Since unmet expectations are the definition of disappointment, the 2014 Bears are well on their way to breaking into the top five most disappointing seasons in franchise history.
2007. Following a 13-3 season and a Super Bowl loss, they traded productive running back Thomas Jones in favor of failure Cedric Benson; star safety Mike Brown got hurt; a healthy Rex Grossman committed 10 turnovers in the first three games and was benched for Brian Griese. They finished 7-9.
1986. Nobody imagined the 1985 Super Bowl Bears would be one and done, but after going 14-2 in 1986 despite injuries to quarterback Jim McMahon and a fateful experiment with Doug Flutie, they lost their opening playoff game at home to Washington and never got back to the big game during coach Mike Ditka’s reign.
1969. Gale Sayers led the league in rushing after coming back from serious 1968 knee surgery, but the team finished 1-13, losing six games by less than a touchdown and capping it off by losing a coin flip with Pittsburgh for the No. 1 draft choice and a shot at quarterback Terry Bradshaw.
1966. Coming off spectacular rookie seasons by Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus on a promising 9-5 team in 1965, they had the returning NFL passing leader in Rudy Bukich plus receivers Mike Ditka, Johnny Morris and Dick Gordon yet finished 5-7-2.
1942. Undefeated teams ordinarily aren’t disappointing unless they are going for a third NFL title in a row and outscore opponents 376-84 in their 11-0 regular season only to lose the championship game 14-6 to Washington. Coach George Halas also left the team at midseason to join the Navy.
Don Pierson
