| 2006 Chicago Bears season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | The McCaskey Family |
| General manager | Jerry Angelo |
| Head coach | Lovie Smith |
| Home stadium | Soldier Field |
| Results | |
| Record | 13–3 |
| Division place | 1stNFC North |
| Playoffs | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs.Seahawks) 27–24(OT) WonNFC Championship (vs.Saints) 39–14 LostSuper Bowl XLI (vs.Colts) 17–29 |
| Pro Bowlers | |
| All-Pros | 6 |
The2006 season was theChicago Bears' 87th season in theNational Football League, and the third underhead coachLovie Smith. The team improved on their 11–5 record from2005 and finished with a 13–3 record; the best in theNFC. The Bears retained theirNFC North divisional title and advanced to their firstNFC Championship Game in 18 years, defeating theNew Orleans Saints on January 21, 2007, by a score of 39–14. The Bears played theIndianapolis Colts inSuper Bowl XLI, where they lost 29–17. The team finished the2006 NFL season tied for second in points scored,[1] and third in points allowed.[2]
Due to theNFL's scheduling formula the Bears played 6 intra-division games, posting a record of 5–1. Because of rotating cycle scheduling, the Bears matched up against all four teams in theAFC East (going 2–2) andNFC West (going 4–0). In the remaining games, the Bears played the NFC's other reigning division winners, theTampa Bay Buccaneers andNew York Giants, posting a record of 2–0. During the entire season, the Bears played 10 games at home, 8 games on the road, and 1 game at a neutral field for the Super Bowl. Including the playoffs and Super Bowl, the Bears finished with a record of 15–4.
Noteworthy football stories for the 2006 season were replacing retiredcornerback and kick returnerJerry Azumah, the quarterback controversy between productive but inconsistent and potentially fragileRex Grossman and veteran free agentBrian Griese, the record setting returns byDevin Hester,Bernard Berrian's breakout season, competition between the Bears' running backs (Cedric Benson andThomas Jones), and 5th round draft pickMark Anderson's 12quarterback sacks as a rookie.[3][4][5]
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 42 | Danieal Manning | S | Abilene Christian | |
| 57 | Devin Hester | CB | Miami | ||
| 3 | 73 | Dusty Dvoracek | DT | Oklahoma | |
| 4 | 120 | Jamar Williams | LB | Arizona State | |
| 5 | 159 | Mark Anderson | DE | Alabama | |
| 6 | 195 | J.D. Runnels | FB | Oklahoma | |
| 200 | Tyler Reed | G | Penn State |
The Chicago Bears’2006 NFL draft picks drew much criticism from various Bears’ fans and local sports critics. After injuries plagued the Bears’ offensive depth chart, the team finished the2005 NFL season ranked 31st in passing yardage per game. Many fans assumed that the Bears would draft atight end orwide receiver to improve the offense. However,Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith surprised the media by trading away the Bears’ first round draft pick, and drafting five defensive players.[6] Devin Hester was drafted to fill the void left by former cornerbackJerry Azumah and punt returnerBobby Wade, while Danieal Manning could provide additional depth to the Bears’ secondary while also being potentially available for punt and kick returns, as his highest prospect grade came in kick returning.[7] Additionally, Anderson and Dvoracek were drafted to add depth to the Bears’ defensive line.
The preseason featured a brewingquarterback controversy whenRex Grossman struggled in his exhibition appearances and newly signed veteran back-upBrian Griese moved the second team offense freely.[8]
The competition for the startingrunning back position went toThomas Jones by default after sophomore running backCedric Benson missed every preseason game with a shoulder injury inflicted in practice byBrian Urlacher andMike Brown.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 11 | San Francisco 49ers | L 14–28 | 0–1 | Monster Park | Recap |
| 2 | August 18 | San Diego Chargers | W 24–3 | 1–1 | Soldier Field | Recap |
| 3 | August 25 | Arizona Cardinals | L 16–23 | 1–2 | Soldier Field | Recap |
| 4 | August 31 | Cleveland Browns | W 20–7 | 2–2 | Cleveland Browns Stadium | Recap |
During the 2006 season, the Bears reintroduced three combinations of jerseys. During their week eight game against theSan Francisco 49ers, the Bears wore special orange jerseys in the spirit ofHalloween. They also wore all-white uniforms during their final two away games. Additionally, the Bears wore all-blue uniforms during their season finale against theGreen Bay Packers.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 10 | atGreen Bay Packers | W 26–0 | 1–0 | Lambeau Field | |
| 2 | September 17 | Detroit Lions | W 34–7 | 2–0 | Soldier Field | |
| 3 | September 24 | atMinnesota Vikings | W 19–16 | 3–0 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | |
| 4 | October 1 | Seattle Seahawks | W 37–6 | 4–0 | Soldier Field | |
| 5 | October 8 | Buffalo Bills | W 40–7 | 5–0 | Soldier Field | |
| 6 | October 16 | atArizona Cardinals | W24–23 | 6–0 | University of Phoenix Stadium | |
| 7 | Bye | |||||
| 8 | October 29 | San Francisco 49ers | W 41–10 | 7–0 | Soldier Field | |
| 9 | November 5 | Miami Dolphins | L 13–31 | 7–1 | Soldier Field | |
| 10 | November 12 | atNew York Giants | W 38–20 | 8–1 | Giants Stadium | |
| 11 | November 19 | atNew York Jets | W 10–0 | 9–1 | Giants Stadium | |
| 12 | November 26 | atNew England Patriots | L 13–17 | 9–2 | Gillette Stadium | |
| 13 | December 3 | Minnesota Vikings | W 23–13 | 10–2 | Soldier Field | |
| 14 | December 11 | atSt. Louis Rams | W 42–27 | 11–2 | Edward Jones Dome | |
| 15 | December 17 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 34–31(OT) | 12–2 | Soldier Field | |
| 16 | December 24 | atDetroit Lions | W 26–21 | 13–2 | Ford Field | |
| 17 | December 31 | Green Bay Packers | L 7–26 | 13–3 | Soldier Field | |
| NFC North | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| (1)Chicago Bears | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 5–1 | 11–1 | 427 | 255 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 5–1 | 7–5 | 301 | 366 | W4 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–4 | 6–6 | 282 | 387 | L3 |
| Detroit Lions | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 0–6 | 2–10 | 305 | 398 | W1 |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 7 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 26 |
| Packers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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The Bears began their season on a victorious note by defeating theGreen Bay Packers. Widely considered one of the league's most storied rivalries, the Bears and Packers had previously met 28 times atLambeau Field for a season opener.[9][10][11] Notably, this was the first shutout ever for the Packers withquarterbackBrett Favre at the helm.[12]
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Bears | 10 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
atSoldier Field,Chicago, Illinois
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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| "No defense can stop us. That's only in my opinion. We are our only defense. We will win this game. Y'all take that as a guarantee or what not, but we will win this game." |
| ~Roy Williams |
The Bears began a winning streak by defeating theDetroit Lions at Soldier Field. The game drew more media attention than usual whenRoy Williams of the Detroit Lions guaranteed a victory against the Bears.[13][14]
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 3 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 19 |
| Vikings | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 16 |
atHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome,Minneapolis, Minnesota
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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The Bears offense was limited by a resurgentMinnesota Vikings defense, but fourth-quarter heroics from both the offense and defense resulted in a 19–16 victory.[15]
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seahawks | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Bears | 7 | 13 | 14 | 3 | 37 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
| Game information | ||
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Taking advantage of an injured Shaun Alexander, who did not play, and playing very well on both sides of the ball, the Bears defeated the defendingNFC ChampionSeattle Seahawks at Soldier Field by a score of 37–6 on the Bears' first night game of the year.[16]
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Bears | 6 | 21 | 3 | 10 | 40 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Week five marked the return of former Bears head coachDick Jauron to Soldier Field. It would also be the second straight week in which the Bears defeated their opponent by more than 30 points.[17]
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 0 | 0 | 10 | 14 | 24 |
| Cardinals | 14 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
atUniversity of Phoenix Stadium,Glendale, Arizona
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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| "The Bears are who we thought they were, and that’s why we took the damn field. Now, if you want to crown them, then crown their ass! But, they are who we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!." |
| ~Dennis Green |
The Bears traveled to the newly openedUniversity of Phoenix Stadium to play theArizona Cardinals, their former cross-town rivals. While many expected the game a lop-sided affair in favor of the 5–0 Bears, the Cardinals led the Bears before stumbling in the game's last quarter. The game marked the Bears’ firstMonday Night Football appearance since the2003 NFL season, and second overallprime-time appearance of the season. The game started on an auspicious note for the Cardinals, asRex Grossman faced a quick three and out after failing to connect toBernard Berrian on a deep pass. The Cardinals responded offensively when rookiequarterbackMatt Leinart threw two touchdowns in the first quarter. AsNeil Rackers helped bolster the Cardinals lead with a set of field goals, Grossman continued to struggle and committed four turnovers in the first half alone. By half time, the Cardinals were leading the Bears by a score of 20–0, which was the largest deficit they had faced all season at that point.
The Bears finally got on the score board in the third quarter whenRobbie Gould kicked a 23-yard field goal. However, Rackers responded again to boost the Cardinals lead back to twenty points. By the game's third quarter, many had assumed the Cardinals had grasped their second win of the season, and the undefeated Bears would be forced to face defeat. However, in the dying minutes of the third quarter, the Bears’ defense made a series of staunch defensive plays that allowed them to rally back.
First, rookie defensive endMark Anderson sacked Leinart, causing him to fumble. The loose ball was picked up byMike Brown, who returned it for a 3-yard touchdown. Later,Brian Urlacher stripped the ball from running backEdgerrin James, andCharles Tillman recovered the football and returned it for another touchdown. The Bears, now only trailing by six points, took the lead when rookiepunt returnerDevin Hester returned a punt for an 83-yard touchdown. The Cardinals had one final attempt to win the game, but Rackers missed a 40-yard field goal attempt, allowing the Bears to kneel the clock out. After the game's conclusion,Dennis Green, who was the Cardinal's coach at the time, threw his infamous "They are who we thought they were!" postgame conference. The rant became so popular, that it was featured in aCoors Light commercial the next season.[18]
Celebration of the Bears' improbable win over Arizona was tempered by the news that starting safetyMike Brown was lost for the season with torn ligaments in his foot. The rest of the team was able to work toward renewed good health for the San Francisco game.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49ers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Bears | 24 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 41 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Week 8 saw the Bears return to Soldier Field to play theSan Francisco 49ers. Prior to the game, Lovie Smith announced that the Bears would don their alternative orange jerseys to commemorate the upcomingHalloween holiday, and asked Bear fans to wear orange clothing to create an “orange swarm” atSoldier Field.[19] The Bears' 41 point first half tied the franchise record for most points scored in one half, the other game being the1940 NFL Championship, where the Bears defeated theWashington Redskins 73–0.[20]
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphins | 0 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 31 |
| Bears | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Week 9 saw the Bears take on theJoey Harrington-ledMiami Dolphins and fall to 7–1 with their first loss of the season. Miami defensive endJason Taylor recorded a sack, a forced fumble, and a 20-yard pick-six.[21]
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 3 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 38 |
| Giants | 7 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
atGiants Stadium,East Rutherford, New Jersey
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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The Bears traveled toGiants Stadium to face theNew York Giants. The game was highly anticipated, as it was the first game in league history to benefit from the NFL'sflexible scheduling. Furthermore, leading up to the game Giants receiverPlaxico Burress provided plenty of fodder for the Chicago media by calling the Bears’cornerbacks “average”.[22] Nevertheless, the Bears went on to beat the Giants by a score of 38–20. The win over the Giants allowed the Bears to hold their first-place ranking in theNational Football Conference.[23] Devin Hester was also able to tie a record 108-yard return for a touchdown shared by teammate Nathan Vasher.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Jets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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For week eleven, the Chicago Bears returned toGiants Stadium to play theNew York Jets. While the Bears managed to record their second shut-out win of the year, their offense struggled throughout the first half the game, and managed only ten points in the second half. The victory over the Jets marked the first time in two games that the Bears did not turn over the ball, and Robbie Gould had not failed to convert afield goal orextra point on the year.[24]
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 13 |
| Patriots | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
atGillette Stadium,Foxboro, Massachusetts
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Following two consecutive wins atGiants Stadium, the Bears were to finish a three-game road trip atGillette Stadium against theNew England Patriots. Similar to the week nine confrontation with theMiami Dolphins, turnovers contributed to the Bears’ 17–13 loss against the Patriots.[25] The opening two quarters were a story of turnovers in aRex Grossman interception byAsante Samuel, aBenjamin Watson catch knocked into the hands ofCharles Tillman, a blocked Bears field goal attempt, and fumbles byLaurence Maroney and Grossman. The third quarter saw a bizarre sequence of turnovers – first fumbles by both Watson andReche Caldwell on the same play, followed by another Samuel interception of Grossman, and finally a second Tillman interception of Brady. Through three quarters the game was tied 10–10 before a drive where Brady faked outBrian Urlacher on a nine-yard run ended in a two-yard score to Watson. Turnovers then ended the game, with aCorey Dillon fumble followed by Samuel's third interception of Grossman. Samuel's three picks tiedRoland James in Patriots history for three interceptions in one game.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
| Bears | 0 | 7 | 14 | 2 | 23 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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After the loss to New England, the Bears returned toSoldier Field to play theMinnesota Vikings. The weather conditions were harsh throughout the game; the below-freezing temperatures and swirling winds provided a clichéd background for a rivalry game in the"Black and Blue Division". Despite a marginal offensive performance, the Bears managed to defeat the Vikings 23–13.
With their tenth win of the season, the Bears secured their second consecutive NFC North Title. Additionally, the Bears became the first team in the NFL to clinch a playoff berth, and remained tied for the NFL's best record.[26]
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 0 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
| Rams | 0 | 13 | 0 | 14 | 27 |
atEdward Jones Dome,St. Louis, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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For week 14, the Bears traveled toSt. Louis, Missouri to play theSt. Louis Rams. Prior to the game, a quarterback controversy arose betweenRex Grossman andBrian Griese regarding the Bears’ starting quarterback position. Grossman, who finished the preceding game with a quarterback rating of 1.3, was eager to make a statement, and rebound against the same team which injured him during the previous year's preseason. Grossman rose to the occasion, and spearheaded the Bears to a 42–27 victory over the Rams, while rookie CBDevin Hester had a record-breaking performance. Also, many spectators of theMonday night game may remember then-SenatorBarack Obama's humorous television introduction before kickoff.[27]
During the course of the game, Hester broke the NFL record for combined return touchdowns in a single season with six. He also became the sixth player in NFL history to return two kicks for touchdowns in a single game. For his performance, he earned theNFC Special Teams Player of the Week Award. On a low note, kickerRobbie Gould uncharacteristically missed two field goal attempts, and the Bears announced that defensive tackleTommie Harris would miss the remainder of the season with a severe hamstring injury.[28]
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers | 0 | 3 | 7 | 21 | 0 | 31 |
| Bears | 7 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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The Bears improved to 12–2 and secured home field advantage throughout theNFC playoffs with an overtime victory over their former division rivalTampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bears entered the game withoutPro BowlersMike Brown,Nathan Vasher andTommie Harris. Additionally,Lovie Smith deactivated defensive tackleTank Johnson due tohis legal issues.[29]
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 3 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 26 |
| Lions | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
atFord Field,Detroit, Michigan
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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The Bears traveled toDetroit, Michigan in hopes of another victory over theDetroit Lions onChristmas Eve. However, the game was essentially meaningless, as the Bears had already clinched the NFC's top playoff seed in the previous week. Therefore, the Bears experimented with different defensive and offensive plans en route to a victory over the Lions.[30]
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packers | 13 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 26 |
| Bears | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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After their road victory against theDetroit Lions, the Bears returned home to finish their season against the archenemyGreen Bay Packers. On December 24, the NFL announced that they would move to game to a primetime slot, making it the final game of the 2006 regular season. The loss marked the Bears second consecutive loss in a regular season finale. Brett Favre appeared at the end of the game, and gave a tearful interview with an NBC Sports correspondent, where he admitted his future as a professional was still questionable. Additionally, Grossman's four turnovers (including two interceptions that were returned for a touchdown), zeropasser rating, and press conference comments (where he admitted to being underprepared) drew criticism both from fans and the media as the Bears' regular season came to an end.[31][32]
The Bears clinched aplayoff berth after defeating theMinnesota Vikings during week thirteen. They obtained a first round bye the following week, and later secured the NFC's first playoff seed. This ensured the Bears home field advantage for the NFC's Divisional and Conference games.
| Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Game site | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFC Wild Card | First-round bye | ||||
| NFC Divisional | January 14, 2007 | Seattle Seahawks (4) | W 27–24(OT) | Soldier Field | |
| NFC Championship | January 21, 2007 | New Orleans Saints (2) | W 39–14 | Soldier Field | |
| Super Bowl XLI | February 4, 2007 | vs.Indianapolis Colts (A3) | L 17–29 | Dolphin Stadium | |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seahawks | 0 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Bears | 7 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 27 |
atSoldier Field,Chicago, Illinois
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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The Bears advanced to the NFC Championship game by defeating theSeattle Seahawks on January 14, 2007. In a hard-fought battle, the Bears had to rely on all “four phases” of the game (offense, defense, special teams, and crowd noise) to win 27–24 in overtime.[33]
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saints | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Bears | 3 | 13 | 2 | 21 | 39 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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The Chicago Bears returned toSoldier Field to play the second-seededNew Orleans Saints for the right to represent theNFC inSuper Bowl XLI. On a cold field with unsure footing, and eventually falling snow, the Bears defeated the Saints 39–14 to claim their first NFC Championship since the1985 Season. After the game, Bears owner Virginia McCaskey was presented theGeorge Halas Trophy, named after her late father, "Papa Bear"George Halas. With the win,Lovie Smith became the first African American coach to achieve a Super Bowl berth. InSuper Bowl XLI, The Bears would match up against theIndianapolis Colts, and Smith would face his mentor,Tony Dungy.[34]
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts | 6 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 29 |
| Bears | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
atDolphin Stadium,Miami Gardens, Florida
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Super Bowl XLI, the first Super Bowl to be played entirely in intemperate weather, saw the Bears lose to theIndianapolis Colts atDolphin Stadium in Miami.[35]
Eight members of the Chicago Bears were selected to play in the2007 Pro Bowl.Olin Kreutz,Tommie Harris,Lance Briggs,Brian Urlacher,Robbie Gould,Devin Hester, andBrendon Ayanbadejo were selected by NFL fans throughout the nation to represent the Bears.[36] The eight selections were the most from any team in the NFC. The Bears had not sent that many players to Honolulu since the 1986Pro Bowl, which succeeded the1985 NFL season, when they sent nine. On January 25, Bears' left guardRuben Brown was named to his ninth Pro Bowl, taking the spot of injuredShawn Andrews of thePhiladelphia Eagles.[37] However, Harris, Urlacher, Kreutz, and Briggs missed the Pro Bowl on the account of injuries.
Perhaps the most prevalent off-field occurrences were the actions taken by and againstTank Johnson andRicky Manning, Jr. On December 14, 2006, Lake County police officers searched Johnson's home inGurnee, Illinois, and discovered that he possessed six firearms, including twoassault rifles. Johnson was charged with violation of probation and possessing unlicensed weapons. A Chicago media storm erupted shortly after when Johnson's bodyguard was shot and killed December 16, after attending a club with him. Bears coachLovie Smith deactivated Johnson for the following game against theTampa Bay Buccaneers based on the incidents. Speculation arose in Chicago that the Bears'defensive tackle would not be allowed either legally or by the team to travel to Miami to play in the Super Bowl, but he was ultimately allowed to play. Johnson eventually served 60 days in aCook County jail because of the charges.[38] Manning Jr. faced a similar situation that cost him a one-game suspension. On April 23, 2006, two days after receiving an offer sheet from the Bears, Manning Jr. attacked a man in a Denny's restaurant after teasing him for working on a laptop computer.[39][40] In September 2006, Manning pleaded no contest to felony assault in exchange for another probation deal, though later he proclaimed his innocence.[41]
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
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| Quarterbacks(QB) Running backs(RB) Wide receivers(WR) Tight ends(TE) | Offensive linemen(OL) | Linebackers(LB)
Defensive backs(DB)
Special teams(ST) | Practice squad
Reserve
Rookies in italics 53 active, 8 reserve, 7 practice squad |
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| Lore | |
| Rivalries | |
| Minor league affiliates |
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| Retired numbers | |
| Key personnel |
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| Division championships (21) | |
| Conference championships (4) | |
| League championships (9) | |
| Media |
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