NFL team season
NFL team season
1980 Chicago Bears season Owner George Halas Head coach Neill Armstrong General manager Jim Finks Home field Soldier Field Record 7–9 Division place 3rd NFC Central Playoff finish Did not qualify
The 1980 season was the Chicago Bears ' 61st in the National Football League , and their third under head coach Neill Armstrong . The team failed to improve from their 10–6 record from 1979 to finish at 7–9, and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1978.
One of the seven victories by the Bears that year was a Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions . With no time left in regulation, Bears quarterback Vince Evans scored a game-tying touchdown that sent the game into overtime. Then, before a national television audience, Dave Williams returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown on the first play of overtime and a 23–17 victory in overtime over the Lions.
Walter Payton once again led the NFC in rushing for the fifth straight year with 1,460 yards.
NFL Draft [ ]
NFL Draft [ ]
1980 Chicago Bears Draft
Round
Selection
Player
Position
College
Notes
1
19
Otis Wilson
LB
Louisville
Roster [ ]
1980 Chicago Bears final roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
Reserve lists
Practice squad
Rookies in italics
Schedule [ ]
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Attendance
1
September 7, 1980
at Green Bay Packers
L 12–6 (OT)
54,381
2
September 14, 1980
New Orleans Saints
W 22–3
62,523
3
September 21, 1980
Minnesota Vikings
L 34–14
59,983
4
September 28, 1980
at Pittsburgh Steelers
L 38–3
53,987
5
October 6, 1980
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
W 23–0
61,350
6
October 12, 1980
at Minnesota Vikings
L 13–7
46,751
7
October 19, 1980
Detroit Lions
W 24–7
58,508
8
October 26, 1980
at Philadelphia Eagles
L 17–14
68,752
9
November 3, 1980
at Cleveland Browns
L 27–21
84,225
10
November 9, 1980
Washington Redskins
W 35–21
57,159
11
November 16, 1980
Houston Oilers
L 10–6
59,390
12
November 23, 1980
at Atlanta Falcons
L 28–17
49,156
13
November 27, 1980
at Detroit Lions
W 23–17 (OT)
75,397
14
December 7, 1980
Green Bay Packers
W 61–7
57,176
15
December 14, 1980
Cincinnati Bengals
L 17–14 (OT)
48,808
16
December 20, 1980
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
W 14–13
55,298
Season summary [ ]
Week 1: at Green Bay Packers [ ]
Week 1: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
1
2
3 4 OT Total
Bears
3
0
3 0 0 6
Packers
0
6
0 0 6 12
at Lambeau Field , Green Bay, Wisconsin
Date : September 7, 1980Game time : 1:00 p.m. CST Game weather : Overcast, 65 °F (18 °C)Referee : Jim Tunney TV announcers (CBS ) : Lindsey Nelson and Sonny Jurgensen [1]
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
CHI – Mike Phipps – 17/30, 174 yards, 3 INT
GB – Lynn Dickey – 10/22, 138 yards, 1 INT
Top rushers
CHI – Walter Payton – 31 rushes, 65 yards
GB – Eddie Lee Ivery – 15 rushes, 73 yards
Top receivers
CHI – James Scott – 5 receptions, 59 yards
GB – James Lofton – 5 receptions, 77 yards
Week 2 [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
Saints
3
0 0 0
3
• Bears
10
3 2 7
22
Date: September 14Location: Soldier Field Referee: Bob McElwee TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris
Week 3 [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Vikings
14
7 7 6
34
Bears
0
0 0 14
14
Date: September 21Location: Soldier Field
Week 4 [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
Bears
3
0 0 0
3
• Steelers
7
17 7 7
38
Date: September 28Location: Three Rivers Stadium Referee: Jerry Seeman
Week 5 [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
Buccaneers
0
0 0 0
0
• Bears
0
3 10 10
23
Date: October 6Location: Soldier FieldReferee: Ben Dreith Television network: ABC
Week 6 [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
Bears
0
0 7 0
7
• Vikings
3
0 3 7
13
Date: October 12Location: Metropolitan Stadium Referee: Jerry Markbreit TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris
Week 7 [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
Lions
0
0 0 7
7
• Bears
7
3 7 7
24
Date: October 19Location: Soldier FieldReferee: Gordon McCarter TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris
Week 8 [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
Bears
0
0 14 0
14
• Eagles
7
0 7 3
17
Date: October 26Location: Veterans Stadium Referee: Red Cashion TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier
Week 9 [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
Bears
0
0 7 14
21
• Browns
3
7 3 14
27
Date: November 3Location: Cleveland Stadium Referee: Dick Jorgensen Television network: ABC
Week 10 [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
Redskins
0
0 14 7
21
• Bears
21
14 0 0
35
Date: November 9Location: Soldier Field
Week 11 [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Oilers
0
7 3 0
10
Bears
0
6 0 0
6
Date: November 16Location: Soldier FieldReferee: Bob FredericTelevision network: NBC
Week 12 [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
Bears
7
3 7 0
17
• Falcons
0
14 0 14
28
Date: November 23Location: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Week 13 [ ]
Week Thirteen: Chicago Bears (4–8) at Detroit Lions (7–5)
1
2
3 4 OT Total
Bears
0
3
0 14 6 23
Lions
3
7
7 0 0 17
at Pontiac Silverdome , Pontiac, Michigan
Game information
First quarter
DET – Eddie Murray 34-yard field goal. Lions 3–0. Drive:
Second quarter
DET – Billy Sims 47-yard pass from Gary Danielson (Eddie Murray kick). Lions 10–0. Drive:
CHI – Bob Thomas 24-yard field goal. Lions 10–3. Drive:
Third quarter
DET – Gary Danielson 1-yard run (Eddie Murray kick). Lions 17–3. Drive:
Fourth quarter
CHI – Bob Fisher 20-yard pass from Vince Evans (Bob Thomas kick). Lions 17–10. Drive:
CHI – Vince Evans 4-yard run (Bob Thomas kick), 0:00. Tie 17–17. Drive: 14 plays, 94 yards.
Overtime
CHI – Dave Williams 94-yard kickoff return. Bears 23–17.
Top passers
CHI – Vince Evans – 11/22, 167 yards, TD
DET – Gary Danielson – 9/21, 156 yards, TD
Top rushers
CHI – Walter Payton – 18 rushes, 123 yards
DET – Billy Sims – 19 rushes, 72 yards
Top receivers
CHI – James Scott – 6 receptions, 106 yards
DET – Ray Williams – 3 receptions, 50 yards
Week 14 [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
Packers
0
7 0 0
7
• Bears
0
28 13 20
61
Date: December 7Location: Soldier Field , Chicago, Illinois Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 56 °F, wind 10 mphReferee: Chuck Heberling TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris
Scoring summary 2 CHI Walter Payton 1 yard run (Bob Thomas kick)Bears 7–0
2 CHI Walter Payton 3 yard run (Bob Thomas kick) Bears 14–0
2 CHI Roland Harper 1 yard run (Bob Thomas kick)Bears 21–0
2 GB James Lofton 15 yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Jan Stenerud kick)Bears 21–7
2 CHI Brian Baschnagel 4 yard pass from Vince Evans (Bob Thomas kick)Bears 28–7
3 CHI Robin Earl 9 yard pass from Vince Evans (kick failed)Bears 34–7
3 CHI Rickey Watts 53 yard pass from Vince Evans (Bob Thomas kick)Bears 41–7
4 CHI Walter Payton 14 yard run (Bob Thomas kick) Bears 48–7
4 CHI Len Walterscheid 36 yard interception return (Bob Thomas kick)Bears 55–7
4 CHI Willie McClendon 1 yard run (kick failed)Bears 61–7
[1]
Week 15 [ ]
1
2 3 4 OT Total
• Bengals
7
7 0 0 3
17
Bears
0
7 0 7 0
14
Date: December 14Location: Soldier Field
Week 16 [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Bears
0
7 7 0
14
Buccaneers
10
0 0 3
13
Date: December 21Location: Tampa Stadium
Standings [ ]
References [ ]
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