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Chicago Staleys Team History

Chicago Staleys
Staleys Primary Logo

Established
1920

City
Decatur - Chicago

League History
1920 – Present / National Football League

Team History
1922 - Present / Chicago Bears
1921 / Chicago Staleys
1920 / Decatur Staleys

Nickname
Staleys - For sports fans, the history of a team's nickname is often intriguing. The Chicago Staleys, now known as the Bears, is no exception. Established in 1920 as one of the original National Football League (NFL) teams, they were initially named after their owner and coach George Halas' employer - A.E. Staley Company – hence "Staleys."

The team had several different nicknames over its first few years, including “Indians” and “Huskies,” before settling on Bears during a meeting between Halas and his players before the 1922 season opener against Rock Island Independents at Cubs Park (now Wrigley Field). According to legend, when asked for suggestions by Halas about what he should call his new franchise player, Joe Sternaman suggested "Bears" because it was short enough that it could fit into newspaper headlines while also reflecting Chicago's rough-and-tumble reputation with its long history of organized crime figures like Al Capone who was nicknamed Scarface due to facial scars from WWI combat wounds!

Since then, this iconic NFL franchise has gone on to win nine league championships, including eight since moving from Decatur, Illinois, where they played under their original name, until 1921 when they moved permanently into Wrigley Field, which became the home field for both baseball's Cubs & footballs Bears until 1970! This storied past makes them one of America’s oldest professional sports franchises still playing today, so if you're looking for some great historical context behind your favorite team, remember those beloved Chicago Staleys/Bears!

Championship
Super Bowl 0
1986
NFL Championships 0
1963, 1946, 1943, 1941, 1940, 1933
NFL Standings Champion 1
1921

Stadium
2003 - Present / Soldier Field II

*Champaign*
2002 / Memorial Stadium

*Chicago*
1971 - 2001 / Soldier Field I
1921 - 1970 / Wrigley Field

*Decatur*
1919 - 1920 / Staley Field

Owner
1983 - Present / Virginia Halas McCaskey
1933 - 1983 / George Halas
1921 - 1933 / George Halas and Dutch Sternaman
1919 - 1921 / A. E. Staley

  • 1921
  • 1921
  • 1921
  • 1921
  • 1922
  • Chicago Staleys 1921 Championship

    Relocated to Chicago

    The team relocated to Chicago in 1921, where the club was renamed the Chicago Staleys. Under an agreement reached by Halas and Sternaman with Staley, Halas purchased the rights to the club from Staley for $100.
    See Full Story
  • George Halas

    Staley hires George Halas and Edward “Dutch” Sternaman to run his football team

    In January 1921: A.E. Staley hires George Halas and Edward “Dutch” Sternaman to run his football team, the Decatur Staleys, which had joined the American Professional Football Association (APFA) in 1920.
    See Full Story
  • Staleys play their first game of the season

    Staleys play their first game of the season

    In October 2 1921: The Staleys play their first game of the season, defeating the Rock Island Independents 14-10 on the road.
    See Full Story
  • Guy Chamberlin

    Chicago Staleys Notable Player – Guy Chamberlin

    In December 11 1921: The Staleys play their final game of the season, defeating the Canton Bulldogs 10-0 at home. Halas and Sternaman star for the team, while Guy Chamberlin and George Trafton are among the future Hall of Famers on the roster.
    See Full Story
  • chicago bears 1922

    Chicago Stalys changed their name to the Chicago Bears

    The Chicago Stalys changed their name to the Chicago Bears in 1922 and become one of the most successful franchises in NFL history.
    See Full Story

Who is the greatest Chicago Staleys?
  • Add your greatest player

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* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.

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!




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Retired Number
3 / Bronko Nagurski
5 / George McAfee
7 / George Halas
28 / Willie Galimore
34 / Walter Payton
40 / Gale Sayers
41 / Brian Piccolo
42 / Sid Luckman
51 / Dick Butkus
56 / Bill Hewitt
61 / Bill George
66 / Clyde “Bulldog” Turner
77 / Harold “Red” Grange
89 / Mike Ditka

*Blue is this team’s history

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