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1988 Chicago Bears-Champions at Heart
By Roy Taylor, www.BearsHistory.com
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Sports Illustrated proved that the 1988 Bears, despite
the loss of several standout players, were still America's favorite NFL
team. Jim McMahon was featured on the September 12, 1988 cover after the
Bears beat Miami to open the season.
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From 1985 to 1987, the Chicago Bears had become THE team to
beat in the NFL. Under the leadership of the same defensive linemen and
linebackers as played on the '85 team, the defense continued to dominate. This
despite the fact that genious coordinator Buddy Ryan had left the team after
the 1985 season. The offense, however had continual problems in 1986 and 1987.
The quarterback position was never settled, as the team shuffled between Jim
McMahon, Steve Fuller, Doug Flutie and Mike Tomczak. Infighting continued to
get worse between players, compounded both by the Bears' success and the
players strike of '87. Events of the 1987 offseason were sure to make the 1988
season the toughest challenge since '85.
Chicago would enter 1988 without four of their strongest
leaders of the amazing last four seasons. Losing one pro bowler would be enough
to break many teams, but four? Both Walter Payton and Gary Fencik retired after
the '87 finale-the second playoff loss to Washington in as many years. All-pro
linebacker Wilber Marshall had become a "free agent"-in those days, free agency
still meant compensation to the team that lost the player. To add to the insult
of two back-to-back playoff upsets in '86 and '87, the Redskins made a 5-year
$6 million offer to Marshall, which the Bears declined to match. In return,
Chicago received Washington's first-round draft picks in both 1988 and 1989.
Willie Gault was the last key Bear to choose not to return. Gault expressed the
desire to move to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, and the Raiders
wanted another speedster to pair with top '87 pick Tim Brown. Gault was
promptly traded to LA for their top pick in '89, and a third-rounder in '90.
Chicago was deciding to unload much of what got them to the top in '85. This
was a decision that would have paid off had they gotten players of Gault's and
Marshall's in return. They did draft serviceable players in Wendell Davis,
Donnell Woolford, Trace Armstrong, and P.T. Willis, but none of these Bears
gave the production of Gualt & Marshall. So as the 1988 campaign commenced,
not many gave Chicago much of a chance to make the playoffs, let alone advance
deep into them. These expectations made the end result even sweeter to savor.
On opening day, Chicago blew out Miami and Dan Marino 34-7,
after leading 28-7 at halftime. Neal Anderson answered all questions about
replacing legend Walter Payton by rushing for 123 yards and a touchdown. The
following week the team beat Indianapolis, but lost the next week to Minnesota
31-7, the Bears worst home loss in 13 years. The questions then re-emerged. A
Chicago team starting 2-1? The end must be near. Mike Ditka even commented to
the press that "There's no question, we'll be lucky to make the wild-card this
year." Patented Ditka reverse psycology, as Chicago ripped off wins in the next
5 games, including dominating performances against Green Bay, Buffalo, and
Dallas. In the final game of the streak, Chicago hosted San Francisco and Joe
Montana on Monday Night Football. The 49ers drove 88 yards down the field for a
TD on their opening drive. It appeared that it would be a long night. Then the
Bear defense came alive for the remainder of the game, holding San Francisco to
just 125 total yards for the final 3 and 1/2 quarters. Chicago won 10-9 in a
thriller.
In typical Bears tradition of losing a heart-breaker after an
inspiring victory, the next week Chicago lost at New England. In this game,
Doug Flutie gained his revenge, hitting WR Irving Friar on an 80-yard TD pass
on the very first play of the game. After the New England loss, Chicago was
shocked when Mike Ditka suffered a heart attack. Defensive Coordinator Vince
Tobin took over the reigns and guided the Bears to a 28-10 win over Tampa.
Ditka then quickly returned on November 13th to oversee a win over Washington,
34-14, featuring 5 interceptions by the Bears. Chicago went 3-2 in the final
five regular season games, guided by a mellower version of Mike Ditka, who
preached overcoming adversity as the theme. Significant in the last five games
was the season finale at Minnesota on Monday Night Football. Mike Tomczak
started the game for a continually-ailing Jim McMahon. The game was a back-and
forth battle throughout-but Chicago looked to be in the driver's seat with just
over 2 minutes remaining. They had the ball at Minnesota's 6-yard line,
trailing 21-20, looking to take the lead. Instead of keeping the ball on the
ground with Neal Anderson, who rushed for 122 yards on the night, Tomczak threw
a short screen pass that was intercepted by Walker Lee Ashley and returned 94
yards for a decisive Minnesota touchdown. Thus, the Bears entered the 1988
playoffs with a 12-4 record and home field advantage throughout.
The divisional playoff on New Years Eve featured the third
matchup between Buddy Ryan's Philadelphia Eagles, and Mike Ditka's Bears.
Chicago jumped to a 17-9 lead before a dense fog blew into the area, resulting
in the "Fog Bowl", undoubtedly the worst visual conditions ever in an NFL
playoff game. The Bears won this game 20-12 under starter Mike Tomczak. The
following week, San Francisco would roll into freezing Soldier Field for
Chicago's third appearance in the NFC Championship game in the last five years.
Quarterback was the huge question for Mike Ditka-who would start? Mike Tomczak
had just beaten the Eagles, but Jim McMahon appeared to be healthy. Ditka went
with McMahon, but the Bears lost 28-3, missing the Super Bowl in Miami by one
game.
The moral of the 1988 Bears season was that a team picked by
many to miss the playoffs, that lost 4 key starters from the 1985 Super Bowl
team, still finished with the best record in the NFC. A defense missing many
key players via trades, retirements, and injuries, still finished 2nd in
overall defense, and led the league in fewest points allowed. The team entered
1989 looking to continue its unprecedented success, and after overcoming all
the obstacles of 1988, figured nothing could now stand in their way.
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Quote of the Year: "We ran the ball well today. We
like our people. For those that don't like them, that's tough sh**, we
like 'em!" -Mike Ditka, addressing the media following the opening-day
win, undoubtedly perturbed by talk of his team aging and disintegrating.
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1988 Records: Preseason 1-3, Regular Season 12-4,
Playoffs 1-1
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1988 NFL Rankings: Offense 11th Overall, 3rd Rush, 20th
Pass; Defense 2nd Overall, 1st Rush, 9th Pass
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1988 Coaches: Mike Ditka, Head Coach; Vince Tobin,
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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8/6
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Dolphins
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20-17
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Preseason
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8/14
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Vikings
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21-28
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Preseason in Sweden
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8/22
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Cowboys
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9-17
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Preseason
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8/26
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Raiders
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22-37
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Gault comes home.
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9/4
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Dolphins
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34-7
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Still got it early.
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9/11
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Colts
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17-13
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Squeaker in Indy.
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9/18
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Vikings
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7-31
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Big loss to rival.
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9/25
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Packers
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24-6
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Anderson runs free.
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10/2
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Bills
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24-3
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Big win over good team.
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10/9
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Lions
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14-7
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Beating division foes.
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10/16
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Cowboys
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17-7
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Singletary lays wood.
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10/24
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49ers
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10-9
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MNF thriller.
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10/30
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Patriots
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7-30
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Flutie's revenge.
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11/6
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Bucs
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28-10
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Ditka's last.
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11/13
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Redskins
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34-14
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Win one for Da Coach.
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11/20
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Bucs
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27-15
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More Singletary hitting.
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11/27
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Packers
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16-0
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Pack no match.
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12/5
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Rams
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3-23
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Harbaugh can't cut it.
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12/11
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Lions
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13-12
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Another division crown.
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12/19
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Vikings
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27-28
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Heartbreaking loss.
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12/31
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Eagles
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20-12
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Fog Bowl.
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1/8
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49ers
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3-28
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NFC Championship.
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Passing: Jim McMahon- McMahon led the Bears in
passing in his final season with the team. He started the first nine games of
the season before going down with knee and shoulder problems. McMahon threw for
1,346 yards, topping Mike Tomczak by 36.
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Rushing: Neal Anderson- The third-year back
stepped into the legendary shoes of Walter Payton and was voted to his first
Pro Bowl, rushing for 1,106 yards and 12 touchdowns.
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Receiving Yards: Dennis McKinnon- Became the
team's default #1 receiver following the trade of Willie Gault to the L.A.
Raiders. McKinnon led the Bears despite the team rotating different sets of
receivers. Caught 45 passes for 704 yards and 3 touchdowns.
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Scoring: Kevin Butler- Butler scored 82 points
on 15 field goals and 37 PAT's.
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Sacks: Steve McMichael- Led an
injury-ravaged defensive line in sacks for the first time in his career.
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Interceptions: Vestee Jackson- The third-year
pro started opposite Mike Richardson in an injury-riddled secondary and logged
eight interceptions.
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Drag over the image for player's name
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9 QB
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35 RB
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26 RB
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85 WR
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29 WR
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74 LT
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62 LG
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63 C
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57 RG
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78 RT
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80 TE
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6 K
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95 DE
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76 DT
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72 DT
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99 DE
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51 LB
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50 MLB
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59 LB
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27 CB
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22 SS
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23 FS
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24 CB
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15 P
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In his final season with the Bears, Jim McMahon started the
first nine games of the season until he injured his knee at New
England. Mike Tomczak took over until the NFC Championship, when McMahon
returned to play in his final game as a Bear. The offensive line had its
injury problems but for the most part started its usual stalwarts. At
receiver and running back, the Bears oddly rotated the tandems of
McKinnon/Gentry then Ron Morris/Wendell Davis at receiver, then Neal
Anderson/Matt Suhey and Thomas Sanders/Brad Muster at running back. The
Bears were ravaged by injuries on defense but still led the league,
amazingly. Richard Dent and William Perry missed most of the season on
the line. Offense, left to right: Jim McMahon, Neal
Anderson, Matt Suhey, Dennis McKinnon, Dennis Gentry, Jim Covert, Mark Bortz,
Jay Hilgenberg, Tom Thayer, Keith Van Horne, Jim "Robocop" Thornton, Kevin
Butler. Defense, left to right: Richard Dent, Steve
McMichael, Dan Hampton, Al Harris, Jim Morrissey, Mike Singletary, Ron Rivera,
Mike Richardson, Dave Duerson, Shaun Gayle, Vestee Jackson, Bryan Wagner.
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4
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QB
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Jim Harbaugh
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Michigan
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2
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6
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K
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Kevin Butler
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Georgia
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4
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9
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QB
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Jim McMahon
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BYU
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7
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15
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P
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Bryan Wagner
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Cal St. Nrthrdge
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2
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18
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QB
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Mike Tomczak
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Ohio State
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4
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20
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RB
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Thomas Sanders
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Texas A&M
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4
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22
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S
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Dave Duerson
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Notre Dame
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6
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23
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S
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Shaun Gayle
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Ohio State
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5
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24
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CB
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Vestee Jackson
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Washington
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3
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25
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RB
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Brad Muster
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Stanford
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R
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26
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RB
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Matt Suhey
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Penn State
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9
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27
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CB
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Mike Richardson
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Arizona State
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6
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29
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WR
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Dennis Gentry
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Baylor
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7
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32
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CB
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Lemuel Stinson
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Texas Tech
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R
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35
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RB
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Neal Anderson
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Florida
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3
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37
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S
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Maurice Douglass
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Kentucky
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3
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43
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S
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Lorenzo Lynch
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Cal St.-Sac.
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2
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44
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S
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Todd Krumm
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Michigan State
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R
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49
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S
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David Tate
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Colorado
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R
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50
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LB
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Mike Singletary
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Baylor
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8
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51
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LB
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Jim Morrissey
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Michigan St.
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4
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52
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LB
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Mickey Pruitt
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Colorado
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R
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53
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LB
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Dante Jones
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Oklahoma
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R
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54
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C
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John Adickes
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Baylor
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2
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57
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G
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Tom Thayer
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Notre Dame
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4
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58
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| Greg Clark
| Arizona State
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59
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LB
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Ron Rivera
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California
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5
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62
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G
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Mark Bortz
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Iowa
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6
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63
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C
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Jay Hilgenberg
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Iowa
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8
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71
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T
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Ceaser Rente
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Oklahoma
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R
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72
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DT
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William Perry
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Clemson
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4
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73
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OL
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John Wojciechowski
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Mich. St.
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2
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74
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T
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Jim Covert
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Pittsburgh
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6
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75
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DT
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John Shannon
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Kentucky
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R
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76
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DT
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Steve McMichael
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Texas
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9
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78
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T
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Keith Van Horne
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USC
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8
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79
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G
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Kurt Becker
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Michigan
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7
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80
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TE
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James Thornton
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Cal St. Flrtn
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R
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82
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WR
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Wendell Davis
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LSU
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R
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84
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WR
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Ron Morris
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SMU
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2
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85
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WR
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Dennis McKinnon
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Florida State
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6
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87
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TE
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Emery Moorehead
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Colorado
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12
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88
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WR
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Glen Kozlowski
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BYU
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1
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90
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DE/LB
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Al Harris
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Arizona State
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9
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92
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LB
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Troy Johnson
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Oklahoma
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R
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94
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DT
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Dick Chapura
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Missouri
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1
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95
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DE
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Richard Dent
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Tenn. St.
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6
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99
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DT
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Dan Hampton
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Arkansas
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10
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How did the 1988 Bears do what they did?
Chicago was completely written off by most football writers before the
1988 season began. Two of the team's greatest strengths prior to the
season, speedy linebacker Wilber Marshall and equally speedy receiver Willie
Gault, were lost or traded to other teams.
The Bears would also start a new running back, Neal
Anderson, and free safety Shaun Gayle, to replace departed legends Walter
Payton and Gary Fencik, who had retired.
Even worse, the 1988 team was beset by a rash of injuries
to Pro Bowl players. All-pro Left Tackle Jim Covert was lost for most of
the regular season and was replaced by journeyman John Wojciechowski. On
the defensive line, Richard Dent may have been having his best season as a pro,
but broke his leg and missed the second half and playoffs.
William "Refrigerator" Perry broke his arm and also missed the majority of the
season. In the defensive secondary, numerous injuries led to the starting
of such players as Todd Krumm (44) and Lorenzo Lynch (43).
It also seemed the team was auditioning offensive skill
players all season. On one series, receivers Dennis McKinnon and Dennis
Gentry would be on the field, and the next it would be Ron Morris and the
rookie Wendell Davis. At running back the Bears alternated Neal Anderson,
Thomas Sanders, Matt Suhey and Brad Muster.
Despite all these changes, shuffling, a heart attack for the
heart and soul of the team, and a fog-shrouded playoff game, the Bears were the
class of the NFC until the final game of the season.
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Thanks to the Wilber Marshall trade, the
Bears had two first-round draft picks for the first time since
1983. They used the picks to select wide receiver Wendell Davis from LSU
and running back Brad Muster from Stanford. Many prognosticators wrote
the Bears out of the 1988 championship season before it even
began. This was due mostly to the fact that Chicago lost four key
contributors from their Super Bowl season of 1985. Walter
Payton and Gary Fencik retired after stellar careers. Linebacker Wilber
Marshall was lost to free agency, and receiver Willie Gault was traded to the
Los Angeles Raiders. Despite these losses, the Bears continued their
dominance, amazingly finishing second in the NFL in defense and
securing homefield advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs. The team started
2-0, then suffered a demoralizing defeat at home to the Minnesota
Vikings. They dominated in the next four games, then won a 10-9 Monday
Night Football thriller against the San Francisco 49ers. On October 30th,
Doug Flutie shocked Chicago by leading his New England Patriots to
a 30-7 trouncing of the Bears, in a game that knocked quarterback Jim McMahon
out for the remainder of the regular season. Following a win over Tampa
on November 6th, legendary Head Coach Mike Ditka suffered a heart attack,
and was replaced as interim coach by defensive coordinator Vince Tobin for a
game. Finally, on December 19th the Bears traveled to Minnesota for a
meaningless season finale against the Vikings. Chicago led 27-21 late in
the fourth quarter, inside the Viking 10, when an easy field goal would have
put the game out of reach. Mike Tomczak threw an interception on third
down that was returned for a touchdown by the Vikings, leading to a 28-27
loss. The New Years' Eve Divisional Playoff game at Soldier
Field will forever be known as the Fog Bowl, when a
halftime fog blew off Lake Michigan to shroud the playing
surface. The Bears won that game 20-12, but were soundly defeated in
the NFC Championship by the eventual Super Bowl winning San
Francisco 49ers.
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The Los Angeles
Raiders begin amassing speed and talent. Owner Al Davis shrewdly spent a
late-round pick on the baseball-playing Bo Jackson in 1987, then controlled his
rights when he began playing football. They take future Hall of Fame receiver
Tim Brown in the draft and trade for Chicago's Willie Gault. Seattle is
predicted by some to win the Super Bowl, but only posts a 9-7 record, losing in
the AFC divisional round of the playoffs. Minnesota seems to legitimately be
back in the groove, making the playoffs for the second time and advancing to
the divisional round. They are defeated by the 49ers, who avenged their defeat
at the hands of the Vikings the previous season. San Francisco finished 10-6 in
the regular season to the Bears' 12-4, but seemed to save their best play for
the postseason. They defeated Chicago in frigid Soldier Field 28-3, and went on
to win Super Bowl 23 20-16 over Cincinnati. The game was a rematch of 1981's
championship game.
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1988 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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1a
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RB
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Brad Muster
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Stanford
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1b
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WR
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Wendell Davis
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LSU
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2
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LB
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Dante Jones
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Oklahoma
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3
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DE
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Ralph Jarvis
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Temple
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4
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TE
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Jim Thornton
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Cal St. Flrtn.
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5
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LB
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Troy Johnson
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Oklahoma
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6
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CB
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Lemuel Stinson
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Texas Tech
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7
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T
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Caesar Rentie
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Oklahoma
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8a
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DB
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David Tate
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Colorado
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8b
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RB
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Harvey Reed
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Howard
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9
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WR
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Rogie McGee
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LSU
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10
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T
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Joel Porter
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Baylor
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11
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LB
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Joel Forch
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Nebraska
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12
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LB
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Greg Clark
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Arizona State
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1988 Bears Trades
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1989 first-round pick and 1990 conditional pick from LA Raiders
for Wide Receiver Willie Gault
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1988 Bears Free Agent Signings
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None of note
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1988 Bears Departures
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LB Wilber Marshall, lost to free agency to Washington.
Bears receive Washington's first round picks in 1988 and 1989 as compensation
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RB Walter Payton, Retired
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FS Gary Fencik, Retired
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LB Otis Wilson, injured then released
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1988 Chicago Bears Awards
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NFC Central Champions
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Mike Ditka, NFC Coach of the Year
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Mike Singletary, NFL Defensive Player of the Year
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Neal Anderson, RB, Pro Bowl (1)
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Mark Bortz, G, Pro Bowl (1)
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Dave Duerson, SS, Pro Bowl (4)
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Jay Hilgenberg, C, Pro Bowl (4)
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Mike Singletary, LB, Pro Bowl (6)
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