The Chicago Bears are a National Football League team based in Chicago.

Founded: 1920 in Decatur, Illinois. One of the charter NFL franchises.

Formerly known as: the Decatur Staleys (1920) and the Chicago Staleys (1921), after their corporate sponsors, a starch company.

Home field: Soldier Field

Previous home fields:

Staley Field (1920)

Wrigley Field (1921-1970)

Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL (2002; used during renovation and expansion of Soldier Field)

Uniform colors: Home: Navy blue jerseys with orange trim, and white pants. Away: white jerseys, navy blue pants.

Helmet design: Navy blue, with an orange "C".

League championships won:1921 (as the Chicago Staleys), 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1963, 1985.

Super Bowl appearances: XX (won)

Franchise history

The Bears are one of the storied NFL teams. They were founded by George Halas, who maintained control of the team until his death in 1983. Halas also coached the team off-and-on for forty seasons, an NFL record. For the most part, the Bears have stayed in the Halas family. The team is currently owned by Halas' daughter Virginia McCaskey and has been run on a day-to-day basis since 1999 by President and CEO Ted Phillips .

Players of note

Super Bowl XX Championship Roster:

• Kevin Butler
• Maury Buford
• Jim Covert
• Mark Bortz
• Willie Gault
• Jay Hilgenberg
• Dennis McKinnon
• Jim McMahon
• Emery Moorehead
• Walter Payton
• Matt Suhey
• Tom Thayer
• Keith Van Horne
• Richard Dent
• Dave Duerson
• Gary Fencik
• Leslie Frazier
• Dan Hampton
• Wilber Marshall
• Steve McMichael
• William Perry
• Mike Richardson
• Ron Rivera
• Reggie Phillips
• Mike Singletary
• Otis Wilson

Current stars:

• Jerry Azumah
• Mike Brown
• Rex Grossman
• Thomas Jones
• Muhsin Muhammad
• Adewale Ogunleye
• Charles Tillman
• Brian Urlacher

Retired numbers:

• 3 Bronko Nagurski
• 5 George McAfee
• 7 George Halas
• 28 Willie Gallimore
• 34 Walter Payton
• 40 Gale Sayers
• 41 Brian Piccolo (the subject of the film Brian's Song )
• 42 Sid Luckman
• 51 Dick Butkus
• 56 Bill Hewitt
• 61 Bill George
• 66 Clyde (Bulldog) Turner
• 77 Harold (Red) Grange

Not to be forgotten:

• Neal Anderson
• Marty Booker
• Doug Buffone
• Mark Carrier
• Rick Casares
• Doug Flutie
• Jim Harbaugh
• Raymont Harris
• Mike Hartenstine
• Johnny Morris
• Larry Morris
• Ed O'Bradovich
• Jim Osbourne
• Alan Page
• Doug Plank
• Marcus Robinson
• Ed Sprinkle
• Donnell Woolford

See also Chicago Bears Shufflin' Crew.

External links

Chicago Bears official web site