Bronko Nagurski

Canadian-born american football player and professional wrestler (1908–1990)

For his son, a Canadian football player, see Bronko Nagurski Jr.

American football player

Bronko NagurskiFile:Bronko Nagurski.jpg

Nagurski in 1937

No. 3
Position:| Fullback,
Linebacker,
Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born:| (1908-11-03)November 3, 1908
Rainy River, Ontario, Canada
Died:| January 7, 1990(1990-01-07) (aged 81)
International Falls, Minnesota, U.S.
Height:| 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:| 235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:| Bemidji
(Bemidji, Minnesota)
College:| Minnesota (1927–1929)
Career history
As a player:

* Chicago Bears (1930–1937, 1943)

As a coach:

* UCLA (1944)
Backfield coach

Career highlights and awards

* 3× NFL champion (1932, 1933, 1943)
* 4× First-team All-Pro (1932–1934, 1936)
* NFL rushing touchdowns leader (1932)
* NFL 1930s All-Decade Team
* NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
* Chicago Bears No. 3 retired
* 100 greatest Bears of All-Time
* Consensus All-American (1929)
* Minnesota Golden Gophers No. 72 retired

Career NFL statistics
| Rushing yards:| 2,778

|

Yards per carry:| 4.4
Rushing touchdowns:| 25
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Pro Football Hall of Fame

College Football Hall of Fame

Bronislau "Bronko" Nagurski (November 3, 1908 – January 7, 1990) was a Canadian-born professional American football player in the National Football League (NFL), renowned for his strength and size. Nagurski was also a successful professional wrestler,[1] recognized as a multiple-time World Heavyweight Champion.

Nagurski became a standout playing both tackle on defense and fullback on offense at the University of Minnesota from 1927 to 1929, selected a consensus All-American in 1929 and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in its inaugural year of 1951. His professional career with the Chicago Bears, which began in 1930 and ended on two occasions in 1937 and 1943, also made him an inaugural inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.

## Contents

* 1 Youth and collegiate career
* 2 Professional career
* 2.1 Football
* 2.2 Wrestling
* 2.2.1 Wrestling accomplishments
* 3 Personal life
* 4 Later life and legacy
* 4.1 Later life
* 4.2 Legacy
* 5 See also
* 6 Notes
* 7 References
* 8 Further reading
* 9 External links

## Youth and collegiate career[edit | edit source]

Nagurski was born in Rainy River, Ontario, Canada, in a family of Ukrainian and Polish descent. His family moved to International Falls, Minnesota, when he was five years old. His parents, "Mike" and Michelina Nagurski, were immigrants from Galicia. Nagurski grew up working on his parents' farm and sawmill, delivering groceries for his father's grocery store and in his teens laboring at nearby timbering operations, growing into a powerfully muscular six-footer.

Nagurski was discovered and signed by University of Minnesota head coach Clarence Spears, who drove to International Falls to meet another player. On the outside of town, he watched Nagurski out plowing a field without assistance. According to legend, Spears asked directions and Bronko lifted his plow and used it to point.[1] He was signed on the spot to play for the Golden Gophers. Spears admitted he concocted the story on his long drive back to the university in Minneapolis.

Legends aside, on his first day of practice Spears decided to test Nagurski in the "Nutcracker" drill, where a defensive player had to take on two blockers and try to tackle a following ball carrier. On the first drill, two All-Big Ten linemen and Herb Joesting charged at Bronko, who promptly split the blockers and drove the big fullback into a blocking dummy. Spears sent in three more players, blew his whistle and watched Bronko produce the same explosive results and after a third try with the same conclusion realized what a super player he had recruited.

Nagurski became a standout playing both tackle on defense and fullback on offense at Minnesota from 1927 to 1929. In 1929, after posting 737 rushing yards, he was a consensus All-American at fullback, and despite playing fewer games at the position also made some All-American teams at tackle. The pre-eminent sportswriter of the day, Grantland Rice, listed him at the two positions in picking his 1929 All-America team. Rice later wrote, "Who would you pick to win a football game - 11 Jim Thorpes \- 11 Glen Davises \- 11 Red Granges \- or 11 Bronko Nagurskis? The 11 Nagurskis would be a mop-up. It would be something close to murder and massacre. For the Bronk could star at any position on the field, with 216 pounds (98 kg) of authority to back him up."

His greatest collegiate game was against Wisconsin in the season finale in 1928. Wearing a corset to protect cracked vertebrae, he recovered a Badger fumble deep in their territory, then ran the ball six straight times to score the go-ahead touchdown. Later in the same game, he intercepted a pass to seal the victory.[2]

During his three varsity seasons at Minnesota, the Gophers went 18–4–2 (.792) and won the Big Ten Conference championship in 1927. Nagurski was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.

While at the University of Minnesota, Nagurski was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, at the same time as another All-American, Herb Joesting.[3]

## Professional career[edit | edit source]

### Football[edit | edit source]

Nagurski turned professional to play for the Chicago Bears from 1930 to 1937. At 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and 235 pounds (107 kg), he was a formidable presence, and in his day he was a dominant force, helping the Bears win several division titles and two NFL championships. He ended his eight-year stint with 3,947 rushing yards on 856 attempts, completed 36 of 80 passes, and scored a total of 236 points.[4]

Nagurski had the largest recorded NFL Championship ring size at 19+1⁄2 and wore a size-8 helmet.[5] He was probably the largest running back of his time, bigger than most linemen of the day,[n 1] often dragging multiple tacklers with him. In a time when players were expected to play on both sides of the ball, he was a standout defensive lineman as well playing a ranging tackle or "The Monster." After an injury, instead of sitting on the bench, he would sometimes be put in as an offensive tackle. In a 1984 interview with Sports Illustrated writer Paul "Dr. Z" Zimmerman, when asked what position he would play if he were coming up in the present day, he said, "I would probably be a linebacker today. I wouldn't be carrying the ball 30 or 35 times a game."

A time-honored and perhaps apocryphal story about Nagurski is a scoring gallop that he made against the Washington Redskins, knocking two linebackers in opposite directions, stomping a defensive back and crushing a safety, then bouncing off the goalposts and cracking Wrigley Field's brick wall. On returning to the huddle for the extra point try, he reportedly said: "That last guy hit me awfully hard."[6][7]

Once in a game against the Packers, the Bears prepared to punt, and Green Bay's Cal Hubbard went to Red Grange and said: "I promise not to try to block the kick, Red, but get out of the way so I can get a shot at that Polack." Grange, glad not to try to block Hubbard for once, obliged. Cal tore through the line, slammed into Nagurski and bounced off. Rising slowly, he turned to Grange and said: "Hey, Red, don't do me any more favors."[8]

At the end of the 1932 season, the Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans were tied with the best regular-season records. To determine the champion, the league voted to hold its first playoff game. Because of cold weather, the game was held indoors at Chicago Stadium, which forced some temporary rule changes. Chicago won, 9–0. In the fourth quarter of the 1932 game, the Bears scored on a controversial touchdown: Carl Brumbaugh handed the ball off to fullback Nagurski, who pulled up and threw to Red Grange in the end zone for the score.[9] The Spartans argued that Nagurski did not drop back five yards before passing to Grange, but the touchdown stood. The playoff proved so popular that the league reorganized into two divisions for the 1933 season, with the winners advancing to a scheduled championship game. A number of new rule changes were also instituted: the goal posts were moved forward to the goal line, every play started from between the hash marks, and forward passes could originate from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage (instead of the previous five yards behind).[10][11][12]

In 1943, with the Bears losing so many players to World War II, Nagurski came out of retirement to play tackle. He remained at the position until he returned to fullback against the Chicago Cardinals, whom the Bears needed to defeat to advance to the 1943 NFL Championship Game;[13] Nagurski scored a touchdown in the game as the Bears won 35–24.[14][15] Chicago went on to win the 1943 title after beating the Washington Redskins 41–21, while Nagurski scored on a three-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.[16]

He retired again after the 1943 season and became the backfield coach for the UCLA Bruins.[17] After one year, he resigned from his position with the Bruins to return to farming.[18] Two years later he returned to football for a brief time as general manager of the Sylvan Park Dead Cherokees, a semi-pro team in Tennessee.[19]

### Wrestling[edit | edit source]

File:Bronko Nagurski posing in ring.jpg

Nagurski posing in a wrestling ring, 1937

During his football career, he built a second athletic career as a professional wrestler and became a major box-office attraction. Tony Stecher, brother of former world champion Joe Stecher, introduced Nagurski to wrestling in 1933 and became his manager. Nagurski defeated Tag Tagerson in his ring debut. Hitting his peak in the late 1930s, Nagurski won a limited version of the world championship by defeating Dean Detton on June 29, 1937. But he finally achieved full recognition with his first National Wrestling Association world title by defeating Lou Thesz on June 23, 1939. Losing the title to Ray Steele on March 7, 1940, he regained it from Steele one year later on March 11, 1941, but lost it three months later to Sandor Szabo on June 5, 1941.[20] Nagurski continued to wrestle until 1960.

#### Wrestling accomplishments[edit | edit source]

* California State Athletic Commission
* California State Athletic Commission World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[21]
* George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
* Class of 2009[22]
* National Wrestling Association
* NWA/NBA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
* New York State Athletic Commission
* New York State Athletic Commission World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[23]
* NWA Minneapolis Wrestling and Boxing Club
* NWA World Tag Team Championship (Minneapolis version) (1 time) - with Verne Gagne
* NWA San Francisco
* NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version) (2 times)
* Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
* (Class of 2011)[24]
* Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
* Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)
* Other titles
* Los Angeles World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
* World Heavyweight Championship (original version) (1 time)
* Minneapolis World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

## Personal life[edit | edit source]

Nagurski married his childhood sweetheart, Eileen Kane, on December 28, 1936. The couple had six children: sons Bronko Jr., Tony, Ronald and Kevin, and daughters Genie and Janice.[25] Bronko Jr. was born on Christmas Day 1937, played football at the University of Notre Dame, and became an all-star with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.[26]

## Later life and legacy[edit | edit source]

### Later life[edit | edit source]

After Nagurski's retirement from wrestling, he returned home to International Falls and opened a service station.[1] A local legend claims that Nagurski had the best repeat business in town because he would screw customers' gas caps on so tightly after filling their tanks that no one else in town could unscrew them.[27] He retired from that in 1978, at the age of seventy, and lived out a quiet life on the shores of Rainy Lake on the Canada–U.S. border.

In January 1984, Nagurski performed the coin toss at Super Bowl XVIII in Tampa, Florida, with Washington Redskins quarterback and co-captain Joe Theismann calling the toss on behalf of his team's co-captains and the captains of the opposing Los Angeles Raiders.

On January 7, 1990, Nagurski died of cardiac arrest in International Falls, Minnesota, and is buried at its Forest Hill Cemetery.

### Legacy[edit | edit source]

Nagurski was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a charter member on September 7, 1963. At the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities house of his fraternity, Sigma Chi, Nagurski's jersey and Significant Sig recognition certificate are on display. After his death, the town of International Falls honored him by opening the Bronko Nagurski Museum in Smokey Bear Park.[28]

Sports Illustrated named Nagurski one of the four greatest athletes in Minnesota state history; the other three were Dave Winfield, Kevin McHale, and Joe Mauer. In 1993, the Football Writers Association of America created the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded annually to the best defensive player in college football. Notable winners include Warren Sapp, Charles Woodson, Terrell Suggs, Champ Bailey and Derrick Johnson. In 1999 Nagurski was selected by Sports Illustrated as a starting defensive tackle for their "NCAA Football All-Century Team". The other starting defensive tackle on that list was Rich Glover. In 2007, Nagurski was ranked No. 17 on ESPN's Top 25 Players In College Football History list.

In 1999, he was ranked No. 35 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players, the highest-ranking foreign-born player. In 2000, he was voted the second-greatest Minnesotan sportsman of the 20th century by the sportswriters of the Star Tribune, coming in behind only Minnesota Twins Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett.

A fictionalized eyewitness account of Nagurski's 1943 comeback is the subject of a dramatic monologue in the 2001 film version of Hearts in Atlantis. The film's screenwriter, William Goldman, repeated much of this rendition from his earlier account of the same story in his novel Magic.

In 2009, Nagurski was an honorary team captain, represented by his son, Bronko Nagurski Jr., at the opening game of TCF Bank Stadium. His home town International Falls high school nickname is the Broncos in his honor.

In September 2021, he was an inductee into the National Polish-American Hall of Fame, housed in Troy, Michigan.

## See also[edit | edit source]

* List of Canadian sports personalities

## Notes[edit | edit source]

1. ^ A forerunner to large fullbacks like Marion Motley, John Henry Johnson and Jim Brown

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ^ a b c Wolf, Bob (February 2, 1984). "A tank! Bronko Nagurski hit like one, ran like one". Milwaukee Journal. p. 3, part 3.
2. ^ Downer, George F. (November 25, 1928). "Gophers crush Badger hopes, 6 to 0". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 3.
3. ^ Noted in the 1929 Minnesota Gopher yearbook, p.323.
4. ^ "Bronko Nagurski Back for More Pro Football". Reno Gazette-Journal. AP. October 30, 1943. Retrieved June 22, 2019 - via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ Dr. Z's Top 10 Big Backs - Bronkosaurus - Bronko Nagurski was, literally, a monster of the Midway. Sports Illustrated. Paul Zimmerman (Dr. Z). November 24, 1997 [Q]uarterback Sid Luckman, about Nagurski. "A monster," Luckman said. "The neck, the hands. They measured him for a championship ring in 1943, when he made his comeback, and his ring size was 19 1/2."
6. ^ Bronko Nagurski Is Dead at 81; Star Runner for Chicago Bears Paul Rodgers, The New York Times, January 11, 1990
7. ^ "Hill recalls wall at Wrigley - tribunedigital-chicagotribune". Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
8. ^ Bob Broeg (October 23, 1977). "Cal Hubbard: 'Big Umpire' Was A Man For All Sports". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 16. Retrieved May 21, 2016 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Chicago Bears pro champions". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. (Chicago Tribune). December 19, 1932. p. 14.
10. ^ "History 1931–1940". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises LLC. 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved October 12, 2007.
11. ^ Hickok, Ralph (2004). "The 1932 NFL Championship Game". HickokSports.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2007. Retrieved June 5, 2007.
12. ^ Bennett (1976), pp 32–33
13. ^ "Bronko Nagurski at Fullback Spot as Bears Meet Cards". The Gazette. UP. November 28, 1943. Retrieved June 22, 2019 - via Newspapers.com.
14. ^ Smith, Red (May 26, 1978). "Hunk Anderson, Nicest Tough Guy". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
15. ^ Goldman, William (December 9, 1963). "A Big Game for the Old Man of the Bears". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
16. ^ "Championship - Washington Redskins at Chicago Bears - December 26th, 1943". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
17. ^ "Bronko Nagurski On UCLA Staff". Nevada State Journal. UP. April 13, 1944. Retrieved June 22, 2019 - via Newspapers.com.
18. ^ "Bronko Nagurski Will Give Up All Coaching". The Fresno Bee. AP. February 10, 1945. Retrieved June 22, 2019 - via Newspapers.com.
19. ^ Naylor B. White, History of the Chicago Bears (Glenview, IL: 163).
20. ^ "Bronko Nagurski - OWW". Onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
21. ^ "Title Lineages: CASAC World Heavyweight Championship - the Home of Historical Wrestling". Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
22. ^ Johnson, Mike (June 30, 2009). "Ricky Steamboat, Nick Bockinkel Among 2009 Class Honored By Wrestling Museum & Institute". PWInsider. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
23. ^ "World Heavyweight Title [NYSAC]". Wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
24. ^ "Lawler, McMahon, Road Warriors among PWHF Class of 2011". Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. November 26, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
25. ^ Weil, Martin (January 9, 1990). "Chicago Bears legend Bronko Nagurski dies". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
26. ^ "Bronko: The man". International Falls Journal. December 13, 2007. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
27. ^ Czuba, Ashley (January 29, 2010). "Taking a Look in the Bears History Book: Bronko Nagurski". Windy City Gridiron.
28. ^ "Rainy Lake - International Falls, Minnesota - Home of Voyageurs National Park, Grand Mound History Center, Koochiching County Historical Museum, Bronko Nagurski Museum, Smokey Bear Park, International Bridge of Canada, Boise Cascade". Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2009.

## Further reading[edit | edit source]

* Sullivan, George (1972). The Great Running Backs. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. pp. 41–46. ISBN 0-399-11026-7.

## External links[edit | edit source]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bronko Nagurski.

* Bronko Nagurski at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
* Bronko Nagurski at the College Football Hall of Fame
*   * Career statistics and player information from Pro Football Reference
* {{Find a Grave}} template missing ID and not present in Wikidata.

Bronko Nagurski—championships, awards, and honors

* v
* t
* e

Chicago Bears 1932 NFL champions

* Gil Bergerson
* Carl Brumbaugh
* Bill Buckler
* Lloyd Burdick
* Zuck Carlson
* George Corbett
* John Doehring
* Tiny Engebretsen
* Paul Franklin
* Red Grange
* Bill Hewitt
* Luke Johnsos
* Joe Kopcha
* Ookie Miller
* Keith Molesworth
* Don Murry
* Bronko Nagurski
* Dick Nesbitt
* Bert Pearson
* Johnny Sisk
* Cookie Tackwell
* George Trafton

* Head coach: Ralph Jones

* v
* t
* e

Chicago Bears 1933 NFL champions

* Gil Bergerson
* Carl Brumbaugh
* Bill Buckler
* Zuck Carlson
* George Corbett
* John Doehring
* Paul Franklin
* Red Grange
* Bill Hewitt
* Luke Johnsos
* Bill Karr
* Joe Kopcha
* Link Lyman
* Jack Manders
* Ookie Miller
* Keith Molesworth
* George Musso
* Bronko Nagurski
* Dick Nesbitt
* Bert Pearson
* Ray Richards
* Gene Ronzani
* Johnny Sisk
* Dick Smith
* Dick Stahlman
* Cookie Tackwell
* Joe Zeller

Head Coach: George Halas

* v
* t
* e

Chicago Bears 1943 NFL champions

* Al Babartsky
* Jim Benton
* Connie Mack Berry
* Harry Clarke
* Bernie Digris
* Gary Famiglietti
* Danny Fortmann
* Bill Geyer
* Pete Gudauskas
* Al Hoptowit
* Tony Ippolito
* Jim Logan
* Sid Luckman
* Dante Magnani
* Bob Masters
* Al Matuza
* Doug McEnulty
* Ray McLean
* Monte Merkel
* Fred Mundee
* George Musso
* Bronko Nagurski
* Ray Nolting
* Bill Osmanski
* Hamp Pool
* John Siegal
* Dom Sigillo
* Bob Snyder
* Bill Steinkemper
* Bob Steuber
* Bulldog Turner
* Joe Vodicka
* George Wilson

Co-Head Coaches: Luke Johnsos & Hunk Anderson

* v
* t
* e

1929 College Football All-America Team consensus selections

Backfield|

* QB Frank Carideo
* HB Chris Cagle
* HB Gene McEver
* FB Ralph Welch

Line|

* E Joe Donchess
* E Wes Fesler
* T Bronko Nagurski
* T Elmer Sleight
* G Jack Cannon
* G Ray Montgomery
* C Ben Ticknor

* v
* t
* e

NFL's 1930s All-Decade Team

* Dutch Clark
* Arnie Herber
* Cecil Isbell
* Cliff Battles
* Johnny Blood
* Beattie Feathers
* Tuffy Leemans
* Ken Strong
* Clarke Hinkle
* Bronko Nagurski
* Bill Hewitt
* Don Hutson
* Wayne Millner
* Gaynell Tinsley
* George Christensen
* Frank Cope
* Turk Edwards
* Bill Lee
* Joe Stydahar
* Ox Emerson
* Dan Fortmann
* Charles Goldenberg
* Russ Letlow
* Mel Hein
* George Svendsen

* v
* t
* e

NFL annual rushing touchdowns leaders

* 1932: Nagurski
* 1933: Presnell
* 1934: Clark & Feathers
* 1935: Caddel
* 1936: Clark
* 1937: Battles, Clark & Hinkle
* 1938: Farkas
* 1939: Drake
* 1940: Drake
* 1941: Gallarneau
* 1942: Famiglietti
* 1943: Paschal
* 1944: Paschal
* 1945: Van Buren
* 1946: Fritsch
* 1947: Van Buren
* 1948: Van Buren
* 1949: Van Buren
* 1950: Lujack
* 1951: Goode
* 1952: Towler
* 1953: Perry
* 1954: Towler
* 1955: Ameche
* 1956: Casares
* 1957: Brown
* 1958: Brown
* 1959: Brown
* 1960: Hornung
* 1961: Ji. Taylor
* 1962: Ji. Taylor
* 1963: Brown
* 1964: Moore
* 1965: Brown
* 1966: Kelly
* 1967: Kelly
* 1968: Kelly
* 1969: Matte
* 1970: Lane
* 1971: Thomas
* 1972: M. Morris
* 1973: Little & Simpson
* 1974: Sullivan
* 1975: Banaszak & Simpson
* 1976: Harris
* 1977: Payton
* 1978: D. Sims
* 1979: Campbell
* 1980: Campbell & B. Sims
* 1981: Muncie
* 1982: M. Allen
* 1983: Riggins
* 1984: Dickerson & Riggins
* 1985: J. Morris
* 1986: Rogers
* 1987: Hector & White
* 1988: Bell
* 1989: Bell
* 1990: Fenner & Gary
* 1991: Sanders
* 1992: Smith
* 1993: M. Allen
* 1994: Smith
* 1995: Smith
* 1996: T. Allen
* 1997: Abdul-Jabbar & T. Davis
* 1998: T. Davis
* 1999: S. Davis
* 2000: Faulk
* 2001: Alexander
* 2002: Holmes
* 2003: Holmes
* 2004: Tomlinson
* 2005: Alexander
* 2006: Tomlinson
* 2007: Tomlinson
* 2008: Williams
* 2009: Peterson
* 2010: Foster
* 2011: McCoy
* 2012: Foster
* 2013: Charles & Lynch
* 2014: Lynch & Murray
* 2015: Freeman, Hill, Peterson & Williams
* 2016: Blount
* 2017: Gurley
* 2018: Gurley
* 2019: Henry & Jones
* 2020: Henry
* 2021: Jo. Taylor

* v
* t
* e

Chicago Bears

* Founded in 1919
* Formerly the Decatur Staleys (1919-1920) and the Chicago Staleys (1921)
* Based in Chicago, Illinois
* Headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois

Franchise|

* History
* Coaches
* Seasons
* Current season

Records|

* Franchise records
* All-time record versus NFL
* Team awards and honors
* Players
* Head coaches
* Pro Football Hall of Famers
* First-round draft picks
* Starting quarterbacks

Stadiums|

* Staley Field
* Wrigley Field
* Memorial Stadium
* Soldier Field

Culture|

* Brian's Song
* 1971
* 2001
* Brian Piccolo Award
* "Bear Down, Chicago Bears"
* "The Super Bowl Shuffle"
* Monsters of the Midway
* "Sweet Home Chicago"
* Bill Swerski's Superfans
* Chuck Swirsky
* Chicago Honey Bears
* Staley Da Bear
* Logos and uniforms
* Halas Hall
* A. E. Staley
* Jack Brickhouse
* George Halas
* Mike Ditka
* Roosevelt/Wabash
* 85386 Payton
* Jim Cornelison
* Club Dub ("Swag Surfin")

Lore|

* Staley Swindle
* 1932 Playoff Game
* First NFL Championship Game
* "The Sneakers Game"
* T formation
* 73–0
* ‘85 Bears
* Super Bowl XX
* 46 defense
* Fog Bowl
* Cardiac Kids
* "They are who we thought they were"
* "Double Doink"

Rivalries|

* Arizona Cardinals
* Detroit Lions
* Green Bay Packers
* Minnesota Vikings
* New York Giants

Minor league affiliates|

* Newark Bears (AA, 1939–1941)
* Wichita Aero Commandos (1942)
* Akron Bears (AFL, 1946)
* Bloomfield Cardinals (AFL, 1947)
* Richmond Rebels (AFL, 1948–1950)
* Quad City Mohawks (MWPFL, 1970-1972)

Retired numbers|

* 3
* 5
* 7
* 28
* 34
* 40
* 41
* 42
* 51
* 56
* 61
* 66
* 77
* 89

Key personnel|

* Principal owner: Virginia Halas McCaskey
* Chairman: George McCaskey
* President/CEO: Ted Phillips
* General Manager: Ryan Poles
* Head Coach: Matt Eberflus

Division championships (21)|

* 1933
* 1934
* 1937
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1946
* 1956
* 1963
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1990
* 2001
* 2005
* 2006
* 2010
* 2018

Conference championships (4)|

* 1956
* 1963
* 1985
* 2006

League championships (9)|

* 1921
* 1932
* 1933
* 1940
* 1941
* 1943
* 1946
* 1963
* 1985 (XX)

Media|

* Broadcasters
* Radio:
* WBBM (AM)
* WCFS-FM (FM simulcast of WBBM)
* Personnel:
* Jeff Joniak (play-by-play)
* Tom Thayer (analyst)
* Zach Zaidman (sideline reporter and radio coach's show host)
* Television:
* WFLD (pre-season and most regular season games through Fox, official pre-game and post-game alternate)
* WPWR (official post-game)
* NBC Sports Chicago (in-season team programming)
* Personnel:
* Lou Canellis (gameday television host, pre-season sideline reporter)
* Sam Rosen (pre-season play-by-play)
* Jim Miller (pre-season analyst)

Current league affiliations|

* League: National Football League
* Conference: National Football Conference
* Division: North Division

* :Category:Chicago Bears
* Project page Project Chicago Bears

* v
* t
* e

Chicago Bears retired numbers

* 3 Bronko Nagurski
* 5 George McAfee
* 7 George Halas
* 28 Willie Galimore
* 34 Walter Payton
* 40 Gale Sayers
* 41 Brian Piccolo
* 42 Sid Luckman
* 51 Dick Butkus
* 56 Bill Hewitt
* 61 Bill George
* 66 Bulldog Turner
* 77 Red Grange
* 89 Mike Ditka

* v
* t
* e

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1963

* Sammy Baugh
* Bert Bell
* Joseph Carr
* Dutch Clark
* Red Grange
* George Halas
* Mel Hein
* Pete Henry
* Cal Hubbard
* Don Hutson
* Curly Lambeau
* Tim Mara
* George Preston Marshall
* Johnny "Blood" McNally
* Bronko Nagurski
* Ernie Nevers
* Jim Thorpe

* v
* t
* e

Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Quarterbacks|

* Aikman
* Baugh
* Blanda
* Bradshaw
* Clark
* Conzelman
* L. Dawson
* Driscoll
* Elway
* Favre
* Fouts
* Friedman
* Graham
* Griese
* Herber
* Jurgensen
* J. Kelly
* Layne
* Luckman
* Manning
* Marino
* Montana
* Moon
* Namath
* A. Parker
* Stabler
* Starr
* Staubach
* Tarkenton
* Tittle
* Unitas
* Van Brocklin
* Warner
* Waterfield
* S. Young

Running backs|

* M. Allen
* Battles
* Bettis
* J. Brown
* Campbell
* Canadeo
* Csonka
* T. Davis
* Dickerson
* Dorsett
* Dudley
* Faulk
* Gifford
* Grange
* Guyon
* F. Harris
* Hinkle
* Hornung
* James
* J. H. Johnson
* L. Kelly
* Lambeau
* Leemans
* F. Little
* Martin
* Matson
* McAfee
* McElhenny
* J. McNally
* Moore
* Motley
* Nagurski
* Nevers
* Payton
* Perry
* Pollard
* Riggins
* B. Sanders
* Sayers
* Simpson
* E. Smith
* Strong
* Jim Taylor
* T. Thomas
* Thorpe
* Tomlinson
* Trippi
* Van Buren
* Walker

Wide receivers /
ends|

* Alworth
* Badgro
* Berry
* Biletnikoff
* Branch
* T. Brown
* Bruce
* Carmichael
* Carter
* Chamberlin
* Fears
* Flaherty
* Halas
* Harrison
* Hayes
* Hewitt
* Hirsch
* Hutson
* Irvin
* C. Johnson
* Joiner
* Largent
* Lavelli
* Lofton
* Maynard
* McDonald
* Millner
* Mitchell
* Monk
* Moss
* Owens
* Pearson
* Pihos
* A. Reed
* Rice
* Speedie
* Stallworth
* Swann
* C. Taylor
* Warfield

Tight ends|

* Casper
* Ditka
* Gonzalez
* Mackey
* Newsome
* C. Sanders
* Sharpe
* J. Smith
* Winslow

Offensive
linemen|

* L. Allen
* Boselli
* B. Brown
* R. Brown
* Covert
* Creekmur
* D. Dawson
* DeLamielleure
* Dierdorf
* Faneca
* Gatski
* Gregg
* Grimm
* Hannah
* Hickerson
* Hill
* Hutchinson
* S. Jones
* W. Jones
* Kramer
* Langer
* L. Little
* Mack
* Matthews
* Mawae
* McCormack
* McDaniel
* Mix
* Munchak
* Muñoz
* Ogden
* Otto
* Pace
* J. Parker
* Ringo
* Roaf
* Shaw
* A. Shell
* Shields
* J. Slater
* St. Clair
* Stanfel
* Stephenson
* Tingelhoff
* Upshaw
* Webster
* Wright
* Yary
* Zimmerman

Pre-modern era
two-way players|

* Edwards
* Fortmann
* Healey
* Hein
* Henry
* Hubbard
* Kiesling
* Kinard
* Lyman
* Michalske
* Musso
* Owen
* D. Slater
* Stydahar
* Trafton
* Turner
* Wojciechowicz

Defensive
linemen|

* Atkins
* Bethea
* Buchanan
* Culp
* W. Davis
* Dean
* Dent
* Doleman
* Donovan
* Eller
* Ford
* J. Greene
* Haley
* Hampton
* Humphrey
* D. Jones
* Jordan
* Karras
* Kennedy
* Lilly
* Long
* Marchetti
* Nomellini
* Olsen
* Page
* Randle
* Robustelli
* Sapp
* Selmon
* Seymour
* B. Smith
* Sprinkle
* Stautner
* Strahan
* Ja. Taylor
* Weinmeister
* Ra. White
* Re. White
* Willis
* B. Young
* Youngblood

Linebackers|

* Bednarik
* Bo. Bell
* Brazile
* Brooks
* Buoniconti
* Butkus
* Carson
* Connor
* George
* K. Greene
* Ham
* Hanburger
* Hendricks
* Huff
* Jackson
* Lambert
* Lanier
* Lewis
* Mills
* Nitschke
* Richter
* D. Robinson
* Schmidt
* Seau
* Singletary
* L. Taylor
* D. Thomas
* Tippett
* Urlacher
* Wilcox

Defensive backs|

* Adderley
* Atwater
* Bailey
* Barney
* Blount
* W. Brown
* J. Butler
* L. Butler
* Christiansen
* Dawkins
* Dillon
* Easley
* Green
* C. Harris
* Haynes
* Houston
* J. Johnson
* Krause
* Lane
* Lary
* Law
* LeBeau
* Lott
* Lynch
* Polamalu
* E. Reed
* Renfro
* J. Robinson
* D. Sanders
* D. Shell
* E. Thomas
* Tunnell
* Wehrli
* Williams
* L. Wilson
* Wood
* C. Woodson
* R. Woodson

Placekickers
and punters|

* Andersen
* Groza
* Guy
* Stenerud

Coaches|

* G. Allen
* P. Brown
* Chamberlin
* Conzelman
* Cowher
* Dungy
* Ewbank
* Flaherty
* Flores
* Gibbs
* Gillman
* Grant
* Halas
* J. Johnson
* Lambeau
* Landry
* Levy
* Lombardi
* Madden
* Neale
* Noll
* Owen
* Parcells
* Shula
* Stram
* Vermeil
* Walsh

Contributors|

* Beathard
* Be. Bell
* Bidwill
* Bowlen
* Brandt
* Carr
* A. Davis
* DeBartolo
* Finks
* Halas
* Hunt
* J. Jones
* Lambeau
* T. Mara
* W. Mara
* Marshall
* A. McNally
* Nunn
* Polian
* Ray
* Reeves
* A. Rooney
* D. Rooney
* Rozelle
* E. Sabol
* S. Sabol
* Schramm
* Tagliabue
* R. Wilson
* Wolf
* G. Young

* v
* t
* e

National Football League 75th Anniversary All-Time Team

* Sammy Baugh
* Otto Graham
* Joe Montana
* Johnny Unitas
* Jim Brown
* Marion Motley
* Bronko Nagurski
* Walter Payton
* Gale Sayers
* O. J. Simpson
* Steve Van Buren
* Lance Alworth
* Raymond Berry
* Don Hutson
* Jerry Rice
* Mike Ditka
* Kellen Winslow
* Roosevelt Brown
* Forrest Gregg
* Anthony Muñoz
* John Hannah
* Jim Parker
* Gene Upshaw
* Mel Hein
* Mike Webster
* Deacon Jones
* Gino Marchetti
* Reggie White
* Joe Greene
* Bob Lilly
* Merlin Olsen
* Dick Butkus
* Jack Ham
* Ted Hendricks
* Jack Lambert
* Willie Lanier
* Ray Nitschke
* Lawrence Taylor
* Mel Blount
* Mike Haynes
* Dick Lane
* Rod Woodson
* Ken Houston
* Ronnie Lott
* Larry Wilson
* Ray Guy
* Jan Stenerud
* Billy Johnson

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