30 Day Challenge: My favorite Bears team of all time

June 18, 2026 - 04:34

In the latest installment of our 30 Day Challenge series, one writer digs deep into the archives to name his personal favorite Chicago Bears squad. It is not the 1985 Super Bowl champions, nor the 2006 team that came within a whisker of a title. Instead, the choice is a squad that never even won a playoff game.

The pick is the 2001 Chicago Bears. Led by a ferocious defense that featured Brian Urlacher in his second season, this team went 13-3 and captured the NFC Central crown. They did it with a quarterback who was more caretaker than star, and an offense that often felt like it was just trying not to lose. But that defense was something else. It forced turnovers in bunches, scored touchdowns, and played with a swagger that reminded fans of the old days.

The magic ended abruptly in the playoffs, with a crushing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at home. That loss stung, and it still stings. But for the writer, the 2001 Bears represent a perfect storm of grit, surprise, and youthful energy. They were a team that nobody expected to win, and for one regular season, they made believers out of everyone. That is why, despite the heartbreak, they remain the favorite.