List of Chicago Bears seasons

The Chicago Bears franchise was 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]

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 have played over 1,000 games in their history, and have had eight NFL Championships victories and one Super Bowl win. The Bears' nine championships are the second most by any team in NFL history. The franchise has captured 18 NFL divisional titles and four NFL conference championships. The Bears have also recorded more regular season 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 won six NFL Championships. In this period the Bears participated in the first National Football League playoff game, the first 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 1943, 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] Despite their historic championship record, the Bears have also experienced periods of failure in their history. The franchise finished in last place within its division five times in the 1970s.[12] In 1971, 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]

Soldier Field, current home of the Chicago Bears

Legend
(#) The order of league championship won by the franchise
Finish Final position in league, division, or conference
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 Postseason results Awards Head coaches Ref.
Finish W L T Pct
Decatur Staleys
1919 1919 Ind. — 6 1 0 .857 Named Central Illinois Champions Robert E. Brannan [4][a]
1920 1920 APFA 2nd 10 1 2 .846 The APFA did not hold playoff games George Halas [4][a]
Chicago Staleys
1921 1921 APFA 1st 9 1 1 .864 Named APFA Champions George Halas [4][b]
Chicago Bears
1922 1922 NFL 2nd 9 3 0 .750 The NFL did not hold playoff games until 1933 George Halas [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 Ralph Jones [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 George Halas [4][d]
1934 1934 NFL Western 1st 13 0 0 1.000 Lost NFL Championship (at 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) (at Redskins) 73–0 [4][f]
1941 1941 NFL Western 1st 10 1 0 .909 Won 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 (at Redskins) 14–6 George Halas (5–0)
Hunk Anderson & Luke Johnsos (6–0)		 [4][e]
1943 1943 NFL Western 1st 8 1 1 .850 Won NFL Championship (6) (Redskins) 41–21 Sid Luckman (MVP) Hunk Anderson & Luke Johnsos [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) (at Giants) 24–14 George Halas [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 (at 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 (at Giants) 47–7 Paddy Driscoll [4]
1957 1957 NFL Western 5th 5 7 0 .417 [4]
1958 1958 NFL Western T-2nd 8 4 0 .667 George Halas [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 Jim Dooley [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 Abe Gibron [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 Jack Pardee [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 (at Cowboys) 37–7 Walter Payton (MVP, OPOY, WP MOY) [4]
1978 1978 NFL NFC Central 4th 7 9 0 .438 Neill Armstrong [4]
1979 1979 NFL NFC Central 2nd 10 6 0 .625 Lost Wild Card playoffs (at 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 Mike Ditka [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 (at Redskins) 23–19
Lost NFC Championship (at 49ers) 23–0		 [18]
1985 1985 NFL NFC Central 1st 15 1 0 .938 Won Divisional playoffs (Giants) 21–0
Won NFC Championship (Rams) 24–0
Won Super Bowl XX (9) (vs. 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 NFC 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 (at 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 Dave Wannstedt [28]
1994 1994 NFL NFC Central 4th 9 7 0 .563 Won Wild Card playoffs (at Vikings) 35–18
Lost Divisional playoffs (at 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 Dick Jauron [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 Lovie Smith [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 NFC Championship (Saints) 39–14
Lost Super Bowl XLI (vs. 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 NFC 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) Marc Trestman
2014 2014 NFL NFC North 4th 5 11 0 .313
2015 2015 NFL NFC North 4th 6 10 0 .375 John Fox
2016 2016 NFL NFC North 4th 3 13 0 .188
2017 2017 NFL NFC North 4th 5 11 0 .313
2018 2018 NFL NFC North 1st 12 4 0 .750 Lost Wild Card playoffs (Eagles) 16–15 Matt Nagy (COY) Matt Nagy
2019 2019 NFL NFC North 3rd 8 8 0 .500
2020 2020 NFL NFC North 2nd 8 8 0 .500 Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Saints) 21–9
Totals W L T Pct
10 1 2 .846 Decatur Staleys regular season record (1920)[q]
9 1 1 .864 Chicago Staleys regular season record (1921)[q]
758 597 39 .558 Chicago Bears regular season record (1922–2020)[q]
777 599 42 .563 All-time regular season record (1920–2020)[47][q]
17 20 — .459 All-time postseason record (1933–2020)[47][q]
794 619 42 .560 All-time regular season and postseason record (1920–2020)[47][q]
9 NFL Championships, 4 Conference Championships, 19 Divisional Championships

Footnotes
  • a No official standings were maintained for the 1920 season, and the championship was awarded to the Akron Pros in a League meeting on April 30, 1921. Clubs played schedules that included games against nonleague opponents.
  • b The NFL did not hold playoff games until 1933. The team that finished with the best regular season record was named the league champions.
  • c The result of the 1932 NFL Playoff Game to determine the NFL champion between the Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans. The game counted in the standings and broke the tie.
  • d The score of the playoff game is in parenthesis with the winning score first no matter the outcome for the Bears.
  • e The Bears were denied perfect seasons on two accounts. The first one was in the 1934 when the 13–0 club lost to the New York Giants in the Championship game. The second occurrence happened in 1942 when the 11–0 club was denied perfection and a "three-peat" by the Washington Redskins.
  • f The Bears victory over the Redskins in the 1940 NFL Championship is an NFL record for greatest margin of victory and most points scored in a game.
  • h The Bears tied with the Rams for 1st place at the end of the season, but they lost a one-game playoff tiebreaker and therefore did not win a Conference Championship.
  • i The 1967 NFL season marks the first season in the league's history where the league was divided into two conferences which were subdivided into two divisions. Up to 1967, the league was either divided into two divisions, two conferences, or neither.
  • j As a result of the AFL–NFL merger, the league was broken into two conferences, with the AFL teams moving into the American Football Conference.
  • k As of the 2010 NFL season, this season marks the last tie game the Bears played. It was a game at Soldier Field on September 24, 1972 against the Los Angeles Rams. The game ended at 13–13.
  • l The 1982 season was a strike-shortened season so the league was divided up into two conferences instead of its normal divisional alignment.
  • m The Bears win in Super Bowl XX, marked the franchise's first Super Bowl victory and their ninth league championship.
  • n The strike of 1987 reduced the regular season schedule from 16 to 15 games.
  • o The Divisional Playoff game against the Eagles was known as the Fog Bowl due to the heavy fog that covered the field for most of the game.
  • p As of the 2010 NFL season, this is the second postseason meeting of the Bears and Green Bay Packers in their longstanding rivalry.

References
General
  • "NFL Football History". CBS Sportsline. Archived from the original on March 25, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2007.
  • "Chicago Bears History". Chicago Bears History Website. Retrieved April 30, 2006.
  • "Chicago Bears.com – All Time Statistics". Chicago Bears Official website. Archived from the original on December 23, 2007. Retrieved October 29, 2007.
  • "NFL.com – History – Yearly Standings". National Football League Official website. Retrieved October 29, 2007.
  • "Pro Football Hall of Fame – Chicago Bears". Pro Football Hall of Fame Website. Retrieved February 9, 2006.
  • Taylor, Roy (2004). Chicago Bears History. Arcadia Publishing (SC). ISBN 0-7385-3319-X.
Specific
  1. Taylor, Roy (2005). "Chicago Bears Seasons By Era". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  2. "NFL History By Decade". nfl.com/history. Archived from the original on 2016-04-10. 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. "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 1930s Bears, First Dynasty". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  8. Taylor, Roy (2004). "1940s Chicago Bears, Another Dynasty". bearshistory.com. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  9. "Highlights from the 1980s". chicagobears.com. 2008. Archived from the original on 2007-01-21. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  10. "Highlights from the 1990s". chicagobears.com. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-09-20. 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. Archived from the original on 2006-12-11. 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. 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. Archived from the original on 2008-12-11. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  45. 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. "All Time Records of Current NFL Franchises" (PDF). Pro-Football Hall of Fame. Pro-Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2011-01-04.

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