List of Chicago Bears seasons

For complete team history, see History of the Chicago Bears. For complete list of team awards, see List of Chicago Bears award winners.

The Chicago Bears franchise was originally founded as the Decatur Staleys, a charter member of the American Professional Football Association (APFA). The team moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1921 and changed its name to the Bears in 1922, the same year the APFA changed its name to the National Football League (NFL).[1][2] This list documents the franchise's completed seasons from 1920 to present, including postseason records and results from postseason games.[3]

The Chicago Bears have played over 1,000 games in their history, which includes eight NFL Championships victories and one Super Bowl win. The Bears' nine championships are the second most by any team in history. The franchise has captured 18 NFL divisional titles and four NFL conference championships. The Bears have also recorded more regular season and overall victories than any other NFL franchise.[4][5][6]

The franchise has experienced three major periods of continued success in their history. The first period of success came from 1932 to 1946 when the Bears played in nine NFL Championship Games, winning six of them. This period saw the Bears participate in the first ever National Football League playoff game, the first ever official NFL Championship Game, and become the American football sports dynasty of the 1940s. The Bears played in four straight NFL Championship Games between 1940 and 1944, winning three of them, including an NFL record 73–0 victory over the Washington Redskins in 1940.[7][8] The second period of success was between 1984 and 1991 when the Bears captured six NFC Central Division titles in eight years and won Super Bowl XX.[9][10] A brief period of success stretched from 2005 to 2007 when the franchise captured two straight NFC North titles and a NFC Championship title, which earned them a berth in Super Bowl XLI, a game that the club lost to the Indianapolis Colts.[11]

The Bears have experienced failure in their history. The franchise finished in last place within its division five times in the 1970s.[12] In 1970, the team moved from Wrigley Field to Soldier Field to play its home games. In the mid- to late 1990s and early 2000s, the club posted six seasons with 10 or more losses. By chance, these two decades—the 1970s and 1990s—are the only decades in the Bears history that the franchise has not won or played for an NFL Championship or Super Bowl. In the 1969 season, the franchise posted their worst regular season record with a 1–13 showing.[13]

Legend

Soldier Field, current home of the Chicago Bears
(#) The order of league championship won by the franchise
Finish Final position in league, division, or conference
W Wins
L Loses
T Ties
Win% Winning percentage
T-# Finished tied in that position with one or more teams
NFL Champions (1920–1969)
Super Bowl Champions (1970–present)
Conference Champions
Division Champions
Wild Card Berth
One-Game Playoff Berth

Season records

Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Post Season Results Awards Ref.
Finish Wins Losses Ties Win%
Decatur Staleys
1920 1920 APFA 2nd 10 1 2 .846 The APFA did not hold playoff games [4][a]
Chicago Staleys
1921 1921 APFA 1st 9 1 1 .864 Named APFA Champions [4][b]
Chicago Bears
1922 1922 NFL 2nd 9 3 0 .750 The NFL did not hold playoff games until 1932 [4]
1923 1923 NFL 2nd 9 2 1 .792 [4]
1924 1924 NFL 2nd 6 1 4 .727 [4]
1925 1925 NFL 7th 9 5 3 .618 [4]
1926 1926 NFL 2nd 12 1 3 .844 [4]
1927 1927 NFL 3rd 9 3 2 .714 [4]
1928 1928 NFL 5th 7 5 1 .577 [4]
1929 1929 NFL 9th 4 9 2 .333 [4]
1930 1930 NFL 3rd 9 4 1 .679 [4]
1931 1931 NFL 3rd 8 5 0 .615 [4]
1932 1932 NFL 1st 7 1 6 .714 Named NFL Champions (2) [4][c]
1933 1933 NFL Western 1st 10 2 1 .808 Won NFL Championship (3) (Giants) 23–21 [4][d]
1934 1934 NFL Western 1st 13 0 0 1.000 Lost NFL Championship (Giants) 30–13 [4][e]
1935 1935 NFL Western T-3rd 6 4 2 .583 [4]
1936 1936 NFL Western 2nd 9 3 0 .750 [4]
1937 1937 NFL Western 1st 9 1 1 .864 Lost NFL Championship (Redskins) 28–21 [4]
1938 1938 NFL Western 3rd 6 5 0 .545 [4]
1939 1939 NFL Western 2nd 8 3 0 .727 [4]
1940 1940 NFL Western 1st 8 3 0 .727 Won NFL Championship (4) (Redskins) 73–0 [4][f]
1941 1941 NFL Western 1st 10 1 0 .909 Won Western Divisional Playoff (Packers) 33–14
Won NFL Championship (5) (Giants) 37–9
[4][g]
1942 1942 NFL Western 1st 11 0 0 1.000 Lost NFL Championship (Redskins) 14–6 [4][e]
1943 1943 NFL Western 1st 8 1 1 .850 Won NFL Championship (6) (Redskins) 41–21 Sid Luckman (MVP) [4]
1944 1944 NFL Western T-2nd 6 3 1 .650 [4]
1945 1945 NFL Western 4th 3 7 0 .300 [4]
1946 1946 NFL Western 1st 8 2 1 .773 Won NFL Championship (7) (Giants) 24–14 [4]
1947 1947 NFL Western 2nd 8 4 0 .667 [4]
1948 1948 NFL Western 2nd 10 2 0 .833 [4]
1949 1949 NFL Western 2nd 9 3 0 .750 [4]
1950 1950 NFL National T-1st 9 3 0 .750 Lost Conference Playoff (Rams) 24–14 [4][h]
1951 1951 NFL National 4th 7 5 0 .583 [4]
1952 1952 NFL National 5th 5 7 0 .417 [4]
1953 1953 NFL Western 4th 3 8 1 .292 [4]
1954 1954 NFL Western 2nd 8 4 0 .667 [4]
1955 1955 NFL Western 2nd 8 4 0 .667 [4]
1956 1956 NFL Western 1st 9 2 1 .792 Lost NFL Championship (Giants) 47–7 [4]
1957 1957 NFL Western 5th 5 7 0 .417 [4]
1958 1958 NFL Western T-2nd 8 4 0 .667 [4]
1959 1959 NFL Western 2nd 8 4 0 .667 [4]
1960 1960 NFL Western 5th 5 6 1 .458 [4]
1961 1961 NFL Western T-3rd 8 6 0 .571 [4]
1962 1962 NFL Western 3rd 9 5 0 .643 [4]
1963 1963 NFL Western 1st 11 1 2 .857 Won NFL Championship (8) (Giants) 14–10 George Halas (COY) [4]
1964 1964 NFL Western 6th 5 9 0 .357 [4]
1965 1965 NFL Western 3rd 9 5 0 .643 George Halas (COY) [4]
1966 1966 NFL Western 5th 5 7 2 .429 [4]
1967 1967 NFL Western Central 2nd 7 6 1 .536 [4][i]
1968 1968 NFL Western Central 2nd 7 7 0 .500 [4]
1969 1969 NFL Western Central 4th 1 13 0 .071 [4]
1970 1970 NFL NFC Central 4th 6 8 0 .429 [4][j]
1971 1971 NFL NFC Central 3rd 6 8 0 .429 [4]
1972 1972 NFL NFC Central 4th 4 9 1 .321 [4][k]
1973 1973 NFL NFC Central 4th 3 11 0 .214 Wally Chambers (DROY) [4]
1974 1974 NFL NFC Central 4th 4 10 0 .286 [4]
1975 1975 NFL NFC Central 3rd 4 10 0 .286 [4]
1976 1976 NFL NFC Central 2nd 7 7 0 .500 [4]
1977 1977 NFL NFC Central 2nd 9 5 0 .643 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Cowboys) 37–7 Walter Payton (MVP, OPOY, WP MOY) [4]
1978 1978 NFL NFC Central 4th 7 9 0 .438 [4]
1979 1979 NFL NFC Central 2nd 10 6 0 .625 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Eagles) 27–17 [14]
1980 1980 NFL NFC Central 3rd 7 9 0 .438 [15]
1981 1981 NFL NFC Central 5th 6 10 0 .375 [16]
1982 1982 NFL NFC 12th 3 6 0 .333 [16][l]
1983 1983 NFL NFC Central 3rd 8 8 0 .500 [17]
1984 1984 NFL NFC Central 1st 10 6 0 .625 Won Divisional Playoffs (Redskins) 23–19
Lost Conference Championship (49ers) 23–0
[18]
1985 1985 NFL NFC Central 1st 15 1 0 .938 Won Divisional Playoffs (Giants) 21–0
Won Conference Championship (Rams) 24–0
Won Super Bowl XX (9) (Patriots) 46–10
Richard Dent (SB MVP)
Mike Singletary (DPOY)
Mike Ditka (COY)
[m][19]
1986 1986 NFL NFC Central 1st 14 2 0 .875 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Redskins) 27–13 [20]
1987 1987 NFL NFC Central 1st 11 4 0 .733 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Redskins) 21–17 Dave Duerson (WP MOY) [n][21]
1988 1988 NFL NFC Central 1st 12 4 0 .750 Won Divisional Playoffs (Eagles) 20–12
Lost Conference Championship (49ers) 28–3
Mike Singletary (DPOY)
Mike Ditka (COY)
[o][22][23]
1989 1989 NFL NFC Central 4th 6 10 0 .375 [24]
1990 1990 NFL NFC Central 1st 11 5 0 .688 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Saints) 16–6
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Giants) 31–3
Mark Carrier (DROY)
Mike Singletary (WP MOY)
[25]
1991 1991 NFL NFC Central 2nd 11 5 0 .688 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Cowboys) 17–13 [26]
1992 1992 NFL NFC Central 4th 5 11 0 .313 [27]
1993 1993 NFL NFC Central 4th 7 9 0 .438 [28]
1994 1994 NFL NFC Central 4th 9 7 0 .563 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Vikings) 35–18
Lost Divisional Playoffs (49ers) 44–15
[29]
1995 1995 NFL NFC Central 3rd 9 7 0 .563 [30]
1996 1996 NFL NFC Central 3rd 7 9 0 .438 [31]
1997 1997 NFL NFC Central 5th 4 12 0 .250 [32]
1998 1998 NFL NFC Central 5th 4 12 0 .250 [33]
1999 1999 NFL NFC Central 5th 6 10 0 .375 [34]
2000 2000 NFL NFC Central 5th 5 11 0 .313 Brian Urlacher (DROY)
Jim Flanigan (WP MOY)
[35]
2001 2001 NFL NFC Central 1st 13 3 0 .813 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Eagles) 33–19 Dick Jauron (COY)
Anthony Thomas (OROY)
[36]
2002 2002 NFL NFC North 3rd 4 12 0 .250 [37]
2003 2003 NFL NFC North 3rd 7 9 0 .438 [38]
2004 2004 NFL NFC North 4th 5 11 0 .313 [39]
2005 2005 NFL NFC North 1st 11 5 0 .688 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Panthers) 29–21 Lovie Smith (COY)
Brian Urlacher (DPOY)
[40]
2006 2006 NFL NFC North 1st 13 3 0 .813 Won Divisional Playoffs (Seahawks) 27–24 (OT)
Won Conference Championship (Saints) 39–14
Lost Super Bowl XLI (Colts) 29–17
[41]
2007 2007 NFL NFC North 4th 7 9 0 .438 [42]
2008 2008 NFL NFC North 2nd 9 7 0 .563 [43][44]
2009 2009 NFL NFC North 3rd 7 9 0 .438 [45]
2010 2010 NFL NFC North 1st 11 5 0 .688 Won Divisional Playoffs (Seahawks) 35–24
Lost Conference Championship (Packers) 21–14
[g][46]
2011 2011 NFL NFC North 3rd 8 8 0 .500 [45]
2012 2012 NFL NFC North 3rd 10 6 0 .625
2013 2013 NFL NFC North 2nd 8 8 0 .500 Charles Tillman (WP MOY)
2014 2014 NFL NFC North 4th 5 11 0 .313
2015 2015 NFL NFC North 4th 6 10 0 .375
Totals W L T Win%
10 1 2 .846 Decatur Staleys regular season record (1920)[q]
9 1 1 .864 Chicago Staleys regular season record (1921)[q]
724 553 39 .565 Chicago Bears regular season record (1922–2015)[q]
741 555 42 .570 All-time regular season record (1920–2015)[47][q]
17 18 .486 All-time postseason record (1932–2015)[47][q]
758 573 42 .567 All-time regular season and postseason record (1920–2015)[47][q]
9 NFL Championships, 4 Conference Championships, 18 Divisional Championships

Footnotes

References

General
Specific
  1. Taylor, Roy (2005). "Chicago Bears Seasons By Era". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  2. "NFL History By Decade". nfl.com/history. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  3. Note: The Finish, Wins, Losses, and Ties columns list only regular season game results and exclude any postseason play records. Regular and postseason records are combined only at the bottom of the list.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 "Chicago Bears Franchise Encyclopedia". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  5. "Green Bay Packers Franchise Encyclopedia". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  6. "All-Time Win-Loss Records By Team". Pro Football Hall of Fame. 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  7. Taylor, Roy (2004). "The 1930's Bears, First Dynasty". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  8. Taylor, Roy (2004). "1940's Chicago Bears, Another Dynasty". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  9. "Highlights from the 1980s". chicagobears.com. 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  10. "Highlights from the 1990s". chicagobears.com. 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  11. "Playoff Game Log". pro-football-reference.com. 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  12. "Highlights from the 1970s". chicagobears.com. 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  13. "Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks". pro-football-reference.com. 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  14. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1979 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  15. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1980 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  16. 1 2 Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1981 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  17. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1983 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  18. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1984 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  19. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1985 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  20. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1986 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  21. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1987 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  22. "Fog Bowl: 'A supernatural experience'". ESPN. September 26, 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  23. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1988 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  24. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1989 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  25. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1990 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  26. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1991 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  27. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1992 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  28. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1993 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  29. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1994 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  30. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1995 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  31. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1996 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  32. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1997 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  33. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1998 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  34. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "1999 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  35. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "2000 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  36. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "2001 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  37. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "2002 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  38. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "2003 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  39. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "2004 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  40. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "2005 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  41. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "2006 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  42. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "2007 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  43. Taylor, Roy (2000–2008). "2008 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  44. The franchise recorded its 700th victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 7th, 2008.
    Musto, Adam (December 2008). "Bears-Jaguars: Chicago Freezes Out Jacksonville, Earns 700th Franchise Vi". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  45. 1 2 Taylor, Roy (2000–2009). "2009 Chicago Bears". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  46. "Bears Game Day: Dominant defense keys 16–0 win". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  47. 1 2 3 "All Time Records of Current NFL Franchises" (PDF). Pro-Football Hall of Fame. Pro-Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2011-01-04.

External links

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