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1984 Chicago Bears-To the Brink
By Roy Taylor, www.BearsHistory.com
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Walter Payton graced the cover of Sports Illustrated
many times during his career. This issue was released after he broke Jim
Brown's rushing record in October 1984.
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The Bears opened 1984 in a new place-Platteville, WI. Coach
Ditka needed his team to get away from any distractions they might face at
home, and they spent August 1984 in the cornfields getting ready for the
campaign ahead. The team was on the verge of discovering a group of young
leaders for the first time, began to show the most dominating defense the
league would ever see, and pushed much farther than anyone expected them to go.
There would be no opening day letdown in 1984. Chicago started
the season by throttling Tampa Bay 34-14. Then they blanked Denver 27-0 behind
a huge day from Walter Payton. This game 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 pickup that was converted from defensive tackle. The next week, with
Jim McMahon out as the Bears visited Green Bay, reserve QB Bob Avellini took
the reigns. Chicago could barely muster a bit of offense, but pulled the game
out 9-7. This contest marked the first meeting of Mike Ditka and Forrest
Gregg-a rivalry that would go down in history as the dirtiest era in
Chicago-Green Bay football. The next week, the Bear's lack of offense really
showed as they lost to Seattle 38-9. After this loss, Ditka cut Avellini. The
move didn't matter the following week, and the Bears lost to still-powerful
Dallas 23-14. A season that started so bright at 3-0 was becoming dimmer, as
the team was suddenly 3-2.
On October 7th, excitement was in the air as Walter Payton was
poised to become the NFL's all-time leading rusher. Payton accomplished the
feat early in the 3rd quarter, and the team derived inspiration from the great
running back. They beat the Saints 20-7. They then lost 38-21 in St. Louis.
Following this loss, they beat Tampa 44-9 in a blowout, and Minnesota at home,
16-7. Following the Minnesota win came the biggest challenge for the young
Bears-a showdown with the world champion Los Angeles Raiders. Looking back,
many point to this game as the Bear's pivotal win in their road to the super
bowl under Mike Ditka. The Bears did indeed beat the Raiders 17-6, a game that
showcased the NFL's leading sacker, Richard Dent, who collected three against
Raiders QB Marc Wilson. This game wasn't all full of magic, however, as Jim
McMahon was sanwiched on an ill-advised scramble, and the QB suffered a
lacerated kidney, sending him to the sidelines for the remainder of the
campaign. The team would now have to look to a new signal-caller to guide them
to the promised land.
Six-year veteran QB Steve Fuller had been acquired from the
Los Angeles Rams prior to the '84 season for insurance in case McMahon was
injured. The investment paid off. Fuller guided the Bears to a 2-1 record over
the next 3 games. In the third at Minnesota's new HHH Metrodome on November
25th, the team clinched its first NFC Central Divison title. After the
Minnesota game, Fuller was injured, and Chicago was faced with its most
interesting quarterback problem ever. Ineffective Rusty Lisch replaced the
injured fuller and lost the December 3rd game at San Diego, then started
the following week against Green Bay at home. Lisch was again ineffective, so
Ditka inserted none other than Walter Payton behind center in the shotgun
formation. Not for lack of effort, but Payton was ineffective as well, and the
Bears lost to the Packers 20-14.
Fuller was expected to return by the playoffs, but Ditka
didn't want to limp into the postseason with another loss. Ditka went to "plan
Z", and signed 14-year journeyman Greg Landry to start his last NFL game
against Detroit, which he helped the Bears win 30-13. Chicago was poised to
enter the postseason for the first time since 1979.
The first-round matchup sent the 10-6 Bears to Washington, a
team that had played in the previous super bowl and lost to the Los Angeles
Raiders. Washington was heavily favored, but Chicago came away with a 23-19
victory that featured TD passes from Fuller as well as Payton on a halfback
option pass. The momentum was clearly in the Bear's favor as they travelled to
San Francisco for their first appearance in a championship game of any sort
since 1963. The line for the game came down steadily as the week wore on, but
the Bears were humiliated 23-0. Fuller clearly gave no magic to the team in
games against tough opponents, and the offense sputtered as the 49ers keyed to
stop Walter Payton all day long. The team had gone farther than anyone gave
them the chance to go in 1984, and the season set the stage for magic the
following year.
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Quote of the Year: "If we keep playing the way we're
playing, we're going to win this thing." -Walter Payton, following
Bears' 3-0 start.
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1984 Record:Preseason 1-3, Regular Season 10-6, Playoffs
1-1
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1984 NFL Rankings: Offense 7th Overall, 1st Rush, 26th
Pass; Defense 1st Overall, 1st Rush, 2rd Pass
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1985 Coaches: Mike Ditka, Head Coach; Buddy Ryan,
Defensive Coordinator; Ed Hughes, Offensive Coordinator
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DATE
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TEAM
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RESULT
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NOTES
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8/4
| Cardinals
| 10-19
| Preseason
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8/11
| Packers
| 10-17
| First Ditka-Gregg fight.
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8/18
| Bengals
| 17-25
| Preseason
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8/26
| Bills
| 38-7
| Preseason
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9/2
| Bucs
| 34-14
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Starting year off right.
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9/9
| Broncos
| 27-0
| Another Bronco win.
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9/16
| Packers
| 9-7
| McMahon hurt.
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9/23
| Seahawks
| 9-38
| Avellini cut.
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9/30
| Cowboys
| 14-23
| Mac back, not enough.
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10/7
| Saints
| 20-7
| Payton breaks record.
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10/14
| Cardinals
| 21-38
| Not enough D.
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10/21
| Bucs
| 44-9
| Plenty of O.
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10/28
| Vikings
| 16-7
| Minny win at home.
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11/4
| Raiders
| 17-6
| Ferocious defense.
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11/11
| Rams
| 13-29
| Not enough firepower
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11/18
| Lions
| 16-14
| Bear-ly won
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11/25
| Vikings
| 34-3
| NFC Central Champs!
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12/3
| Chargers
| 7-20
| Fuller hurt, O stinks
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12/9
| Packers
| 14-20
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Payton at QB.
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12/16
| Lions
| 30-13
| Playoff tuneup
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12/30
| Redskins
| 23-19
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Playoff win.
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1/6
| 49ers
| 0-23
| Outgunned by the Bay
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 Passing:
Jim McMahon- As is well known, McMahon missed the final six
regular season games and the playoffs with a lacerated kidney. He was on
fire prior to the injury, finishing with a 97.8 QB rating.
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 Rushing:
Walter Payton- Simply the best. Payton rushed for 1684
yards, a 4.4 average, and 11 touchdowns. And he broke Jim Brown's rushing
record.
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 Receiving
Yards: Willie Gault- Gault caught 34 passes for 587 yards and 6
touchdowns. Payton led in receptions with 45.
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 Scoring:
Bob Thomas- In his last season with the Bears, Thomas led them in
scoring with 101 points. He was a respectable 22/28 on field goal
attempts.
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 Sacks:
Richard Dent- Richard Dent burst on to the scene in his first year
as a starter, leading the NFL with 17.5 sacks.
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 Interceptions:
Gary Fencik- Led the team with 5 interceptions from his free
safety position.
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1984 Usual Starters
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9 QB
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34 RB
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26 RB
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83 WR
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85 WR
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74 LT
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62 LG
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63 C
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79 RG
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78 RT
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87 TE
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16 K
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95 DE
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99 DT
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76 DT
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73 DE
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90 LB
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50 MLB
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55 LB
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27 CB
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25 SS
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45 FS
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21 CB
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15 P
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Jim McMahon started 10 regular season games prior to his
kidney injury against the Raiders. He would play no more in 1984 after that.
Steve Fuller started four regular season games and the playoffs. Rusty Lisch
started against the Packers, Greg Landry at the Lions and Bob Avellini at
Seattle. The offensive line took shape and began their first season of
stability that would continue for many years to come. On defense, Richard Dent
and Mike Hartenstine manned the defensive end positions and Dan Hampton and
Steve McMichael were the tackles. Al Harris and Todd Bell were solid 1984
starters that would sit out the following season. From left to right, Offense:
Jim McMahon, Walter Payton, Matt Suhey, Willie Gault, Dennis McKinnon, Jim
Covert, Mark Bortz, Jay Hilgenberg, Kurt Becker, Keith Van Horne, Emery
Moorehead, Bob Thomas. Defense: Richard Dent, Dan Hampton,
Steve McMichael, Mike Hartenstine, Al Harris, Mike Singletary, Otis Wilson,
Mike Richardson, Todd Bell, Gary Fencik, Leslie Frazier, Dave Finzer.
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4
| QB
| Steve Fuller
| Clemson
| 6
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7
| QB
| Bob Avellini
| Maryland
| 10
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9
| QB
| Jim McMahon
| BYU
| 3
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12
| QB
| Rusty Lisch
| Notre Dame
| 5
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16
| K
| Bob Thomas
| Notre Dame
| 10
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21
| CB
| Leslie Frazier
| Alcorn State
| 4
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22
| S
| Dave Duerson
| Notre Dame
| 2
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23
| S
| Shaun Gayle
| Ohio State
| 2
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24
| DB
| Jeff Fisher
| USC
| 4
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25
| S
| Todd Bell
| Ohio State
| 4
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26
| RB
| Matt Suhey
| Penn State
| 5
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27
| CB
| Mike Richardson
| Arizona St.
| 2
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29
| RB
| Dennis Gentry
| Baylor
| 3
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30
| DB
| Jack Cameron
| Winston Salem
| R
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32
| RB
| Anthony Hutchinson
| Texas Tech
| 2
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33
| RB
| Calvin Thomas
| Illinois
| 3
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34
| RB
| Walter Payton
| Jackson St.
| 10
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44
| DB
| Terry Schmidt
| Ball St.
| 11
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45
| S
| Gary Fencik
| Yale
| 9
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49
| FB
| Donald Jordan
| Houston
| R
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50
| LB
| Mike Singletary
| Baylor
| 4
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53
| LB
| Dan Rains
| Cincinnati
| 3
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54
| LB
| Brian Cabral
| Colorado
| 6
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55
| LB
| Otis Wilson
| Louisville
| 5
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58
| LB
| Wilber Marshall
| Fl. State
| R
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59
| LB
| Ron Rivera
| Cal
| R
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60
| OL
| Tom Andrews
| Louisville
| R
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62
| OL
| Mark Bortz
| Iowa
| 2
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63
| C
| Jay Hilgenberg
| Iowa
| 3
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64
| OL
| Rob Fada
| Pitt
| 2
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68
| DT
| Jim Osborne
| Southern
| 13
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71
| T
| Andy Frederick
| New Mexico
| 8
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73
| DL
| Mike Hartenstine
| Penn State
| 10
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74
| T
| Jim Covert
| Pitt
| 2
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75
| OL
| Stefan Humphries
| Michigan
| R
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76
| DT
| Steve McMichael
| Texas
| 5
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78
| T
| Keith Van Horne
| USC
| 4
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79
| G
| Kurt Becker
| Michigan
| 3
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81
| TE
| Jay Saldi
| S. Carolina
| 9
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83
| WR
| Willie Gault
| Tennessee
| 2
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84
| WR
| Brian Baschnagel
| Ohio State
| 9
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85
| WR
| Dennis McKinnon
| Fl. State
| 2
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86
| WR
| Brad Anderson
| Arizona
| R
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87
| TE
| Emery Moorehead
| Colorado
| 8
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90
| LB-DE
| Al Harris
| Arizona St.
| 6
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95
| DE
| Richard Dent
| Tenn. St.
| 2
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98
| DL
| Tyrone Keys
| Miss. St.
| 2
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99
| DL
| Dan Hampton
| Arkansas
| 6
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Sign of things to Come?
Mike Ditka has made it well known in the years since his 1992
firing that he is a "Halas kind of guy, not a McCaskey kind of guy." Even in
1984, there were concerns that Michael McCaskey, in his second year as Bears
CEO, would not give him a contract extension.
The following is an excerpt from a December 6, 1984 story by
the Chicago Tribune's Don Pierson, which appeared in the Bear Report:
(In 1983) it was no surprise to anybody that Ditka was not
offered a contract extension by the regime that did not hire him. Ditka said he
did not ask for an extension either, even if he thought he deserved one.
McCaskey, preferring the strictly businesslike approach to his corporation,
expressed the intention to withhold all action on Ditka's future until fourth
quarter profits were counted, as it were. When the season ended, McCaskey would
gather the evidence, consult his balance sheets, call a board meeting, take a
vote, and come to a conclusion. All neat and tidy. This all made sense on
paper. For a while, it all made sense in practice. Then something happened that
few people could have foreseen: the Bears won the NFC Central Division title
going away. They were dominating their division like no team since the 1976
Minnesota Vikings. It remains true that the Bears could fold at the finish and
perhaps justify McCaskey's patience. But the overwhelming evidence is that the
decision already has been made for him: he should rehire Ditka. The delay
serves no purpose anymore.
McCaskey did announce a contract extension for Ditka prior to
the NFC Championship game loss. But this story offers interesting insight
into future events.
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The Chicago Bears and Green Bay
Packers met for the final time during the preseason in 1984.
The game featured the first matchup, and near fisticuffs, of coaches Mike Ditka
and Forrest Gregg. It apparently was not a good year between fans and Bear
quarterbacks. Bob Avellini, a Bear for 10 seasons, was released
following the Seahawk game, and he told the media Ditka told him it was because
the fans ran him out of town. It was also reported that Jim McMahon threw
his helmet at a fan following the home loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Walter Payton broke Jim Brown's NFL all-time rushing yards record against
New Orleans. Following the game, he spoke to President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan
from the locker room. The Bears won a "statement" game over
the defending NFL champion Los Angeles Raiders on November 4th, with the
defense terrorizing Raider quarterbacks. Unfortunately Bear starter Jim
McMahon was lost for the season with a lacerated kidney. In
response to this injury, the following season the NFL issued all quarterbacks
"flak jackets" that covered the lower abdomen. These are still worn by all
quarterbacks today. In a later game, backup quarterback Steve Fuller injured
his shoulder while running the same play he sustained an injury while running
in the preseason. Ditka said the Bears would never run the play again. Fuller's
injury led to the elevation of third-stringer Rusty Lisch, who
played horribly. It got so bad that Walter Payton lined up at quarterback in
the loss vs. Green Bay. For the season finale, Chicago signed 38 year old Greg
Landry to start. Fuller returned for the playoffs. In that season finale at
Detroit, the Bears tied an NFL record by sacking Lion
quarterbacks 12 times. This also set an NFL record for most
sacks in a season with 72.
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A supplemental draft is held in June for the purpose of selecting men leaving
the crumbling USFL. Tampa Bay selects QB Steve Young first overall. The Bears'
46 defense, designed by coordinator Buddy Ryan, begins to confound teams across
the league. Annual contenders Miami, Pittsburgh, Washington and San Francisco
win their divisions, and Denver wins the NFC West behind the maturing John
Elway. Chicago controls the now-weak NFC Central, winning their first
championship of any sort since 1963 with the division crown. The Steelers
weakly win the AFC Central on a 9-7 record, then advance to the AFC
Championship game where they are defeated 45-28 by the Dolphins. Chicago deals
the Redskins their first playoff loss at RFK Stadium in history, then are blown
out 23-0 at San Francisco in the conference championship. The 49ers beat Miami
38-16 in Super Bowl 19 in Palo Alto, CA>
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1984 Bears Draft
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Rd
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Pos
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Name
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School
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1
| LB
| Wilber Marshall
| Florida
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2
| LB
| Ron Rivera
| California
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3
| G
| Stefan Humphries
| Michigan
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4
| G
| Tom Andrews
| Louisville
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5-To Washington
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6-To Dallas
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7
| RB
| Nakita Robertson
| C. Arkansas
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8
| WR
| Brad Anderson
| Arizona
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9a-To San Francisco
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9b
| QB
| Mark Casale
| Montclair St.
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10a
| TE
| Kurt Vestman
| Idaho
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10b
| DB
| Shaun Gayle
| Ohio State
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11a-To Rams for QB Steve Fuller
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11b
| DT
| Mark Butkus
| Illinois
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12a-To San Francisco
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12b
| RB
| Donald Jordan
| Houston
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1984 Bears Trades
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1984 and 1985 picks to LA Rams for quarterback Steve Fuller
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Various draft day trades
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1984 Bears Free Agent Signings
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DB Jack Cameron
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1984 Bears Retirements
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Jim Osborne, DT
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1985 Chicago Bears Awards
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NFC Central Division Champs
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Divisional Playoff Victory
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Walter Payton, RB, Pro Bowl (8)
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Todd Bell, S, Pro Bowl (1)
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Richard Dent, DE, Pro Bowl (1)
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Dan Hampton, DT, Pro Bowl (3)
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Mike Singletary, LB, Pro Bowl (2)
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