The 1986 Chicago Bears season was their 67th regular season and 17th post-season completed in the National Football League. The Bears entered the season looking to repeat as Super Bowl champions, as they had won in 1985. Chicago managed to finish 14–2, one game off of their 1985 record of 15–1. Although the Bears had an equal 14–2 record as the New York Giants for the league's best record, the Giants were seeded number one in the NFC for the playoffs due to the Giants having a better conference record (11–1) than that of the Bears (10–2). In going 14–2, the Chicago Bears were the first team in NFL history to have consecutive seasons with 14 or more victories.
After winning the championship in 1985, the Bears seemed like a dynasty in the making. However, quarterback Jim McMahon showed up to training camp 25 pounds overweight – the product of the post-Super Bowl partying he'd partaken in. Nonetheless, he was once again named as the starter. Injuries to his rotator cuff (including a flagrant late-hit by Charles Martin which exacerbated it), however, derailed his season. McMahon played in only six of the team's first 12 games.
Aided by a strong offensive line, the Bears were once again led on offense by Walter Payton. Payton remained his usual stellar self, posting his 10th and final 1,000-yard season. With McMahon's poor play, as well as the equally poor play of backups Mike Tomczak, Steve Fuller and Doug Flutie, Payton was the sole spark on offense, which ranked 13th in the NFL.
As had been the case the year before, the Bears were once again led by their explosive defense. Any shortcomings on the offensive side of the ball were more than made up for on the defensive side. They once again were ranked 1st in the NFL. The Bears' defense became the third defense in the history of the NFL to lead the league in fewest points allowed and fewest total yards allowed for two consecutive seasons.[3] The Bears' 187 points allowed is the fewest surrendered by any team in the 1980s (other than the strike-shortened 1982 season) – even fewer than the 198 points the Bears allowed in their historic 1985 season.
However, the Bears were not able to recapture their magic from the season before and were bounced from the playoffs in their first game by the Washington Redskins.
^"1986 NFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
^"1986 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
^The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns, p. 294, Andy Piascik, Taylor Trade Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-1-58979-360-6
and 24 Related for: 1986 Chicago Bears season information
1986ChicagoBearsseason was their 67th regular season and 17th post-season completed in the National Football League. The Bears entered the season looking...
The ChicagoBears franchise was founded as the Decatur Staleys, a charter member of the American Professional Football Association (APFA). The team moved...
The 1985 season was the ChicagoBears' 66th in the National Football League (NFL) and their fourth under head coach Mike Ditka. The Bears entered 1985...
The 2006 season was the ChicagoBears' 87th season in the National Football League, and the third under head coach Lovie Smith. The team improved on their...
The 1987 season was the ChicagoBears' 68th in the National Football League the 18th post-season completed in the NFL, and their sixth under head coach...
The 2012 ChicagoBearsseason was the franchise's 93rd season in the National Football League (NFL), as well as the ninth and final under head coach Lovie...
The ChicagoBears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club...
The 2018 season was the ChicagoBears' 99th season in the National Football League, as well as the first under head coach Matt Nagy, who took over the...
the ChicagoBears of the National Football League. They are listed in order of the date of each player's first start at quarterback for the Bears. * –...
The 2019 season was the ChicagoBears' 100th in the National Football League (NFL) and their second under head coach Matt Nagy. The season was branded...
The 2013 ChicagoBearsseason was the franchise's 94th season in the National Football League (NFL). The season was the first year under head coach Marc...
The ChicagoBears American football franchise is a charter member of the National Football League (NFL), and has played in all of the league's 100 seasons...
(NFL), primarily with the ChicagoBears. He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins and was selected by the Bears in the sixth round of the...
1976, after a disastrous 1975 season for the Bears, owner/founder George Halas decided to bring "dancing girls" to the Bears, after the success of other...
performed by the ChicagoBears football team (credited as the ChicagoBears Shufflin' Crew) in 1985. It was released in December 1985 on Chicago-based Red Label...
Cardinals Redskins Bears Lions Packers Vikings Buccaneers Falcons Rams Saints 49ers The 1986 NFL season was the 67th regular season of the National Football...
football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion ChicagoBears and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots...
current players of the ChicagoBears professional American football team. The following is a partial roster for the 1919 season, when the team was known...
who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons. A member of the ChicagoBears for most of his career, he is the franchise leader in passing...
ChicagoBears." Premiered on CBS, February 3, 2007 Taylor, Roy. "Mike Ditka, ChicagoBear". ChicagoBears History. Retrieved January 2, 2015. "Bears Trounce...
RFK Stadium, then upset the defending champion ChicagoBears 21–17 in the Divisional Playoffs. The season came to an end in the NFC Championship Game when...
the first round of the 2021 NFL draft by the ChicagoBears, with whom he set the single-game regular season record for quarterback rushing yards and became...
played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, most notably with the ChicagoBears. McMahon played college football for the BYU Cougars...
against Tampa Bay. Long would start in a Monday Night game against the ChicagoBears. Week One: Detroit Lions (0–0) at Minnesota Vikings (0–0) at Hubert...