You know the feeling. It is a crisp October morning in Chicago. You have your coffee, your jersey is on, and for some reason, you still believe. Being a fan of this team is a unique brand of masochism, but we wear it like a badge of honor. That is probably why Chicago Bears Funko Pop figures have become such a massive deal for collectors over the last few years. They aren't just plastic toys. Honestly, they are tiny, big-headed monuments to hope, nostalgia, and the occasional "what if."
When Funko first started rolling out NFL figures, the Bears weren't exactly the first team on the list. We aren't the Cowboys or the Patriots, at least not in terms of recent Super Bowl rings. But the Windy City has a gravitational pull. Once the floodgates opened, we didn't just get generic players. We got legends. We got the guys who make us remember why we bother watching the game in the first place.
The Ditka Factor and the 85 Obsession
If you are looking for a Chicago Bears Funko Pop, you have to start with the man, the myth, the mustache. Mike Ditka. Funko released a version of Iron Mike that is basically mandatory for any shelf in Illinois. He's wearing the iconic sweater vest. He's got the shades. He looks like he’s about to scream at a referee or do a commercial for beef.
It is weirdly poignant. Most modern sports collectibles focus on the superstars of today, but with the Bears, the gravity always pulls us back to 1985. The Ditka Pop is a reminder of a time when the defense was a brick wall and the city felt invincible. It sells out constantly on the secondary market because it taps into that collective memory. If you find one at a local shop like Grainger Games or a random collectible stall at Navy Pier, you grab it. You don't think. You just buy.
The 1985 connection doesn't stop with the coach. We’ve seen the Walter Payton figures too. "Sweetness" in Pop form is a bit of a trip. How do you capture the most graceful runner in NFL history in a chunky, four-inch vinyl figure? Somehow, the visor and the classic blue jersey do the trick. It’s one of the few figures that non-collectors actually buy just to have on their office desk. It transcends the hobby. It’s about the man.
The Modern Era: Fields, Moore, and the Caleb Williams Hype
Let's be real for a second. The quarterback situation in Chicago is a cycle of trauma. We get excited, we buy the merch, and then we watch the screen through our fingers.
The Justin Fields Chicago Bears Funko Pop was a massive seller. Even now, with him in Pittsburgh, people still hold onto those figures. Why? Because for a solid year, we actually thought he was the one. That’s the thing about these collectibles; they document the era. You look at your shelf and see a timeline of "The Next Great Hope."
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Now, everyone is hunting for the new stuff. With Caleb Williams taking the reins, the demand for a rookie-year Pop is through the roof. People are checking Fanatics and the Funko website daily. There is this weird tension in the community. You want the figure because you’re a fan, but part of you is afraid that if you buy it, you’ll jinx the season. It’s a classic Chicago superstition.
DJ Moore has also solidified his spot in the vinyl lineup. His figure is actually one of the better-looking modern ones. The detail on the modern Nike jerseys compared to the throwback versions is pretty stark. Funko has gotten better at the little things—the gloves, the specific cleats, the way the helmet sits. It’s a far cry from the generic "Player 1" vibes of the early 2010s.
Why Collectors Go Crazy for "Chases" and Exclusives
If you’re new to this, you might think a Pop is just a Pop. You’re wrong.
There are variations that drive the price up into the hundreds. Take the "Color Rush" variants or the metallic finishes. Sometimes, a specific retailer like Fanatics or Target will get an exclusive version of a player. These usually have a gold sticker on the box. To a casual observer, it’s a sticker. To a collector, it’s a holy grail.
- The "Away" Jersey Variants: Usually rarer because the classic Navy home jersey is the standard.
- The Throwback Helmets: Occasionally, Funko will drop a figure featuring the white "C" or different stripe patterns.
- The "Double Packs": Every now and then, you’ll see a two-pack featuring a legend and a current star. These are the ones people keep "In Box" (IB) forever.
I’ve seen guys at conventions trade three or four "common" figures just to get their hands on a vaulted Khalil Mack. Even though he’s moved on, his time in Chicago was dominant enough that his Pop remains a staple. It represents a specific window where our defense actually scared people.
The Value of the Box (And Why You Shouldn't Open It)
This is where the hobby gets contentious. Half the fans want to take the Chicago Bears Funko Pop out of the box and put it on their dashboard. The other half will treat that box like it contains the Dead Sea Scrolls.
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If you care about resale value, the box is 50% of the price. Maybe more. A mint condition box with no corner dings is what separates a $15 toy from a $150 investment. People use "Pop Protectors"—clear plastic cases—to keep the dust off. It sounds overkill until you realize that some of these figures appreciate faster than a savings account.
But honestly? If you just want it because you love the Bears, take it out. Let it breathe. There is something satisfying about seeing Brian Urlacher standing next to your TV while you watch the game. It’s a lucky charm. And god knows this team needs all the luck it can get.
How to Spot a Fake (Because They Exist)
Because the NFL market is so huge, bootlegs are everywhere. If you are browsing eBay or a random flea market, look at the paint job. Real Funko Pops have a very specific, slightly matte finish. If the plastic looks too shiny or "greasy," walk away.
Check the font on the bottom of the box. Funko uses a very specific typeface for their serial numbers. Also, the eyes. The eyes on a real Pop are perfectly circular and have a specific depth. Fakes often look "flat" or the pupils are slightly off-center. It sounds like overkill, but when you're dropping fifty bucks on a vaulted player, you don't want a piece of junk from a basement factory.
The Community: More Than Just Plastic
There is a huge community of Bears collectors on Reddit and Facebook. It’s a place to vent. You go there to post a picture of your new Roquan Smith figure, and you end up talking about why the offensive line can't block a swinging door.
It’s a shared language. When you see someone with a Chicago Bears Funko Pop on their shelf during a Zoom call, you immediately know two things about them. One, they have great taste in collectibles. Two, they are probably emotionally exhausted by the fourth quarter every Sunday.
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We’ve seen custom artists now, too. People are taking generic NFL Pops and repainting them to look like players who never got an official release. I saw a custom "Peanut" Tillman recently that was incredible—complete with a tiny football being "punched" out of another player's hand. That’s the level of dedication we’re talking about.
Where to Buy and What to Avoid
Don't just go to the first link on a search engine.
- Direct from Funko: Best price, but they sell out of the popular players in minutes.
- Fanatics/NFL Shop: Reliable, but shipping can be a nightmare during the season.
- Local Comic Shops: Places like Graham Crackers Comics in Chicago often have the "grails" that you can't find online. You pay a premium, but you get to see the box condition in person.
- The Secondary Market: Mercari and eBay are your best friends and worst enemies. Always check the "Sold" listings to see what people are actually paying, not just what sellers are asking.
Avoid the "too good to be true" deals on social media ads. If someone is offering a vaulted Walter Payton for $10, it’s a scam. Period.
Putting It All Together
At the end of the day, a Chicago Bears Funko Pop is a small piece of a much larger story. It’s about being part of a city that never gives up on its team, no matter how many times they break our hearts. Whether you have one or one hundred, they represent the Saturday morning excitement and the Sunday afternoon grit.
If you’re looking to start your collection, don't just grab everyone at once. Pick the player that means something to you. Maybe it’s the guy who made you fall in love with football, or maybe it’s the rookie you’re betting the future on.
Your Collector's Checklist
If you want to do this right, follow these steps:
- Download the Funko App: It has a built-in tracker that tells you the estimated value of your collection based on recent sales. It’s the easiest way to see if you’re getting ripped off.
- Invest in soft protectors: For anything over $20, spend the two bucks on a plastic shell. It keeps the "shelf wear" away.
- Check the "Vault": Go to the Funko website and see which Bears figures are officially "vaulted." This means they aren't being made anymore. If you see one of these at a retail price in the wild, buy it immediately.
- Join a local group: Chicago has several "Pop Hunter" groups on Facebook. They often do "pokes" where they alert the group if a local Target or Walmart just restocked a rare figure.
Stop thinking about them as just toys. They are markers of time. Ten years from now, you’ll look at that Caleb Williams figure and remember exactly where you were when his era began. Hopefully, by then, he’ll have a Super Bowl variant too. Until then, we keep collecting, and we keep saying the same three words: Bear Down, Chicago.