A Basic History of the Chicago Bears Football Team

The Chicago Bears are a professional football team that plays in the National Football League. The Bears play in the North Division of the National Football Conference.

The franchise was founded in 1919 in Decatur, Illinois. The team was known as the Decatur Staleys until 1920. During 1921, the team was known as the Chicago Staleys after moving to Chicago. In 1922, the team was renamed the Bears and have been the Chicago Bears since.

During 1919, the team was independent, but the franchise joined the National Football League the following year. During Chicago's time in the National Football League, the team played in the Western Division, the National Conference, the Western Conference, and the Central Division, prior to the AFL-NFL merger.

After the merger, the Chicago Bears joined the Central Division of the National Football Conference. In 2002, the Bears began playing in the NFC North as part of the NFL's division realignment.

The Chicago Bears have won a total of seventeen Division Championships in franchise history including eight NFL West titles, seven NFC Central titles, and two NFC North titles.

The Chicago Bears have won four Conference Championships. They won the NFL Western Championship in 1956 and 1963, and they won the NFC Championship in 1985 and 2006.

In franchise history, the Chicago Bears have won a total of nine League Championships. The Bears won the NFL Championships eight times in 1921, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, and 1963. The Bears won their only Super Bowl in the 1985 season at Super Bowl XX.

The franchise began by playing their home games at Staley Field from 1919-1920. In 1921, after the team moved to Chicago, the Bears began playing their home games at Wrigley Field. Wrigley Field, home to Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs, was also the home of the Chicago Bears until 1970.

From 1971-2001, the Bears played their home games at Soldier Field. Soldier Field was completely rebuilt following the 2001 season, so the Bears played the 2002 season at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Since 2003, the Bears have played the rebuilt Soldier Field, which many call the New Soldier Field.

The Chicago Bears have more members in the National Football Hall of Fame than any other team with 26. Those 26 members are Paddy Driscoll, Bronko Nagurski, George McAfee, George Halas, Link Lyman, George Trafton, Joe Stydahar, Ed Healey, George Musso, George Blanda, Danny Fortmann, Walter Payton, Gale Sayers, Sid Luckman, Mike Singletary, Dick Butkus, Bill Hewitt, Bill George, Clyde Turner, George Connor, Harold Grange, Stan Jones, Doug Atkins, Mike Ditka, Dan Hampton, and Jim Finks.

The Bears also have the most retired numbers in the NFL with thirteen. The players whose jersey numbers have been retired are Bronko Nagurski - 3, George McAfee - 5, George Halas - 7, Willie Gailmore - 28, Walter Payton - 34, Gale Sayers - 40, Brian Piccolo - 41, Sid Luckman - 42, Dick Butkus - 51, Bill Hewitt - 56, Bill George - 61, Clyde Turner - 66, and Harold Grange - 77.

The Chicago Bears are currently owned by Virginia Halas McCaskey. The head coach is Lovie Smith, and the general manager is Jerry Angelo.

The official colors of the Chicago Bears are navy blue, orange, and white.