1979 Chicago Bears season

1979 Chicago Bears season
Owner	George Halas
Head coach	Neill Armstrong
General manager	Jim Finks
Home field	Soldier Field
Results
Record	10–6
Division place	2nd NFC Central
Playoff finish	Lost Wildcard Playoffs (at Eagles) 17–27
← 1978 Bears seasons 1980 →

The 1979 Chicago Bears season was their 60th regular season and 14th postseason completed in the National Football League. The team finished with a 10–6 record under second year coach Neill Armstrong but lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the opening round of the playoffs.

Offseason[]

NFL Draft[]

1979 Chicago Bears Draft

Round	Selection	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	4	Dan Hampton	DE	Arkansas
	9	Al Harris	DE	Arizona State	From Tampa Bay
2	39	Rickey Watts	WR	Tulsa

Roster[]

1979 Chicago Bears final roster

	Quarterbacks  7 Bob Avellini  8 Vince Evans 15 Mike Phipps Running backs 37 Willie McClendon 34 Walter Payton 25 Lonnie Perrin 22 Dave Williams FB Wide receivers 84 Brian Baschnagel 83 Golden Richards 85 Steve Schubert 89 James Scott 81 80 Rickey Watts Tight ends 87 Mike Cobb 39 Robin Earl 88 Greg Latta		Offensive linemen 64 Ted Albrecht T 79 Lionel Antoine T 63 Tony Ardizzone C 60 Lynn Boden G 65 Noah Jackson G 62 Dan Jiggetts T 70 Dennis Lick T 52 Dan Neal C 69 Revie Sorey G Defensive linemen 75 Mike Calhoun DT 99 Dan Hampton DE 53 Tommy Hart DE 90 Al Harris DE 73 Mike Hartenstine DE 68 Jim Osborne DT 82 Alan Page DT 76 Ron Rydalch DT		Linebackers 55 Doug Buffone 59 Gary Campbell 51 Bruce Herron 54 Tom Hicks 57 Lee Kunz 50 Mark Merrill 58 Jerry Muckensturm Defensive backs 48 Allan Ellis CB 45 Gary Fencik SS 36 Wentford Gaines 24 Virgil Livers CB 46 Doug Plank FS 44 Terry Schmidt CB 47 Mike Spivey 23 Len Walterscheid Special teams 86 Bob Parsons P 16 Robert R. Thomas K		Reserve lists 35 Roland Harper FB (IR) 72 Brad Shearer DT (IR) 30 John Skibinski RB (IR) Practice squad Rookies in italics

Schedule[]

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 2, 1979	Green Bay Packers	W 6–3	56,515
2	September 9, 1979	Minnesota Vikings	W 26–7	53,231
3	September 16, 1979	at Dallas Cowboys	L 24–20	64,056
4	September 23, 1979	at Miami Dolphins	L 31–16	66,011
5	September 30, 1979	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 17–13	55,258
6	October 7, 1979	at Buffalo Bills	W 7–0	73,383
7	October 14, 1979	New England Patriots	L 27–7	54,128
8	October 21, 1979	at Minnesota Vikings	L 30–27	41,164
9	October 28, 1979	at San Francisco 49ers	W 28–27	42,773
10	November 4, 1979	Detroit Lions	W 35–7	50,108
11	November 11, 1979	Los Angeles Rams	W 27–23	51,483
12	November 18, 1979	New York Jets	W 23–13	52,635
13	November 22, 1979	at Detroit Lions	L 20–0	66,219
14	December 2, 1979	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 14–0	69,508
15	December 9, 1979	at Green Bay Packers	W 15–14	54,207
16	December 16, 1979	St. Louis Cardinals	W 42–6	42,810

Game summaries[]

Week 1[]

• Network: CBS
• Announcers: Dick Stockton and Johnny Morris

Bob Thomas booted a pair of field goals and Walter Payton rushed for 125 yards on 36 carries in 80 degree heat as the Bears won their opener. Thomas who had a field goal attempt blocked by Packers' Mike Hunt in the first quarter converted from 25 and 19 yards in the second quarter and the Bears banked on an aggressive defense which was credited with five sacks for the triumph. Chester Marcol, who had a field goal blocked by Virgil Livers, later connected for Green Bay's only score with a 28 yarder. The Bears defense aided by a pair of excellent punts by Bob Parsons, kept the Packers in tough field condition in the first half when Green Bay was limited to only three first downs.

Week 14[]

1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 7 7 0 0 14 Buccaneers 0 0 0 0 0 Date: December 2 Location: Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 53°F, wind 9 mph Referee: Fred Silva Television network: CBS

Scoring summary 1 CHI Walter Payton 1 yard run (Bob Thomas kick) Bears 7–0 2 CHI Dave Williams 13 yard pass from Mike Phipps (Bob Thomas kick) Bears 14–0

^[1]

Week 15: at Green Bay Packers[]

Playoffs[]

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
Wildcard	December 23, 1979	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 27–17	69,397

Standings[]

NFC Central
view talk	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Tampa Bay Buccaneers(2)	10	6	0	.625	6–2	8–6	273	237	W1
Chicago Bears(5)	10	6	0	.625	5–3	8–4	306	249	W3
Minnesota Vikings	7	9	0	.438	5–3	6–6	259	337	L1
Green Bay Packers	5	11	0	.313	3–5	4–8	246	316	W1
Detroit Lions	2	14	0	.125	1–7	2–10	219	365	L3

References[]

External links[]

• 1979 Chicago Bears Season at www.bearshistory.com

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