NFL team season
The 1963 Chicago Bears season regular season and 12th post-season appearance in the National Football League . The team finished with an 11–1–2 record (the best of the 4th and final Halas era) to gain their first Western Conference championship since 1956 , and the berth to host the NFL Championship Game against the New York Giants (11–3–0).[ 1] [ 2]
In the regular season, Chicago defeated the rival Green Bay Packers (11–2–1) twice to deny them the opportunity to play for a third consecutive NFL title ; the Packers had won the previous five meetings with Chicago.[ 3] [ 4] Wrigley Field for the club's eighth league title, their first since 1946 and the last under head coach and founder George Halas .[ 5] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8]
This was the Bears' last playoff berth prior to the AFL–NFL merger , and their last NFL championship until 1985 and Super Bowl XX . The Bears' defense in 1963 was the third in history to lead the NFL in fewest rushing yards, fewest passing yards, and fewest total yards;[ 9] [ 10]
In 2007, ESPN.com ranked the 1963 Bears as the ninth-greatest defense in NFL history,[ 11] George Allen came up with a new zone defense against the pass, befuddling opponents. With Doug Atkins and Ed O'Bradovich pressuring opposing QBs from their defensive end slots, and Bill George and Larry Morris defending against short passes from the linebacker position, the Bears picked off 36 passes, and allowed just 10.3 points and 227 yards per game. The Bears went on to win the NFL championship, thanks to the Defense. In the title game against Y. A. Tittle and the Giants, who had the best offense in the NFL, Chicago's five picks were the key, as the Bears won 14–10. George Allen got the game ball."
Source: [ 12]
Team photo[ 14] Rosters - 1963 NFL title game[ 15] Week Date Time (CT Opponent Result Record Venue TV Attendance Recap 1 1:00 p.m. at Green Bay Packers W 10–3 1–0 City Stadium CBS 42,327 2 1:30 p.m. at Minnesota Vikings W 28–7 2–0 Metropolitan Stadium CBS 33,923 3 September 29 12:30 p.m. at Detroit Lions W 37–21 3–0 Tiger Stadium CBS 55,400 4 October 6 1:00 p.m. Baltimore Colts W 10–3 4–0 Wrigley Field CBS 48,998 5 October 13 3:30 p.m. at Los Angeles Rams W 52–14 5–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum CBS 40,476 6 October 20 3:30 p.m. at San Francisco 49ers L 14–20 5–1 Kezar Stadium CBS 35,837 7 October 27 1:00 p.m. Philadelphia Eagles W 16–7 6–1 Wrigley Field CBS 48,514 8 November 3 1:00 p.m. at Baltimore Colts W 17–7 7–1 Memorial Stadium CBS 60,065 9 November 10 1:00 p.m. Los Angeles Rams W 6–0 8–1 Wrigley Field CBS 48,312 10 1:00 p.m. Green Bay Packers W 26–7 9–1 Wrigley Field CBS 49,166 11 November 24 1:00 p.m. at Pittsburgh Steelers T 17–17 9–1–1 Forbes Field CBS 36,465 12 1:00 p.m. Minnesota Vikings T 17–17 9–1–2 Wrigley Field CBS 47,249 13 December 8 1:00 p.m. San Francisco 49ers W 27–7 10–1–2 Wrigley Field CBS 46,994 14 December 15 1:00 p.m. Detroit Lions W 24–14 11–1–2 Wrigley Field CBS 45,317
Week 1: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Bears (1–0) 3 0 7 0 10 Packers (0–1) 3 0 0 0 3
at City Stadium • Green Bay, Wisconsin
Date : September 15, 1963Game time : 1:00 p.m. CDT Game weather : 54 °F (12 °C), relative humidity 76%, wind 7 mphGame attendance : 42,327Referee : Art McNally TV : CBS [ 16] [ 17]
Bears Game Statistics Packers 15 First downs 9 35–107 Rushes–yards 21–77 129 Passing yards 83 18–24–1 Passes 11–22–4 1–5 Sacked–yards 1–10 124 Net passing yards 73 231 Total yards 150 84 Return yards 101 5–43.8 Punts 5–48.6 1–1 Fumbles–lost 1–1 5–50 Penalties–yards 6–58
Individual stats
Bears Passing C/ATT1 Yds TD INT Sk Yds LG3 Rate Wade 18/24 129 0 1 1 5 22 69.6
Bears Kick Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Marconi 1 15 15.0 0 15 Casares 1 10 10/0 0 10
Bears Punt Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Taylor 2 19 9.5 0 0 Morris 2 12 6.0 0 0
Bears Punting Pnt Yds Y/P Lng Blck Green 5 219 43.8
Bears Kicking XPM–XPA FGM–FGA MFG Jencks 1–1 1–2
Week 2: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Bears (2–0) 7 7 0 14 28 Vikings (1–1) 0 7 0 0 7
at Metropolitan Stadium • Bloomington, Minnesota
Date : September 22, 1963Game time : 1:30 p.m. CDT Game weather : 51 °F (11 °C), relative humidity 78%, wind 9 mphGame attendance : 33,923Referee : Harry BrubakerTV : CBS [ 18] [ 17]
Team Category Player Statistics CHI Passing Bill Wade 23/32, 253 YDS, 3 TDs Rushing Ronnie Bull 14 CAR, 53 YDS Receiving Mike Ditka 8 REC, 124 YDS, 2 TDs MIN Passing Fran Tarkenton 13/22, 167 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INTs Rushing Tommy Mason 11 CAR, 60 YDS Receiving Ray Poage 5 REC, 67 YDS
Bears Game Statistics Vikings 24 First downs 20 27–106 Rushes–yards 34–152 253 Passing yards 197 23–33–0 Passes 16–27–3 0–0 Sacked–yards 2–23 253 Net passing yards 174 359 Total yards 326 34 Return yards 85 1–44.0 Punts 2–35.0 1–1 Fumbles–lost 4–2 8–75 Penalties–yards 5–55
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
CHI – Johnny Morris 16-yard pass from Bill Wade (Bob Jencks kick). Bears 14–0. CHI – Mike Ditka 13-yard pass from Bill Wade (Bob Jencks kick). Bears 21–0. CHI – Richie Petitbon 66-yard interception return (Bob Jencks kick). Bears 28–0. CHI – Bill Wade 1-yard run (Bob Jencks kick). Bears 35–0. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
CHI – Safety, Earl Morrall tackled by Doug Atkins in end zone. Bears 37–14. DET – Gail Cogdill 38-yard pass from Earl Morrall (Wayne Walker kick). Bears 37–21. Top passers Top rushers Top receivers
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers
1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 7 21 3 21 52 Rams 0 7 0 7 14
Scoring summary Q1 CHI Ditka 13 yard pass from Wade (Jencks kick)CHI 7–0 Q2 CHI McRae 35 yard interception return (Jencks kick)CHI 14–0 Q2 LA Phillips 10 yard pass from Bratkowski (Villanueva kick)CHI 14–7 Q2 CHI Ditka 25 yard pass from Wade (Jencks kick) CHI 21–7 Q2 CHI Ditka 2 yard pass from Wade (Jencks kick) CHI 28–7 Q3 CHI LeClerc 31 yard field goalCHI 31–7 Q4 LA Bass 4 yard run (Villanueva kick)CHI 31–14 Q4 CHI Ditka 14 yard pass from Wade (Jencks kick) CHI 38–14 Q4 CHI Galimore 2 yard run (Jencks kick)CHI 45–14 Q4 CHI Farrington 17 yard pass from Bukich (Jencks kick)CHI 52–14
[ 19]
1 2 3 4 Total Bears 0 7 0 7 14 • 49ers 10 7 3 0 20
[ 20]
1 2 3 4 Total Eagles 0 7 0 0 7 • Bears 10 0 6 0 16
Date: October 27Location: Wrigley Field
[ 21]
1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 7 0 7 3 17 Colts 0 0 7 0 7
[ 22]
1 2 3 4 Total Rams 0 0 0 0 0 • Bears 3 0 3 0 6
Date: November 10Location: Wrigley Field
[ 23]
Week 10: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Packers (8–2) 0 0 0 7 7 Bears (9–1) 13 0 3 10 26
at Wrigley Field • Chicago, Illinois
Date : November 17, 1963Game time : 1:00 p.m. CST Game weather : 62 °F (17 °C), relative humidity 74%, wind 16 mphGame attendance : 49,166Referee : Tom Bell TV : CBS [ 24] [ 17]
Packers Game Statistics Bears 16 First downs 19 20–71 Rushes–yards 57–248 178 Passing yards 92 11–30–5 Passes 6–14–0 2–17 Sacked–yards 3–23 161 Net passing yards 69 232 Total yards 317 101 Return yards 63 5–38.8 Punts 3–47.0 2–2 Fumbles–lost 0–0 6–65 Penalties–yards 11–97
Individual stats
Bears Passing C/ATT1 Yds TD INT Sk Yds LG3 Rate Wade 6/14 92 0 0 3 23 28 65.2
Bears Kick Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Pyle 1 0 0.0 0 0
Bears Punting Pnt Yds Y/P Lng Blck Green 3 141 47.0 0
1 2 3 4 Total Bears 7 7 0 3 17 Steelers 0 14 0 3 17
[ 25]
Week 12: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Vikings (4–7–1) 3 14 0 0 17 Bears (9–1–2) 3 0 7 7 17
at Wrigley Field • Chicago, Illinois
Date : December 1, 1963Game time : 1:00 p.m. CST Game weather : 23 °F (−5 °C), relative humidity 72%, wind 10 mph, wind chill 13 °F (−11 °C)Game attendance : 47,249Referee : Tony SkoverTV : CBS [ 26] [ 17]
Team Category Player Statistics MIN Passing Ron Vander Kelen 5/9, 116 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Tommy Mason 19, CAR, 53 YDS Receiving Gordon Smith 2 REC, 83 YDS, 1 TD CHI Passing Bill Wade 16/32, 164 YDS, 1 TD Rushing Ronnie Bull 14 CAR, 31 YDS Receiving Mike Ditka 5 REC, 76 YDS
Vikings Game Statistics Bears 9 First downs 15 38–116 Rushes–yards 33–67 120 Passing yards 164 6–13–1 Passes 16–32–0 4–34 Sacked–yards 1–10 86 Net passing yards 154 202 Total yards 221 142 Return yards 93 4–15.7 Punts 7–52.4 4–3 Fumbles–lost 4–3 3–26 Penalties–yards 3–25
1 2 3 4 Total 49ers 0 7 0 0 7 • Bears 14 0 7 6 27
Date: December 8Location: Wrigley Field
[ 27]
1 2 3 4 Total Lions 0 7 0 0 7 • Bears 3 0 14 7 24
Date: December 15Location: Wrigley Field
[ 28]
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972. 1 2 3 4 Total Giants 7 3 0 0 10 • Bears 7 0 7 0 14
Scoring summary Q1 7:38 NYG Gifford 14 yard pass from Tittle (Chandler kick)NYG 7–0 Q1 0:16 CHI Wade 2 yard run (Jencks kick)Tie 7–7 Q2 9:49 NYG Chandler 13 yard field goal NYG 10–7 Q3 2:12 CHI Wade 1 yard run (Jencks kick) CHI 14–10
The Giants opened the scoring in the first quarter when quarterback Y. A. Tittle led New York on an 83-yard drive that was capped off by a 14-yard touchdown pass to Frank Gifford . The drive was set up by Bears quarterback Bill Wade 's fumble deep in Giants territory, which was recovered by former Bear Erich Barnes .[ 29] Larry Morris hit him during his throwing motion. For the rest of the game, Tittle would never be the same. Morris then intercepted Tittle's screen pass and returned the ball 61 yards to the Giants' 6-yard line. Two plays later, Wade scored a touchdown on a two-yard quarterback sneak to tie the game at 7.
In the second quarter, the Giants retook the lead, 10–7, on a 13-yard field goal. But on New York's next drive, Tittle re-injured his left knee on another hit by Morris. With Tittle out for two possessions, the Giants struggled, only able to advance 2 yards in 7 plays. New York coach Allie Sherman even punted on third down, showing no confidence in backup Glynn Griffing . However, the score remained 10–7 at halftime .
Tittle came back in the third period, but due to his injury, he was forced to throw off his back foot. An interception on a screen pass by the Bears' Ed O'Bradovich was brought deep into Giants territory, setting up Wade's 1-yard touchdown to give Chicago a 14–10 lead. The score held up, and the Bears iced the game on Richie Petitbon 's interception in the end zone with 10 seconds left. It was Tittle's 5th interception. At the end of the game, defensive coordinator George Allen was given the game ball due to his defense's spectacular play.
After the game the Bears received the traveling Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy for the first time since 1946, and for the fifth and final time throughout its existence.[ 30] Richard M. Daley named after recently assassinated John F. Kennedy , which is still on display at Halas Hall .[ 31]
^ Strickler, George (December 29, 1963). "Bears battle Giants for title today" . Chicago Tribune . p. 1, section 2. ^ Hand, Jack (December 29, 1963). "Offensive Giants, defensive Bears in NFL finale" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. 1, sports. ^ Strickler, George (September 16, 1963). "Bears shatter Packers' invincibility" . Chicago Tribune . p. 1, section 3. ^ Strickler, George (November 18, 1963). "Here's how Bears won" . Chicago Tribune . p. 1, section 1. ^ Strickler, George (December 30, 1963). "Bears the champions! Win, 14–10" . Chicago Tribune . p. 1, section 1. ^ Sell, Jack (December 30, 1963). "Bears stop Giants, win NFL title" . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . pp. 1, 18. ^ Livingston, Pat (December 30, 1963). "Bears open 'screen' door to title" . Pittsburgh Press . p. 18. ^ "Papa's polar Bears whittle Tittle; intercept five, win title 14–10" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 30, 1963. p. 8.^ The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns , p. 294, Andy Piascik, Taylor Trade Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-1-58979-360-6 ^ "Happy Birthday George Halas" . Chicago Bears the original on February 19, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2014 .^ The List: Best NFL defense of all-time, 2007 ^ 1963 Draft at Pro Football Hall of Fame . Retrieved 2013-Dec-08.^ Chicago Bears media guide . Retrieved 2015-Aug-23.^ "Team photo" . Chicago Tribune . December 14, 1963. p. 1, section 2.^ "TV numbers" . Chicago Tribune . December 29, 1963. p. 2, section 2.^ Pro Football Reference Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – September 15, 1963 ^ a b c d Chicago Bears 2023 Media Guide . Chicago Bears. p. 375.^ Pro Football Reference Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – September 22, 1963 ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved 2014-Dec-08.^ Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.^ Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.^ Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.^ Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.^ Pro Football Reference Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – November 17, 1963 ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.^ Pro Football Reference Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – December 1, 1963 ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.^ Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.^ Coppock, Chet (December 27, 2013). "Bears defeat Giants 14–10 for 1963 championship" . Chicago Bears . Archived from the original on December 29, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013 . ^ "Mystery of the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy solved" . Packers.com .^ "No Lombardi trophy in 1963 - no trophy at all for the NFL's champs in '63 (a trophy didn't exist.) So Chicago's Mayor Daley made one himself for the Bears, who beat the Giants in a noon game at Wrigley Field. Named trophy after recently assassinated JFK. #HalasHall" . X.com . Charles N. Billington, The 1963 Chicago Bears: George Halas and the Road to the NFL Championship. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2023. Maury Youmans and Gary Youmans, '63 : the Story of the 1963 World Championship Chicago Bears. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2004.
Formerly the Decatur Staleys (1920) and the Chicago Staleys (1921)
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