The 1965 Chicago Bears season was their 46th regular season in the National Football League. The team improved upon the dismal 5–9 record of the previous season, and finished with a 9–5 record that earned them a third-place finish in the NFL Western Conference.
The Bears started the season 0–3, but thanks to rookies Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus, the team won 9 of the last 11 games. Sayers had a magnificent rookie season, and in one game against the San Francisco 49ers at Chicago's Wrigley Field on December 12, he scored six touchdowns in a 61–20 Bears win, the first time the Bears scored 61 points in a regular-season game.[1] Sayers would set an NFL rookie record with 22 touchdowns in one season.[2] The six-touchdown performance tied an NFL record and set a new Bears record.[3] Quarterback Rudy Bukich completed 176 of 312 passes for 2,641 yards and 20 touchdowns.
The 1965 Bears draft class was named No. 8 on NFL Top 10 draft classes.[4]
Off-season
NFL draft
Roster
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bears |
3 |
0 | 0 | 21 |
24 |
| • 49ers |
0 |
24 | 21 | 7 |
52 |
[5]
Week 2
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bears |
0 |
14 | 14 | 0 |
28 |
| • Rams |
0 |
6 | 3 | 21 |
30 |
[6]
Week 3
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bears |
0 |
0 | 7 | 7 |
14 |
| • Packers |
14 |
6 | 3 | 0 |
23 |
[7]
Week 4
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams |
0 |
3 | 3 | 0 |
6 |
| • Bears |
0 |
10 | 7 | 14 |
31 |
- Date: October 10
- Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
- Game weather: 55 °F (12.8 °C); wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
Scoring summary |
| Q2 | | CHI | Livingston 3-yard run (LeClerc kick) | CHI 7–0 |
|
| Q2 | | CHI | LeClerc 26-yard field goal | CHI 10–0 |
|
| Q2 | | LA | Gossett 16-yard field goal | CHI 10–3 |
|
| Q3 | | LA | Gossett 13-yard field goal | CHI 10–6 |
|
| Q3 | | CHI | Sayers 80-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick) | CHI 17–6 |
|
| Q4 | | CHI | Bukich 1-yard run (LeClerc kick) | CHI 24–6 |
|
| Q4 | | CHI | Gordon 26-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick) | CHI 31–6 |
[8]
Week 5
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bears |
14 |
3 | 7 | 21 |
45 |
| Vikings |
0 |
13 | 10 | 14 |
37 |
Scoring summary |
| Q1 | | CHI | Bull 33-yard run (LeClerc kick) | CHI 7–0 |
|
| Q1 | | CHI | Morris 14-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick) | CHI 14–0 |
|
| Q2 | | MIN | Cox 38-yard field goal | CHI 14–3 |
|
| Q2 | | MIN | Mason 4-yard run (Cox kick) | CHI 14–10 |
|
| Q2 | | CHI | LeClerc 12-yard field goal | CHI 17–10 |
|
| Q2 | | MIN | Cox 40-yard field goal | CHI 17–13 |
|
| Q3 | | MIN | Cox 28-yard field goal | CHI 17–16 |
|
| Q3 | | MIN | Brown 40-yard run (Cox kick) | MIN 23–17 |
|
| Q3 | | CHI | Sayers 18-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick) | CHI 24–23 |
|
| Q4 | | MIN | Tarkenton 2-yard run (Cox kick) | MIN 30–24 |
|
| Q4 | | CHI | Sayers 25-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick) | CHI 31–30 |
|
| Q4 | | MIN | Mason 4-yard run (Cox kick) | MIN 37–31 |
|
| Q4 | | CHI | Sayers 96-yard kickoff return (LeClerc kick) | CHI 38–37 |
|
| Q4 | | CHI | Sayers 10-yard run (LeClerc kick) | CHI 45–37 |
[9]
Week 6
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions |
0 |
3 | 0 | 7 |
10 |
| • Bears |
10 |
14 | 7 | 7 |
38 |
- Date: October 24
- Location: Wrigley Field
[10]
Week 7
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Packers |
7 |
3 | 0 | 0 |
10 |
| • Bears |
0 |
17 | 7 | 7 |
31 |
[11]
Week 8
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Colts |
0 |
10 | 14 | 2 |
26 |
| Bears |
0 |
0 | 7 | 14 |
21 |
- Date: November 7
- Location: Wrigley Field
[12]
Week 9
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals |
7 |
6 | 0 | 0 |
13 |
| • Bears |
10 |
0 | 7 | 17 |
34 |
- Date: November 14
- Location: Wrigley Field
[13]
Week 10
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bears |
0 |
10 | 7 | 0 |
17 |
| Lions |
7 |
3 | 0 | 0 |
10 |
[14]
Week 11
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bears |
7 |
14 | 0 | 14 |
35 |
| Giants |
0 |
0 | 7 | 7 |
14 |
[15]
Week 12
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bears |
7 |
3 | 3 | 0 |
13 |
| Colts |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
[16]
Week 13
Week Thirteen: San Francisco 49ers (7–5) at Chicago Bears (8–4)
at Wrigley Field • Chicago, Illinois
- Date: December 12
- Game weather: 54 °F (12.2 °C) • Wind 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn)
- [17]
Gale Sayers' Six Touchdown Game. His last touchdown came on a 85-yard punt return.
| Scoring summary
|
| Quarter
|
Time
|
Drive
|
Team
|
Scoring information
|
Score
|
| Plays
|
Yards
|
TOP
|
SF
|
CHI
|
| 1
|
|
|
|
|
Bears
|
Gale Sayers 80-yard touchdown reception from Rudy Bukich, 2-point pass failed
|
0
|
6
|
| 1
|
|
|
|
|
Bears
|
Mike Ditka 29-yard touchdown reception from Rudy Bukich, Roger LeClerc kick good
|
0
|
13
|
| 2
|
|
|
|
|
49ers
|
Dave Parks 9-yard touchdown reception from John Brodie, Tommy Davis kick good
|
7
|
13
|
| 2
|
|
|
|
|
Bears
|
Gale Sayers 21-yard touchdown run, Roger LeClerc kick good
|
7
|
20
|
| 2
|
|
|
|
|
49ers
|
John David Crow 15-yard touchdown reception from John Brodie, Tommy Davis kick no good
|
13
|
20
|
| 2
|
|
|
|
|
Bears
|
Gale Sayers 7-yard touchdown run, Roger LeClerc kick good
|
13
|
27
|
| 3
|
|
|
|
|
Bears
|
Gale Sayers 50-yard touchdown run, Roger LeClerc kick good
|
13
|
34
|
| 3
|
|
|
|
|
Bears
|
Gale Sayers 1-yard touchdown run, 2-point run failed
|
13
|
40
|
| 4
|
|
|
|
|
49ers
|
Dave Kopay 2-yard touchdown run, Tommy Davis kick good
|
20
|
40
|
| 4
|
|
|
|
|
Bears
|
Jimmy Jones 8-yard touchdown reception from Rudy Bukich, Roger LeClerc kick good
|
20
|
47
|
| 4
|
|
|
|
|
Bears
|
Punt returned 85 yards for touchdown by Gale Sayers, Roger LeClerc kick good
|
20
|
54
|
| 4
|
|
|
|
|
Bears
|
Jon Arnett 2-yard touchdown run, Roger LeClerc kick good
|
20
|
61
|
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
|
20
|
61
|
|
Week 14
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Vikings |
0 |
0 | 3 | 21 |
24 |
| Bears |
0 |
0 | 7 | 10 |
17 |
- Date: December 19
- Location: Wrigley Field
[18]
Standings
- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Awards and records
- Gale Sayers, NFL rookie record, most touchdowns in one season (22)
- Gale Sayers, NFL record (tied), most touchdowns in one game (6)
- Gale Sayers, club record, most touchdowns in one game (6)
References
- ^ Mayer, Larry (March 6, 2013). "Which players were part of trade that landed Cutler?". Chicago Bears. Archived from the original on March 10, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
- ^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book. New York, NY: Workman Publishing Co. p. 408. ISBN 0-7611-2480-2.
- ^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book. New York, NY: Workman Publishing Co. p. 106. ISBN 0-7611-2480-2.
- ^ "NFLs top 10 draft classes in league history". National Football League. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ^ "Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers – September 19th, 1965". Pro Football Reference. NFL Scores. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ "Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams – September 26th, 1965". Pro Football Reference. NFL Scores. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ "Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – October 3rd, 1965". Pro Football Reference. NFL Scores. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ "Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears – October 10th, 1965". Pro Football Reference. NFL Scores. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
- ^ "Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – October 17th, 1965". Pro Football Reference. NFL Scores. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
- ^ "Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears – October 24th, 1965". Pro Football Reference. NFL Scores. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ "Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – October 31st, 1965". Pro Football Reference. NFL Scores.
- ^ "Baltimore Colts at Chicago Bears – November 7th, 1965". Pro Football Reference. NFL Scores. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ "St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Bears – November 14th, 1965". Pro Football Reference. NFL Scores. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ "Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions – November 21st, 1965". Pro Football Reference. NFL Scores. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ "Chicago Bears at New York Giants – November 28th, 1965". Pro Football Reference. NFL Scores. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ "Chicago Bears at Baltimore Colts – December 5th, 1965". Pro Football Reference. NFL Scores. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ "San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears – December 12th, 1965". Pro Football Reference. NFL Scores.
- ^ "Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – December 19th, 1965". Pro Football Reference. NFL Scores. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
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| Franchise | |
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| Records | |
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| Stadiums | |
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| Culture | |
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| Lore | |
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| Rivalries | |
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| Retired numbers | |
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| Key personnel | |
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| Division championships (22) | |
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| Conference championships (4) | |
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| League championships (9) | |
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| Media |
- Broadcasters
- Radio:
- Personnel:
- Television:
- WFLD (pre-season and most regular season games through Fox, official pre-game and post-game alternate)
- Marquee Sports Network (official post-game and in-season programming)
- Personnel:
- Lou Canellis (gameday television host, pre-season sideline reporter)
- Adam Amin (pre-season play-by-play)
- Jim Miller (pre-season analyst)
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| Current league affiliations | |
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Formerly the Decatur Staleys (1920) and the Chicago Staleys (1921) |
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