Before 1985 football was not something I was really all that interested in. In 1985 that all changed for me. When the Chicago Bears began to look like they had a good shot at the Super Bowl Bears mania swept through the entire State of Illinois, you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing about the Bears.
The 1985 Chicago Bears team was not only an excellent team but it had some of the biggest larger than life characters of any football team that I personally have ever seen. Once the Super Bowl Shuffle a song that was rapped and danced to by the main players of the team came out we learned that these Bears were not only in it to win it, but that they also had sense of humor and some star quality off the field, OK, well at least they were fun to watch.
The team had players that reminded us of characters as well as players, there was Jim McMahon who was affectionately called the “Funky Q-B,” There was Walter Payton who was voted the NFL’s best player both in 1977 and 1985, he was known as Sweetness. There was William “The Refrigerator” Perry, this larger than life Rookie was a huge stopper in the defensive line. Gary Fencik a tackle on the team didn’t have cute nickname, but many ladies would not have minded being tackled by this good looking tackle. Before and after the Super Bowl you would find Michael Singletary, the “Heart of the Defense” advertising products all over the television.
The most valuable player of the 1985 Super Bowl which pitted the Chicago Bears against the New England Patriots was Richard Dent, who had 1.5 quarterback sacks, forced 2 fumbles, and blocked a pass.
The Super Bowl Shuffle actually reached #44 on the Billboard list and actually got a Grammy nomination for Best RB group.
Other notable and memorable players from the Chicago 1985 Super Bowl Championship team were, Dan Hampton, Otis Wilson, and Kevin Butler who was beloved but unfortunately adopted the nick name “Butt Head.” This kicker was always dependable. Matt Suey, Jim Covert, Willy Gault, Emery Moorehead, Dennis McKinnon, Steve McMichael, Wilber Marshall, and Jay Hilgenberg
Of course the 1985 Chicago Bears was also coached by the always entertaining “Iron” Mike Ditka.
All of these players showed up on the television in commercials, interviews, and of course the Super Bowl shuffle, you couldn’t help but become aware of the Chicago Bears if you lived in Illinois, even if you didn’t know a thing about the football or Chicago bears if you owned a TV or a radio you couldn’t help but become aware of them.
Add to all of the promoting, and rapping the fact the Saturday Night Live actually had a recurring skit that featured the Super Fans who paid homage to
The Chicago Bears, and the Chicago Bulls, and worshipped the Mike Ditka. The Chicago Bears gained fans throughout the country and the 1985 team became known as the Monsters of the Midway after a fantastic 18-1 record for their 1985 season.
On the big day of the Super Bowl there was barely a car on the road throughout the state of Illinois, as most people were staying home or watching the game at a bar or friends house.
I rushed home from work that day, and my Mom and I (I was only 19 at the time) sat down and watched the game.
The game itself which was played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans was very exiting at least for Bears fans. I can only imagine that Patriots fans must have felt much like us Bear fans in 2007 and probably didn’t find the game as exiting as we did here in Illinois, and for all of those Bear’s fans outside of the State. The Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots 46 to 10.
I remember the 1985 Chicago Bears team not only because they played a great game that year but because the players were not only outstanding athletes but were also expert self promoters, this was a team that was hard to forget because they had a remarkable season, and an amazing Super Bowl performance, and a group of players that demanded attention on and off the field.
I know this is a one sided accounting of the events leading too the Superbowl, as I really only talk about the Bears here. I am sure there were many notable players on the Patriots team and I do not mean to disregard them, but this is simply my memory of how the Chicago Bears got me interested in football, and why I became a life time fan of the team. Of course the team has never been as exiting as it was in 1985 but we got pretty darn close last year. But now win or lose I will forever support the Chicago Bears.
1985 Bears Players not mentioned above
Mark Bortz
Tom Thayer
Keith Van Horne
Emery Moorehead
Leslie Frazier
Mike Richardson
Dave Duerson
