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]
Source: [ 4] Undrafted free agents [ edit ] 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
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 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 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 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 14–13 7–9 Tampa Stadium 55,298 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Week 1: at Green Bay Packers [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers
1 2 3 4 Total Saints 3 0 0 0 3 • Bears 10 3 2 7 22
1 2 3 4 Total • Vikings 14 7 7 6 34 Bears 0 0 0 14 14
1 2 3 4 Total Bears 3 0 0 0 3 • Steelers 7 17 7 7 38
1 2 3 4 Total Buccaneers 0 0 0 0 0 • Bears 0 3 10 10 23
Date: October 6Location: Soldier FieldReferee: Ben Dreith Television network: ABC
1 2 3 4 Total Bears 0 0 7 0 7 • Vikings 3 0 3 7 13
1 2 3 4 Total Lions 0 0 0 7 7 • Bears 7 3 7 7 24
Date: October 19Location: Soldier FieldReferee: Gordon McCarter TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris
1 2 3 4 Total Bears 0 0 14 0 14 • Eagles 7 0 7 3 17
1 2 3 4 Total Bears 0 0 7 14 21 • Browns 3 7 3 14 27
1 2 3 4 Total Redskins 0 0 14 7 21 • Bears 21 14 0 0 35
Date: November 9Location: Soldier FieldTV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and George Allen
1 2 3 4 Total • Oilers 0 7 3 0 10 Bears 0 6 0 0 6
Date: November 16Location: Soldier FieldReferee: Bob FredericTelevision network: NBC
1 2 3 4 Total Bears 7 3 7 0 17 • Falcons 0 14 0 14 28
Game information First quarter
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
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers CHI – James Scott – 6 receptions, 106 yards DET – Ray Williams – 3 receptions, 50 yards
1 2 3 4 Total Packers 0 7 0 0 7 • Bears 0 28 13 20 61
[ 5]
1 2 3 4 OT Total • Bengals 7 7 0 0 3 17 Bears 0 7 0 7 0 14
Date: December 14Location: Soldier Field
1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 0 7 7 0 14 Buccaneers 10 0 0 3 13
Franchise Records Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Minor league affiliates Retired numbers Key personnel Division championships (21) Conference championships (4) League championships (9) 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) Current league affiliations
Formerly the Decatur Staleys (1920) and the Chicago Staleys (1921)