NFL team season
1979 Chicago Bears season Owner George Halas Head coach Neill Armstrong General manager Jim Finks Home field Soldier Field Record 10–6 Division place 2nd NFC Central Playoff finish Lost Wildcard Playoffs (at Eagles ) 17–27
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
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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 2Location: Tampa Stadium , Tampa, Florida Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 53°F, wind 9 mphReferee: Fred SilvaTelevision 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 [ ]
Week 15: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
1
2
3 4 Total
Bears
3
3
0 9 15
Packers
0
7
0 7 14
at Lambeau Field , Green Bay, Wisconsin
Date : December 9, 1979Game time : 1:00 p.m. CST Game weather : Overcast, 29 °F (−2 °C)TV announcers (CBS ) : Pat Summerall and Sonny Jurgensen [1]
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
CHI – Mike Phipps – 10/25, 113 yards, 1 INT
GB – Lynn Dickey – 20/37, 283 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
CHI – Walter Payton – 25 rushes, 115 yards
GB – Ricky Patton – 18 rushes, 35 yards
Top receivers
CHI – Rickey Watts – 4 receptions, 68 yards
GB – James Lofton – 6 receptions, 112 yards, 1 TD
Playoffs [ ]
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Attendance
Wildcard
December 23, 1979
at Philadelphia Eagles
L 27–17
69,397
Standings [ ]
References [ ]
External links [ ]
Chicago Bears
Franchise Records Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Minor league affiliates
Newark Bears (AA , 1939–1941)
Akron Bears (AFL , 1946)
Bloomfield Cardinals (AFL , 1947)
Richmond Rebels (AFL , 1948–1950)
Retired numbers
3
5
7
28
34
40
41
42
51
56
61
66
77
89
Key personnel Division championships (21) Conference championships (4) League championships (9) Media
Broadcasters
Radio:
WBBM (AM)
WCFS-FM (FM simulcast of WBBM)
Personnel:
Jeff Joniak (play-by-play)
Tom Thayer (analyst)
Zach Zaidman (sideline reporter and radio coach's show host)
Television:
WFLD (pre-season and most regular season games through Fox , official pre-game and post-game alternate)
WPWR (official post-game)
NBC Sports Chicago (in-season team programming)
Personnel:
Lou Canellis (gameday television host, pre-season sideline reporter)
Sam Rosen (pre-season play-by-play)
Jim Miller (pre-season analyst)
Current league affiliations
:Category:Chicago Bears
WikiProject Chicago Bears
Formerly the Decatur Staleys (1920) and the Chicago Staleys (1921)
Bold indicates
NFL Championship (1920–69) or
Super Bowl (1966–present) victory
Italics indicates
NFL Championship (1920–69) or
Super Bowl (1966–present) appearance