The Finest Team, in the History of Professional Football.

Before passing away in 1983, George Halas installed one of his former players, Mike Ditka, as the fiery new leader of the Bears. Ditka turned around a team that had been 81-124-1 under the four coaches who had followed Halas' retirement from coaching in 1967.

Ditka's Bears were built around defense, like the 1963 Championship team, and by 1984 led the league's 28 teams in rushing and overall defense. An 11-4 span between the end of 1983 and the first of part 1984 went sour when the Bears lost both starting Quarterback Jim McMahon and backup Steve Fuller to injuries within a month.

1985 brought no such disappointment as the Bears came back from a halftime deficit in their season opener to win that game, and roll to a 12-0 start. The team reached a mid-season peak by outscoring Detroit, Dallas and Atlanta by a combined 104-3 in November. With the season still in progress, the team declared its intentions in the words and dance steps of The Super Bowl Shuffle. The Bears' aspirations of an undefeated season were spoiled by the Miami Dolphins, the only franchise ever to acheive that distinction. The Dolphins won that Monday night game 38-24 by consistently beating the blitz.

The 15-1 regular-season finish was on the strength of another top-ranked defense, plus offensive superstar Walter Payton, who ran, caught passes, even threw passes and punted, and opened up defenses for McMahon's passing attack. Defensive stars included rookie William "Refrigerator" Perry, Dan Hampton, and Richard Dent on the defensive line, linebackers Mike Singletary, Wilber Marshall and Otis Wilson, and safeties Dave Duerson and Gary Fencik. Defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan's "46" defense held 11 of 16 opponents to 10 points or less.

The Bears were unstoppable in the playoffs, as they began with a 21-0 shutout of the New York Giants, who were held to 32 yards on the ground, while Giant Quarterback Phil Simms could complete only 40% of his pass attempts. The Bears scored on a punt return by Shaun Gayle, and two touchdown passes from McMahon to Wide Receiver Dennis McKinnon.

The NFC Championship Game brought the Los Angeles Rams to Chicago, where they hoped to duplicate some of the prowess they had shown in their 20-0 playoff victory over the Dallas Cowboys. A 16-yard touchdown scramble by McMahon put the Bears on top to stay, though, and a field goal by NFL rookie scoring record holder Kevin Butler pushed the margin to 10-0 in the first quarter. The Rams failed to convert on a fumble recovery in Chicago territory late in the first half, and things only got bleaker. McMahon threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Wide Receiver Willie Gault in the third quarter. The beginning of the fourth quarter brought about the play that Singletary would later remember as the greatest moment of his career. As it began to snow, Richard Dent forced Ram Quarterback Dieter Brock to fumble, and Wilber Marshall ran 52 yards for a touchdown as Singletary ran alongside him before the cheering Soldier Field crowd. The Bear defense had held Ram star Halfback Eric Dickerson to 46 yards and Brock to 44 yards passing. The 24-0 victory marked the first time since the Forties that any team had shut out two consecutive playoff opponents.

The Bears travelled to New Orleans to meet the New England Patriots, who had won three road upsets in the playoffs, and by scoring 17 points on turnovers against the Dolphins in the AFC Championship, denied the 1985 Bears the opportunity to face the only team that had beaten them. The Patriots were aware of their position as underdog, having lost to the Bears 20-7 in September, and conspired to try more of a passing attack in this game, contrary to their regular season strength as a running team.

The Patriots got an early break as Walter Payton fumbled and the Patriots recovered on the Bears' 21-yard line. Unable to complete a pass in three tries, the Patriots settled for a field goal. The Patriots would not score again until the Bears had pulled their starters from the field in the fourth quarter, leading 44-3. Three Butler field goals in the first half were interspersed with rushing touchdowns by Fullback Matt Suhey and McMahon. The Patriots' defense committed to stopping Walter Payton at all costs, and succeeded in holding him to 61 yards on the day, and no touchdowns, but the Bears otherwise moved freely. At the half, the Bears led 23-3, and in total yardage by 236 to minus 14. New England's starting Quarterback Tony Eason was benched in the second quarter without completing any of his 6 attempts.

A 60-yard bomb from McMahon to Gault got the Bears moving in the third quarter, and that drive ended with a McMahon sneak from a yard out. Reserve Cornerback Reggie Phillips ended the next Patriot possession by running an interception from Steve Grogan in for another score. The fourth lost fumble of the day by the Patriots set up a 30-yard drive ending with a touchdown lumber by William Perry. The Patriots put some salve on their bruised egos by finally scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter, as Grogan hit Wide Receiver Irving Fryar on an 8-yard pass against Chicago's backups. Bear backup Defensive Tackle Henry Waechter was good enough to nail the coffin shut with a safety, and make the final score a record setting 46-10. Richard Dent was named MVP of the game. The telecast was the 7th-most-watched television program in American history.

This Bear team set numerous regular season, playoff, and Super Bowl records, and was arguably the finest defense, and perhaps finest team, in the history of professional football.