Chicago Bears

Lore & Background

The franchise was founded in Decatur, Illinois, on September 20, 1919, became professional on September 17, 1920, and moved to Chicago in 1921. Originally named the Decatur Staleys, the club was established by the A. E. Staley food starch company. The company hired George Halas and Edward 'Dutch' Sternaman in 1920 to run the team. The team moved to Chicago in 1921 and was renamed the Chicago Staleys. In 1922, Halas changed the name to the Bears. The Bears played home games at Wrigley Field 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.

In Their Own Story

The stadium lights flickered over the gridiron as the Chicago Bears lined up against the Los Angeles Rams in a crisp November night. The air was thick with anticipation, fans roaring for their respective teams. As the quarterback dropped back to pass, the Fearsome Foursome surged forward, shoulder pads clashing with helmets, creating a symphony of impact that echoed through the stands.

Reader's Guide

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 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 1920s the club was responsible for triggering the NFL's long-standing rule that a player could not be signed until his college's senior class had graduated. From 1940 to 1947, quarterback Sid Luckman led the Bears to victories in four out of the five NFL Championship Games in which they appeared. The team acquired the University of Chicago's discarded nickname 'Monsters of the Midway' and their famous helmet wishbone-C.

Did You Know?

• The Bears' colors are navy blue and burnt orange, adopted from the University of Illinois.
• The Bears' 73–0 victory over the Washington Redskins in the 1940 NFL Championship Game is still an NFL record for lopsided results.
• Since 2006, the Bears have gone fifteen years in between playoff wins from 2011 to 2026.
• In September 2025, a sale of a minority stake in the team valued the Bears at $8.9 billion.