It was nearing the end of summer 1985 and rookie place kicker Kevin Butler returned from Bears training camp with a message for his fiance that she surely wasn't excited to hear: "We'll need to postpone our January wedding, I think we're still going to be playing football then." She must have been reluctant to believe him, but what ended up happening in late January 1986 would forever change the city of Chicago and all 52 players on the roster.
The Monsters of the Midway were led by head coach "Iron" Mike Ditka and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan. The two coaches instilled a ferocious attitude on the defensive side of the ball. The offense was led by quarterback Jim McMahon, who brought a degree of swagger to the team that hasn't surfaced since he left.
The Bears dominated the season, dominated the playoffs and dominated the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XX. The impact players are innumerable, yet they are all still household names. Throughout Chicago history, no other sports team has been as unforgettable and loved as the 1985 Bears. For the retired Bears players who've stayed in Chicago, they've enjoyed a life after football filled with adoration.
A discussion of the 1985 Bears wouldn't be complete without mentioning the Super Bowl Shuffle, a rap song and video performed by numerous players from the '85 team. The song oddly received a Grammy nomination for best rhythm and blues performance by a duo or group in 1985. Sadly, the trophy case at Halas Hall is without a Grammy; KISS aptly bested the Bears and won the category.
The stories of the 1985 Bears have been thoroughly chronicled by many writers over the years. You can't go wrong checking out Monsters by Rich Cohen or Da Bears! by Steve Delsohn.
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