|
|
DATE
|
TEAM
|
RESULT
|
NOTES
|
8/4
| Cardinals
| 10-19
| Preseason
|
8/11
| Packers
| 10-17
| First Ditka-Gregg fight.
|
8/18
| Bengals
| 17-25
| Preseason
|
8/26
| Bills
| 38-7
| Preseason
|
9/2
| Bucs
| 34-14
|
Starting year off right.
|
9/9
| Broncos
| 27-0
| Another Bronco win.
|
9/16
| Packers
| 9-7
| McMahon hurt.
|
9/23
| Seahawks
| 9-38
| Avellini cut.
|
9/30
| Cowboys
| 14-23
| Mac back, not enough.
|
10/7
| Saints
| 20-7
| Payton breaks record.
|
10/14
| Cardinals
| 21-38
| Not enough D.
|
10/21
| Bucs
| 44-9
| Plenty of O.
|
10/28
| Vikings
| 16-7
| Minny win at home.
|
11/4
| Raiders
| 17-6
| Ferocious defense.
|
11/11
| Rams
| 13-29
| Not enough firepower
|
11/18
| Lions
| 16-14
| Bear-ly won
|
11/25
| Vikings
| 34-3
| NFC Central Champs!
|
12/3
| Chargers
| 7-20
| Fuller hurt, O stinks
|
12/9
| Packers
| 14-20
|
Payton at QB.
|
12/16
| Lions
| 30-13
| Playoff tuneup
|
12/30
| Redskins
| 23-19
|
Playoff win.
|
1/6
| 49ers
| 0-23
| Outgunned by the Bay
|
|
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.
|
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.
|
Receiving
Yards: Willie Gault- Gault caught 34 passes for 587 yards and 6
touchdowns. Payton led in receptions with 45.
|
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.
|
Sacks:
Richard Dent- Richard Dent burst on to the scene in his first year
as a starter, leading the NFL with 17.5 sacks.
|
Interceptions:
Gary Fencik- Led the team with 5 interceptions from his free
safety position.
|
|
|
1984 Usual Starters
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 QB
|
34 RB
|
26 RB
|
83 WR
|
85 WR
|
74 LT
|
62 LG
|
63 C
|
79 RG
|
78 RT
|
87 TE
|
16 K
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
95 DE
|
99 DT
|
76 DT
|
73 DE
|
90 LB
|
50 MLB
|
55 LB
|
27 CB
|
25 SS
|
45 FS
|
21 CB
|
15 P
|
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.
|
|
|
|
4
| QB
| Steve Fuller
| Clemson
| 6
|
7
| QB
| Bob Avellini
| Maryland
| 10
|
9
| QB
| Jim McMahon
| BYU
| 3
|
12
| QB
| Rusty Lisch
| Notre Dame
| 5
|
16
| K
| Bob Thomas
| Notre Dame
| 10
|
21
| CB
| Leslie Frazier
| Alcorn State
| 4
|
22
| S
| Dave Duerson
| Notre Dame
| 2
|
23
| S
| Shaun Gayle
| Ohio State
| 2
|
24
| DB
| Jeff Fisher
| USC
| 4
|
25
| S
| Todd Bell
| Ohio State
| 4
|
26
| RB
| Matt Suhey
| Penn State
| 5
|
27
| CB
| Mike Richardson
| Arizona St.
| 2
|
29
| RB
| Dennis Gentry
| Baylor
| 3
|
30
| DB
| Jack Cameron
| Winston Salem
| R
|
32
| RB
| Anthony Hutchinson
| Texas Tech
| 2
|
33
| RB
| Calvin Thomas
| Illinois
| 3
|
34
| RB
| Walter Payton
| Jackson St.
| 10
|
44
| DB
| Terry Schmidt
| Ball St.
| 11
|
45
| S
| Gary Fencik
| Yale
| 9
|
49
| FB
| Donald Jordan
| Houston
| R
|
50
| LB
| Mike Singletary
| Baylor
| 4
|
53
| LB
| Dan Rains
| Cincinnati
| 3
|
54
| LB
| Brian Cabral
| Colorado
| 6
|
55
| LB
| Otis Wilson
| Louisville
| 5
|
58
| LB
| Wilber Marshall
| Fl. State
| R
|
59
| LB
| Ron Rivera
| Cal
| R
|
60
| OL
| Tom Andrews
| Louisville
| R
|
62
| OL
| Mark Bortz
| Iowa
| 2
|
63
| C
| Jay Hilgenberg
| Iowa
| 3
|
64
| OL
| Rob Fada
| Pitt
| 2
|
68
| DT
| Jim Osborne
| Southern
| 13
|
71
| T
| Andy Frederick
| New Mexico
| 8
|
73
| DL
| Mike Hartenstine
| Penn State
| 10
|
74
| T
| Jim Covert
| Pitt
| 2
|
75
| OL
| Stefan Humphries
| Michigan
| R
|
76
| DT
| Steve McMichael
| Texas
| 5
|
78
| T
| Keith Van Horne
| USC
| 4
|
79
| G
| Kurt Becker
| Michigan
| 3
|
81
| TE
| Jay Saldi
| S. Carolina
| 9
|
83
| WR
| Willie Gault
| Tennessee
| 2
|
84
| WR
| Brian Baschnagel
| Ohio State
| 9
|
85
| WR
| Dennis McKinnon
| Fl. State
| 2
|
86
| WR
| Brad Anderson
| Arizona
| R
|
87
| TE
| Emery Moorehead
| Colorado
| 8
|
90
| LB-DE
| Al Harris
| Arizona St.
| 6
|
95
| DE
| Richard Dent
| Tenn. St.
| 2
|
98
| DL
| Tyrone Keys
| Miss. St.
| 2
|
99
| DL
| Dan Hampton
| Arkansas
| 6
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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>
|
|
|
1984 Bears Draft
|
Rd
|
Pos
|
Name
|
School
|
1
| LB
| Wilber Marshall
| Florida
|
2
| LB
| Ron Rivera
| California
|
3
| G
| Stefan Humphries
| Michigan
|
4
| G
| Tom Andrews
| Louisville
|
5-To Washington
|
6-To Dallas
|
7
| RB
| Nakita Robertson
| C. Arkansas
|
8
| WR
| Brad Anderson
| Arizona
|
9a-To San Francisco
|
9b
| QB
| Mark Casale
| Montclair St.
|
10a
| TE
| Kurt Vestman
| Idaho
|
10b
| DB
| Shaun Gayle
| Ohio State
|
11a-To Rams for QB Steve Fuller
|
11b
| DT
| Mark Butkus
| Illinois
|
12a-To San Francisco
|
12b
| RB
| Donald Jordan
| Houston
|
|
1984 Bears Trades
|
1984 and 1985 picks to LA Rams for quarterback Steve Fuller
|
Various draft day trades
|
1984 Bears Free Agent Signings
|
DB Jack Cameron
|
1984 Bears Retirements
|
Jim Osborne, DT
|
|
|
1985 Chicago Bears Awards
|
NFC Central Division Champs
|
Divisional Playoff Victory
|
Walter Payton, RB, Pro Bowl (8)
|
Todd Bell, S, Pro Bowl (1)
|
Richard Dent, DE, Pro Bowl (1)
|
Dan Hampton, DT, Pro Bowl (3)
|
Mike Singletary, LB, Pro Bowl (2)
|
|
|