It is that time of year when fans of professional football start to get into heated debates of who their respected teams should draft in order to improve their team. Some teams are known for consistently drafting good players even if they aren’t the top picks, and then there are those teams who are known for always having a top five pick but that player ends up being a bust.
In the age of the internet, we can look back at our favorite teams to see their history. All teams have certain things that affect their legacy that any fan can relate to. For example, the Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts are known for having good quarterbacks, the Dallas Cowboys are known for having some of the most famous wide receivers to play football and the Cleveland Browns today are known for not being able to find a quarterback to take their franchise in the right direction as they have had 24 quarterbacks start for them since 1999.
Being a fan in the great city of Chicago has its ups and downs, all due to how passionate we are about our beloved teams. These are the five things that fans of the Monsters of the Midway can relate to.
5. Mike Ditka is The Man
4. Our defense will always slightly be better than our offense
Throughout the history of the Bears, they have been known for two things: having a premier running back or having one of the best defenses in all of football. While prior to the arrival of John Fox the defense was the worst it had ever been, the Bears defense has always been the cornerstone of its franchise. The Bears defense has had some of the greatest and most feared players (including some hall of fame inductees) to ever play on that side of the ball, including Brian Urlacher, Mike Singletary, Richard Dent, Steve McMichael and of course, perhaps the most feared player by offenses ever, Dick Butkus.
3. Walter Payton is the greatest football player ever
Every team has their messiah, their chosen one or their hero. Jim Brown, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Joe Montana—all of these players have long been in the discussion for greatest player of all time. In Chicago, there is no player greater than Sweetness himself, Walter Payton. The former record holder of multiple career rushing titles defined how a running back should play the game in all aspects from running, receiving, blocking and even passing. What made Walter even more loved by everyone wasn’t just the way he led his team, but his willingness to always get up after taking some of the hardest hits seen, all with a smile on his face. Sweetness passed away in 1999 and is still missed to this day.
2. A lot of us don’t like Jay Cutler, but we know he is the best option we have to win
The Chicago Bears have never been a team known for its quarterbacks. From Sid Luckman, Jim McMahon, and of course Jay Cutler, these quarterbacks are known for being some of the best to ever play in a Bears uniform, even though their statistics aren’t eye opening. Jay Cutler is currently the highest paid offensive player in all of football despite only having one playoff win as a Bear. Last season was clearly Cutler’s best year as a Bear, but that was before some questionable at best years. With the departure of offensive coordinator Adam Gase, Bear fans will be looking to see if Cutler can pick up where he left off last season with an offense that has all the talent to make a playoff run. However, if the quarterback isn’t playing well, all of that talent on the offense will not be showcased.
1. The 1985 Bears is the greatest team of all time
There have been many great teams in football—the 1972 Dolphins, 2007 Patriots and the Steelers of the 1970s. However, there is no greater or more dominating team than the 1985 Chicago Bears. Arguably the greatest defense ever assembled, coordinator Buddy Ryan and Coach Ditka lead their team to a destructive 15-1 season culminating at Super Bowl XX when the Bears defeated the Patriots 46-10. What made them even more special was the number of characters that this team had—including the rebel Jim McMahon, the quiet one Mike Singletary, the leader Walter Payton and of course, everyone’s favorite big man, William “The Refrigerator” Perry. And who could ever forget the world-famous Super Bowl Shuffle? Despite the fun the Bears had that year, they proved that they earned it all through their dominant and memorable play on the gridiron.
