Chicago Staleys Team History

History of the Staleys

The Chicago Staleys, previously known as the Decatur Staleys, are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They were founded in 1919 as the Decatur Staleys and joined the National Football League (NFL) in 1920, when it was known as the American Professional Football Association (APFA). The team changed its name to the Bears before their first season began.

The Chicago Staleys, now known as the Chicago Bears, have been one of the NFL's most successful teams, with nine NFL championships, including two Super Bowl victories. They also boast some of pro football’s greatest players, such as Red Grange and Walter Payton, who made significant contributions to establishing them among elite franchises within the sports entertainment industry today.

The early years of this franchise, known as the Decatur Staleys, saw many changes from ownership shifts to location moves; however, despite all these obstacles, they still managed success on the field by winning six division titles between 1933-1943, plus three additional titles during the post-war era under George Halas's leadership, which ultimately resulted in eight league championship appearances with four wins over that period of time.

During the 1980s decade, the Bears, formerly known as the Decatur Staleys, had arguably the best defense ever assembled, led by Mike Singletary and Richard Dent, which anchored the 1985 Super Bowl XX title run alongside Jim McMahon's quarterbacking offense dubbed “the 46 Defense” due to its formation being used on almost every down play call throughout the entire season, dominating opponents en route to a 15-1 record while allowing only 198 points in total, with a year-long average of 10 points per game! This defensive unit is considered one of the greatest single-season performances any sport has seen at any level of competition across the globe!

Today, the Bears continue to be a competitive force in the NFC North Division, boasting notable stars like Khalil Mack and Devin Hester. Still, unfortunately, they have failed to make the playoffs in the past few years, primarily attributed to a lack of offensive production since the 2017 campaign when they ranked last in overall points scored standings, even after having numerous high draft picks prior to the 2019 season start. They finished 8th out of 16 teams, scoring just 21 points per game on average! Despite recent struggles, the organization remains a proud, tradition-rich winning culture thanks to decades of hard work and dedication to countless individuals associated with the organization throughout the ages. This makes them a true legacy franchise within the annals of the National Football League worldwide!