The 1997 Chicago Bears season was their 78th regular season completed in the National Football League (NFL). The team finished with a 4–12 record under head coach Dave Wannstedt. It was the team's first 4-win season since they posted a 4–10 record in 1975. The team allowed a franchise-record 421 points in 1997.[1]
Quick Facts Chicago Bears season, Head coach ...
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NFL draft
More information Round, Pick ...
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[2]
1997 Chicago Bears staff
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Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
- Physical development coordinator – Russ Riederer
- Assistant physical development coordinator – Steve Little
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[3]
1997 Chicago Bears roster
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
Practice squad
53 active, 7 inactive, 3 practice squad
Rookies in italics
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[4]
Schedule
More information Week, Date ...
Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Record |
Venue |
Attendance |
1 |
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at Green Bay Packers |
L 24–38 |
0–1 |
Lambeau Field |
60,766 |
2 |
September 7 |
Minnesota Vikings |
L 24–27 |
0–2 |
Soldier Field |
59,263 |
3 |
September 14 |
Detroit Lions |
L 7–32 |
0–3 |
Soldier Field |
59,147 |
4 |
September 21 |
at New England Patriots |
L 3–31 |
0–4 |
Foxboro Stadium |
59,873 |
5 |
September 28 |
at Dallas Cowboys |
L 3–27 |
0–5 |
Texas Stadium |
64,082 |
6 |
October 5 |
New Orleans Saints |
L 17–20 |
0–6 |
Soldier Field |
58,865 |
7 |
October 12 |
Green Bay Packers |
L 23–24 |
0–7 |
Soldier Field |
62,212 |
8 |
Bye |
9 |
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at Miami Dolphins |
W 36–33 (OT) |
1–7 |
Pro Player Stadium |
73,156 |
10 |
November 2 |
Washington Redskins |
L 8–31 |
1–8 |
Soldier Field |
53,052 |
11 |
November 9 |
at Minnesota Vikings |
L 22–29 |
1–9 |
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
63,443 |
12 |
November 16 |
New York Jets |
L 15–23 |
1–10 |
Soldier Field |
45,642 |
13 |
November 23 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
W 13–7 |
2–10 |
Soldier Field |
43,955 |
14 |
November 27 |
at Detroit Lions |
L 20–55 |
2–11 |
Pontiac Silverdome |
77,904 |
15 |
December 7 |
Buffalo Bills |
W 20–3 |
3–11 |
Soldier Field |
39,784 |
16 |
December 14 |
at St. Louis Rams |
W 13–10 |
4–11 |
Trans World Dome |
66,030 |
17 |
December 21 |
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
L 15–31 |
4–12 |
Houlihan's Stadium |
70,930 |
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Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
More information NFC Central, W ...
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Week 1: at Green Bay Packers
More information Period, Total ...
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Bears |
0 |
11 |
0 | 13 | 24 |
Packers |
3 |
15 |
6 | 14 | 38 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- GB – Ryan Longwell 36-yard field goal. Packers 21–11.
- GB – Ryan Longwell 29-yard field goal. Packers 24–11.
Fourth quarter
- GB – Dorsey Levens 1-yard run (Ryan Longwell kick). Packers 31–11.
- CHI – Ricky Proehl 22-yard pass from Erik Kramer (pass failed). Packers 31–17.
- GB – Gabe Wilkins 1-yard fumble return (Ryan Longwell kick). Packers 38–17.
- CHI – Raymond Harris 68-yard run (Jeff Jaeger kick). Packers 38–24.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
- CHI – Raymont Harris – 4 receptions, 36 yards
- GB – Robert Brooks – 3 receptions, 71 yards, TD
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Week 2: vs. Minnesota Vikings
More information Period, Total ...
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Vikings |
3 |
0 |
10 | 14 | 27 |
Bears |
0 |
10 |
7 | 7 | 24 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- MIN – Greg Davis 28-yard field goal. Bears 10–6.
- MIN – Orlando Thomas 22-yard fumble return (Greg Davis kick). Vikings 13–10.
- CHI – Bobby Engram 10-yard pass from Erik Kramer (Jeff Jaeger kick). Bears 17–13.
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 3: vs. Detroit Lions
More information Period, Total ...
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Lions |
3 |
10 |
10 | 9 | 32 |
Bears |
7 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
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Week Three: Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears – Game summary
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: September 14
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 59,147
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Week 4: at New England Patriots
More information Period, Total ...
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Bears |
0 |
0 |
3 | 0 | 3 |
Patriots |
7 |
7 |
0 | 17 | 31 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- NE – Troy Brown 52-yard pass from Drew Bledsoe (Adam Vinatieri kick). Patriots 14–0.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- NE – Adam Vinatieri 27-yard field goal. Patriots 17–3.
- NE – Curtis Martin 70-yard run (Adam Vinatieri kick). Patriots 24–3.
- NE – Lovett Purnell 20-yard pass from Scott Zolak (Adam Vinatieri kick). Patriots 31–3.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Close
Week 5: at Dallas Cowboys
More information Period, Total ...
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Bears |
3 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 3 |
Cowboys |
0 |
7 |
17 | 3 | 27 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- DAL – Richie Cunningham 33-yard field goal. Cowboys 10–3.
- DAL – Michael Irvin 26-yard pass from Troy Aikman (Richie Cunningham kick). Cowboys 17–3.
- DAL – Deion Sanders 83-yard punt return (Richie Cunningham kick). Cowboys 24–3.
Fourth quarter
- DAL – Richie Cunningham 23-yard field goal. Cowboys 27–3.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week Five: Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: September 28
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 78 °F (26 °C)
- Game attendance: 64,082
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Week 6: vs. New Orleans Saints
More information Period, Total ...
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Saints |
0 |
3 |
10 | 7 | 20 |
Bears |
3 |
0 |
0 | 14 | 17 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- NO – Mario Bates 49-yard run (Doug Brien kick). Saints 10–3.
- NO – Doug Brien 48-yard field goal. Saints 13–3.
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week Six: New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears – Game summary
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers
More information Period, Total ...
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Packers |
0 |
14 |
7 | 3 | 24 |
Bears |
10 |
0 |
7 | 6 | 23 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- CHI – Erik Kramer 3-yard run (Jeff Jaeger kick). Bears 17–14.
- GB – Mark Chmura 12-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick). Packers 21–17.
Fourth quarter
- GB – Ryan Longwell 37-yard field goal. Packers 24–17.
- CHI – Chris Penn 22-yard pass from Erik Kramer (pass failed). Packers 24–23.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week Seven: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: October 12
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C)
- Game attendance: 62,212
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Week 9: at Miami Dolphins
More information Period, OT ...
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | OT | Total |
Bears |
7 |
8 |
3 | 15 | 3 | 36 |
Dolphins |
7 |
6 |
6 | 14 | 0 | 33 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 39-yard field goal. Bears 10–7.
- CHI – Dan Marino sacked in end zone. Bears 12–7.
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 23-yard field goal. Bears 15–7.
- MIA – Jerris McPhail 10-yard pass from Dan Marino (pass failed). Bears 15–13.
Third quarter
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 47-yard field goal. Bears 18–13.
- MIA – Terrell Buckley 22-yard fumble return (pass failed). Dolphins 19–18.
Fourth quarter
- MIA – Troy Drayton 22-yard pass from Dan Marino (Olindo Mare kick). Dolphins 26–18.
- MIA – Karim Abdul-Jabbar 2-yard run (Olindo Mare kick). Dolphins 33–18.
- CHI – Bobby Engram 8-yard pass from Erik Kramer (Jeff Jaeger kick). Dolphins 33–25.
- CHI – Chris Penn 25-yard pass from Erik Kramer (Erik Kramer pass to Bobby Engram). Tied 33–33.
Overtime
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 35-yard field goal. Bears 36–33.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week Nine: Chicago Bears at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
at Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date:
- Game time: 8:00 p.m. CST/9:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C)
- Game attendance: 73,156
- TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf and Lynn Swann
- Box score
Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins
More information Period, Total ...
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Redskins |
14 |
10 |
7 | 0 | 31 |
Bears |
0 |
0 |
0 | 8 | 8 |
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- WAS – Gus Frerotte 1-yard run (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 21–0.
- WAS – Scott Blanton 38-yard field goal. Redskins 24–0.
Third quarter
- WAS – Leslie Shepherd 39-yard pass from Gus Frerotte (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 31–0.
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Close
Week Ten: Washington Redskins at Chicago Bears – Game summary
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: November 2
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C)
- Game attendance: 53,052
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Week 11: at Minnesota Vikings
More information Period, Total ...
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Bears |
7 |
3 |
9 | 3 | 22 |
Vikings |
7 |
14 |
0 | 8 | 29 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- MIN – David Palmer 7-yard pass from Brad Johnson (Eddie Murray kick). Vikings 14–7.
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 29-yard field goal. Vikings 14–10.
- MIN – Chuck Evans 3-yard run (Eddie Murray kick). Vikings 21–10.
Third quarter
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 22-yard field goal. Vikings 21–13.
- CHI – Ricky Proehl 59-yard pass from Erik Kramer (pass failed). Vikings 21–19.
Fourth quarter
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 36-yard field goal. Bears 22–21.
- MIN – Leroy Hoard 1-yard run (Brad Johnson pass to Cris Carter). Vikings 29–22.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Close
Week 12: vs. New York Jets
More information Period, Total ...
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Jets |
10 |
13 |
0 | 0 | 23 |
Bears |
0 |
0 |
7 | 8 | 15 |
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- NYJ – John Hall 36-yard field goal. Jets 13–0.
- NYJ – John Hall 34-yard field goal. Jets 16–0.
- NYJ – Otis Smith 38-yard interception return (John Hall kick). Jets 23–0.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week Twelve: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Week 13: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
More information Period, Total ...
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Buccaneers |
0 |
0 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
Bears |
10 |
3 |
0 | 0 | 13 |
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 25-yard field goal. Bears 13–0.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week Thirteen: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: November 23
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 27 °F (−3 °C)
- Game attendance: 43,955
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Week 14: at Detroit Lions
More information Period, Total ...
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Bears |
14 |
6 |
0 | 0 | 20 |
Lions |
3 |
14 |
17 | 21 | 55 |
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 52-yard field goal. Bears 17–3.
- DET – Herman Moore 8-yard pass from Scott Mitchell (Jason Hanson kick). Bears 17–10.
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 32-yard field goal. Bears 20–10.
- DET – Barry Sanders 40-yard run (Jason Hanson kick). Bears 20–17.
Third quarter
- DET – Jason Hanson 29-yard field goal. Tied 20–20.
- DET – Johnnie Morton 50-yard pass from Scott Mitchell (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 27–20.
- DET – Barry Sanders 25-yard run (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 34–20.
Fourth quarter
- DET – Barry Sanders 15-yard run (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 41–20.
- DET – Ron Rivers 13-yard run (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 48–20.
- DET – Tracy Scroggins 17-yard fumble return (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 55–20.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Close
Week Fourteen: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions – Game summary
at Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, Michigan
- Date:
- Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST/12:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather: None (played indoors)
- Game attendance: 77,904
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Week 15: vs. Buffalo Bills
More information Period, Total ...
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Bills |
0 |
3 |
0 | 0 | 3 |
Bears |
0 |
17 |
0 | 3 | 20 |
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 38-yard field goal. Bears 20–3.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Close
Week Fifteen: Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears – Game summary
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Week 16: at St. Louis Rams
More information Period, Total ...
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Bears |
0 |
7 |
0 | 6 | 13 |
Rams |
7 |
0 |
0 | 3 | 10 |
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- STL – Jeff Wilkins 26-yard field goal. Rams 10–7.
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 27-yard field goal. Tied 10–10.
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 21-yard field goal. Bears 13–10.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Close
Week 17: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
More information Period, Total ...
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Bears |
0 |
7 |
0 | 8 | 15 |
Buccaneers |
14 |
7 |
10 | 0 | 31 |
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- CHI – Darnell Autry 3-yard run (Jeff Jaeger kick). Buccaneers 14–7.
- TB – Karl Williams 7-yard pass from Trent Dilfer (Michael Husted kick). Buccaneers 21–7.
Third quarter
- TB – Michael Husted 20-yard field goal. Buccaneers 24–7.
- TB – Errict Rhett 5-yard run (Michael Husted kick). Buccaneers 31–7.
Fourth quarter
- CHI – Rick Mirer 1-yard run (Rick Mirer run). Buccaneers 31–15.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Close
Week Seventeen: Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
at Houlihan's Stadium, Tampa Bay, Florida
- Date: December 21
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C)
- Game attendance: 70,930
- TV: Fox
- Box score
"Club directory". Chicago Bears 1997 Media Guide. p. 2.