The Chicago Bears are one of the most storied franchises in NFL history. They have won 8 NFL Championships, and have been to the Super Bowl two times, winning it in 1985 (Super Bowl XX).
The Bears have also won thirteen conference championships and six divisional titles, and hold the NFL record for the most retired jersey numbers (14). Some of the game’s greatest players have donned the blue and orange, including Hall of Famers George Halas, Walter Payton, Mike Ditka, Dick Butkus, and Bronko Nagurski. Let’s take a look at all of the Chicago Bears’ retired jerseys numbers.
How many retired jerseys do the Chicago Bears have?
The Chicago Bears have retired a total of 14 jersey numbers, which is the most in the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers sit in second place with 12. Here’s a brief bio of all the Chicago Bears players who have had their retired jersey numbers:
3 – Bronislau “Bronko” Nagurski
Bronko was a Chicago Bears fullback and defensive tackle who is widely considered to be one of the best players in NFL history. Born in Saskatchewan, Canada, He moved to Chicago as a young child. Bronko played college football at the University of Minnesota before starting his professional career with the Bears in 1930. He played for 9 seasons with the Bears, winning 3 NFL Championships. Nagurski was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963 and his jersey number 3 has been retired for quite some time.
5 – George McAfee
George McAfee played as running back and defensive back for the Bears and played for 11 seasons with the team. A native Chicagoan who played college football at Duke University. McAfee is considered one of the best all-around players in NFL history. He led the league in punt return average 3 times and was selected to 8 Pro Bowls. George’s jersey number 5 was retired by the Bears in 1966, just 2 years after he played his final season.
51 – Dick Butkus
There is no doubt that Dick Butkus is a Chicago Bears legend. He played as a linebacker for 9 seasons and is considered one of the best defensive football players of all time. Butkus was born in Chicago and played college football at the University of Illinois. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979 and his jersey number 51 was retired by the Bears shortly thereafter.
34 – Walter Payton
Walter Payton is arguably the greatest Chicago Bear of all time. The running back who played for 13 seasons with the Bears is considered one of the best running backs in NFL history. Payton was born in Mississippi and played college football at Jackson State University. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993 and his jersey number 34 was retired by the Bears that same year.
40 – Gale Sayers
Gale Sayers is another Bears running back legend, he was with the franchise for 7 seasons. Sayers was born in Kansas and played college football at the University of Kansas and was drafted by the Bears in the 1965 NFL Draft, He was the fourth overall pick in the first round. Sayers was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977 and his jersey number 40 was retired by the Bears that same year.
7 – George Halas
George Stanley Halas is considered one of the most important figures in NFL history. Halas who earned the nicknames “Papa Bear” and “Mr. Everything” was a Chicago Bears player, coach, and owner. Halas was born in Chicago and played college football at the University of Illinois. He played for 2 seasons with the Bears before serving in the US Navy during World War I. Halas returned to the Bears in 1919 and went on to play for 6 more seasons. He retired from playing in 1929 and became the team’s head coach. Halas coached the Bears for 40 seasons, winning 6 NFL Championships. He also served as the team’s owner for 72 years and Halas’ jersey number 7 has been retired for quite some time
28 – Willie Galimore
Willie “The Wisp” Galimore, a running back who played for 8 seasons with the team. Galimore is considered one of the best running backs in Chicago Bears history. He was born in Florida and played college football at Florida A&M University. Galimore’s legendary status goes far beyond the football field, his civil rights activism has been honored with a Freedom Trail marker at his home in St. Augustine. His famous number 28 is on the Bears retired jerseys numbers list.
41 – Brian Piccolo
Brian Piccolo was a Chicago Bears fullback/halfback who played for 4 seasons with the team. He was born in New Jersey and played college football at Wake Forest University. Piccolo, unfortunately, passed away at a young age due to embryonal cell carcinoma. His jersey number 41 was retired by the team in 1970, just 2 years after his death.
42 – Sid Luckman
Sid Luckman played as a quarterback for the Bears for 12 seasons, from 1939 through 1950. He was born in Brooklyn and played college football at Columbia University. Luckman is considered one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. He led the Bears to 4 NFL Championships and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965. Sid Luckman’s jersey number 42 was retired by the Bears in 1949, just 2 years after he played his final season.
56 – Bill Hewitt
Bill Hewitt was a Chicago Bears tight end who played for 12 seasons with the team. He was born in Pennsylvania and played college football at the University of Michigan. Hewitt is considered one of the best tight ends in Chicago Bears history. His jersey number 56 was retired by the team in 1971, just 5 years after his death.
61 – Bill George
Bill George a second-round draft pick in 1951 was a Chicago Bears linebacker who played for 14 seasons with the team. He was born in Illinois and played college football at Wake Forest University. George was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974 and his jersey number 61 was retired by the Bears shortly thereafter.
Bulldog Turner – 66
Clyde Douglas “Bulldog” Turner was a Chicago Bears center who played for 12 seasons with the team. He was born in Texas and played college football at Hardin–Simmons University. Turner is considered one of the best centers in Chicago Bears history, he was selected as a first-team All-Pro eight times and won 4 NFL championships with the Bears. His jersey number 66 was retired by the team in 1963, just 2 years after his death.
77 – Red Grange
Harold Edward “Red” Grange was a Chicago Bears running back who played for 9 seasons with the team. He was born in Illinois and played college football at the University of Illinois. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963 and his jersey number 77 was retired by the Bears shortly thereafter.
89 – Mike Ditka
The legend Mike Ditka, Chicago Bears’ 1961 number 1 draft pick played as a tight end for 9 seasons with the team and is considered one of the best tight ends of all time. Ditka was born in Pennsylvania and played college football at the University of Pittsburgh. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 and his jersey number 89 was retired by the Bears on December 9, 2013.
There you have it, that’s the complete list! If you want to find out what other teams have retired numbers check out our post on all of the retired numbers in NFL history.
