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The Chicago Bears are Nothing But a Losing Franchise

By Bill Zimmerman

Oct 16, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Arrelious Benn (17) runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Jaguars beat the Bears 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Arrelious Benn (17) runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Jaguars beat the Bears 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /
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After another loss, perhaps it’s time to accept that the Chicago Bears are a losing franchise with no cure in sight.

The Chicago Bears keep inventing new ways to lose football games. That’s not just this season, that seems to be every season. The Bears haven’t been consistently good since the 1980s and haven’t won multiple championships with the same core group of players since the 1940s.

Losing franchises find ways to lose.

When Tracy Porter lost his footing and Arrelious Benn caught a pass, stumbled to the ground, got up and galloped 51 yards for the game winning score. Bears fans dropped their heads and found themselves disappointed yet again. But why? This shouldn’t have been a surprise, this should have been accepted.

The loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars doesn’t capsulize this season. It capsulizes this franchise.

The Bears like to consider themselves one of the premiere franchises in the NFL, but truth be told, this team has done very little since 1946. That season, the Bears won their seventh championship in just 26 seasons. They were truly the cornerstone franchise of the league. Since then, it’s been quite the opposite.

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Since 1947, in the last 70 seasons, the Bears have 2 championships. They have only appeared in three other title games.  That’s five championship/Super Bowl appearances in seven decades.

The Bears did see a high level of success from 1984 to 1991 under Mike Ditka when they made the postseason seven out of eight seasons and of course won the Super Bowl in 1985, but even that season is marred by the belief that those Bears should have won at least two, if not three Super Bowls, yet had to settle for one.

Since the Ditka success ended in 1991, the Bears have returned to the mediocrity that has crippled the franchise since 1947. The Bears have just five playoff appearances during that stretch. Barring a miraculous turnaround, this season would be their 15th losing season since 1992. Dave Wannstedt failed. Dick Jauron failed. Lovie Smith had some levels of success, but even Lovie failed. Marc Trestman failed. Now, John Fox is failing.

Jul 20, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Fox Sports analyst Dave Wannstedt does an interview during the Big 12 Media Days at Omni Dallas. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 20, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Fox Sports analyst Dave Wannstedt does an interview during the Big 12 Media Days at Omni Dallas. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Ryan Pace was brought in as the new general manager to rebuild the franchise and bring in a young, talented roster. While the book is still out on Pace, the talent he has brought in certainly isn’t being utilized by Fox.

This season, the Bears have routinely been outplayed in the second half and have blown 3 fourth quarter leads. The Bears have also been penalized 45 times good for 11th in the NFL. You can quote Fox’s career resume and talk about the success he’s had with his previous teams, but those numbers right there show you that the Bears are a poorly coached team.

The John Fox era appears to be no different from the Wannstedt era, the Trestman era, or any other era other than Ditka’s run- a failure.

It’s time to look at this franchise objectively. The Bears are no different that the Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Clippers, or Cleveland Browns. Franchises that have some levels of success, but continually fail to win consistently or win championships.

Since the 1963 championship, the Chicago Bears own a 389-409-4 record. They have been a losing franchise for over 50 years, and that record includes the 90-37 record the team amassed from 1984 to 1991. Not including those seasons, the Bears are almost 70 games below .500 since 1963.

Translation? The Chicago Bears have become a losing franchise. You know what losing franchises do best? They lose. The days of Luckman, Halas and the T Formation are long gone. I’ve always said, until losing franchises give you a reason to truly believe that they’ve turned the corner, you should continue to assume they will lose.

That’s the Chicago Bears. Until Ryan Pace (or another future GM) puts together a young, talented franchise that appears ready to win year after year, there is no reason to think the Bears can start winning games. Losing franchises find ways to lose.

That is your Chicago Bears. As a fan, do yourself a favor, save yourself a lot of heartache and don’t consider them anything else until they prove otherwise.

Bill Zimmerman is an editor and featured writer for FanSided‘s BearGogglesOn. Like his Facebook page or follow him on Twitter for more news and interaction.

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