Blast from the Past

All
Sports
Blast from the Past
Collector's Corner

Bears make biggest 'statement' since the Ditka era

The Bears-Eagles game was branded as a defining moment for Ben Johnson and the 2025 Bears and it certainly was that. Their convincing 25-19 victory — on a short week, on the road, against a defending Super Bowl champion Eagles team motivated to atone for a loss to the rival Cowboys five days earlier — turned into a classic "statement" game. But just how big of a statement was it? The Bears have won "statement" games before, but none in recent Bears history has had much stayin

Mark Potash

Dec 19 min read

Nov. 20, 1977: Walter Payton runs into the history books

When you watch a football game as a teenager and think, "That's the greatest run I've ever seen," chances are that you not only have seen greater runs in your past but will see several more better runs in your future. Not so with Walter Payton's 18-yard run against the Chiefs on Nov. 13, 1977. With the Bears trailing the Chiefs 17-0 at Soldier Field and their faint playoff hopes flickering, Payton took a handoff from Bob Avellini at the Chiefs' 18-yard line, got hemmed in on

Mark Potash

Nov 203 min read

Bears scrapbook — Rookie sensations

The Bears' 2025 rookie class got off to a slow start, but has shown signs of life in recent games, with room for more growth in the final eight games of the season: Tight end Colston Loveland (first round, No. 10 overall) had 11 receptions for 116 yards and no touchdowns in his first six games. But he six receptions for 138 yards and a game-winning 58-yard touchdown against the Bengals, and four receptions for 55 yards against the Giants last week. Wide receiver Luther Burde

Mark Potash

Nov 152 min read

Bears Scrapbook — McMahon, Mongo and other ultimate Bears

This 2019 feature included a top-10 list of Bears players who were not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Since then, Jim Covert (2020), Devin Hester (2024) and Steve McMichael (2025) have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Mark Potash

Nov 81 min read

Bears Scrapbook — Gale Sayers' brief but spectacular career

Gale Sayers played just 68 games with the Bears — tied for 231st on the Bears' all-time list Among those who have played more are Markus Paul (70), Bruce Herron (71), Zack Bowman (73) and Craig Steltz (77). But his impact on the Bears and the NFL was indelible — he scored 18 touchdowns of 50 or more yards in his first three seasons with the Bears. His knee injury against the 49ers in 1968 shortened his career — but even as a shell of his former self, Sayers still led the NFL

Mark Potash

Nov 11 min read

Bears scrapbook — Hometown heroes

The Bears are down to three players from the Chicago area — tight end Cole Kmet (St. Viator), linebacker T.J. Edwards (Lakes) and offensive lineman Kiran Amegadjie (Hinsdale Central). Two years ago they had six — Kmet, Edwards, Jack Sanborn (Lake Zurich), Robert Tonyan (McHenry), Dan Feeney (Sandburg) and Doug Kramer (Hinsdale Central). This week's Bears scrapbook takes a look back at the Bears best hometown players — one of many NFL lists headed by the great Dick Butkus:

Mark Potash

Oct 251 min read

'He really shot that one out of the cannon' — Dave Kingman's 3-HR game vs. the Dodgers

The anticipation among Cubs fans was palpable after the Cubs signed Dave Kingman to a five-year, $1.4 million contract as a free agent in...

Mark Potash

Oct 32 min read

Bears Scrapbook — Fantastic Finishes

Mark Potash

Sep 260 min read

Happy 100th birthday, Bobby Shantz

As a history buff, I love longevity links. Harrison Ruffin Tyler, a grandson of President John Tyler — who was born in 1790 and served as president from 1841-45 — just passed away on May 25 of 2025 at 96. Al Benton, a two-time all-star pitcher for the Tigers, pitched to Hall of Fame sluggers Babe Ruth, who began his big-league career in 1915, and Mickey Mantle, who played his last big-league game in 1968. Former White Sox starter Jim Kaat, who played in the big leagues in 198

Mark Potash

Sep 264 min read