Mike Singletary

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Singletary's peak arrived during the 1985 season, where he led a defense that finished first overall against both the rush and pass. The '46' defense invented by Buddy Ryan allowed Singletary to remain unblocked on nearly every play, resulting in a stat line of 109 solo tackles, 3 sacks, 1 interception, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble, and 10 defended passes. This dominance propelled the Bears to a 15–1 regular season record. During the playoffs against the Los Angeles Rams, Singletary delivered a memorable play stopping Eric Dickerson behind the line of scrimmage on third-and-short early in the second quarter. In Super Bowl XX, he tied a Super Bowl record with two fumble recoveries and broke up a potential touchdown pass while delivering jarring hits to New England running back Craig James throughout the game.

In Their Own Story

The intensity of Singletary's leadership was on full display before the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams. While head coach Mike Ditka spoke with the offense, Singletary entered the next room to rally the defense. What began as a quiet gathering quickly escalated into Samurai Mike screaming at the top of his lungs, causing defensive players to throw chairs and knock over tables in a display of raw emotion. This fire carried onto the field where he recovered a fumble early in the first quarter and sacked quarterback Phil Simms on third down in the third quarter during the divisional game against the New York Giants.

Reader's Guide

Selected as the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft, Singletary started just eight games into his rookie season but quickly became a fixture in the lineup. Over his 12-year career with the Bears, he started 172 games, missing only two contests both occurring in 1986. He finished as the team's first or second-leading tackler for his final 11 seasons, accumulating 1,488 career tackles (885 solo), 7 interceptions, and 12 fumble recoveries. His individual accolades include selection to a franchise-record 10 Pro Bowls, eight All-Pro nods, and being named All-NFC every year from 1983 to 1991. He also recorded a personal-best performance in 1990 against the Denver Broncos with 10 solo tackles and 10 assists.

Did You Know?

• Singletary is the only college junior to be selected to the All-Southwest Conference Team of the 1970s.
• During his senior year at Baylor, he averaged 15 tackles per game and helped the team win 10 games for the first time in school history.
• He tied a Super Bowl record with two fumble recoveries during the Bears' 46–10 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX.
• Singletary missed only two games in his entire 12-year NFL career, both occurring in 1986.
• As a high school junior, he was an all-state guard and linebacker despite early concerns about his grades affecting eligibility.

Early Life and Formative Tragedies

Born on October 9, 1958, in Houston as the last of ten children, Singletary grew up in a small wood-frame home shared with his parents, Charles and Rudell, and several siblings. His father, a street preacher who built the adjacent Church of God where he played guitar each Sunday, worked as a contractor during the week. Tragedy struck early when brother Dale died unexpectedly from coal stove fumes after Mike and his brother Charles Jr. broke a window to force entry into the room. Later, brother Grady, who had stepped in as a father figure and warned Mike against vices like drinking beer and smoking cigarettes, was killed in a six-car accident caused by an uninjured drunk driver. Singletary attended Evan E. Worthing High School in Houston, becoming an all-state guard and linebacker in ninth grade before earning a scholarship to Baylor University.

Dominant College Career at Baylor

Singletary lettered four years as a linebacker for the Baylor Bears in Waco, Texas. He established a school record with 232 tackles in 1978, including 35 in a single game against Arkansas and 31 against Ohio State. Averaging 15 tackles per game during his junior (1979) and senior (1980) years, he earned All-American honors both seasons and was the only college junior selected to the All-Southwest Conference Team of the 1970s. His career total of 662 tackles set a school record. Singletary won the Davey O'Brien Memorial Trophy in both 1979 and 1980, an award then given to the most outstanding player in the Southwest region before it became quarterback-centric. During his senior season in 1980, Baylor won 10 games for the first time in school history.

Legendary Professional Tenure with the Bears

At 6 ft and 230 lb, Singletary was a nearly unanimous all-rookie selection after starting eight games into his 1981 season. He became known as 'the Heart of the Defense' for the Monsters of the Midway unit. His 1985 campaign included leading the Bears to a Super Bowl XX victory over the New England Patriots with a score of 46–10. Beyond his playing days, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995 and ranked number 56 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players in 1999.

Coaching Career and Lasting Legacy

Singletary's coaching journey began as a linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens, followed by a move to the San Francisco 49ers with defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. In 2008, he was promoted to head coach after Nolan was fired mid-season. During his debut against the Seattle Seahawks, he sent tight end Vernon Davis to the locker room for slapping an opponent, declaring he would rather play with a 10-man squad than deal with an apathetic one and famously shouting 'I want winners!' He remained in the position until being fired after the 49ers were eliminated from playoff contention with one game remaining in the 2010 season. His resume also includes stops with the Los Angeles Rams, the Memphis Express of the now-defunct Alliance of American Football (AAF), and a two-season stint as a high school head coach.