NFL team season
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 victories was on Thanksgiving at Detroit; Chicago entered the Thursday game at 4–8, last place in the NFC Central division, and were trailing 17–3 after three quarters. 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 on CBS, Dave Williams returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown on the first play of overtime for a 23–17 victory over the stunned Lions.[1][2]
Running back Walter Payton once again led the NFC in rushing for the fifth straight year with 1,460 yards; he also had the league's highest annual salary at $475,000.[3]
Offseason
Draft
- Source:[4]
Undrafted free agents
Roster
1980 Chicago Bears final roster |
| Quarterbacks Running backs Wide receivers Tight ends | | Offensive linemen Defensive linemen | | Linebackers Defensive backs Special teams | | Reserve lists
Rookies in italics |
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
1 | September 7 | at Green Bay Packers | L 6–12 (OT) | 0–1 | Lambeau Field | 54,381 |
2 | September 14 | New Orleans Saints | W 22–3 | 1–1 | Soldier Field | 62,523 |
3 | September 21 | Minnesota Vikings | L 14–34 | 1–2 | Soldier Field | 59,983 |
4 | September 28 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 3–38 | 1–3 | Three Rivers Stadium | 53,987 |
5 | October 6 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 23–0 | 2–3 | Soldier Field | 61,350 |
6 | October 12 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 7–13 | 2–4 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,751 |
7 | October 19 | Detroit Lions | W 24–7 | 3–4 | Soldier Field | 58,508 |
8 | October 26 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 14–17 | 3–5 | Veterans Stadium | 68,752 |
9 | November 3 | at Cleveland Browns | L 21–27 | 3–6 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 84,225 |
10 | November 9 | Washington Redskins | W 35–21 | 4–6 | Soldier Field | 57,159 |
11 | November 16 | Houston Oilers | L 6–10 | 4–7 | Soldier Field | 59,390 |
12 | November 23 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 17–28 | 4–8 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 49,156 |
13 | November 27 | at Detroit Lions | W 23–17 (OT) | 5–8 | Pontiac Silverdome | 75,397 |
14 | December 7 | Green Bay Packers | W 61–7 | 6–8 | Soldier Field | 57,176 |
15 | December 14 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 14–17 (OT) | 6–9 | Soldier Field | 48,808 |
16 | December 20 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 14–13 | 7–9 | Tampa Stadium | 55,298 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Season summary
Week 1: at Green Bay Packers
Game information |
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter | - Top passers
- Top rushers
- 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 | |
Week 3
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Vikings | 14 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 34 | Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 | - Date: September 21
- Location: Soldier Field
- TV announcers (CBS): Curt Gowdy and George Allen
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Week 4
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Bears | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | • Steelers | 7 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 38 | |
Week 5
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Buccaneers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | • Bears | 0 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 23 | - Date: October 6
- Location: Soldier Field
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- Television network: ABC
|
Week 6
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Bears | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | • Vikings | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 13 | |
Week 7
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Lions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | • Bears | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 | - Date: October 19
- Location: Soldier Field
- Referee: 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 | |
Week 9
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Bears | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 | • Browns | 3 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 27 | |
Week 10
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Redskins | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 21 | • Bears | 21 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 35 | - Date: November 9
- Location: Soldier Field
- TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and George Allen
|
Week 11
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Oilers | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 | Bears | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | - Date: November 16
- Location: Soldier Field
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- Television network: NBC
|
Week 12
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Bears | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 | • Falcons | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 28 | |
Week 13
Game information |
First quarter - DET – Eddie Murray 34-yard field goal. Lions 3–0. Drive:
Second quarter 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
- Top rushers
- 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 | |
|
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[5]
Week 15
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | • Bengals | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 | Bears | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | - Date: December 14
- Location: Soldier Field
|
Week 16
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Bears | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | Buccaneers | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | |
Standings
References
- ^ "Bears make it a short overtime, 23-17". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. November 28, 1980. p. 5C.
- ^ Atkins, Harry (November 28, 1980). "Williams' return stuns Lions, 23-17". Schenectady Gazette. (New York). Associated Press. p. 34.
- ^ "Payton tops salary list of NFL players". Schenectady Gazette. (New York). Associated Press. February 13, 1981. p. 29.
- ^ "1980 Chicago Bears Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com
Chicago Bears |
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- Founded in 1919
- Formerly the Decatur Staleys (1919–1920) and the Chicago Staleys (1921)
- Based in Chicago, Illinois
- Headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois
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Culture | |
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Lore | |
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Minor league affiliates | |
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Retired numbers | |
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Key personnel | |
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Division championships (21) | |
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Conference championships (4) | |
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League championships (9) | |
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Media | - Broadcasters
- Radio:
- Personnel:
- Television:
- WFLD (pre-season and most regular season games through Fox, official pre-game and post-game alternate)
- Marquee Sports Network (official post-game and in-season programming)
- Personnel:
- Lou Canellis (gameday television host, pre-season sideline reporter)
- Adam Amin (pre-season play-by-play)
- Jim Miller (pre-season analyst)
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Current league affiliations | |
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- Category:Chicago Bears
- WikiProject Chicago Bears
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Chicago Bears seasons |
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Formerly the Decatur Staleys (1920) and the Chicago Staleys (1921) |
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Bold indicates NFL Championship (1920–69) or Super Bowl (1966–present) victory Italics indicates NFL Championship (1920–69) or Super Bowl (1966–present) appearance |
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