The Chicago Bears are old. Like, 1920s Decatur Staleys old. When you have a history that stretches back to the very dawn of the NFL, your visual identity isn’t just a marketing asset. It’s a holy relic. Most casual fans today look at the primary "C" and see a classic, but they’re missing the weird, gritty, and sometimes confusing history of the old Chicago Bears logo that predates the modern wishbone design.
Honestly, the "C" wasn't always the king.
Before the team became synonymous with an orange-outlined letter, they were literally a bunch of guys sponsored by a starch company. If you go back to the 1920s, the logo was basically nonexistent in the way we think of branding today. It was more about the name on the jersey—or the lack thereof. But as the George Halas era took flight, the team needed a face. They needed something that screamed "Monsters of the Midway."
The Grizzly Beginnings: The Literal Bear
For a long time, the old Chicago Bears logo wasn't a letter at all. It was an actual bear. In the 1940s, the team introduced a logo that featured a black bear running with a football. It looked a bit like a sketch you’d see in an old field guide, and frankly, it was kind of adorable for a team that was known for breaking bones.
This bear was scrappy. He was usually depicted in a dark navy or black, leaning forward, clutching a pigskin like his life depended on it. It’s a far cry from the sleek, minimalist logos we see in the 2020s. This was a logo born in the era of leather helmets and mud-caked fields. You can still find this guy on vintage pennants or "throwback" merchandise, and he represents a period where the team was solidifying its dominance under Papa Bear Halas.
Why did they change it? Well, as television became a thing, teams realized they needed something that looked good in a tiny print or on a grainy screen. A detailed drawing of a bear is hard to replicate consistently. A letter, however? That's iconic.
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Evolution of the Wishbone C
The shift to the "C" happened in 1962. It’s funny because most people assume the "C" has been there forever. It hasn’t. And when it first appeared, it wasn't the orange-and-white version we see now. The original wishbone C was plain white.
Not Just a Copy of Cincinnati or Minnesota
A common misconception is that the Bears just "borrowed" the look. While the Cincinnati Reds and even the University of Chicago had used similar "C" designs, the Bears' version had its own specific geometry. The "wishbone" refers to the way the ends of the "C" taper. It’s aggressive. It’s sharp.
In 1974, they added the orange outline. This was a massive turning point. Suddenly, the logo popped. It stayed on the helmet through the legendary 1985 season, which basically cemented it in the minds of sports fans as the "permanent" look. When you think of Mike Singletary staring down a quarterback or Walter Payton leaping over a pile, that orange-outlined "C" is what you see on the side of their heads.
The Roaring Bear Head
While the "C" is the primary mark, the old Chicago Bears logo that many Gen X and Millennial fans hold dearest is the "Roaring Bear" head. Introduced in the 70s and used heavily through the 90s as an alternate, this logo is pure intimidation.
- It features an aggressive bear face.
- The color palette is strictly navy, orange, and white.
- It lacks the "cartoonish" feel of many 90s expansion team logos.
There’s something about the way the mouth is open. It’s not a friendly mascot. It looks like it wants to eat a Green Bay Packer. Even though the team officially designated the "C" as the primary logo, the Bear Head remains the favorite for hats and starter jackets. It bridges the gap between the ancient "running bear" of the 40s and the corporate-clean "C" of the modern era.
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Why the Old Logos Matter More in 2026
We live in a world of flat design. Every company is stripping away detail to look "clean" on a smartphone screen. The Bears have largely resisted this. While they did make a slight tweak recently to make the Bear Head the "primary" brand mark for certain media applications, the old Chicago Bears logo versions are what drive the culture.
Look at the sidelines during a cold December game at Soldier Field. You aren't seeing just one logo. You're seeing a timeline of Chicago history. You've got guys in 1940s-style sweaters with the crawling bear. You've got kids in 80s-era "C" hoodies. This isn't just about football; it's about a city's identity.
Chicago is a "shoulders" city. It's built on labor and grit. The logos reflect that. They aren't flashy. There are no gradients. There are no "speed lines." It’s just solid colors and heavy shapes.
The Mystery of the Blue
One thing people always get wrong about the old Chicago Bears logo history is the color navy. Many fans call it "black." It’s not. It’s a very specific midnight navy. In the early days, dye lots were inconsistent, so some jerseys looked darker than others, leading to the confusion. But if you look at the official style guides from the Halas era, it was always about that deep, dark blue. It was meant to look like the lake at night. Cold. Unforgiving.
How to Spot an Authentic Vintage Logo
If you’re a collector looking for gear with the old Chicago Bears logo, you have to be careful. The market is flooded with "faux-vintage" stuff that gets the details wrong.
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- Check the "C" thickness. 1960s "C" marks were often thinner and lacked the thick orange border.
- Look at the Bear's eyes. On the roaring bear head, the eyes should be white or orange, never yellow.
- Fabric matters. True old-school logos were screen-printed with heavy ink that cracked over time, or they were felt patches. Modern heat-press stuff looks too "perfect."
Practical Steps for the Modern Fan
If you want to lean into the heritage of the Bears without looking like you just bought a generic shirt at the airport, you need to go deep into the archives.
First, prioritize the 1940s crawling bear. It is the ultimate "if you know, you know" piece of fan gear. It signals that you understand the pre-Super Bowl history of the franchise and the importance of the Halas years.
Second, pay attention to the transition years. The 1962–1973 era—where the "C" was just white—is incredibly underrated. It looks minimalist and high-end compared to the busier modern designs.
Finally, ignore the "updates." Every few years, someone suggests the Bears need a "modern" makeover like the Rams or the Falcons. Don't fall for it. The power of the Chicago brand is in its stagnation. The fact that it hasn't changed much is exactly why it’s one of the most valuable brands in global sports.
The old Chicago Bears logo isn't a relic of the past; it’s the blueprint for the future. Keep the orange bright, the navy dark, and the "C" exactly where it’s been for sixty years. That’s how you maintain a legacy in a league that’s constantly trying to reinvent itself.