Lew Freedman - The 50 Greatest Plays in Chicago Bears Football History

Copyright 2008 by Lew Freedman

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher, Triumph Books, 542 South Dearborn Street, Suite 750, Chicago, Illinois 60605.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Freedman, Lew.

The 50 greatest plays in Chicago Bears football history / Lew Freedman.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN-13: 978-1-60078-122-3

ISBN-10: 1-60078-122-5

1. Chicago Bears (Football team)History. I. Title. II. Title: Fifty greatest plays in Chicago Bears football history.

GV956.C5F7313 2008

796.323640977311dc22

2008012089

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ISBN: 978-1-60078-122-3

Design by Sue Knopf

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Photos courtesy of Getty Images unless otherwise indicated.

I dedicate this book to the 1963 Chicago Bears
championship team, an underrated and overlooked
squad on the long list of great Bears teams.

December 7, 1980: Bears Massacre Green Bay 617

November 15, 1931: Joe Lintzenichs 94-Yard Punt

September 19, 1971: Kent Nix Touchdown Pass Wins It for Bears in Soldier Field Opener

December 17, 1967: George Halass Last Game as Bears Coach

October 8, 1961: Bill Wades 98-Yard Touchdown Throw to Bo Farrington

October 20, 1968: Mac Percival Boots Five Field Goals

1954 Season: Bill George Invents the Middle Linebacker Position

October 31, 1954: Harlon Hills 214 Yards Receiving

December 9, 1990: Mark Carrier Grabs Three Interceptions in One Game

October 30, 1977: Walter Payton Rushes for 205 Yards

October 7, 2001: Linebacker Fills Up the Stat Sheet

October 13, 1963: Tight End Nabs Four Touchdown Passes

October 4, 1992, and September 23, 1991: Jim Harbaugh Wins Big Against the Jets, Gets Hammered Against the Vikings

November 8, 1987: Kevin Butler Kicks the Bears Over the Packers

December 27, 1987: Richard Dent Sacks the Known World

December 9, 1962: Richie Petitbon Returns an Interception 101 Yards

November 18, 1962: Bill Wade Throws for 466 Yards

December 11, 1949: Johnny Lujack Throws for 468 Yards

December 18, 1977: Bears Reach Playoffs after 14-Year Absence

January 6, 2002: Marty Bookers 100th Reception

1985: The 46 Defense

December 11, 1983: Matt Suhey Throws a 74-Yard Touchdown Pass

October 16, 1955: Rookies 81-Yard Run Gets Him the Ball

January 16, 1926: Red Granges Tour Goes Hollywood

November 4, 1973: Bears Great Scores Four Touchdowns

November 26, 1925: Red Grange Makes His Pro Debut

October 16, 2006: Brian Urlacher Is a Showman on the Big Show

January 26, 1986: Bears Dominate Super Bowl XX

October 7, 1984: Walter Payton Breaks NFL Rushing Record

October 15, 1939: Fullback Bill Osmanskis 86-Yard Run

October 16, 2006, and November 12, 2006: Devin Hester Returns Kickoff, Missed FGA, and Punt for Touchdowns

November 25, 1934: Beattie Feathers Breaks the Barrier

November 13, 2005: Nathan Vasher Takes It to the House

January 14, 2007: Kicker Beats Seahawks on Overtime Field Goal

October 28, 2001, and November 4, 2001: Mike Brown Steals the Show

December 8, 1940: Bears 730!

November 14, 1971: Dick Butkus Score Wins Game

December 29, 1963: Bill Wade Leads Bears to 1963 Title

November 20, 1977: 275 Yards in a Single Game

January 26, 1986: The Bears Are Super Champs

December 1985: Recording The Super Bowl Shuffle

November 14, 1943: Sid Luckmans Seven Touchdown Passes

November 24, 1963: Mike Ditkas Big Catch Saves the Bears

September 19, 1985: Jim McMahon Shows His Heart

February 4, 2007: Touchdown Machine Devin Hester Runs Back Kickoff

November 4, 1923: Papa Bear Outraces Thorpe for Touchdown

December 15, 1946: Bears Gain Another Title

December 17, 1933: Bears Win First Official NFL Title

December 12, 1965: 85-Yard Punt Return Caps Day

December 18, 1932: Bronko and Red Are Men of the Hour

W hen someone mentions the Chicago Bears to me, the first thing that jumps into my mind is George Halas. I can see him back at the beginning when the National Football League was forming, sitting in that car showroom with the other owners, and then later in Decatur, Illinois, where he was putting the club together.

George Halas was always ahead of the game, and he was always thinking about the future of the game. When I retired as a linebacker with the Bears in 1979, I remember asking him, What are the Chicago Bears worth? He said, Oh, I dont know kid, $20 million or $30 million, something like that. But I got to tell you, down the road TV is going to make a big difference in what we do.

He was right. Now the Bears are worth close to $1 billion. Of course, no way George would have sold them at any price. This team was his love.

The Bears have had a long and glorious history, and won a lot of championships. Of course, there have been many great plays along the way. My all-time favorite play with the Bears occurred on December 16, 1979. We were playing against the St. Louis Cardinals.

We had to beat St. Louis to get into the playoffs. But that wasnt all. We had to win by 32 points, and the Dallas Cowboys had to beat the Washington Redskins. An impossible set of circumstances, right? Well, it happened.

My favorite play was a fake punt. I was playing fullback and Bob Parsons was punting. We knew we had to try everything to get points. I said, Bob, lets go for it. Lets fake it. The Cardinals rushed the punter and it was almost like a screen pass. I picked up the guy coming in on a block and then slid off. Bob passed out to the flat and we got a first down. I gained 20 or 30 yards on the play, but the guy who knocked me out of bounds almost killed me.

We needed to keep the drive going. Think about it: we had to win by 30 points. We pulled everything out in that game. That play sticks out in my mind because of why we needed to do it. This was good, old-fashioned backyard football. Fake a punt. It wasnt really even a play call. It was, Bobby, hit me with the ball, will you?

It all worked out. Dallas beat Washington, and we won the game 426 to go to the playoffs.

I have seen quite a few Bears plays that were exciting. I blocked for Gale Sayers when he was returning punts and kicks. Dick Butkus and I blocked, and we knew if we could get somebody out of the way, look out. I watch Devin Hester and I think the same thing: give him an inch and hes going to take it all.

Those guys create excitement, and its even more exciting when you are part of it. I was starting as a linebacker, but Id volunteer to be part of the blocking wedge. We took it seriously.

I played nine years with Dick Butkus and four years with Sayers. And then I had four years with Walter Payton. I saw so many Hall of Famers. You dont hear as much about the great defensive guys besides Butkus. Guys like Bill George and Doug Atkins. Atkins was a terrible practice player, but when he suited up on Sunday, he was great. I knew as soon as I saw Dan Hampton that he was going to be a Hall of Famer. We had other great defenders who didnt even get into the Hall, like Joe Fortunato, Gary Fencik, and Doug Plank. They were outstanding.