Da Bears

By Ed Wilmington, NC

The 1985 Chicago Bears are widely considered one of the greatest teams in NFL history, defined by a larger-than-life personality and a defense so dominant it fundamentally changed how football was played.

They finished the regular season 15–1, outscoring opponents 456–198. Their playoff run was even more terrifying: they shut out the Giants (21–0) and the Rams (24–0) before dismantling the Patriots 46–10 in Super Bowl XX.

The "46 Defense"

The heart of the team was the "46 Defense," a high-pressure system designed by Defensive Coordinator Buddy Ryan.

The Concept: Named after safety Doug Plank (who wore #46), it was an "eight men in the box" scheme. It forced the offense to account for every single defender at the line of scrimmage, making it almost impossible to double-team anyone.The Result: It created total chaos. Opposing quarterbacks often had less than two seconds to throw before being hit. In the Super Bowl, they set a record by holding the Patriots to just 7 rushing yards and recording 7 sacks.The Stars: The unit featured Hall of Famers Mike Singletary (the intense "eyes" of the defense), Richard Dent (Super Bowl MVP), and Dan Hampton.

Key Personalities: "The Cast of Characters"

Part of the 1985 Bears' legacy was their cultural impact. They were the first team to become true "rock stars," even recording a Grammy-nominated rap song, "The Super Bowl Shuffle," before they had even won the championship.

"Sweetness" Walter Payton: The soul of the team and arguably the greatest running back ever. He rushed for 1,551 yards that season.Jim McMahon: The "Punky QB." Known for his headband, sunglasses, and rebellious attitude, he provided the swagger the offense needed.Mike Ditka: "Iron Mike" was the head coach who managed a locker room full of volatile egos and a famous ongoing feud between himself and Buddy Ryan.

Comparison to Today

While modern offenses use "spread" formations to counter the 46 Defense, the 1985 Bears' physical dominance remains the gold standard. They are often the benchmark used to judge every great defense that has followed, from the 2000 Ravens to the 2013 Seahawks.