The mid-1980s were a special time for the city of Chicago. House and industrial music were on the rise, and the Second City’s sports teams were on the come-up as well. A promising young basketball star named Michael Jordan had set the scoring record for a single playoff game that year on his way to becoming a worldwide phenomenon. The Bulls had been having a rough go of it for years, but much like the city itself, this Michael kid seemed like he might turn things around.

Da Bears had done much the same over the past 15 years. In 1970, they had finished at the bottom of their division, but running back Walter Payton and majority owner Virginia McCaskey slowly helped make the team a force to be reckoned with over the subsequent decade. By ’85, Coach Mike Ditka, also known as “Iron Mike,” and the Chicago Bears were contenders for the top spot in the division. And after their loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the previous season’s NFC Championship game, they had something to prove.

“Iron Mike” and the ’85 Bears

In many ways, the 1985 Bears were the precursor to the 1995 Bulls. They put on some of the best performances the sport had ever seen, in terms of both flash and substance. They also went on to be regarded as one of the best teams ever assembled in the history of the sport. 

All that greatness started in the locker room, where some of the most memorable characters to ever set foot on a field went about the business of crafting a team that could win a Super Bowl.

The core of the team included:

• Coach “Iron Mike” Ditka: 1985 was Ditka’s fourth and greatest year at the helm of the Chicago Bears. After over a decade of inconsistent and troubled seasons, the Bears became a real Super Bowl contender beneath the wing of Ditka’s decisive coaching and fiery, no-nonsense personality. He built deep connections with his players and pushed them hard, both mentally and physically. This approach led to a tough, gritty style of play that helped them win game after game.
• Defensive coordinator James “Buddy” Ryan: The ‘85 Bears were and are well known for their innovative 46 defense, which led them to allow a mere 198 points to be scored on them over the entire 16-game season. Buddy Ryan was the mastermind behind this approach. He leveraged the team’s supremely talented array of linebackers to crush offensive lines and devour quarterbacks whole with vicious tackles. He often butted heads with Ditka, but the collaboration between the two led directly to a Super Bowl.
• Running back Walter “Sweetness” Payton: In his 13-year career, Walter Payton made a convincing case that he was the greatest running back of all time, and he spent every one of those seasons with the Chicago Bears. He ran for over 1,200 yards in 10 of his seasons. His iconic stiff arms and stutter-step have become standard operating procedure for many a modern RB. His role in the Bears’ success in ’85 cannot be overstated. He was an all-time great player who powered the offense of an all-time great team.
• Quarterback Jim McMahon: The “punky QB” — as he referred to himself in the iconic “Super Bowl Shuffle” — also played a key role in his team’s success in ‘85. McMahon was drafted to the Bears in 1982 and initially had some tension with Coach Ditka. However, come 1985, McMahon was a seasoned NFL QB, running a high-powered offense with confidence and flair. Ditka didn’t always agree with his audibles and the other unconventional aspects of his playstyle, but McMahon made them work for him and the team as a whole.
• Defensive tackle William “The Refrigerator” Perry: One of Buddy Ryan and Coach Ditka’s greatest assets was the 300-plus-pound DT known as the Refrigerator. Ditka used him as a surprise fullback, and Ryan was eventually convinced to slot him in with other defensive linemen. Wherever he was, Perry was beloved by Chicago Bears fans, even when he was a rookie in 1985. His build and unique hybrid role on the team captivated audiences and confused opponents in equal measure.

The Regular Season and the One That Got Away

To get to the Super Bowl, this unprecedented Bears squad had to get back to the NFC Championship. First, they had to survive the regular season.

The Bears proved to be more than prepared for the challenge. They began the 1985 season with an astonishing 12-game win streak, backed by their impeccable defense and Payton-powered offense. They were ranked first in both their conference and the league as a whole, and they seemed unstoppable.

Enter the Miami Dolphins. In 1972, they had played an undefeated season of football, and no one had since replicated that feat. So, in the thirteenth game of the 1985 season, the Bears faced the Dolphins with their eyes on matching what many have called the greatest football team of all time. And they fell short. They lost 24-38 and finished the season with a record of 15-1. 

They had a similarly impeccable record in the postseason, defeating the New York Giants in the Divisional Round and defeating the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship. 

With all this groundwork laid, victory at the Super Bowl seemed inevitable.

Super Bowl XX and the Legacy of the ’85 Bears

Super Bowl XX marked the Super Bowl debut of both the Chicago Bears and their opponents, the AFC’s New England Patriots, led by Coach Raymond Berry. The Pats came into the game with a record of 11-5 and were the definite underdogs, despite being a strong team. They had made a remarkable playoff run. They had even managed to defeat the Dolphins — the only team to take a game off the Bears that season — on their way to the Super Bowl. Still, the odds were in the Bears’ favor. 

The Patriots opened the game by forcing a fumble and scoring a field goal in just 1 minute and 19 seconds. All of a sudden, the Bears seemed vulnerable in a way they hadn’t against anyone not named the Miami Dolphins. But that feeling did not last.

By the end of the first quarter, it was 13-3. Chicago was in the lead off the back of two field goals and a touchdown. The lead only widened from there. The Bears scored 10 uninterrupted points in the second quarter and 21 in the third, with both McMahon and even Perry rushing for touchdowns. While there was controversy around a field goal in the tail end of the second quarter, the Bears’ dominance went largely unchallenged. The Patriots’ single touchdown drive in the fourth just wasn’t enough.

The final score of Super Bowl XX? 46-10. At the time, this was the largest margin of victory ever in a Super Bowl. Defensive end Richard Dent was named MVP. 

The team rallied around Coach Ditka and Buddy Ryan after the game and carried them off the field together. It was a moment of unity and triumph for both the team and the city of Chicago that has never been forgotten. 

For many, the ‘85 Bears are the greatest team to ever play the game of football. Their dominant performances and record attest to their quality, but for many Chicagoans, the guys who made up that team are what they remember most fondly. The Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl win in the 1985-1986 season doesn’t happen without Ditka, Ryan or every single one of those players fighting day and night for one of the best seasons in NFL history.

Enjoy a Chicago Slice in Honor of the ’85 Bears

An all-time great team deserves an all-time great pizza. Learn what millions of fans and hundreds of critics already know — that much like the ‘85 Bears, Giordano’s is the best in the biz. 

Visit one of our many Chicago locations or order a pizza online today! You can also choose Giordano’s to cater your event, whether it’s a regular season matchup or the big game.