Super Bowl XX Champions
The 1985 Bears didn't just win Super Bowl XX; they delivered the most suffocating defensive masterclass in Super Bowl history.
Super Bowl XX stands as the crowning achievement of the Chicago Bears' storied franchise history, representing the pinnacle of defensive dominance in NFL lore. On January 26, 1986, the team, led by head coach Mike Ditka and quarterback Jim McMahon, defeated the New England Patriots to secure their first Super Bowl title since the franchise's inception in 1920. This victory cemented the 'Monsters of the Midway' legacy for a new generation, transforming the 1985 squad into an enduring cultural icon of American sports history.
- Opponent
- New England Patriots
- Final Score
- 46-10
- Season
- 1985 NFL Season
- Date
- January 26, 1986
- Location
- Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans
- Head Coach
- Mike Ditka
- MVP
- William 'The Refrigerator' Perry (Tight End/Defensive Tackle)
Lore & Background
New Orleans wasn't just a venue for a victory lap; it was a stage where the Bears dismantled the Patriots' spirit. Holding New England to a paltry 10 points, the defense sacked quarterback Tony Eason five times and turned the game into a clinic in intimidation. But the moment that cemented this team as cultural icons happened when running back William 'The Refrigerator' Perry—normally a defensive tackle—lined up at fullback. On a goal-line carry from the one-yard line, he thundered through the Patriots' defense for a touchdown, a surreal spectacle that had the entire country cheering and forever blurring the lines between football strategy and pure entertainment.
In Their Own Story
The Louisiana Superdome didn't just hum with anticipation; it vibrated with a palpable, humid heat. Inside the Bears' locker room, the air was thick with the clatter of cleats on tile and the roar of a brotherhood ready to rewrite history. Jim McMahon adjusted his helmet, his gaze locking onto teammates who knew they were about to become legends. When they burst onto the field, the crowd's roar hit them like a physical wall, yet the Bears moved with a cold, terrifying precision that silenced the opposition before the first snap. As the final whistle blew, the New England sideline collapsed into stunned silence while Chicago erupted in pure ecstasy, witnessing not just a win, but a perfect storm of dominance.
Reader's Guide
Winning Super Bowl XX remains the undisputed apex of Chicago Bears history, a milestone reached on January 26, 1986, when they obliterated the New England Patriots with a staggering 46-10 margin. This wasn't merely a victory; it was an execution of the revolutionary '46 Defense' that rendered one of the league's top offenses completely irrelevant. The Bears recorded five sacks, forced four turnovers, and held the Patriots to a solitary touchdown drive that arrived only in garbage time, setting a defensive benchmark that has stood untouched for decades. Beyond the stats, the team embodied a unique alchemy of grit and charisma under Mike Ditka and Jim McMahon, validating the 'Monsters of the Midway' legacy for a modern era. Their performance proved that a defense-first philosophy could conquer the NFL, establishing the 1985 roster as the eternal gold standard against which all great teams are measured.
Did You Know?
- The Bears' defense allowed only one touchdown in their entire playoff run leading up to Super Bowl XX.
- William 'The Refrigerator' Perry became the first defensive lineman to score a rushing touchdown in a Super Bowl.
- The team's pre-game rap song, 'The Super Bowl Shuffle,' reached number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
- This was the franchise's first Super Bowl victory in its 67-year history.