1983 Chicago Bears season

The 1983 season was the Chicago Bears' 64th in the National Football League, and their second under head coach Mike Ditka. The team improved from their 3–6 record from 1982 to finish at 8–8, but to failed to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Jim McMahon was the quarterback, who completed 175 of 295 pass attempts. The Bears 1983 NFL draft class was ranked #3 in NFL Top 10's greatest draft classes.^[3]

1983 Chicago Bears season
Owner	George Halas (until October 31) The McCaskey Family (Family control since 1921; Virginia McCaskey since 1983)
General manager	Jim Finks
Head coach	Mike Ditka (2nd season)
Home stadium	Soldier Field
Results
Record	8–8
Division place	3rd NFC Central
Playoffs	Did not qualify
All-Pros	2[1] RB Walter Payton MLB Mike Singletary
Pro Bowlers	2[2] RB Walter Payton MLB Mike Singletary
← 1982 Bears seasons 1984 →

Offseason

1983 NFL draft

Main article: 1983 NFL draft

1983 Chicago Bears draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	6	Jim Covert * †	Offensive tackle	Pittsburgh
1	18	Willie Gault	Wide receiver	Tennessee
2	33	Mike Richardson	Cornerback	Arizona State
3	64	Dave Duerson *	Safety	Notre Dame
4	91	Tom Thayer	Center	Notre Dame
4	107	Pat Dunsmore	Tight end	Drake
8	203	Richard Dent †	Defensive end	Tennessee State
8	219	Mark Bortz *	Guard	Iowa
9	230	Rob Fada	Guard	Pittsburgh
9	235	Mark Zavagnin	Linebacker	Notre Dame
10	256	Anthony Hutchison	Running back	Texas Tech
11	286	Gary Worthy	Running back	Wilmington (OH)
12	313	Oliver Williams	Wide receiver	Illinois
Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

1983 undrafted free agents of note

Player	Position	College
Dave McCarrell	Quarterback	Wheaton
Dan Ruzich	Linebacker	Kansas State

Roster and staff

Staff

Coaching Staff of 1983 season
Front office Virginia Halas McCaskey – Owner Michael McCaskey – Team president Jerry Vainisi – General manager Ray Earley – Equipment manager Coaches Mike Ditka – Head coach Steve Kazor – Assistant head coach Ed Hughes – Offensive coordinator Buddy Ryan – Defensive coordinator		Position coaches Ted Plumb – Offensive specialist Johnny Roland – Running backs Dick Stanfel – Offensive line Dale Haupt – Defensive line Jim LaRue – Secondary Trainers Brian McCaskey – Assistant trainer Clyde Emrich – Weightlifting/Strength		Scouts Jim Dooley Pete McGrane – Video team

Roster

1983 Chicago Bears roster

Quarterbacks (QB)  7 Bob Avellini  8 Vince Evans  9 Jim McMahon Running backs (RB) 29 Dennis Gentry 32 Anthony Hutchison 34 Walter Payton 26 Matt Suhey 33 Calvin Thomas Wide receivers (WR) 84 Brian Baschnagel 83 Willie Gault 82 Ken Margerum 85 Dennis McKinnon Tight ends (TE) 88 Pat Dunsmore 87 Emery Moorehead 81 Jay Saldi

Offensive linemen (OL) 79 Kurt Becker G 62 Mark Bortz G 74 Jim Covert T 64 Rob Fada G 71 Andy Frederick T 63 Jay Hilgenberg C 65 Noah Jackson G 72 John Janata T 67 Tim Norman G 78 Keith Van Horne T Defensive linemen (DL) 95 Richard Dent DE 99 Dan Hampton DT 90 Al Harris DE 73 Mike Hartenstine DE 98 Tyrone Keys DE 76 Steve McMichael DT 68 Jim Osborne DT

Linebackers (LB) 51 Kelvin Atkins MLB 59 Gary Campbell OLB 54 Brian Cabral OLB 53 Dan Rains OLB 57 Dave Simmons OLB 50 Mike Singletary MLB 55 Otis Wilson OLB Defensive backs (DB) 25 Todd Bell SS 22 Dave Duerson FS 45 Gary Fencik FS 21 Leslie Frazier CB 27 Mike Richardson CB 44 Terry Schmidt CB 20 Kevin Potter SS 43 Walt Williams CB Special teams (ST) 19 Ray Stachowicz P 16 Bob Thomas K

Reserve 24 Jeff Fisher S (IR) 35 Roland Harper RB (IR) 58 Jerry Muckensturm LB (IR) 52 Dan Neal C (IR) 19 Dan Plater WR (IR) 69 Revie Sorey G (IR) 80 Rickey Watts WR (IR) Rookies in italics

Preseason

The Bears were predicted to finish 7–9 and fourth in the division by Paul Zimmerman. Their prized new weapon would be Willie Gault. Dennis McKinnon (signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bears in 1983) would also play a key role in the receiving corps and Jimbo Covert would help open bigger holes for Walter Payton but it was felt they were a few offensive lineman and a tight end away from being effective. The defense would be led by All-Pro Dan Hampton and new defensive backs Mike Richardson and Dave Duerson.^[4] The Bears started 1983 by losing 7 of their first 10, but won 5 of their last 6 to finish 8–8. The Bears would go 71–18 in regular season games from November 13, 1983, through October 2, 1989.

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue
1	August 6	Buffalo Bills	W 27–17	1–0	Soldier Field
2	August 13	at St. Louis Cardinals	L 24–27	1–1	Busch Stadium
3	August 20	at Los Angeles Raiders	W 27–21	2–1	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
4	August 27	Kansas City Chiefs	W 20–17	3–1	Soldier Field

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 4	Atlanta Falcons	L 17–20	0–1	Soldier Field	60,165
2	September 11	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 17–10	1–1	Soldier Field	58,186
3	September 18	at New Orleans Saints	L 31–34	1–2	Louisiana Superdome	64,692
4	September 25	at Baltimore Colts	L 19–22	1–3	Memorial Stadium	34,350
5	October 2	Denver Broncos	W 31–14	2–3	Soldier Field	58,210
6	October 9	Minnesota Vikings	L 14–23	2–4	Soldier Field	59,632
7	October 16	at Detroit Lions	L 17–31	2–5	Pontiac Silverdome	66,709
8	October 23	at Philadelphia Eagles	W 7–6	3–5	Veterans Stadium	45,263
9	October 30	Detroit Lions	L 17–38	3–6	Soldier Field	58,764
10	November 6	at Los Angeles Rams	L 14–21	3–7	Anaheim Stadium	53,010
11	November 13	Philadelphia Eagles	W 17–14	4–7	Soldier Field	47,524
12	November 20	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 27–0	5–7	Tampa Stadium	36,816
13	November 27	San Francisco 49ers	W 13–3	6–7	Soldier Field	40,483
14	December 4	at Green Bay Packers	L 28–31	6–8	Lambeau Field	51,147
15	December 11	at Minnesota Vikings	W 19–13	7–8	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	57,880
16	December 18	Green Bay Packers	W 23–21	8–8	Soldier Field	35,807
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Falcons	6	0	7	7	20
Bears	0	10	7	0	17

at Soldier Field, Chicago

• Date: Sunday, September 4
• Game time: 12:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C), wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
• Referee: Chuck Heberling
• TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan, Johnny Morris
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 2 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Buccaneers	0	3	7	0	10
Bears	0	10	0	7	17

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

• Date: September 11
• Game time: 12:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), wind 11 mph (18 km/h)
• Referee: Ben Dreith
• TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan, Johnny Morris
• Box Score

CHI: Mike Hartenstine 2.0 sacks, Terry Schmidt INT

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Buccaneers Bears 2 Buccaneers 20-yard field goal by Bill Capece 3 0 2 Bears Walter Payton 73-yard touchdown reception from Jim McMahon, Bob Thomas kick good 3 7 2 Bears 50-yard field goal by Bob Thomas 3 10 3 Buccaneers James Owens 1-yard touchdown run, Bob Capece kick good 10 10 4 Bears Terry Schmidt 32-yard interception return, Bob Thomas kick good 10 17 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 10 17

Week 3: at New Orleans Saints

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Bears	7	3	7	14	0	31
Saints	7	3	14	7	3	34

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

• Date: Sunday, September 18
• Game time: 12:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Indoors, dome
• Referee: Fred Wyant
• TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan, Johnny Morris
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 4: at Baltimore Colts

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Bears	0	3	3	13	0	19
Colts	0	13	0	6	3	22

at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

• Date: Sunday, September 25
• Game time: 2:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C), wind 7 mph (11 km/h)
• Referee: Jerry Seeman
• TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 5: vs. Denver Broncos

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	0	7	7	14
Bears	14	10	0	7	31

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

• Date: Sunday, October 2
• Game time: 12:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), wind 13 mph (21 km/h)
• Referee: Fred Silva
• TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Bob Griese
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 6: vs. Minnesota Vikings

Week 8: at Philadelphia Eagles

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	7	0	0	0	7
Eagles	0	0	3	3	6

at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia

• Date: Sunday, October 23
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C), wind 9 mph (14 km/h)
• Referee: Dick Jorgensen
• TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 9: vs. Detroit Lions

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	14	3	14	7	38
Bears	0	3	0	14	17

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

• Date: Sunday, October 30
• Game time: 12:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 43 °F (6 °C), wind 10 mph (16 km/h)
• Referee: Tom Dooley
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 11: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	7	0	7	0	14
Bears	0	14	0	3	17

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

• Date: Sunday, November 13
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 33 °F (1 °C), wind 8 mph (13 km/h)
• Referee: Bob McElwee
• TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 12: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	14	6	7	27
Buccaneers	0	0	0	0	0

at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida

• Date: Sunday, November 20
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C), wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
• Referee: Red Cashion
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 13: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	3	0	0	0	3
Bears	3	7	3	0	13

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

• Date: Sunday, November 27
• Game time: 12:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 39 °F (4 °C), wind 18 mph (29 km/h)
• Referee: Pat Haggerty
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 14: at Green Bay Packers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	7	7	0	14	28
Packers	14	7	0	10	31

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

• Date: Sunday, December 4
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 25 °F (−4 °C), wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
• Referee: Ben Dreith
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 15: at Minnesota Vikings

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Bears	10	6	0	3	19
Vikings	6	0	7	0	13

• Date: December 11
• Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Game start: 12:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Indoors (dome)
• Referee: Tom Dooley
• TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris

Scoring summary

Q1		MIN	Benny Ricardo 30-yard field goal	MIN 3–0
Q1		MIN	Benny Ricardo 29-yard field goal	MIN 6–0
Q1		CHI	Walter Payton 74-yard pass from Matt Suhey (Bob Thomas kick)	CHI 7–6
Q1		CHI	Bob Thomas 42-yard field goal	CHI 10–6
Q2		CHI	Emery Moorehead 2-yard pass from Jim McMahon (kick failed)	CHI 17–6
Q3		MIN	Ted Brown 1 yard run (Benny Ricardo kick)	CHI 19–13
Q4		CHI	Bob Thomas 22-yard field goal	CHI 19–13

^[5]

Week 16 vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 16: Green Bay Packers (8–7) at Chicago Bears (7–8)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	7	7	0	7	21
Bears	7	0	7	9	23

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

• Date: December 18
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 1 °F (−17 °C)
• Game attendance: 35,807
• Referee: Red Cashion
• Pro-Football-Reference.com, The Football Database

Game information

First quarter CHI – Willie Gault 35-yard pass from Jim McMahon (Bob Thomas kick), 9:24. Bears 7–0. GB – Lynn Dickey 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 8:10. Tie 7–7. Second quarter GB – James Lofton 31-yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Jan Stenerud kick), 3:05. Packers 14–7. Third quarter CHI – Dennis McKinnon 22-yard pass from Jim McMahon (Bob Thomas kick), 6:35. Tie 14–14. Fourth quarter CHI – Jim McMahon 6-yard run (kick failed), 4:34. Bears 20–14. GB – Paul Coffman 5-yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Jan Stenerud kick), 3:08. Packers 21–20. CHI – Bob Thomas 22-yard field goal, 0:10. Bears 23–21. Top passers GB – Lynn Dickey – 10/30, 262 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT CHI – Jim McMahon – 14/25, 162 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Top rushers GB – Jessie Clark – 7 rushes, 61 yards CHI – Walter Payton – 30 rushes, 148 yards Top receivers GB – Paul Coffman – 4 receptions, 122 yards, TD CHI – Willie Gault – 2 receptions, 50 yards, TD

Standings

NFC Central
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Detroit Lions(3)	9	7	0	.563	7–1	8–4	347	286	W1
Green Bay Packers	8	8	0	.500	4–4	6–6	429	439	L1
Chicago Bears	8	8	0	.500	4–4	7–7	311	301	W2
Minnesota Vikings	8	8	0	.500	4–4	4–8	316	348	W1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	2	14	0	.125	1–7	1–11	241	380	L3