Chicago Bears · Franchise era 3 of 7
Butkus, Sayers and Payton: the Chicago Bears story
Franchise era
1958—1981
Butkus, Sayers and Payton
Chicago Bears
The story in one sentence
Butkus and Sayers defined their positions before Payton became the franchise's relentless offensive center through years of rebuilding.
Transcendent individuals carry uneven teams
Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers and Walter Payton gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for the 1985 bears.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 1958
What came before
Chicago's modernized offense and imposing lines produced four championships in the 1940s, including the famous 73–0 title-game victory.
1963-12-29
Conference Championship: New York Giants vs Chicago Bears
1977-12-26
Divisional Round: Chicago Bears vs Dallas Cowboys
1979-12-23
Wild Card: Chicago Bears vs Philadelphia Eagles
After 1981
What came next
Mike Ditka and Buddy Ryan assembled a defense of historic speed and intimidation that dominated the 1985 postseason and remained dangerous for years.
The core