You can’t talk about the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl without talking about a 300-pound man named "The Refrigerator" scoring a touchdown. Honestly, it’s the most Chicago thing ever. But for a franchise with such a massive shadow in NFL history, their actual Super Bowl resume is surprisingly short. Just two trips. One was a literal masterpiece of destruction; the other was a rainy, turnover-filled mess in Miami.
If you’re a Bears fan, the 1985 season is basically your North Star. It’s the standard every defense is measured against. It’s also a source of endless "what ifs." How did that group only win one? Why didn't Walter Payton get the ball at the goal line? People still argue about this at bars on Clark Street like it happened yesterday.
The 1985 Destruction: Super Bowl XX
The Chicago Bears didn't just win Super Bowl XX. They dismantled the New England Patriots. Final score: 46-10. It was the largest margin of victory in the game's history at that point.
Mike Ditka’s squad was a circus that could also punch you in the mouth. They had the "Super Bowl Shuffle," a rap song they recorded before they even won the thing. That’s a level of confidence—or arrogance—that you just don't see anymore. Buddy Ryan’s "46 Defense" was a nightmare. They held the Patriots to seven rushing yards. Seven. Total.
The Stats That Don't Seem Real
- Quarterback Carnage: Tony Eason, the Patriots' starter, didn't complete a single pass. He was sacked three times and pulled for Steve Grogan.
- The Sack Record: Chicago’s defense racked up seven sacks, tying a record.
- Richard Dent’s Dominance: He won the MVP, but honestly, you could have given it to the entire front seven.
One of the biggest controversies—one that still bothers Ditka to this day—is that Walter Payton didn't score. "Sweetness" was the heart of Chicago. Yet, when they were at the one-yard line, the ball went to William "The Refrigerator" Perry. It was a great TV moment, but a gut punch for the greatest player in franchise history. Payton was visibly upset after the game, even though he finally had his ring.
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The Rainy Letdown: Super Bowl XLI
Fast forward to 2007. The Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl again, this time against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. It started with the greatest opening in Super Bowl history. Devin Hester took the opening kickoff 92 yards to the house.
I remember watching that and thinking, "It’s over. They’re going to blow them out."
But then the rain started. It didn't just drizzle; it poured. Rex Grossman, the Bears' polarizing quarterback, struggled to hold onto the ball. The Bears defense, led by Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, kept it close for a while. Thomas Jones was actually running the ball well, gaining 112 yards on just 15 carries. But the coaching staff seemingly went away from the run, and Grossman threw two devastating interceptions, including a pick-six to Kelvin Hayden.
The final score was 29-17. It felt like a missed opportunity because the defense had actually played well enough to win. But five turnovers will kill you every single time.
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Why the Bears Can’t Get Back
Since that rainy night in Miami, it’s been a lot of "almosts." The 2010 team made it to the NFC Championship but lost to the Packers at home after Jay Cutler got hurt. Fans have spent the last two decades looking for the next Jim McMahon or the next Rex Grossman—well, maybe not the next Rex.
The legacy of the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl is essentially a tale of two extremes. You have the 1985 team, which is arguably the greatest single-season team ever assembled. Then you have the 2006 team, which was a dominant defense and a legendary return man hamstrung by inconsistent quarterback play.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of people think the '85 Bears were just about the defense. Not true. That offense was ranked second in the league in scoring. Jim McMahon was a better passer than history gives him credit for, and Willie Gault provided a vertical threat that kept safeties from just sitting on Walter Payton.
How to Watch the Old Games
If you want to understand the obsession, go back and watch the 1985 playoffs.
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- The Divisional Round: They shut out the Giants 21-0.
- The NFC Championship: They shut out the Rams 24-0.
- The Big One: They nearly shut out the Patriots.
That three-game stretch is the peak of professional football. If you're looking for actionable ways to relive the glory, the NFL Throwback YouTube channel has the full broadcast of Super Bowl XX. It’s worth it just to see how much more violent the game used to be.
For the modern fan, the path back to the Super Bowl rests on the current rebuild. The franchise has spent years trying to find the right balance of a "Monster" defense and a quarterback who doesn't turn the ball over in the rain. Whether they can replicate the magic of '85 or at least the NFC dominance of '06 remains the biggest question in the Windy City.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Check out the "30 for 30" documentary The '85 Bears for the behind-the-scenes drama between Ditka and Buddy Ryan.
- Research the "46 Defense" to see how it changed modern blitzing schemes.
- Study Devin Hester’s 2006 season to see why he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer.