Editing Chicago Bears (section)

===1983–1985: Contenders, then Super Bowl champions===
[[File:Mike Ditka.jpg|thumb|Bears Hall of Famer [[Mike Ditka]] is the only person in the modern era to win an NFL championship as a player and coach for the Chicago Bears.]]
[[Mike Ditka]], a [[tight end]] for the Bears from [[1961 Chicago Bears season|1961]] to [[1966 Chicago Bears season|1966]], was hired to coach the team by George Halas in [[1982 Chicago Bears season|1982]].<ref name="w706">{{cite web | last=Hawley | first=Larry | title=Throwback Thursday: 40 years since the Bears' hiring of Mike Ditka | website=WGN-TV | date=2022-01-21 | url=https://wgntv.com/news/wgn-news-now/throwback-thursday-40-years-since-the-bears-hiring-of-mike-ditka/ | access-date=2024-08-02 | archive-date=August 2, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802195506/https://wgntv.com/news/wgn-news-now/throwback-thursday-40-years-since-the-bears-hiring-of-mike-ditka/ | url-status=live }}</ref> His gritty personality earned him the nickname "Iron Mike".<ref name="f122">{{cite web | title=The Legend of 'Iron Mike' | website=225 Years | url=https://www.225.pitt.edu/story/legend-%27iron-mike%27 | access-date=2024-08-02 | archive-date=August 2, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802200409/https://www.225.pitt.edu/story/legend-%27iron-mike%27 | url-status=live }}</ref> The team reached the NFC Championship game, losing to the San Francisco 49ers 23–0, in 1984.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers - January 6th, 1985 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198501060sfo.htm |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228222526/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198501060sfo.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[1985 Chicago Bears season|1985 season]] the fire in the Bears–Packers rivalry was re-lit when Ditka used 315-pound defensive tackle [[William Perry (football)|"Refrigerator" Perry]] as a running back in a [[touchdown]] play at [[Lambeau Field]], against the Packers.<ref name="b869">{{cite web | last=Parolin | first=John | title=MNF moments, No. 34: The Fridge scores | website=ESPN.com | date=2014-08-05 | url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/133459/mnf-moments-no-34-the-fridge-scores | access-date=2024-08-02 | archive-date=August 2, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802200637/https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/133459/mnf-moments-no-34-the-fridge-scores | url-status=live }}</ref> The Bears won their ninth NFL Championship, first since the [[AFL-NFL merger]], in Super Bowl XX after the 1985 season in which they dominated the NFL with their then-revolutionary [[46 defense]] and a cast of characters that recorded the novelty rap song "[[The Super Bowl Shuffle]]".<ref name="l415">{{cite web | title=BEARS TROUNCE PATRIOTS, 46-10, IN SUPER BOWL | website=The New York Times | date=1986-01-27 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/27/sports/bears-trounce-patriots-46-10-in-super-bowl.html | access-date=2024-08-02 | archive-date=June 15, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615155606/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/27/sports/bears-trounce-patriots-46-10-in-super-bowl.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="p168">{{cite web | last=Dufresne | first=Chris | title=Bears Have the Muscle to Back Up Their Video : They Make Certain That 'Super Bowl Shuffle' Is No 'Dewey Beats Truman' | website=Los Angeles Times | date=1986-01-13 | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-01-13-sp-27736-story.html | access-date=2024-08-02 | archive-date=August 2, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802200513/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-01-13-sp-27736-story.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The season was notable in that the Bears had only one loss, the "unlucky 13th" game of the season, a [[Monday Night Football|Monday night]] affair in which they were defeated by the [[Miami Dolphins]].<ref name="g035">{{cite web | last=Sugrue | first=Brendan | title=Throwback Thursday: '85 Bears lose only game of the season vs. Dolphins | website=Bears Wire | publisher=USA Today | date=2021-12-02 | url=https://bearswire.usatoday.com/2021/12/02/bears-throwback-thursday-1985-loss-to-dolphins/ | access-date=2024-08-02 | archive-date=August 2, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802200713/https://bearswire.usatoday.com/2021/12/02/bears-throwback-thursday-1985-loss-to-dolphins/ | url-status=live }}</ref> At the time, much was made of the fact that the {{nfly|1972}} [[1972 Miami Dolphins season|Dolphins]] were the only franchise in history to have had an [[perfect season|undefeated season and post-season]]. The Dolphins came close to setting up a rematch in the Super Bowl, but lost to the [[1985 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] in the [[AFC Championship Game|AFC title game]]. "The Super Bowl Shuffle" was videotaped the day after that Monday night loss in Miami.<ref name="j414">{{cite web | last=Medina | first=Luis C. | title=Throwback Thursday: 1985 Bears recorded 'The Super Bowl Shuffle' on this date 30 years ago | website=Bears Wire|publisher=USA Today | date=2015-12-03 | url=https://bearswire.usatoday.com/2015/12/03/throwback-thursday-1985-bears-recorded-the-super-bowl-shuffle-on-this-date-30-years-ago/ | access-date=2024-07-30}}</ref>