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1963 Chicago Bears season

The 1963 Chicago Bears season was their 44th regular season and 12th post-season appearance in the National Football League. The team finished with an 11–1–2 record (the best of the 4th and final Halas era) to gain their first Western Conference championship since 1956, and the berth to host the NFL Championship Game against the New York Giants (11–3–0).[1][2]

In the regular season, Chicago defeated the rival Green Bay Packers (11–2–1) twice to deny them the opportunity to play for a third consecutive NFL title; the Packers had won the previous five meetings with Chicago.[3][4] In the championship game on December 29, the Bears defeated the Giants, 14–10, at Wrigley Field for the club's eighth league title, their first since 1946 and the last under head coach and founder George Halas.[5][6][7][8]

This was the Bears' last playoff berth prior to the AFL–NFL merger, and their last NFL championship until 1985 and Super Bowl XX. The Bears' defense in 1963 was the third in history to lead the NFL in fewest rushing yards, fewest passing yards, and fewest total yards;[9] the defense also allowed only 144 points, formerly an NFL record.[10]

In 2007, ESPN.com ranked the 1963 Bears as the ninth-greatest defense in NFL history,[11] noting, "[i]n 1963, Bears defensive coach George Allen came up with a new zone defense against the pass, befuddling opponents. With Doug Atkins and Ed O'Bradovich pressuring opposing QBs from their defensive end slots, and Bill George and Larry Morris defending against short passes from the linebacker position, the Bears picked off 36 passes, and allowed just 10.3 points and 227 yards per game. The Bears went on to win the NFL championship, thanks to the Defense. In the title game against Y. A. Tittle and the Giants, who had the best offense in the NFL, Chicago's five picks were the key, as the Bears won 14–10. George Allen got the game ball."

Offseason

NFL Draft

Source:[12]

Personnel

Coaches

Roster

Preseason

Schedule

Game summaries

Week P3: (Saturday, August 24, 1963): vs. Green Bay Packers

Regular season

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday, September 15, 1963): at Green Bay Packers

Week 1: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – Game summary

at City Stadium • Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: September 15, 1963
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C), relative humidity 76%, wind 7 mph
  • Game attendance: 42,327
  • Referee: Art McNally
  • TV: CBS
  • [16][17]

Individual stats

Week 2 (Sunday, September 22, 1963): at Minnesota Vikings

Week 2: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

at Metropolitan Stadium • Bloomington, Minnesota

  • Date: September 22, 1963
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: 51 °F (11 °C), relative humidity 78%, wind 9 mph
  • Game attendance: 33,923
  • Referee: Harry Brubaker
  • TV: CBS
  • [18][17]

Week 3 at Lions

Week Three: Chicago Bears (2–0) at Detroit Lions (1–1)

at Tiger Stadium, Detroit, Michigan

  • Date: September 29, 1963
  • Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C)
  • Game attendance: 55,400
  • Box Score

Week 4 vs Colts

Week Four: Baltimore Colts (1–2) at Chicago Bears (3–0)

at Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: October 6, 1963
  • Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C)
  • Game attendance: 48,998
  • Box Score

Week 5

[19]

Week 6

[20]

Week 7

[21]

Week 8

[22]

Week 9

[23]

Week 10 (Sunday, November 17, 1963): vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 10: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – Game summary

at Wrigley Field • Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: November 17, 1963
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C), relative humidity 74%, wind 16 mph
  • Game attendance: 49,166
  • Referee: Tom Bell
  • TV: CBS
  • [24][17]

Individual stats

Week 11

[25]

Week 12 (Sunday, December 1, 1963): vs. Minnesota Vikings

Week 12: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary

at Wrigley Field • Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: December 1, 1963
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 23 °F (−5 °C), relative humidity 72%, wind 10 mph, wind chill 13 °F (−11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 47,249
  • Referee: Tony Skover
  • TV: CBS
  • [26][17]

Week 13

[27]

Week 14

[28]

Standings

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

NFL Championship

The Giants opened the scoring in the first quarter when quarterback Y. A. Tittle led New York on an 83-yard drive that was capped off by a 14-yard touchdown pass to Frank Gifford. The drive was set up by Bears quarterback Bill Wade's fumble deep in Giants territory, which was recovered by former Bear Erich Barnes.[29] However, later in the first period, Tittle suffered an injury to his left knee when Larry Morris hit him during his throwing motion. For the rest of the game, Tittle would never be the same. Morris then intercepted Tittle's screen pass and returned the ball 61 yards to the Giants' 6-yard line. Two plays later, Wade scored a touchdown on a two-yard quarterback sneak to tie the game at 7.

In the second quarter, the Giants retook the lead, 10–7, on a 13-yard field goal. But on New York's next drive, Tittle re-injured his left knee on another hit by Morris. With Tittle out for two possessions, the Giants struggled, only able to advance 2 yards in 7 plays. New York coach Allie Sherman even punted on third down, showing no confidence in backup Glynn Griffing. However, the score remained 10–7 at halftime.

Tittle came back in the third period, but due to his injury, he was forced to throw off his back foot. An interception on a screen pass by the Bears' Ed O'Bradovich was brought deep into Giants territory, setting up Wade's 1-yard touchdown to give Chicago a 14–10 lead. The score held up, and the Bears iced the game on Richie Petitbon's interception in the end zone with 10 seconds left. It was Tittle's 5th interception. At the end of the game, defensive coordinator George Allen was given the game ball due to his defense's spectacular play.

After the game the Bears received the traveling Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy for the first time since 1946, and for the fifth and final time throughout its existence.[30] The also received an additional trophy Chicago’s Mayor Richard M. Daley named after recently assassinated John F. Kennedy, which is still on display at Halas Hall.[31]

References

  1. ^ Strickler, George (December 29, 1963). "Bears battle Giants for title today". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, section 2.
  2. ^ Hand, Jack (December 29, 1963). "Offensive Giants, defensive Bears in NFL finale". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. 1, sports.
  3. ^ Strickler, George (September 16, 1963). "Bears shatter Packers' invincibility". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, section 3.
  4. ^ Strickler, George (November 18, 1963). "Here's how Bears won". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, section 1.
  5. ^ Strickler, George (December 30, 1963). "Bears the champions! Win, 14–10". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, section 1.
  6. ^ Sell, Jack (December 30, 1963). "Bears stop Giants, win NFL title". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. 1, 18.
  7. ^ Livingston, Pat (December 30, 1963). "Bears open 'screen' door to title". Pittsburgh Press. p. 18.
  8. ^ "Papa's polar Bears whittle Tittle; intercept five, win title 14–10". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 30, 1963. p. 8.
  9. ^ The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns, p. 294, Andy Piascik, Taylor Trade Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-1-58979-360-6
  10. ^ "Happy Birthday George Halas". Chicago Bears. January 31, 2014. Archived from the original on February 19, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  11. ^ The List: Best NFL defense of all-time, 2007
  12. ^ 1963 Draft at Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2013-Dec-08.
  13. ^ Chicago Bears media guide. Retrieved 2015-Aug-23.
  14. ^ "Team photo". Chicago Tribune. December 14, 1963. p. 1, section 2.
  15. ^ "TV numbers". Chicago Tribune. December 29, 1963. p. 2, section 2.
  16. ^ Pro Football Reference; Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – September 15, 1963
  17. ^ a b c d Chicago Bears 2023 Media Guide. Chicago Bears. p. 375.
  18. ^ Pro Football Reference; Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – September 22, 1963
  19. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Dec-08.
  20. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.
  21. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.
  22. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.
  23. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.
  24. ^ Pro Football Reference; Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – November 17, 1963
  25. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.
  26. ^ Pro Football Reference; Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – December 1, 1963
  27. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.
  28. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.
  29. ^ Coppock, Chet (December 27, 2013). "Bears defeat Giants 14–10 for 1963 championship". Chicago Bears. Archived from the original on December 29, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  30. ^ "Mystery of the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy solved". Packers.com.
  31. ^ "No Lombardi trophy in 1963 - no trophy at all for the NFL's champs in '63 (a trophy didn't exist.) So Chicago's Mayor Daley made one himself for the Bears, who beat the Giants in a noon game at Wrigley Field. Named trophy after recently assassinated JFK. #HalasHall". X.com.

Additional sources

External links