-yard run by Don Shy and a 54-yard touchdown pass from Douglass to George Farmer in the second quarter. Detroit answered with a 102-yard kickoff return by Ron Jessie and a touchdown reception by Larry Walton, pushing them to a slim lead by halftime. In the final minutes of the game, Chuck Hughes collapsed on the field after running a route. Despite efforts to revive him, Hughes was later pronounced dead due to a heart attack, marking the first time in NFL history a player died during a game.
Chicago won 28-23, improving to 4-2, though the result was overshadowed by Hughes’s passing. Detroit, who fell to 3-3, finished the game in shock and mourning. The incident deeply impacted the Lions, Hughes's family, and the entire NFL community. This game remains a somber chapter in NFL history, remembered not only for the fierce rivalry but for the tragic loss that unfolded on the field.
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