The Chicago Bears have more weird moments in their franchise history than their status as one of the league's founding members and old grey ladies would imply. Even when the Bears were a historically dominant team, some peculiarities managed to take some of the fun out of their Super Bowl triumph.
The 1985 Bears are one of the most iconic teams in NFL history and in contention for the title of best team ever. While their mighty defense was their clear defining trademark, Walter Payton shouldered the load on offense. Super Bowl XX against the New England Patriots should have been a coming-out party for both Payton and the defense, but Mike Ditka made sure one of those things didn't happen.
Rather than letting Payton waltz into the end zone when the game was out of hand, Ditka gave the ball to rookie defensive lineman William "The Refrigerator" Perry. That touchdown has quickly become bittersweet for Bears fans, as Payton never got his shining moment on the biggest stage.
Walter Payton not getting a TD in Super Bowl XX is the weirdest Bears moment
Super Bowl XX was one of the most non-competitive championship games in American sports history. The Patriots barely squeaked into the Super Bowl, and they were thrashed so thoroughly that the 46-10 scoreline actually looks like the game was more competitive than it was.
The game was such a blowout that Ditka decided to put fan-favorite defensive tackle Perry in as a fullback. Perry plunged into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown that solidified the comical lack of competitiveness in this game. There was just one problem with this whole decision.
Payton, who had been the only offensive piece the Bears had for a decade and was the driving force behind the '85 team's offensive attack, was deprived of a chance to score in what was his first and only Super Bowl. Giving it to a defensive tackle instead of handing it off to Payton, who would have scored easily, remains a sore subject around the '85 team.
Ditka has called the decision his biggest regret as a coach, and Payton, while happy his team won the Super Bowl, was upset with the move until he passed away tragically in 1999 at 45 years old. While Payton played well in the game, and the Bears won, a touchdown would have been the perfect capstone to his magical career.
Instead, the Bears gave a rookie defensive tackle the score because...it was funny? This moment may have been quite the joyous experience in real time, but when Bears fans realize how much it hurt Payton, everyone on that team would likely reverse time and give it to No. 34 if they could.