The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois.[1] They are currently members of the North Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL), and are one of two remaining charter members of NFL.[2] Founded in 1919 by the A.E. Staley Company as the Decatur Staleys and based in Chicago since 1922,[1] the Bears organization has become one of the most successful professional football teams, having won a total of nine professional American football championships—eight NFL Championships and one Super Bowl—second most in the NFL, behind the Green Bay Packers.[3] The franchise has recorded 18 NFL divisional titles, four NFL conference championships,[3] and the most regular season victories of any NFL franchise.[4] In 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame was created to honor the history of professional American football and the individuals who have greatly influenced it.[5] Since the charter induction class of 1963, 32 individuals who have played, coached, or held an administrative position for the Bears have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Bears hold the record for the most individuals enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[6]
Of the 40 inductees, 32 made their primary contribution to football with the Bears, while the other eight contributed only a minor portion of their career with the Bears.[6] Of the original 17 individuals inducted in 1963, three spent a majority of their careers with the Chicago Bears. This includes the founder, long time owner, and head coach George Halas,[7] long time halfback and two-way player Bronko Nagurski,[8] and the "Galloping Ghost" Red Grange.[9][10] The first few years of the Hall of Fame's existence saw 14 Bear players enshrined. Jim Finks was enshrined due to his contributions to the team as a general manager, not a player.[11] Mike Ditka was inducted into the Hall of Fame while serving as the team's head coach.[12] The most recent Bears to be inducted were Devin Hester and Steve McMichael in 2024.
- ^ a b "ChicagoBears.com". Chicago Bears. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Chicago Bears Team Page – NFL.com". NFL. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ a b "ProFootballReference.com – Playoff Log". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Team Encyclopedias and Records". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "The Pro Football Hall of Fame: Then and Now (Mission Statement)". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ a b "Franchises – Pro Football Hall of Fame". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
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Halaswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Nagurskiwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Grangewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "The Galloping Ghost". American Heritage. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
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Finkswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Ditkawas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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