Chicago Bears

The Monsters of the Midway: A Legacy of Gridiron Greatness

via Wikipedia: Bears–Packers rivalry · see source

The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. They are one of two remaining franchises from the NFL's founding in 1920, along with the Arizona Cardinals (originally the Racine Cardinals of Chicago). The Bears play their home games at Soldier Field on the Near South Side, adjacent to Lake Michigan.

The team headquarters, Halas Hall, is in the Chicago suburb of Lake Forest, Illinois. The Bears practice at adjoining facilities there during the season, and began hosting training camp at Halas Hall in 2020 after major renovations. The franchise was founded in Decatur, Illinois, on September 20, 1919, became professional on September 17, 1920, and moved to Chicago in 1921. The Bears played home games at Wrigley Field on Chicago's North Side through the 1970 season; they have played since then at Soldier Field.

The team have won nine NFL Championships, eight before the AFL–NFL merger and one Super Bowl. They hold the NFL records for the most enshrinees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the most retired jersey numbers. The Bears' NFL championships and overall victories are second behind the Green Bay Packers, with whom they have a long-standing rivalry. The Bears reached their greatest modern period of success in the 1980s under head coach Mike Ditka, with whom they won Super Bowl XX in the 1985 season.

The Bears appeared in their second Super Bowl during the 2006 season, which they lost to the Indianapolis Colts. Since 2006, the Bears have struggled to find regular success, going fifteen years in between playoff wins from 2011 to 2026. During that time, the Bears have had 23 different starting quarterbacks and six different head coaches. In September 2025, a sale of a minority stake in the team valued the Bears at $8.9 billion.

Quick Facts

First meeting: November 27, 1921
Total meetings: Over 200 games
Series leader: Chicago Bears (historically)
Key figure green bay: Vince Lombardi, Curly Lambeau
Key figure chicago: George Halas, Dick Butkus

Lore & Background

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 team played independently in 1919, winning the Central Illinois Championship. 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 (AFPA) (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 moved to Chicago in 1921, where the club was renamed the Chicago Staleys; Under an agreement reached by Halas and Sternaman with Staley, they received US$5,000 to keep the name "Staleys" for the 1921 season.

In 1922, Halas changed the team name from the Staleys to the Bears. The team moved into Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs baseball franchise. As with several early NFL franchises, the Bears derived their nickname from their city's baseball team (bears' 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).

Did You Know?

The Bears' 73–0 victory over the Washington Redskins in the 1940 NFL Championship Game remains an NFL record for lopsided results.
The Bears played the first indoor NFL game in 1932 at Chicago Stadium due to blizzard conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the Chicago Bears in relation to Green Bay?

They serve as Green Bay's oldest and most historic rival within the National Football League. As founding members, both teams share a unique bond rooted in their shared Midwestern heritage.

When did this rivalry begin?

The franchises first met on November 27, 1921, marking the start of the league's oldest continuous matchup. This initial game established a competitive relationship that has lasted over a century.

Who leads the all-time series between the two teams?

Chicago currently holds the historical advantage with more total victories than Green Bay across their history. Despite this lead, the teams have faced off in over 200 games since their inception.

Which key figures defined this matchup?

Legends such as Vince Lombardi and Curly Lambeau represent Green Bay, while George Halas and Dick Butkus are icons for Chicago. These coaches and players helped cultivate the intense culture surrounding this specific divisional battle.