My Favorite Super Bowl Memory: The 1985 Chicago Bears
Growing up a Chicago Bears fan in the 80s was an experience filled with both heartbreak and unshakable pride. And if you were lucky enough to witness Super Bowl XX, you know exactly why it remains one of the greatest moments in Bears history. I was 14 years old when the Bears steamrolled the New England Patriots 46-10, cementing their legacy as one of the most dominant teams to ever play the game. It was a moment of pure joy, one that Bears fans are still chasing nearly four decades later.
But before the glory, there was pain. Any true Bears fan remembers the devastation of that one blemish on our 1985 season: the loss to the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football. That game crushed our dreams of an undefeated season, and it stung even more because it felt like Dan Marino and the Dolphins exposed the one tiny crack in our seemingly invincible team. Looking back, though, maybe it was a blessing in disguise. That loss lit a fire under the Bears, and they never looked back.
The confidence of that team was something special. Who else but the ’85 Bears would have the audacity to film the “Super Bowl Shuffle” before they had even won the big game? Some called it cocky, but Bears fans knew it was just pure swagger. Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, Mike Singletary, and the rest of the squad weren’t just playing football—they were putting on a show. And when they hit the field in New Orleans for Super Bowl XX, they backed up every bit of that bravado.
The defense was legendary—hands down the best defense in the history of the NFL. Mike Singletary was the heart and soul, reading offenses like a book and delivering punishing hits. Richard Dent and Steve McMichael were absolute nightmares for opposing quarterbacks. Wilber Marshall was a force of nature. And let’s not forget William “The Refrigerator” Perry, who somehow managed to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl as a defensive lineman. It was a unit unlike any other, and they made life miserable for Tony Eason and the Patriots that day.
Of course, as much as that Super Bowl was a dream come true, it also feels like a lifetime ago. Who would have thought that, 39 years later, Bears fans would still be waiting for another championship? We’ve had glimpses of hope—Devin Hester’s opening kickoff return in Super Bowl XLI had us believing for a moment—but nothing has come close to the dominance of that ’85 team.
Still, no matter how long we wait, that Super Bowl XX victory remains one of the greatest memories of my life. It was more than just a game—it was a statement. The Bears weren’t just champions; they were legends. And for those of us lucky enough to witness it, we’ll always remember the day the Monsters of the Midway ruled the football world.