1965 Chicago Bears season

NFL team season August 2023 March 2026 Chicago Bears 1965 9–5 3rd Western George Halas George Halas George Halas Wrigley Field Did not qualify Bears seasons The 1965 Chicago Bears season was their 46th regular season in the National Football League. The team improved upon the dismal 5–9 record of the previous season, and finished with a 9–5 record that earned them a third-place finish in the NFL Western Conference. The Bears started the season 0–3, but thanks to rookies Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus, the team won 9 of the last 11 games. Sayers had a magnificent rookie season, and in one game against the San Francisco 49ers at Chicago's Wrigley Field on December 12, he scored six touchdowns in a 61–20 Bears win, the first time the Bears scored 61 points in a regular-season game.Mayer Larry http://www.chicagobears.com/news/chalk-talk/article-1/Which-players-were-part-of-trade-that-landed-Cutler/aad1049b-68be-47ce-8795-f9c510fbcc54 Which players were part of trade that landed Cutler? Chicago Bears 2013-03-06 2013-03-09 https://web.archive.org/web/20130310031348/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/chalk-talk/article-1/Which-players-were-part-of-trade-that-landed-Cutler/aad1049b-68be-47ce-8795-f9c510fbcc54 2013-03-10 dead Sayers would set an NFL rookie record with 22 touchdowns in one season.NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book Workman Publishing Co New York, NY 0-7611-2480-2 408 The six-touchdown performance tied an NFL record and set a new Bears record.NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book Workman Publishing Co New York, NY 0-7611-2480-2 106 Quarterback Rudy Bukich completed 176 of 312 passes for 2,641 yards and 20 touchdowns. The 1965 Bears draft class was named No. 8 on NFL Top 10 draft classes.http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d80798fca&template=with-video&confirm=true NFLs top 10 draft classes in league history National Football League 2012-07-09 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20121102144536/http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d80798fca&template=with-video&confirm=true 2012-11-02 Off-season NFL draft 1965 NFL draft 1965 Chicago Bears 1 3 Dick Butkus Linebacker Illinois yes yes yes 1 4 Gale Sayers Running back Kansas yes yes yes 4 45 Jim Nance Fullback Syracuse Signed with the AFL no no 6 73 Tony Carey Running back Notre Dame no 7 88 Dick Gordon Wide receiver Michigan State yes yes 7 90 Mickey Sutton Safety Auburn Signed with the AFL no 8 101 Brian Schweda Defensive end Kansas yes yes Undrafted free agents + 1965 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeDoyle HillQuarterbackNorth Alabama Roster 1965 Chicago Bears 10 Rudy Bukich  9 Billy Wade 21 Jon Arnett 29 Ronnie Bull 32 Ralph Kurek 48 Andy Livingston 34 Joe Marconi 40 Gale Sayers 45 Dick Gordon 80 Jimmy Jones 47 Johnny Morris 49 Charlie Bivins 89 Mike Ditka 85 Billy Martin 72 Jim Cadile G 70 Herman Lee T 57 Dick Leeuwenburg T 50 Mike Pyle C 64 Mike Rabold G 67 George Seals G 63 Bob Wetoska T 81 Doug Atkins DE 79 Dick Evey DT 76 John Johnson DT 78 Stan Jones DT 71 Earl Leggett DT 87 Ed O'Bradovich DE 51 Dick Butkus MLB 31 Joe Fortunato OLB 83 Roger LeClerc K/C/OLB 33 Larry Morris OLB 53 Jim Purnell MLB 62 Mike Reilly OLB 25 J. C. Caroline CB 26 Bennie McRae CB 17 Richie Petitbon SS 84 Ron Smith CB/S 24 Rosey Taylor FS 23 Dave Whitsell CB 88 Bobby Joe Green P * 61 Bill George LB (IR) 7px 43 Larry Glueck S (IR) 7px 52 Fred Hageman C (IR) 7px 74 Bob Kilcullen DT (IR) 7px 75 Riley Mattson T (IR) 7px 41 Brian Piccolo RB (IR) 7px 69 Palmer Pyle G (IR) 7px 12 Larry Rakestraw QB (IR) 7px 60 Brian Schweda DE (IR) 7px * -- Frank Budka S 68 George Burman C/T 37 Mike Eischeid K 73 Dennis Murphy DT 59 David Price DE -- Gregg Schumacher DE 27 John Sisk S Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue 1 September 19 at San Francisco 49ers L 24–52 0–1 Kezar Stadium 2 September 26 at Los Angeles Rams L 28–30 0–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 3 October 3 at Green Bay Packers L 14–23 0–3 Lambeau Field 4 October 10 Los Angeles Rams W 31–6 1–3 Wrigley Field 5 October 17 at Minnesota Vikings W 45–37 2–3 Metropolitan Stadium 6 October 24 Detroit Lions W 38–10 3–3 Wrigley Field 7 October 31 Green Bay Packers W 31–10 4–3 Wrigley Field 8 November 7 Baltimore Colts L 21–26 4–4 Wrigley Field 9 November 14 St. Louis Cardinals W 34–13 5–4 Wrigley Field 10 November 21 at Detroit Lions W 17–10 6–4 Tiger Stadium 11 November 28 at New York Giants W 35–14 7–4 Yankee Stadium 12 December 5 at Baltimore Colts W 13–0 8–4 Memorial Stadium 13 December 12 San Francisco 49ers W 61–20 9–4 Wrigley Field 14 December 19 Minnesota Vikings L 17–24 9–5 Wrigley Field Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text. Game summaries Week 1 Bears 3 0 0 21 49ers 0 24 21 7 September 19 Kezar Stadium NFL Scores https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196509190sfo.htm Pro Football Reference. October 6, 2018 Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers – September 19th, 1965 Week 2 Bears 0 14 14 0 Rams 0 6 3 21 September 26 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum NFL Scores https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196509250ram.htm Pro Football Reference October 6, 2018 Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams – September 26th, 1965 Week 3 Bears 0 0 7 7 Packers 14 6 3 0 October 3 Lambeau Field NFL Scores https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196510030gnb.htm Pro Football Reference October 6, 2018 Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – October 3rd, 1965 Week 4 Rams 0 3 3 0 Bears 0 10 7 14 October 10 Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL 55 F 1; wind 8 mph km/h knots yes Q2 CHI Livingston 3-yard run (LeClerc kick) CHI 7–0 Q2 CHI LeClerc 26-yard field goal CHI 10–0 Q2 LA Gossett 16-yard field goal CHI 10–3 Q3 LA Gossett 13-yard field goal CHI 10–6 Q3 CHI Sayers 80-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick) CHI 17–6 Q4 CHI Bukich 1-yard run (LeClerc kick) CHI 24–6 Q4 CHI Gordon 26-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick) CHI 31–6 yes NFL Scores https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196510100chi.htm Pro Football Reference September 5, 2014 Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears – October 10th, 1965 Rudy Bukich 16/22, 299 Yds Week 5 Bears 14 3 7 21 Vikings 0 13 10 14 October 17 Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, MN 65 F 1; wind 12 mph km/h knots yes Q1 CHI Bull 33-yard run (LeClerc kick) CHI 7–0 Q1 CHI Morris 14-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick) CHI 14–0 Q2 MIN Cox 38-yard field goal CHI 14–3 Q2 MIN Mason 4-yard run (Cox kick) CHI 14–10 Q2 CHI LeClerc 12-yard field goal CHI 17–10 Q2 MIN Cox 40-yard field goal CHI 17–13 Q3 MIN Cox 28-yard field goal CHI 17–16 Q3 MIN Brown 40-yard run (Cox kick) MIN 23–17 Q3 CHI Sayers 18-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick) CHI 24–23 Q4 MIN Tarkenton 2-yard run (Cox kick) MIN 30–24 Q4 CHI Sayers 25-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick) CHI 31–30 Q4 MIN Mason 4-yard run (Cox kick) MIN 37–31 Q4 CHI Sayers 96-yard kickoff return (LeClerc kick) CHI 38–37 Q4 CHI Sayers 10-yard run (LeClerc kick) CHI 45–37 yes Gale Sayers 297 all-purpose Yds NFL Scores Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – October 17th, 1965 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196510170min.htm Pro Football Reference September 5, 2014 Week 6 Lions 0 3 0 7 Bears 10 14 7 7 October 24 Wrigley Field NFL Scores Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears – October 24th, 1965 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196510240chi.htm Pro Football Reference October 6, 2018 Week 7 Packers 7 3 0 0 Bears 0 17 7 7 October 31 Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois 57 F 1 • Wind 14 mph km/h knots yes 1 GB Jim Taylor 1-yard run (Don Chandler kick) Packers 7–0 2 CHI Roger LeClerc 24-yard field goal Packers 7–3 2 CHI Jimmy Jones 13-yard pass from Rudy Bukich (Roger LeClerc kick) Bears 10–7 2 CHI Gale Sayers 10-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick) Bears 17–7 2 GB Don Chandler 43-yard field goal Bears 17–10 3 CHI Jon Arnett 2-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick) Bears 24–10 4 CHI Ronnie Bull 4-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick) Bears 31–10 yes NFL Scores Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – October 31st, 1965 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196510310chi.htm Pro Football Reference Week 8 Colts 0 10 14 2 Bears 0 0 7 14 November 7 Wrigley Field NFL Scores Baltimore Colts at Chicago Bears – November 7th, 1965 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196511070chi.htm Pro Football Reference October 6, 2018 Week 9 Cardinals 7 6 0 0 Bears 10 0 7 17 November 14 Wrigley Field NFL Scores https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196511140chi.htm Pro Football Reference October 6, 2018 St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Bears – November 14th, 1965 Week 10 Bears 0 10 7 0 Lions 7 3 0 0 November 21 Tiger Stadium NFL Scores https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196511210det.htm Pro Football Reference October 6, 2018 Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions – November 21st, 1965 Week 11 Bears 7 14 0 14 Giants 0 0 7 7 November 28 Yankee Stadium NFL Scores https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196511280nyg.htm Pro Football Reference October 6, 2018 Chicago Bears at New York Giants – November 28th, 1965 Week 12 Bears 7 3 3 0 Colts 0 0 0 0 December 5 Memorial Stadium NFL Scores https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196512050clt.htm Pro Football Reference October 6, 2018 Chicago Bears at Baltimore Colts – December 5th, 1965 Week 13 Chicago Bears 1965 2; text-align:center collapsed Week Thirteen: San Francisco 49ers (7–5) at Chicago Bears (8–4) December 12 49ers 0 13 0 7 Bears 13 14 13 21 Wrigley Field • Chicago, Illinois 54 F C 1 • Wind 11 mph km/h knot https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196512120chi.htm Pro Football Reference NFL Scores San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears – December 12th, 1965 49ers John Brodie19/37, 250 Yds, 2 TD, INT Ken Willard10 Rush, 24 Yds Dave Parks9 Rec, 129 Yds, TD Bears Rudy Bukich16/32, 247 Yds, 3 TD Gale Sayers9 Rush, 114 Yds, 4 TD Jimmy Jones3 Rec, 113 Yds, TD Gale Sayers' Six Touchdown Game. His last touchdown came on a 85-yard punt return. SF CHI collapsed 1 Bears RecTD Gale Sayers Rudy Bukich 80 pass failed 0 6 1 Bears RecTD Mike Ditka Rudy Bukich 29 good Roger LeClerc run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 13 2 49ers RecTD Dave Parks John Brodie 9 good Tommy Davis run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 13 2 Bears RushTD Gale Sayers 21 good Roger LeClerc run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 20 2 49ers RecTD John David Crow John Brodie 15 no good Tommy Davis run/pass good/failed/incomplete 13 20 2 Bears RushTD Gale Sayers 7 good Roger LeClerc run/pass good/failed/incomplete 13 27 3 Bears RushTD Gale Sayers 50 good Roger LeClerc run/pass good/failed/incomplete 13 34 3 Bears RushTD Gale Sayers 1 run failed 13 40 4 49ers RushTD Dave Kopay 2 good Tommy Davis run/pass good/failed/incomplete 20 40 4 Bears RecTD Jimmy Jones Rudy Bukich 8 good Roger LeClerc run/pass good/failed/incomplete 20 47 4 Bears PuntTD Gale Sayers 85 good Roger LeClerc run/pass good/failed/incomplete 20 54 4 Bears RushTD Jon Arnett 2 good Roger LeClerc run/pass good/failed/incomplete 20 61 20 61 Week 14 Vikings 0 0 3 21 Bears 0 0 7 10 December 19 Wrigley Field NFL Scores https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196512190chi.htm Pro Football Reference October 6, 2018 Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – December 19th, 1965 Standings Awards and records Gale Sayers, NFL rookie record, most touchdowns in one season (22) Gale Sayers, NFL record (tied), most touchdowns in one game (6) Gale Sayers, club record, most touchdowns in one game (6) References Chicago Bears Category:Chicago Bears seasons Chicago Bears Category:1965 in Chicago