1984 Chicago Bears season

NFL team season August 2023 March 2026 Chicago Bears 1984 10–6 1st NFC Central Mike Ditka Ed Hughes Buddy Ryan Jerry Vainisi The McCaskey Family Soldier Field 5https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1984/probowl.htm 1984 NFL Pro Bowlers Pro-Football-Reference.com RB Walter Payton DT Dan Hampton DE Richard Dent MLB Mike Singletary SS Todd Bell 7https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1984/allpro.htm 1984 NFL All-Pros Pro-Football-Reference.com RB Walter Payton DT Dan Hampton DE Richard Dent LB Otis Wilson MLB Mike Singletary SS Todd Bell FS Gary Fencik Won Divisional Playoffs(at Redskins) 23–19Lost NFC Championship(at 49ers) 0–23 Bears seasons The 1984 season was the Chicago Bears' 65th in the National Football League and their third under head coach Mike Ditka. The team improved from their 8–8 record from 1983, to a 10–6 record, earning them a spot in the NFL playoffs for the first time since 1979. This was the first of five consecutive NFC Central titles for the Bears. They opened their 1984 training camp in a new location, Platteville, Wisconsin as head coach Mike Ditka needed his team to get away from any distractions they might face at home. The team was on the verge of discovering a group of young leaders for the first time, and began to show the dominating defense that would emerge in full the following season, and pushed much farther than anyone expected them to go. Highlights of the season included a Week 2 shutout of the Denver Broncos 27–0 behind a huge day from star running back Walter Payton, a Week 3 victory against Green Bay, the first game between Ditka and Packers head coach Forrest Gregg, and a 17–6 victory against the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Raiders. The Week 2 game against Denver featured a famous image from Payton's career: a 50+ yard run down the sideline, led by 2nd-year guard Mark Bortz, an 8th-round draft pick that was converted from defensive tackle. Payton reached a major milestone as he surpassed Jim Brown as the game's all-time leading rusher in yards in the third quarter of a Week Six home game against the New Orleans Saints. The Bears beat the Saints 20–7. The 1984 Bears ran for the second-most rushing attempts in a season, with 674.http://pfref.com/tiny/g13D7 Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1978 to 2011, in the regular season, sorted by descending Rushing Att Pfref.com September 28, 2012 In the Divisional Round of the playoffs, the Bears defeated the Washington Redskins 23–19 for their first playoff victory in the Super Bowl era as well as their first since their victory over the New York Giants in the 1963 NFL Championship Game. However, the Bears' season ended in the NFC Championship Game 23–0 to the eventual Super Bowl XIX champions, the San Francisco 49ers. Offseason 1984 NFL draft 1984 NFL draft Chicago Bears 1984 1 11 Wilber Marshall Linebacker Florida yes yes 2 44 Ron Rivera Linebacker California yes 3 71 Stefan Humphries Guard Michigan yes 4 98 Tom Andrews Guard Louisville yes 7 179 Nakita Robertson Running back Central Arkansas no 8 212 Brad Anderson Wide receiver Arizona yes 9 244 Mark Casale Quarterback Montclair State no 10 266 Kurt Vestman Tight end Idaho no 10 271 Shaun Gayle Safety Ohio State yes yes 11 298 Mark Butkus Defensive tackle Illinois no 12 330 Donald Jordan Running back Houston no Undrafted free agents + 1984 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeMike BassKickerIllinoisChris JensenWide receiverLake Forest Personnel Coaches / Staff 1984 Chicago Bears Owner – Virginia Halas McCaskey Team president – Michael McCaskey General manager – Jerry Vainisi Director of player personnel – Rod Graves Equipment manager – Ray Earley Assistant equipment manager – Gary Haeger Scout – Jim Dooley Video team – Pete McGrane Head coach – Mike Ditka Assistant head coach – Steve Kazor Offensive coordinator – Ed Hughes Offensive specialist – Ted Plumb Running backs – Johnny Roland Offensive line – Dick Stanfel Defensive coordinator – Buddy Ryan Defensive line – Dale Haupt Secondary – Jim LaRue Assistant trainer – Brian McCaskey Weightlifting/Strength – Clyde Emrich Roster 1984 Chicago Bears  4 Steve Fuller American football 11 Greg Landry 12 Rusty Lisch 29 Dennis Gentry 32 Anthony Hutchison 34 Walter Payton 26 Matt Suhey 33 Calvin Thomas American football 86 Brad Anderson American football y 84 Brian Baschnagel 30 Jack Cameron American football y 83 Willie Gault 85 Dennis McKinnon 88 Pat Dunsmore 89 Mitch Krenk y 87 Emery Moorehead 81 Jay Saldi 60 Tom Andrews American football y C 79 Kurt Becker G 62 Mark Bortz G 74 Jim Covert T 64 Rob Fada G 71 Andy Frederick T 63 Jay Hilgenberg C 78 Keith Van Horne T 95 Richard Dent DE 99 Dan Hampton DT 73 Mike Hartenstine DE 98 Tyrone Keys DE 76 Steve McMichael DT 68 Jim Osborne defensive tackle DT 70 Henry Waechter DE 54 Brian Cabral MLB 90 Al Harris defensive lineman OLB 58 Wilber Marshall y OLB 53 Dan Rains OLB 59 Ron Rivera y OLB 50 Mike Singletary MLB 55 Otis Wilson OLB 25 Todd Bell SS 22 Dave Duerson FS 45 Gary Fencik FS 24 Jeff Fisher CB 21 Leslie Frazier CB 20 Kevin Potter American football SS 27 Mike Richardson American football, born 1961 CB 44 Terry Schmidt CB 15 Dave Finzer P 16 Bob Thomas K 97 Mark Butkus y no DT IR 23 Shaun Gayle y CB IR 75 Stefan Humphries y G IR 49 Donald Jordan y RB IR 82 Ken Margerum WR IR  9 Jim McMahon QB IR 48 Raymond Morris American football y no LB IR 67 Tim Norman no G IR 93 Kurt Vestman no y TE IR 80 Rickey Watts WR IR Preseason thumb|Walter Payton (34), pictured breaking the NFL's career rushing record Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue 1 August 4 St. Louis Cardinals L 10–19 0–1 Soldier Field 2 August 11 Green Bay Packers L 10–17 0–2 Milwaukee County Stadium 3 August 18 Cincinnati Bengals L 17–25 0–3 Soldier Field 4 August 26 Buffalo Bills W 38–7 1–3 Hoosier Dome Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 34–14 1–0 Soldier Field 58,789 2 September 9 Denver Broncos W 27–0 2–0 Soldier Field 54,335 3 September 16 at Green Bay Packers W 9–7 3–0 Lambeau Field 55,942 4 September 23 at Seattle Seahawks L 9–38 3–1 Kingdome 61,520 5 September 30 Dallas Cowboys L 14–23 3–2 Soldier Field 63,623 6 October 7 New Orleans Saints W 20–7 4–2 Soldier Field 53,752 7 October 14 at St. Louis Cardinals L 21–38 4–3 Busch Memorial Stadium 49,554 8 October 21 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 44–9 5–3 Tampa Stadium 60,003 9 October 28 Minnesota Vikings W 16–7 6–3 Soldier Field 57,517 10 November 4 Los Angeles RaidersW 17–6 7–3 Soldier Field 59,858 11 November 11 at Los Angeles Rams L 13–29 7–4 Anaheim Stadium 62,021 12 November 18 Detroit Lions W 16–14 8–4 Soldier Field 54,911 13 November 25 at Minnesota Vikings W 34–3 9–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 56,881 14 December 3 at San Diego Chargers L 7–20 9–5 Jack Murphy Stadium 45,470 15 December 9 Green Bay Packers L 14–20 9–6 Soldier Field 59,374 16 December 16 at Detroit Lions W 30–13 10–6 Pontiac Silverdome 53,252 Standings Game summaries Week 2: vs. Denver Broncos The Bears limited the Broncos to 130 total yards as three different Denver quarterbacks (John Elway, Gary Kubiak, and Scott Stankavage) completed just nine passes with two interceptions. Seven different Bears players led by Walter Payton rushed for 302 yards. Week 3: at Green Bay Packers autocollapse Sunday, September 16 12:00 p.m. Bears 3 3 0 3 Packers 0 7 0 0 Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin 50 F, wind 9 mph on Pat Haggerty CBS Pat Summerall and John Madden Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter CHI – Bob Thomas 19-yard field goal. Bears 3–0. Second quarter CHI – Bob Thomas 49-yard field goal. Bears 6–0. GB – Jessie Clark 1-yard run (Eddie Garcia kick). Packers 7–6. Fourth quarter CHI – Bob Thomas 28-yard field goal. Bears 9–7. Bears Bob Avellini 11/17, 133 yards, INT Walter Payton 27 rushes, 110 yards Emery Moorehead 2 receptions, 65 yards Packers Lynn Dickey 11/23, 142 yards, INT Gerry Ellis 7 rushes, 18 yards James Lofton 4 receptions, 89 yards Week 4: at Seattle Seahawks autocollapse Sunday, September 23 1:00 pm. PDT Bears 7 0 0 2 Seahawks 7 3 21 7 Kingdome, Seattle, Washington 61,250 indoors (dome) Chuck Heberling CBS Tim Ryan & Johnny Morris Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter CHI – Matt Suhey 3-yard pass from Walter Payton (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 7–0. SEA – Keith Simpson 39-yard interception return (Norm Johnson kick). Tied 7–7. Second quarter SEA – Norm Johnson 27-yard field goal. Seahawks 10–7. Third quarter SEA – Dave Krieg 3-yard run (Norm Johnson kick). Seahawks 17–7. SEA – Eric Lane 55-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick). Seahawks 24–7. SEA – Joe Nash recovered fumble in end zone (Norm Johnson kick). Seahawks 31–7. Fourth quarter CHI – Safety, holding penalty by Seattle in end zone. Seahawks 31–9. SEA – Terry Jackson 62-yard interception return (Norm Johnson kick). Seahawks 38–9. Bears Bob Avellini 13/26, 119 yards, INT Walter Payton 24 rushes, 116 yards Willie Gault 6 receptions, 73 yards Seahawks Dave Krieg 6/16, 146 yards, TD Eric Lane 17 rushes, 50 yards 1 reception, 55 yards, TD Six Bears turnovers and a 21–0 run by the Seahawks in the 3rd quarter were the key as Chicago's season-opening win streak was blunted, 38–9. The two teams combined for just 504 yards of offense with 22 penalties eating up 181 yards. Week 5: vs. Dallas Cowboys autocollapse Sunday, September 30 12:00 p.m. Cowboys 10 7 3 3 Bears 7 7 0 0 Soldier Field, Chicago 44 F, wind 7 mph on Fred Wyant CBS Pat Summerall and John Madden Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter DAL – Rafael Septién 44-yard field goal. Cowboys 3–0. CHI – Jim McMahon 16-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 7–3. DAL – Tony Dorsett 68-yard pass from Gary Hogeboom (Rafael Septien kick). Cowboys 10–7. Second quarter CHI – Walter Payton 20-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 14–10. DAL – Timmy Newsome 2-yard run (Rafael Septien kick). Cowboys 17–14. Third quarter DAL – Rafael Septien 32-yard field goal. Cowboys 20–14. Fourth quarter DAL – Rafael Septien 23-yard field goal. Cowboys 23–14. Cowboys Gary Hogeboom 18/29, 265 yards, TD Tony Dorsett 18 rushes, 51 yards 4 receptions, 80 yards, TD Bears Jim McMahon 6/14, 79 yards Walter Payton 25 rushes, 155 yards, TD Dennis McKinnon 4 receptions, 53 yards Mike Ditka for the first time as Bears head coach faced Tom Landry, who'd coached Ditka in Super Bowl VI. Landry's Cowboys were outgained in yardage 400 to 313 but forced two Bears turnovers to win 23–14. The Bears rushing attack still managed 283 yards. Week 6: vs. New Orleans Saints autocollapse Sunday, October 7 12:00 p.m. Saints 0 7 0 0 Bears 6 7 0 7 Soldier Field, Chicago 53,752 62 F, wind 11 mph on Bob McElwee CBS Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter CHI – Bob Thomas 48-yard field goal. Bears 3–0. CHI – Bob Thomas 46-yard field goal. Bears 6–0. Second quarter NOR – Wayne Wilson 15-yard pass from Richard Todd (Morten Andersen kick). Saints 7–6. CHI – Walter Payton 1-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 13–7. Fourth quarter CHI – Dennis McKinnon 16-yard pass from Jim McMahon (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 20–7. Saints Richard Todd 7/26, 158 yards, TD George Rogers 16 rushes, 99 yards Tyrone Young 2 receptions, 93 yards Bears Jim McMahon 10/14, 128 yards, TD Walter Payton 32 rushes, 154 yards, TD Matt Suhey 3 receptions, 45 yards Walter Payton ran for 154 yards and a touchdown on his way to breaking Jim Brown's career rushing yardage and 100-yard games records.Walter Payton broke Jim Brown's NFL career rushing record https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/10/07/Walter-Payton-broke-Jim-Browns-NFL-career-rushing-record/7465465969600/ UPI October 7, 1984 August 24, 2019 Week 9: vs. Minnesota Vikings autocollapse Sunday, October 28 12:00 p.m. Vikings 0 0 0 7 Bears 6 10 0 0 Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois 55 F, wind 12 mph on Tom Dooley CBS Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter CHI – Matt Suhey 2-yard run (Bob Thomas missed extra point). Bears 6–0. Second quarter CHI – Dennis McKinnon 18-yard pass from Jim McMahon (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 13–0. CHI – Bob Thomas 19-yard field goal. Bears 16–0. Fourth quarter MIN – Leo Lewis 22-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Jan Stenerud kick). Bears 16–7. Vikings Archie Manning 14/24, 138 yards, 1 INT Archie Manning 4 rushes, 20 yards Leo Lewis 3 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD Bears Jim McMahon 16/26, 180 yards, 1 TD Walter Payton 22 rushes, 54 yards Emery Moorehead 3 receptions, 64 yards Week 10: vs. Los Angeles Raiders autocollapse Sunday, November 4 12:00 p.m. Raiders 0 3 3 0 Bears 7 7 0 3 Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois 51 F, wind 18 mph on Pat Haggerty NBC Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter CHI – Walter Payton 18-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 7–0. Second quarter CHI – Walter Payton 8-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 14–0. LA – Chris Bahr 44-yard field goal. Bears 14–3. Third quarter LA – Chris Bahr 40-yard field goal. Bears 14–6. Fourth quarter CHI – Bob Thomas 29-yard field goal. Bears 17–6. Raiders Marc Wilson 7/19, 70 yards, 2 INT Marcus Allen 15 rushes, 42 yards Todd Christensen 5 receptions, 61 yards Bears Jim McMahon 3/11, 68 yards, INT Walter Payton 27 rushes, 111 yards, 2 TD Willie Gault 1 reception, 50 yards Week 13 vs. Minnesota Vikings Bears 7 10 17 0 Vikings 3 0 0 0 November 25 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Indoors (dome) Fred Silva yes Q1 4:19 MIN Stenerud 19-yard field goal MIN 3–0 Q1 1:32 CHI Gault 30-yard pass from Fuller (Thomas kick) CHI 7–3 Q2 7:12 CHI Thomas 45-yard field goal CHI 10–3 Q2 0:24 CHI Moorehead 13-yard pass from Fuller (Thomas kick) CHI 17–3 Q3 9:59 CHI Thomas 37-yard field goal CHI 20–3 Q3 9:28 CHI Bell 36-yard interception return (Thomas kick) CHI 27–3 Q3 2:41 CHI Payton 2-yard run (Thomas kick) CHI 34–3 yes Bears clinch division title The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Oct-28. Week 15: vs. Green Bay Packers autocollapse Sunday, December 9 12:00 p.m. Packers 0 7 6 7 Bears 0 0 7 7 Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois 31 F, wind 7 mph on Jim Tunney Pro-Football-Reference.com Second quarter GB – Ed West 3-yard pass from Rich Campbell (Al Del Greco kick). Packers 7–0. Third quarter CHI – Matt Suhey 2-yard pass from Walter Payton (Bob Thomas kick). Tied 7–7. GB – Del Rodgers 97-yard kickoff return (pass failed). Packers 13–7. Fourth quarter CHI – Walter Payton 7-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 14–13. GB – Phil Epps 43-yard pass from Rich Campbell (Al Del Greco kick). Packers 20–14. Top passers GB – Rich Campbell – 9/19, 125 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT CHI – Rusty Lisch – 10/23, 99 yards, INT Top rushers GB – Eddie Lee Ivery – 12 rushes, 50 yards CHI – Walter Payton – 35 rushes, 175 yards, TD Top receivers GB – Phil Epps – 3 receptions, 65 yards, TD CHI – Emery Moorehead – 4 receptions, 53 yards Postseason See full article, 1984–85 NFL playoffs The first-round matchup sent the 10–6 Bears to Washington, a team that had lost to the Los Angeles Raiders in Super Bowl XVIII. Washington was heavily favored, but Chicago came away with a 23–19 victory that featured touchdown passes from Fuller, as well as Payton on a halfback option pass. With the momentum of defeating the defending NFC champions, the Bears then travelled to San Francisco for their first appearance in a championship game of any sort since their championship year in 1963. The line for the game came down steadily as the week wore on, but the Bears were shut out 23–0. Fuller had performed poorly in games against tough opponents, and the offense sputtered as the 49ers were able to render Walter Payton ineffective. The team had gone farther than many had expected them to go in 1984, and the season set the stage for their Super Bowl winning 1985 season. Schedule 1984–85 NFL playoffs Game Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Attendance Divisional Round December 30 at Washington Redskins (2) W 23–19 1–0 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium 55,431 NFC Championship January 6, 1985 at San Francisco 49ers (1) L 0–23 1–1 Candlestick Park 61,040 NFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday, December 30, 1984): at Washington Redskins text-align:center;background:#eee Game summary Bears 0 10 13 0 Redskins 3 0 14 2 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C. 12:30 p.m. EST Overcast, 57 F C CBS Frank Glieber and Dick Vermeil 55,431 Fred Silva Scoring WAS – Moseley 35-yard field goal. WAS 3–0. CHI – Thomas 34-yard field goal. Tied 3–3. CHI – Dunsmore 19-yard pass from Payton (Thomas kick). CHI 10–3. CHI – Gault 75-yard pass from Fuller (kick failed). CHI 16–3. WAS – Riggins 1-yard run (Moseley kick). CHI 16–10. CHI – McKinnon 16-yard pass from Fuller (Thomas kick). CHI 23–10. WAS – Riggins 1-yard run (Moseley kick). CHI 23–17. WAS – Finzer ran out of the end zone for a safety. CHI 23–19. NFC Championship Game (Sunday, January 6, 1985): at San Francisco 49ers The Football Database. Retrieved 2022-Jul-1. Chicago Bears 1984 2; text-align:center collapsed NFC Championship Game: Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers January 6, 1985 3:00 p.m. CST Bears (11–7) 0 0 0 0 49ers (17–1) 3 3 7 10 Candlestick Park • San Francisco, California 61,040 Drizzle, 52 °F °C; wind 5 mph km/h knots Jerry Seeman CBS Pat Summerall (play-by-play), John Madden (color commentator) and Irv Cross (sideline reporter) Pro Football Reference; NFC Championship Game – Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers – January 6, 1985 right Chicago Bears CHI San Francisco 49ers SF Steve Fuller 13/22, 87 YDS, 1 INT Walter Payton 22 CAR, 92 YDS Matt Suhey 4 REC, 11 YDS Joe Montana 18/34, 233 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INTs Wendell Tyler 10 CAR, 68 YDS, 1 TD Freddie Solomon 7 REC, 73 YDS, 1 TD CHI SF collapsed 1 4:21 49ers FG 21 Wersching 0 3 2 7:57 49ers FG 22 Wersching 0 6 3 8:27 49ers RushTD Tyler 9 good Wersching 0 13 4 12:15 49ers RecTD Solomon Montana 10 good Wersching 0 20 4 1:56 49ers FG 34 Wersching 0 23 0 23 Point spread: 49ers by 10 Over/under: 40.0 (under) Time of game: BearsGame statistics49ers13 First downs 2532–149 Rushes–yards 29–15987 Passing yards 23613–22–1 Passes Completions–Attempts–Interceptions 19–35–29–50 Sacked–yards 3–837 Net passing yards 228186 Total yards 38784 Return yards 847–43.1 Punts Number–Average yardage 3–39.01–0 Fumbles–lost 1–07–50 Penalties–yards 3–2031:53 Time of Possession 28:07 References Category:NFC Central championship seasons Chicago Bears Category:Chicago Bears seasons Chicago