Chicago Bears Coaches: Trestman, Fox, Nagy and Eberflus

MARC TRESTMAN

Years:  2013-2014

Record:  13-19

***********************

JOHN FOX

Years:  2015-2017

Record:  14-34

***********************

MATT NAGY

Years:  2018-2021

Record:  34-31

***********************

MATT EBERFLUS

Years 2023-2023

Record:  10-24

Oh Well.  --Cooter

The 'Iron Curtain' Descends in 1946-- Winston Churchill

I will be finishing my list of Chicago Bears head coaches, but yesterday marked an important date in an era I lived through and never thought would end (or has it?).  The Cold War.

MARCH 5, 1946

Winston Churchill delivered his famous "Iron Curtain" Speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.

Liz and I accidentally found Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, back on one of our trips.  I came across a very informative article on this speech and a historic London church that has been rebuilt in Fulton and will write about it after Da Bears coaches.

--Cold War Coot

Coaches of the Chicago Bears-- Part 5: Fox, Nagy and Eberflus

**  JOHN FOX  (2015-2017)

Record 14-34

Bears in last place of division for most of his tenure.

**  MATT NAGY  (2018-2021)

34-31

12-4 first year, then 8-8, 8-8 and 6-11.

**  MATT EBERFLUS  (2022-?

The 17th head coach of Da Bears.

That's four coaches since 2012.  Appears Da Bears are also having coach problems as well as quarterback ones.  

We shall see.

--CootBears

Coaches of the Chicago Bears-- Part 4: Jauron, Smith and Trestman

**  DICK JAURON (1999-2003)

Record:  35-45

Highlight was his 2001 season where the Bears went 13-3.  Other than that, not so good.

**  LOVIE SMITH  (2004-2012)

Record:  81-63

He was fired after going 10-6 in 2012.  That was a whole lot better than most coaches after Ditka.  He was also the only Bear coach other than Ditka to get the team to the Super Bowl.

**  MARC TRESTMAN  (2013-2014)

Record:  13-19

Fired for missing playoffs in both his seasons.

If course, a huge problem with the Bear teams is that we just can't find a quarterback.

--CootSad

Coaches of the Chicago Bears-- Part 3: Armstrong, Ditka and Wannstedt

**  NEILL ARMSTRONG (1978-1981):  

Record:  30-34

Came to Bears with defensive assistant Buddy Ryan and, of course, that defense that came later.

MIKE DITKA  (1982-1992)

Record:  106-62

What can you say, but Da Coach.

**  DAVE WANNSTEDT  (1993-1998)

Record:  40-56

His 1-11 ecord against the Packers didn't help either.

Da Bears, Da Coach.  --CootBear

Some More 2020 Deaths in August and September: Trump, Thompson, Rigg, Hibbert, Brown and Sayers

AUGUST

ROBERT TRUMP, 72

President Donald Trump's younger brother.  Died August 15.

JOHN THOMPSON, 78

Hall of Famer who became the first black coach to lead a team, Georgetown, to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.  Died August 30.

*****************************

SEPTEMBER

DIANA RIGG, 82

British actress whose career stretched from the 1960s spy series  "The Avengers" to the fantasy juggernaut "Game of Thrones."  Died September 10.

TOOTS HIBBERT, 77

One of reggae's founders and most beloved stars.  Died September 11.

TIMOTHY RAY BROWN, 54

He made history as "the Berlin patient," the first known person to be cured of the HIV infection.  Died September 29.

GALE SAYERS, 77

Running back who entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame and whose fame extended beyond the field for decades thanks to a friendship he had with a dying Chicago Bears teammate.  Died September 23.

Great Moments in Bears History-- Part 2: The "D" Shines Against Dallas 44-0 in '85

**********************************************
18.  44-0

Hey, it was just another win for those '85 Bears.  DA BEARS!!

The Bear defense put on their usual show, this time in Week 11 at Texas Stadium against the Dallas Cowboys.  It was a throttling.  The Bears improved to 11-0 and clinched the NFC Central Division.

After this game, the Bears' Gary Fencik began to truly believe that the Super Bowl was in reach.

Supposedly, Cowboys defensive back Everson Walls had questioned whether the Bears were a s good as their undefeated record because they hadn't played anybody good yet.

After the game Otis Wilson recalled that Dan Hampton said, "Yeah, we still haven't played anybody."

The game was a six sack, five takeaway, two-defensive-touchdown masterpiece.

Sports Illustrated had a story saying the game was "an assault wave that made it look as if the Bears were playing 15 men against 11" on defense.

********************************************

--Coot"D"

For Big Game Day (So the NFL Doesn't Get Me)-- Part 1: Great Moments in Bears History, MLB and the Class of '83

Since today has something to do with pro football, and trying to avoid the NFL by not using what we call this game, here are some great days in Chicago Bears history, and not the fact that either ONE of the qbs in today's game could have been BEARS!!!  Plus, we HAD a guy who could actually kick field goals and not DOUBLE DOINK.

From the November 3, 2019, Chicago Tribune  "The 100 Greatest Moments in Bears History"  Nos. 20-11.

20  THE FIRST MLB

Before there was Brian Urlacher, Mike Singletary and Dick Butkus, there was BILL GEORGE.  An 8-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the driving forces behind the 1963 NFL Championship.  Kind of invented the position.

19.  THE CLASS OF '83

General Manager Jim Finks, the man who built the '85 Bears, drafted  seven starters for that '85 team:

Richard Dent, Jimbo Covert, Dave Duerson, Mark Bortz, Tom Thayer, Willie Gault and Mike Richardson.

Now, If Da Bears Could Just Figure Out How To Draft a Quarterback.  --CootBear

Top Bears Radio Announcers-- Part 3: Brickhouse, Joniak, McConnell, Thayer and Larrivee

Continued from November 9, 2019.  To see the first two, click on announcers in the labels section below.

5.  JACK BRICKHOUSE  (1953-1976)

There is a deep affection for Jack Brickhouse among Chicago fans of any sport because of his longevity, but, football was not his forte.  But, the upbeat charm he brought didn't make up for mistakes in football announcing.

4.  JEFF JONIAK  (2001-PRESENT)

He came to the Bears with no experience, but he has worked hard to become a solid play-by-play man.

3.  JOE McCONNELL  (1977-1984)

When the Bears moved from WGN-AM  to WBBM-AM, general manager Jim Finks pushed hard for him to replace Brickhouse.  He had been doing Minnesota Vikings broadcasts.  He might have stayed with the Bears had WGN-AM not gotten the Bears back.

2.  TOM THAYER (1997-PRESENT)

Old No. 57 from the Bears Super Bowl XX Champs.  He knows his stuff and calls games with both his brains and heart.

1.  WAYNE LARRIVEE  (1985-1998)

Announced Chiefs games before coming to the Bears and then lefty to fulfill a life-long dream to call the Packers.  He was the voice of those Super Bowl XX Bears.  We still tune in the Packers on radio (we live right on the Illinois-Wisconsin border) just to hear that wonderful voice.

And, to think he left the Bears in a Big Marker area to go to the Packers in a small market area.  He's gotta love Da Pack.

--CootVee

Chicago Bears Top 10 Shutouts-- Part 1

1.  BEARS 73  REDSKINS 0 (1940)  Bill Osmanski's 68-yard touchdown run ignited one of the most dominant performances in the history of American sports.  This was the NFL Championship game.

2.  BEARS 24  RAMS 0  (1986)  Wilber Marshall's 52-yard fumble return touchdown in the snow at Soldier Field put the finishing touches on the NFC Championship game.  This was the '85 Bears.

3.  BEARS 44  COWBOYS 0  (1985)   The Bears had four interceptions, six sacks and two defensive scores and knocked out two quarterbacks in a stunning victory in a nationally televised game.  Hey, the '85 Bears!!

4.  BEARS 21   GIANTS 0  (1986)  Shaun Gayle's five-yard return of Sean Landetta's whiffed punt started the Bears' magnificent 1986 playoff run.  Hey, the '85 Bears!!

5.  BEARS 26  PACKERS  0  (2006)   Bernard Berrian's 49-yard touchdown started it and Devin Hester's 84-yard punt return ended it as the Bears opened a Super Bowl run in Lambeau Field.

--Cooter

Bears Get 49er Payback in 1985

From the Nov. 16, 2019, Chicago Sun-Times  "The next time, they brought an offense" by Mark Potash.

Thinkin' back to that great '85 Bears team.

After an upset victory over the redskins in the 1984 playoffs the Bears found they weren't ready yet for prime time when they were buried 23-0 by the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game at candlestick Park.

They were particularly offended by a 49er comment:  "Next time, bring an offense."

The next time, they did bring an offense when they faced the 49ers again at Candlestick on October 13, 1985.  They were 5-0 by then, but had something to prove.  Walter Payton rushed for  132 yards and two touchdowns as the Bears gained 372 yards against the defending Super Bowl champions in a 26-10 victory.

"We remembered to pack our offense this time," left tackle Jimbo Covert said.  "Last time they embarrassed us, and they made it known they embarrassed us.  They tried to rub it in.They said some things we didn't really appreciate."

Said Walter Payton:  "They made some remarks that hurt us as a football team.  They said 'Bring your offense next time.'  Well we brought it today."

If I remember correctly, Mike Ditka got a DUI after the plane returned to Chicago and he drove home.

Payback, You Know.  --Cooter

That Great '85 Bears Team-- Part 2: Those Shutouts, That "D"

And you know that Coach Mike Ditka had to be really happy about this one, considering he had ended his playing career with the Cowboys and had been assistant head coach under Landry.

And, da Bears weren't done with that 44-0 shellacking of the Cowboys. A week later, they beat the Falcons 36-0 at Soldier Field --  the first Bear back-to-back shutouts since 1942.

The shutout of the Falcons capped a seven-game run in which the Bears defense allowed 30 points and scored 27 -- for a net of three points allowed.  And that doesn't include 39 points scored in that span on short fields the Bears got from takeaways.

The Bears nearly had three shutouts in a row, but a Steve Fuller fumble on a lateral to Willie Gault against the Lions in Week 10 led to a Lions field goal.  The modest 17-yard scoring drive was the only blemish in a 24-3 victory at Soldier Field.

Da Bears!!!  --CootBear