How do the 2022 Bears compare with the worst teams in franchise history? A look at some of the ‘darkest and dreariest’ years.
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears had just lost by 31 points to a division rival, one of what would become 13 losses in the season. In the Chicago Tribune the next day, the Bears coach was quoted as calling it “one of the darkest and dreariest days in Bear history.”
A little more than 53 years later, the Bears again lost to a division rival by 31 points, the 13th loss of the season.
The current coach wasn’t as dramatic as the former, but he was quoted in the Tribune as saying, “It doesn’t sit well.”
The first coach was Jim Dooley, whose 1969 Bears went 1-13. One of those losses was a 31-0 beating by the Minnesota Vikings at Wrigley Field, after which Dooley proclaimed himself “bitterly disappointed.” The second was Matt Eberflus, whose current Bears lost 41-10 to the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Ford Field to drop to 3-13.
Eberflus wasn’t born yet when Dooley’s team lost that October 1969 game, but the coaches are connected by an unfortunate distinction. Along with John Fox’s 2016 Bears, their teams hold the record for the most losses in franchise history, a record the current Bears could break Sunday against the Vikings in the season finale at Soldier Field.
By that metric, Eberflus’ Bears are among the worst ever in Chicago, though they are only the second team to play a 17-game season. But what about other measuring sticks? Where do these Bears fit in the spectrum of bad Bears teams?
Here’s a look at the worst of the Bears, from record to point differential to takeaways to general dysfunction.
Records according to Bears media relations and Pro Football Reference, since 1940.
Record
— Worst teams
“If it were a book, it would be written by Stephen King. If it were a movie, it would be scripted by Brian DePalma. The year was 1969, the worst season in Bears history. Try to
