(1986-1989) Chicago Bears Team Season Highlights

[Music] not in recent history had a team so dominated its sport like the 1985 Chicago Bear [Music] [Applause] they were world champions in the truest sense NFL ambassadors off to London on a pre-season mission big William wrote the double deckers and gazed at Big Bend a country once governed by Prime Minister Harold Wilson met defense minister Otis Wilson while Walter Payton ran into rock star Phil Collins Simon Simon hurry [Music] after winning over the hearts of Londoners as well as the game against Dallas it was time to pop back across the pond and defend their Super Bowl title pressured to repeat and targeted by opponents the Bears would be severely tested [Applause] [Music] through Erica painted motion for the left side bloody takes rolling out the lake chase by prouder steps and the standards are for pain [Applause] if there's one thing tougher than winning a World Championship that's defending one but in 1986 the Bears won 14 games the most ever by a defending champion [Music] they opened the season by winning six in a row and close it out with another seven straight victories along the way four different quarterbacks guided them key injuries plagued them and in the end they came up short of their dream to repeat as world champions although it wasn't for a lack of effort as Mike Ditka stated we may have lost the battle but we haven't lost the war we will be back [Music] in 1985 Chicago broke camp on a mission with a reputation that mission would be even tougher to accomplish in 1986 just another year and this is gonna be tough everybody's gonna be shooting for the Bears so we have to tighten our belts a little bit and just you know bear down and go get the sleds were hit London was conquered and an opening day the Bears rang in 86 with a dramatic exhibition of big plays against Cleveland [Music] [Applause] slot left side is Webster slaughter Kosar long [Applause] Jim McMahon was forced out of action in the fourth quarter with ultimately Mike Tom Zach and Matsui landed the knockout punch downs by the special teams the defense and the offense key to 41 31 victory but the following week versus Philadelphia touchdowns would be hard to come by against an old buddy named Brian [Applause] Mauri Buford's booming punch help Chicago when the important Battle of field position not only in this game but all season long just as the play of Chicago's truly special teams aided them throughout the year and over time the special teams wanted as Dave Duerson forced to fumble that vesti Jackson recover setting the stage for Kevin Butler under the arm extended and here is the snap the place that made the kick by Butler the Bears have defeated the philony Eagles 13 attend against Green Bay Steve fuller and Keith or to go spearheaded a come-from-behind 25 to 12 win for Chicago's third straight victory after three hard-fought triumphs the Bears buried the Bengals for their fourth straight McMahon was back he scored on his own hooked up with Peyton for another and found Willie Gault deep for a 21 nothing first quarter lead [Applause] the defense picked off five passes logged for sex and he'll Cincinnati 260 yards rushing while Thomas Sanders closed out of 40 for seven rump and an undefeated September [Applause] the Minnesota Vikings outscored everyone in the NFC last season in Week five they were shut down and shut out the Bears won for the 20th consecutive time behind McMahon rolling to their fifth straight win 23 to nothing powered by five first half sacks and a touchdown run by Dennis Gentry the Bears run over Houston 22 7 with a spotless siksa no record the Bears had picked up right where they left off there were many reasons for their dominance start one was the offensive line it begins with all-pro center J Hill converge number 63 as the Bears led the entire NFL in rushing for a record fourth straight year gilligan burg guards Tom Steyer number 57 marked ports and Kurt Becker were battering rams up the middle all-pro Jim covert stood up defensive end and keep Vanhorn helped give bear quarterbacks the safest pass pocket in the NFC so often sideline Jim McMahon started in six bear victories in Chicago won seven times behind Mike Tomczyk veteran the Steve fuller was a willing and able backup Willie Gault turned in his best year ever catching scoring passes from all four quarterbacks including Doug Flutie by season's end a rotating quarterback Derby and the absence of receiver Dennis McKinnon lessened the effectiveness of the passing game but possession receiver Keith are to go and home run hitter Willie Gault were a pair that could be counted on [Music] another consistent pair were tight ends Tim right-wing number 80 and Emery Moorehead both sure-handed third down targets [Music] summer camp in the free season will ultimately determine who will be next year's starting quarterback but there's one bear whose job is certain a man with little left to prove to the right is the second out of the one from the 26 give to Walter he's got a 15,000 yards as he takes it up the middle across the 30 [Applause] against the Eagles number 34 established a new mark and promptly achieved another more head of the wing right side long topic contact forehead emotion to the year sorry about the pain weakness [Applause] [Applause] illustrious indeed and after 12 seasons Walter Payton at the age of 32 still played like a hungry rookie [Music] for the tenth time and Peyton rushed for over a thousand yards he now is over 16,000 and finishes off every run as only he can [Music] his statistics have assured him a place in the Hall of Fame his determination has assured him a place in the heart of every football fan [Music] Payton has started a hundred and sixty eight straight games a true testament to his remarkable dedication and conditioning as usual he was the man but this season there were others capable of sharing the burden everybody has a people approach to it Dennis Gentry Calvin Thomas Oh Thomas Sanders you put them in there and we don't even miss a beat many big-league fullbacks are merely strong lead blockers or short yardage specialist Matsui does that and a great deal more [Music] he burrows for big gains low-to-the-ground legs churning like Pistons a series r2 later he comes up with an acrobatic one-hand grab [Music] but most importantly fullbacks are Canada um at the goal line Sooey is at its toughest in precisely those situations in Thomas Sanders the Bears have more than a runner who could afford Payton a breather as he averages over eight yards of carry with five touchdown [Music] Dennis Gentry and number 33 Calvin Thomas distinguished themselves on special teams and in the bareback field joining a talented group of runners who total 27 hundred yards on the ground the best in the NFL [Music] a new face counted on for the future was rookie Neal Anderson who showed signs of why he was a first-round draft pick [Music] depth and desire had them undefeated but in the season seventh week the March finally faltered against Minnesota Mike Ditka saw something quite foreign to him on the scoreboard an opponent had more points than his bears two weeks later the Rams Mike Lansford drilled a 50-yarder with seconds left and the Bears that suddenly lost two out of three but Chicago had just what it needed to write themselves Baird defense [Music] under new defensive coordinator Vince Tobin there were different wrinkles and different terminology but some constants - like the intensity of middle linebacker Mike Singletary I want to make sure that the guy on the other side of the ball realizes that I'm gonna give him all I got and realize that I wasn't trying to hurt him and go back to the huddle and say I don't want to go back that way I don't ever want to do that again that's the impact that I would like to lose number 50 delivers hits that caused his contact lenses to pop out he blitzes covers wideouts one-on-one and never takes the wrong step you must earn his respect dan Hampton is one of the few who has you ever seen true grit John Wayne is dan Hampton loved to play football the way it's supposed to be played at any time - look out there on the field when the game was over the guys gotten the most tape on him the most blood on him it's not and everything else you're looking at dan Hampton first time Pro Bowler Steve McMichael finally was recognized William Perry became a wrecking ball of a defensive tackle and sturdy 12-year veteran Mike hartenstein set a club record for most games played the bear defense has a wealth of talent an army of single-minded all pros like Richard dent riches always making big plays with his psyche on the quarterback or creating fumbles whatever it is which he dented the guy dent is strictly big play and he led the team in sacks for the third straight year but this season big play honors must go to another [Music] Wilbur Marshall scored a pair of touchdowns and intercepted five passes the most by a bear linebacker in ten years quite simply he was everywhere [Music] and eight sacks by Otis Wilson and the bear decompile 62 the most in the conference [Music] in the secondary Jerry fencing Brooke Ricci Pettibone's interception record by picking off his 38th pass and his eleven hundred and ten tackles make him the busiest bear of all time rookie feste Jackson improved with each game while in this best season ever cornerback Mike Richardson intercepted a career-high seven passes [Music] number 22 Dave Duerson pounded his way to his second straight Pro Bowl and let all NFL defensive backs with seven sacks the Chicago bear defense perhaps the best unit ever assembled a unit that crushed seven straight opponents on the weight of their third straight division title it began with a 23-3 beating of Tampa Bay Mike John Zack sparkled in his finest performance as a bear and the defense allowed by the field goals it was on the road again to Atlanta the defense buried the Falcons while Tom Zack and Emery Moorehead connected on an 85 yard play the key to 13 to 10 wins the Bears are finding ways to win and one of the best was when they didn't have the ball the Packers were next to fall six three bangles Randy Wright takes his [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] seven times they would come from behind to win the mark of a champion such was the case against Pittsburgh in an overtime thriller [Music] 13 Steelers [Music] Mike Tom Zack and Doug Flutie each ran handed off and threw four touchdowns in Chicago's fifth consecutive win a babay was lucky to score very lucky [Music] [Applause] [Music] you can afford to hand over free touchdowns when you're blowing out your opponent and the Bears had the last laugh when Lou Barnes turned only his third return ever into an 85 yard score the offense exploded in a forty eight to fourteen round but the following week again the attack went into hiding on a Monday night in Detroit Matsui scored their only touchdown but thanks to the defense and Kevin Butler the Bears won with four seconds remaining [Applause] in the season finale the Cowboys were overrun 24 to 10 as fence Tobin's defense established an NFL record by allowing the fewest points in a 16-game season and Doug Flutie lit up the Texas sky [Music] looks at the green boy [Applause] seven straight victories and it was on to the playoffs now up kickoff return again they're all you work for since June is on the line let's go middle cross and stick it right where we need to do it January at Soldier Field the time and place where playoff opponents were shut out in 1985 but the Washington Redskins would prove to be more than a worthy opponent a year later Flutie and Galt helped the Bears keep pace but in the end turnovers and the Jace Raider to art monk connection closed the curtain on Chicago season once no [Applause] the Redskins in advance for the Chicago Bears season certainly filled with their share of adversity and challenges is down to attend with a 14 individual playoffs in the NFC it's survival of the fittest it's a challenge you make a commitment you're either better than the other guy or he's better than you every play I learned a long time ago that if you want to be good you beat the other guy you beat them physically and you beat them mentally you beat them condition-wise that's that's got to be foremost in your mind then you can play harder and you can play longer than the other guy and in the end you can do those things you should come out on top the Chicago Bears have been world champions they know what it takes to be the best there is much to prove and achieve and in 1987 there's every reason to believe that Chicago will be back to where though in this up-and-down roller coaster type season the Bears and Redskins meet today for the right to face the vasila Vikings in play host to the NFC Championship [Applause] [Applause] paper-thin the flaw to the left side a McMahon take these back to the boat sets up there was an eerie feeling of deja vu for the Chicago Bears for the second year in a row Washington was their playoff upon once again the freezing face of Soldier Field was the proving ground for a game of high stakes sharp edges and revenge might makes right could have been the motto of both teams two heavyweights standing toe-to-toe landing an absorbing blow after blow Chicago may about muscled and out hit the Redskins but once again they could not outscore them the Bears lost 2117 but even as Washington hurtled their way to a World Championship Chicago was placing the chip back on its shoulder intent that 1988 will be a year to bear down [Music] the Monday night opener the 86 champion New York Giants versus the 85 champion Chicago Bears Super Bowl twenty one and a half [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] in a play time Zach back to the Flint design Tom's a gloss it over the middle going from our [Applause] the defense summoned the ferocity remindful of Super Bowl 20 and Mike Tomczak calmly found the open man it was truly a blowout [Music] inside the dentist makes him play on it in the six cutting left to the 10 [Music] [Applause] great teams rise to great occasions and the Bears were breathtaking in their 34:19 victory there would be no letdown against Tampa Bay just six days later [Music] Neil Anderson's up the gut touchdown sealed 222 three victory but suddenly the stars were unable to perform and understudies took the stage as strike rumors became a reality Mike Ditka would make a go of it with his spare bears it's easy to coach the guys who are tremendous stars and League the all pros I mean they don't need a whole lot of coaching but when you take a young man a free agent can you watch this kid develop and grow and and you can see the lights going on in this head where he sees this and he sees that and he learns that's what it's all about anyways and now we just haven't had 45 guys like that the paraphrase Kipling if you can keep your cool when others can't you'll make it through the Bears did just that [Music] patterns became precise and receivers sure-handed the defense played like the real thing [Music] the shun take these weren't the Walter Peggy's get the replacement team one show of three the strike damage the teams got annuity but did gran has staff redoubled their efforts some say Mike Ditka is a coach who retains the competitive fire of a player when he did play there was none more consumed with pride and winning in 1987 number 89 became the first and only tight end to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame he was a bull of a blocker and a classic team player who literally ran till he could run no more [Music] Iron Mike a bear through and through but now he'd be back on the sidelines for his spare Bears were gone and the regulars were back could a thoroughbred standing idle in its stall returned to the race and went again I don't know if you can recapture it I really don't we're on our way to do this and all of a sudden we're gonna take a six-week vacation and then we're gonna pick up right where we left off and take off again I don't think you can do it the starting gate flew open against the Bucks Chicago failed then righted itself for a daring comeback [Music] [Music] Jim McMahon was back in with 128 to play made the play that had to be made [Music] the Bears won by a single point their last men heroics would be repeated against Kansas City [Music] explosive kick returner Dennis Gentry cut back and cut into a 14-nothing Chiefs lead [Music] the defense finally corralled bill Kenney after for scoring passes while McMahon and Willie Gault teamed up for two fourth-quarter touchdowns and the game-winner 31 to 28 [Music] [Applause] or first free-to-play first possession for Chicago's Neil Anderson scored on Chicago's first play in Green Bay but with 56 seconds left another miracle was required for the third straight week McMahon battled the Packers and the clock with four seconds left the wind swirled across the mud and Kevin Butler's kick would have to travel 52 yards left-side tomczak Donna won the arm extended waiting for the stamp romantics here it is the placement man to kick by Butler it's Hobbes way to the upright tentative [Applause] [Music] [Music] the Bears found a way to win and their front wall provided the time to find that way all projet he'll confirm tom fair number 62 mark boards Keith van Horn and the sturdy Jim covert I think first of all he has to be intelligent know how to play the game and I don't mean intelligent book smart I mean intelligent football smart [Music] covert and his fellow front men also had to overcome injury but they played through the pain and stood tall mic tomczak played well when called upon and went item Tim Wright one was injured veteran Emery Moorehead caught a pass in every game he played Jim McMahon returned to find a new target and cat Boesel and a potential star in rookie Ron Morris who averaged close to 20 yards per reception [Music] McMahon completed nearly 60% of his passes and at the end of many was Willie Gault team leader and touchdown catches [Music] but the various foundation is the running game Matsui Thomas Sanders Calvin Thomas and Dennis Gentry all possessed big play qualities at last season number 35 Neal Anderson emerged as the team leader in rushing and receiving [Music] in the years to come Anderson's impact on the game should grow but then the years gone by no one amazed us with his grace artists with his talents and inspired us with his spirit like the great Walter Payton I look back and everything I've done in my life I wouldn't change because of it if I did I probably wouldn't be the person I am now I'm somewhat pleased with what I am he's a great example to young people I mean if you want to get to the top and and not be satisfied at reaching the top and try to stay up there for a long time I think he's the greatest example you can look at what makes Walter so special and so unique is his genuine complete desire of being very best possible [Music] [Music] no one in the game's history rushed for more yards [Music] no one battered more defenders no one performed with more class he became the model the prototype of excellence [Music] sweetness for 13 years he marched up field against defenses designed to stop only him he missed just one game testimony of his unmatched durability [Music] Walter Payton he leaves with the games records and the hearts of the games fans [Music] we can the regulars were still undefeated and in Denver Jim McMahon turned in his finest performance of these Oh [Applause] [Music] McMann takes rolls right being chased by Cragen well this time there would be no McNichol the Bears lost the first time they had done so in 25 starts with number nine at the hill it was back home then for the victory over the Detroit Lions shotgun formation long [Applause] the defense Neil Anderson and Dennis McKinnon sparked a 3210 win and the Bears were back in stride [Music] and back to the deficit [Applause] there would be no last-gasp drama needed to dispose of the Packers the second time around as Anderson and Thomas Sanders sealed an efficient and bruising 23 to 10 win a victory in Minnesota would mean a perfect seven and no division record and Chicago's fourth straight division titles for Mike Ditka transform the Lake Forest complex into a roller rink dubbed the Metrodome the roller dome and prompted Viking cheerleaders to dime their skates the bears put pressure on themselves at Minnesota and welcome [Music] [Applause] a fire was stoked in the dome and when Wade Wilson and Anthony Carter hooked up twice for scores it threatened to rage out of control [Applause] mike singletary and company quickly douse the blaze with a mighty goal-line stand leaving mike Tomczak in relief of McMahon to face a one-point deficit with 40 seconds remaining the Bears were division champions but after the win at Minnesota a two-week slump ripped Chicago San Francisco handed the Bears the first of a pair of losses and the proud bear defense was questioned well I don't know whether there's problems with the defense I don't think we felt like that we've played as well as we're capable playing all during the year we've been spotty we played good at times we played good in particular ballgames and it hasn't been as consistent as we would like in there that's a concern sacks were not a concern the Bears led the league with 70 Richard dents thirteen and a half for the second highest total in the NFL while five and a half in the last four games vaulted Steve McMichael into the Pro Bowl in his ninth season dan Hampton played as recklessly as his first al Harris pursued opponents William Perry engulfed them [Music] [Applause] despite a minus 20 turnover ratio the bear still fielded the NFL's second best defense oldest Wilson out sacked all bear linebackers and Ron Rivera picked off a pair of passes captain mike singletary pounded his way to his fifth straight pro ball while all protein mate Dave Duerson led the defense in tackles and interception [Music] Maurice Douglas Mike Richardson Todd Bell and Reggie Phillips blasted enemy receivers vesti Jackson improved in his second season while the only touchdown turned in by the defense belonged to safety Shaun Gayle Chicago's defensive backfield has always been staffed by hitters there was no room for the timid [Music] for 12 years Gary fencing was a receivers nightmare [Music] the dapper Yale man off the field pencak played with vintage bear ferocity and retires as Chicago's all-time leading interceptor and tackler [Music] Gary pencak was a genuine overachiever and in the season's final week he rejoined the starting defense to face the Raider [Music] nine sacks later the Bears were six three winners in a game dominated by the defense the playoffs in a hard lesson lay ahead [Music] Chicago lost and was left to ponder its fate defeat is either a burden or a cure depending on the message the Bears elect to take from for the Bears of 1988 the message will be one of unity and purpose that's what football is this an opportunity what they do with that opportunity is entirely up to them but it's up to the commitment they're willing to make and I mean see get along with as long as the guy breaks it but when I think of guys dogs in it or taking the short way out then he's got no way cuz I never did that and therefore a guy should have no problem playing form if he's willing to do that and if he likes to win because that's my only goal and we've done that we've done it in our style and it's been a good style it's been a fair clean style for football we play very hard and I don't ever want that to change and when I think we're not playing hard because people aren't putting out they're gonna have a lot of problems with me Ditka demands maximum effort and nothing short will be accepted they must turn it up a notch as they aim for their fifth straight division title in 1988 a year to bear down [Applause] I think the measurement in life is not sometimes what you accomplished sometimes what you overcome but you'll accomplish because of all the things that happened during the course of this season with us we were forced to come together because we had already been counted out before the first kickoff and because of that we had to come together as a group of 45 men with one goal and that was to prove everybody else wrong this year we weren't the most talented team but we were the best team and I think that that's what made this year special [Music] [Music] if the Super Bowl trophy was awarded to the team that overcame the toughest tests the Chicago Bears would be the winner a lion without gym covert for much of the year would no longer clear the way for the retired Walter Payton nor could they be certain of whom would direct the rebuild offense as injuries press three different quarterbacks into duty lost was manpower found was willpower as Chicago retooled its attack and made the big play [Applause] these wounded bears stayed together and survived in the end they fought through the fog the chilling rain the swirling snow and gloom of night to earn their fifth straight Division title players relieved mike ditka his cigars after his heart attack then fired them up when he was named coach of the year with Richard dent gone for the playoff push Shaun Gayle on crutches and for 1987 starters lost before opening day new faces man the familiar furious defense the 1988 Chicago Bears they took the year personally they endured trial after trial proving they were indeed champions at heart [Music] there are easier ways to start a season than by facing Miami's Dan Marino but in the overcast opener Marino's right arm was no match for Chicago's young leg the Bears controlled the ball for three quarters kept Moreno off the field and dominated the Dolphins 34 to 7 [Music] fourth tab called a dolphin's gem to count to soon it appeared [Music] [Applause] Mike Ditka met the press ball control was good we ran the ball we ran the ball we run we got good offensive linemen we run the ball well we're proud of our people we like our people for those who don't like our people that's tough we like them on the road in Indianapolis Ditka's young guns Ed's the Colts 1713 then reloaded for Minnesota [Music] [Applause] [Applause] Chicago suffered its worst defeat of the season 31 to 7 to push them forward vitka used a little reverse psychology we're gonna try to do what we can do it a bounce back but you're right there's a passing of the torch it's not a guess it's almost a foregone conclusion what we're going for the wild-card right now and I don't think there's any other way to look at it I'm serious I don't know what you're laughing at I mean that's the outside chance we have is a wild card only there's any question I like that I was disturbing for some of the guys but I I asked him after hey are you giving up on us he said oh no way in the world I'd ever do that [Music] [Music] there would be no passing of the torch as the Bears rolled to five straight wins as the defense held opponents to single digits for five straight weeks Thomas Sanders sealed the 2046 tasting of the Packers while big plays did in the undefeated bills Jim McMahon takes the snap and backpedals from the pocket [Applause] [Music] [Applause] all throw Richard dent was absolutely unblockable all projet hildenburg picked up every stunt but it was unlikely hitman Jim McMahon who served up the biggest block of all in a twenty four to three win [Music] the Lions were disposed of twenty four to seven as long and Hilger were tossed around while McMahon and Mike Tomczak each tossed touchdown looks to the air rolls right now stops drill Ditka's September suggestion of passing the torch ignited an eternal flame in his bare as MacKinnon and Ron Morris helped close in on an undefeated October stamp to Jim McMahon out of the shotgun looks downfield whines up rainbows left side for Morris any makers while young defenders help stuff the cowboy 17 to 7 it was veteran Mike Singletary who landed the hit of the year the only thing I can say is I was just coming at a good angle and he was in a position where he had just decided to maybe I'll slide and I just came and got a great opportunity I hit like that I wouldn't want anybody to be on the other end of that that's just something that was unfortunate [Applause] with all this going down and then the loss of Wilber Marshall Mike's role became that much more important aside from the fact that he was enough to control the metal he had to make sure that both Jim Morrissey and Ron Rivera are on the same page and that can be a difficult task especially when you've got to also lead the entire defense with Michael's up for it no NFL player has greater dedication than Mike Singletary for the sixth time Pro Bowler the projector is on far more than the pads and for a while he focused on those lined up next to him as well as those across from him but not for long [Music] number 51 Jim Morris a listened well and learned quickly as did Ron Rivera number 59 [Music] the young linebackers man the flats the veteran tackles flattened man [Music] [Music] Arkansas's dan Hampton intimidated with his mere presence Texas's Steve McMichael led the team in sacks together they thought as one and delivered the blows of ten quarterback sometimes sack themselves or ran headlong into al Harris [Music] and then there was Richard dent there is no better pure pass rusher in the game today dent broke many a passers will before breaking his leg in the season's thirteenth week without dent Gail and the retired Gary fence ik Dave Duerson tightened up his chin strap and forged ahead vesti Jackson led the team with eight interception Maurice Douglas Mike Richardson David Tate and Todd Crum made for a stiff final line of defense [Music] when it was over fence Tobin's refurbished rethought disguised coverage defense allowed the fewest points in the entire NFL [Music] the defense spearheaded the winning streak and it would require all they had to extend that streak to five against San Francisco I think our defensive line is planned very well this year Richard and McMichael and Al Harris and myself I think we're the basis that we had to build upon and like I said in training camp that the team and the defensive team will go as far as the front four curious this week we're gonna have to carry a lot in front of Monday night Millions Jerry Rice and the Niners marched the length of the field on their first possession your first try and the King go down and and put it in it's not a good feeling you know you got to get some confidence back you got to let them know you mean business okay you got one but who says you can get any more and that's the attitude that we took and we just went and went to work from there on and we just decided they wouldn't get any more points San Francisco saw a great deal of dent Singletary and Hampton but never caught another glimpse of the bare endzone [Music] Chicago held the slim ten to nine lead a lead the defense made stand on fourth down with just over a minute left to play [Music] [Music] champions aren't always great but they are when they have to be at seven and one the Bears were playing with the heart of a champion Mike Ditka builds them he also knocks them down Iron Mike is the embodiment of the team and on November the second the bear organization was rocked good afternoon I'm Linda McLennan I'm Lester Holt topping our news today at 4:30 the coach of the Chicago Bears Mike Ditka recovering tonight from a heart attack at this hour coach Ditka is in serious condition at Lake Forest Hospital Mike Ditka is known for his regular early morning workout regimen today's workout ended abruptly chest pains made it difficult for the coach to get dressed for a George Bush campaign appearance the greatest thing we got going for it's his life and the great thing we have won within that life is a human body well the players were surprised but I knew I had a heart we were humbled we were sorrowed we thought for a while there Mike Ditka was immortal you know nothing would happened to him he trained so vigorously he took such an aggressive approach to coaching the game and you know of a sudden his life would have passed by him in one second a lot of guys are saying that it was it was a ploy see how we were rally around and how we would play and my Ditka is our driving force it always has been and we love him dearly and I think he is a reflection of the way we play all he would want us to do is go out and play at 100% and do the best that we could do [Music] they didn't win for interim coach Vince Tobin or Mike Ditka they won for themselves a trait infused in them by their head coach whatever it took no matter the cost even the youngest bears 13 rookies and all assembled by Vice President Bill Tobin and his staff had an impact men like Brad mustard these champions at heart were on a mission their fifth straight division title mark Boortz in the return of Jim covert helped trample Tampa Bay twice while Neil Anderson personally took care of the Packers second down to four yards to go for the 20 toss Anderson was it bounces [Music] [Applause] [Music] their leader returned in the second game of a new four-game winning streak and against the defending champion Redskins his men went to the mat for literally [Music] Matsui score tomczak scored and a 34 14 blowout was underway stepped in times Agra third down he fired [Applause] and here's a give Neil Anderson from Jim our boy [Music] there are two constants in our offense one is the offensive line and twos with Neal Anderson he's very versatile he's a type of guy when he takes a hit a hard hit he won't lay know it he'll get back in huh don't say give him the ball again Keith van Horn Tom fair and John will Joe hockey helped pave the way for over 1100 Neil Anderson rushing yard but in Chicago backs must do more than carry the ball as Anderson caught passes for nearly 400 yards and perhaps it was his predecessor Walter Payton who showed Neal there's a certain sweetness to making a perfect block [Music] I call him Charlie because his name is Charles no Anderson and I have great respect for Charles no Anderson because I think the Charles no Anderson can be one of the great backs in this game he made some runs this year that we haven't seen a long time and we've had the greatest running back in the world here in a year of hurdles and hardships Neal Anderson was a constant and in the season's 15th week the division title they fought so hard for was at last within reach December at Soldier Field snow falling and a familiar old foe the Detroit Lions everyone contributed [Music] Jim Harbaugh and Kevin Butler step forward this time with the title eight seconds and thirty two yards away with eight seconds to go on the Bears they're trailing twelve to ten out of the hole to Brian Wagner I've got motor klutz Gilligan Berg on the stamp here it is placement may the kick by Butler says [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] we face adversities we look them in the eye and we beat them with Mike Ditka losing the head coach the motivator of this team we lost him we looked at verse in the eye we beat it and I think you did a lot for the team the show that we could play without him but it also showed us that we needed him to be a powerful team like we are right now for us it was just a personal thing and then in preparation for the playoffs nothing more had to be said and they wouldn't this time either as Tom Zack and McKinnon got the Bears off to a lightning start tree comes in motion to the near side now turns back to you the way snap to Tom's a crushes on Tom Zack has time he rambles on excitement 25 15 10 5 64 yards excuse us Anderson [Applause] Illinois poet Carl Sandburg wrote the fog creeps in on little cat feet in moments Soldier Field was shrouded in an eerie thick mist under pressure and a smothering blanket of fog in a game where announcers couldn't announce coordinators couldn't coordinate and fans couldn't see the bear defense made the plays that had to be made good ground all you want but you got a hold into a field goal [Music] [Applause] cannot see who comes across the field through the fog with the football in his left arm actually if Mike Ditka had come across the field with the ball we could have a serve here Saturday Chicago was one victory away from Super Bowl 23 [Applause] I think the measurement in life it is not sometimes what you accomplish sometimes what you have accomplished to accomplish finally the Chicago Bears faced an opponent they couldn't overcome there would be no trip to Miami a day of promise melted into a night of unfulfilled dreams learning from defeat is not the bear approach winning is everything World Championship in five consecutive division titles in the eighties attest to that it's a sense of family honor and the bear family will continue its winning way what the Bears are doing they're looking towards the future they're getting people with the right type of attitudes the right caliber the right temperament so they can blend them in you've seen it through this year there's a lot of people have been hurt they've brought other people in and it seemingly like things haven't even slowed down simply because of the blend the mixture and attitude the mix here has been such a tremendous mix that things always going to go out right simply because two people have the right attitude the coaches they know what it takes to win [Music] the players they know what they have to put out so they know what it takes to win they know what it feels like to win and they want to continue to win it's sort of like a family as Mike Ditka says sometimes it's not what you accomplish but what you overcome accomplishment and championships are the bottom line but in order to accomplish anything you must have heart the Chicago Bears are champions at heart I think the expectation of the Bears very high which is great and I like great things to be expected that's what it's all about you know don't give me a crutch and all these things just give me a chance poor Edward McCaskey and his bear family Chicago's 70th season seemed another bright prospect throughout the 80s they had rolled to five straight division titles and a world championship [Applause] [Music] in compiling a 42 and 17 record under Mike Ditka they reigned atop the NFC central for an incredible 86 straight weeks [Music] but last season somehow the Bears lost their sense of invincibility and six straight games down the stretch the hunters became the hunted as 1989 was to be endured rather than celebrated in the past that never happened if the game was closed we found a way to win we got some breaks and we won and so people never question them so I don't think this team was a whole lot different from the teams in the past we're just gonna have to go out and just really really play bare football and that's what it's gonna come down to [Music] the wounds were many indeed but as the legend goes when you confront a wounded bear you'd better beware because the most ferocious creature in the wild is indeed a wounded bear a Chicago trademark is a lightning starts fast from the gate cooked to the top 1989 was no exception [Music] defending AFC champion Cincinnati was first to fall Zach looking over the defense takes the stand back to the dog [Applause] Zach steps up takes it himself becomes active again the Bears won their sixth straight opener 17 to 14 then blew away Minnesota [Music] the Vikings were Christ thirty eight to seven behind four interceptions and four touchdowns in the final 11 minutes first down bears here's the handoff Anderson a slackline listen to the pocket heed but upset [Applause] [Music] towards the mark green sweet [Applause] against the overmatched lions the Bears made it three in a row with a dominant 47 points performance [Music] Chicago scored on nine of 12 possession amassed 542 yards and beat Detroit with a 10th straight time [Music] against the Eagles on Monday night the Bears ran when Philadelphia expected pass and pass when the run seemed logical it was a shell game that befuddled the birds play after play [Music] Chicago out thought their opponent and out hit them and for millions who hope to see Randall Cunningham run-and-gun his running was backwards and his hardest throws were in disgust in the end Neal Anderson and Player of the Week Mike Tom Zack spearheaded a convincing 27 to 13 victory Tom Zack back to the way I can wings it on right side [Applause] the Bears were winning as a team it takes a lot of character to be a good team doesn't take a whole lot of character to be a good player you know one player can be outstanding but but to put it all together and work for the common good I guess my high school coach who used to spell character G UTS guts and and whatever that Intel's to you is what it is to me character is being wanting to start something and finish it in a game that weeds out the weak and rewards the strong Chicago's offensive line anchored by all-pro Jay he'll converge is a testimony to professionalism for 100 consecutive games he'll converge has started every play and guards like Tom fair number 57 have finished them all number sixty-two Mart Boortz turned the corner with a resolute mind and a lowered shoulder for seven years Twin Towers Jim covert and Keith van Horn have stood tall as bookends of a better in line whose collective game face mirrors that of Chicago's crusty defenders [Music] where we played offenses from an offensive point of view in other words we are an attacking defense a majority of the time when we play explosively we force things to happen in other words we are going to basically dictate what an offense can and can I do [Music] [Music] for seven straight pro-bowl years Mike Singletary has been doing the dictating and there's nothing he cannot do he led the team in tackles and started every game [Music] number fifty was the clenched fist of the defense a defense that lost its old venerable dan Hampton after four undefeated weeks Hampton gives new meaning to the phrase wounded bear as each knee has now been operated on five times he had two sacs against the Bengals in the opener and his loss was a deep cut to be sure but other veterans rushed in to help fill the boy [Music] one was rangy Richard dent Chicago's sack machine who in 1989 recorded his 82nd the most in club history enough Texan Steve McMichael was one of only two defenders to start every game and was second in sacks and tackle [Music] for a month William Perry helped push the pile back but without their wisest warrior big number 99 dip his young defenders would have to grow up in a hurry after four wins came three defeats the Bears were moonwalking doing the dance that gives the appearance of moving ahead when they were really sliding in Reverse they needed a new step so Richard dent did some slam dancing against the range [Applause] [Music] what debt unleashed the Unser's Phenix as Danelle Wolford and marcus paul smothered los angeles and Jim Harbaugh stepped in to lead a twenty to ten win third down and section for Davis [Music] with competition tougher the demands are greater to retool to stay young to keep winning my job is to try to put the best football team out there that I can when teams get old as a group they no longer win and you can't let that happen you must keep infusing new talent in there and I don't care for guys all-pro in 85 he may not be playing in 87 anymore because those talents diminishing if they diminish enough in two years you got to replace them so that's what we tried to do for 10 years Matsui came to work with hard hat in hand nearly 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns later Suey is retiring leaving a legacy for Mike Tom Zach and younger bears to emulate Tomczak started 11 games last season and threw for over 2,000 yards the career-high [Music] he stayed in the pocket and took the hit then exacted his revenge on the very next play Tomczak played within himself and fired 16 touchdown passes Jim Harbaugh was a bit more fancy-free deep drop steps up under pressure flushed out of the pocket running right our balls going to take it himself to the 20 to the 15 he's to the 10 cutting Harbaugh said a bear's single-season record by completing over 62% of his passes not everyone however as precisely as it was drawn up [Music] Tomczak and Harbaugh Chicago's big two from the big 10 different an approach but both with the same aim to get the ball into the hands of Wendell Davis who has caught passes an 11 straight and Ron Morris another young weapon counted on for next year 1989 was a terrific year for Dennis Gentry he set a team record and career kickoff yards led them with 667 receiving yards ran the ball and turned in Chicago's longest play from scrimmage Tomczak with time steps up [Applause] if youth must be served then it is served well a tight end number 80 Jim Thornton and cat bozo played that position for Hall of Famer Mike Ditka nothing more DB said [Music] Brad muster a tailback at Stanford and pull back in Chicago is making the transition and coming of age he's a Raging Bull who wants the ball and eight times last year he rammed it in our soft-handed a pass for a touchdown as was the case in the 20 to nothing win over Pittsburgh slot to the left side of the wide receivers here comes McKenna devotion to the near side Harbaugh pulls back from Center rushes on he has time now floats it over the right side a pair of Lemieux Stenson interceptions underscored the shutout and his hits echoed throughout the year [Music] up 26 defensive players 23 started at one time or another but while continuity was lost David take bestie Jackson and Shaun Gayle filled the ranks man the guns and kept firing outside linebackers number 51 Jim Morrissey and Ron Rivera number 59 raised their level of play and lowered the boom nearing Chicago's defense might be losing its bite the Bears drafted John Roper and two other rookies to keep them lean and mean he was nabbed in the second round and took over it outside linebacker for the final 10 game Roper joined the Bears to first-round picks on the all-rookie team Trace Armstrong charged headlong into Herschel Walker and Barry Sanders and finished third in sacks [Music] Danelle Wolford number 21 overcame three separate injuries and made an immediate impact [Music] Wilford Armstrong and Wolford man a new young battalion whose commander sees a bright future on battlegrounds to come we're still the Bears but with the young Bears will come in we haven't really put all the pieces in place yet like they're coming [Music] Mackowski parking out it was the best of times and the worst of times as Chicago discovered that the line that separates victory from defeat can be excruciating lieth in [Applause] there's a penalty marker down back here the 20 we shall see in a moment where this will go down in the books there's another it's a fraction of an inch either way [Applause] [Music] the sword of defeat was thrust deep into Mike Ditka in 1989 but while he bled the most He healed the fastest I know it's taken a tough I've taken a tough and there some other guys on the team that have taken it tough so I know for him it's been one of the most frustrating things we've ever had to deal with you know he's dealt with some tough situations before and I think that's basically the character makeup of this entire football team one way or another you know we we simply you know come to play and we rise to the occasion second down in seasons past the Bears righted themselves and punched their way to the playoff [Music] [Applause] in week 11 the Bears were being overrun by Tampa Bay when Mike Tom Zach fired three touchdown passes in three minutes of the final quarter rising to the challenge launching the playoff push the bear surged ahead and took a once impossible lead right to the right side Wendel Davis is why the left step to Mike Tom Zach rushes on tomczak pop fly [Music] [Applause] [Music] in the final seconds the playoff Express derailed a great week a war with the arm extended waiting for the step here it is the placement may the kick is up and it is good so the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have defeated the Chicago Bears 32 to 31 they crash to the map and there would be no bail to save it the Sun shined on teams routinely routed in the past and the magic that only Chicago seemed to possess now belong to others six straight season ending losses wounded even the proudest of bears but throughout it all one lone kicker was in the midst of a streak of a far different nature [Applause] Kevin Butler had nailed 23 straight attempts as he composed a masterpiece previously unheard of an NFL history extended waiting with a stamp here days the placement may the kiss up while Butler was a model of consistency Neal Anderson was simply a modeled a model of what it is to be a bear [Applause] [Music] [Applause] I can take it to distance I can squirt from I think anywhere on the field I have enough to be to you know to get to the end zone I think that's my number one strength [Music] Neil Anderson plays with pride and intensity he puts on the pads with purpose and treats each carry as a new opportunity to make his mark he rushed for nearly 1300 yards caught 50 passes scored 15 touchdowns and earned all-pro honor his touchdowns were effortless or spectacular nothing in between [Music] it's up for Anderson [Applause] he's both dedicated and dynamic and embodies what makes teams winners resolve vision and honors qualities that might dip your demand so I wanted to understand what it is to be a bear what it is to wear that uniform and I wanted to be a lot of pride involved that's all I asked him have a little pride because the Jersey is special to me but I want him to feel that that something special put that blue jersey on go out there play for the Bears they don't feel that way I'd rather not have them being a bear really means a lot to me I mean I I take it to heart playing for the Bears is something that I'm really proud of I get excited about it when I talk about it and being a bear even the nature of a real bear you know you wound them and you better watch out I'd better move camp you gotta have a certain love for the game and a certain amount of respect for your teammates too to want to go out each plate and and play it to its fullest I think individual each players got to take this game and say I'm gonna play every play as if as if it were my last game as a professional athlete I'm gonna play every play like I said get us into the Super Bowl and win a Super Bowl and I'll play every play throw my whole body all over the field just get completely radical out there and just go crazy oh man so it's gonna take like the granges the nagar skis dialysis the butt kisses and the Peyton's the honor roll of legendary bears these new Bears must draw on their proud pass to forge a bright future [Music] yet Chicago will not back into tomorrow with one eye on yesterday they were wounded in 1989 but the 90s are here and now a new decade and a new opportunity to rule once more [Music]

Channel: Sports Odyssey

Views: 1,790

Rating: 4.8333335 out of 5

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Id: FVENZPTX4Os

Length: 89min 50sec (5390 seconds)

Published: Tue Apr 23 2019