# 1983 Chicago Bears season

The 1983 season was the Chicago Bears' 64th in the National Football League, and their second under head coach Mike Ditka. The team improved from their 3–6 record from 1982 to finish at 8–8, but to failed to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Jim McMahon was the quarterback, who completed 175 of 295 pass attempts. The Bears 1983 NFL draft class was ranked #3 in NFL Top 10's greatest draft classes.

## Offseason
### 1983 NFL Draft

1983 Chicago Bears draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 6 | Jim Covert * $^†$ | Offensive tackle | Pittsburgh |
| 1 | 18 | Willie Gault | Wide receiver | Tennessee |
| 2 | 33 | Mike Richardson | Cornerback | Arizona State |
| 3 | 64 | Dave Duerson * | Safety | Notre Dame |
| 4 | 91 | Tom Thayer | Center | Notre Dame |
| 4 | 107 | Pat Dunsmore | Tight end | Drake |
| 8 | 203 | Richard Dent $^†$ | Defensive end | Tennessee State |
| 8 | 219 | Mark Bortz * | Guard | Iowa |
| 9 | 230 | Rob Fada | Guard | Pittsburgh |
| 9 | 235 | Mark Zavagnin | Linebacker | Notre Dame |
| 10 | 256 | Anthony Hutchison | Running back | Texas Tech |
| 11 | 286 | Gary Worthy | Running back | Wilmington (OH) |
| 12 | 313 | Oliver Williams | Wide receiver | Illinois |
| Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

### Undrafted free agents

1983 Undrafted Free Agents of note :
| Player | Position | College |
| Dave McCarrell | Quarterback | Wheaton |
| Dan Ruzich | Linebacker | Kansas State |

## Preseason

The Bears were predicted to finish 7–9 and fourth in the division by Paul Zimmerman. Their prized new weapon would be Willie Gault. Dennis McKinnon (signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bears in 1983) would also play a key role in the receiving corps and Jimbo Covert would help open bigger holes for Walter Payton but it was felt they were a few offensive lineman and a tight end away from being effective. The defense would be led by All-Pro Dan Hampton and new defensive backs Mike Richardson and Dave Duerson. The Bears started 1983 by losing 7 of their first 10, but won 5 of their last 6 to finish 8–8. The Bears would go 71–18 in regular season games from November 13, 1983, through October 2, 1989.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue |
| 1 | August 6 | Buffalo Bills | W 27–17 | 1–0 | Soldier Field |
| 2 | August 13 | at St. Louis Cardinals | L 24–27 | 1–1 | Busch Stadium |
| 3 | August 20 | at Los Angeles Raiders | W 27–21 | 2–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| 4 | August 27 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 20–17 | 3–1 | Soldier Field |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | September 4 | Atlanta Falcons | L 17–20 | 0–1 | Soldier Field | 60,165 |
| 2 | September 11 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 17–10 | 1–1 | Soldier Field | 58,186 |
| 3 | September 18 | at New Orleans Saints | L 31–34 | 1–2 | Louisiana Superdome | 64,692 |
| 4 | September 25 | at Baltimore Colts | L 19–22 | 1–3 | Memorial Stadium | 34,350 |
| 5 | October 2 | Denver Broncos | W 31–14 | 2–3 | Soldier Field | 58,210 |
| 6 | October 9 | Minnesota Vikings | L 14–23 | 2–4 | Soldier Field | 59,632 |
| 7 | October 16 | at Detroit Lions | L 17–31 | 2–5 | Pontiac Silverdome | 66,709 |
| 8 | October 23 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 7–6 | 3–5 | Veterans Stadium | 45,263 |
| 9 | October 30 | Detroit Lions | L 17–38 | 3–6 | Soldier Field | 58,764 |
| 10 | November 6 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 14–21 | 3–7 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 53,010 |
| 11 | November 13 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 17–14 | 4–7 | Soldier Field | 47,524 |
| 12 | November 20 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 27–0 | 5–7 | Tampa Stadium | 36,816 |
| 13 | November 27 | San Francisco 49ers | W 13–3 | 6–7 | Soldier Field | 40,483 |
| 14 | December 4 | at Green Bay Packers | L 28–31 | 6–8 | Lambeau Field | 51,147 |
| 15 | December 11 | at Minnesota Vikings | W 19–13 | 7–8 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 57,880 |
| 16 | December 18 | Green Bay Packers | W 23–21 | 8–8 | Soldier Field | 35,807 |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |||||||

### Game summaries
#### Week 1: vs. Atlanta Falcons

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 6 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
| Bears | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago
* Date: Sunday, September 4
* Game time: 12:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C), wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
* Referee: Chuck Heberling
* TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan, Johnny Morris
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 2 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buccaneers | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Bears | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
* Date: September 11
* Game time: 12:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), wind 11 mph (18 km/h)
* Referee: Ben Dreith
* TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan, Johnny Morris
* Box Score
CHI: Mike Hartenstine 2.0 sacks, Terry Schmidt INT
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | Buccaneers | Bears |
| 2 | | | | | Buccaneers | 20-yard field goal by Bill Capece | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | | | | | Bears | Walter Payton 73-yard touchdown reception from Jim McMahon, Bob Thomas kick good | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Bears | 50-yard field goal by Bob Thomas | 3 | 10 |
| 3 | | | | | Buccaneers | James Owens 1-yard touchdown run, Bob Capece kick good | 10 | 10 |
| 4 | | | | | Bears | Terry Schmidt 32-yard interception return, Bob Thomas kick good | 10 | 17 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 10 | 17 |

#### Week 3: at New Orleans Saints

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Bears | 7 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 31 |
| Saints | 7 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
* Date: Sunday, September 18
* Game time: 12:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Indoors, dome
* Referee: Fred Wyant
* TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan, Johnny Morris
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 4: at Baltimore Colts

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Bears | 0 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 19 |
| Colts | 0 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 22 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
* Date: Sunday, September 25
* Game time: 2:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C), wind 7 mph (11 km/h)
* Referee: Jerry Seeman
* TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 5: vs. Denver Broncos

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Broncos | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Bears | 14 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 31 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
* Date: Sunday, October 2
* Game time: 12:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), wind 13 mph (21 km/h)
* Referee: Fred Silva
* TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Bob Griese
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 8: at Philadelphia Eagles

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bears | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Eagles | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia
* Date: Sunday, October 23
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C), wind 9 mph (14 km/h)
* Referee: Dick Jorgensen
* TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 9: vs. Detroit Lions

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions | 14 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
| Bears | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
* Date: Sunday, October 30
* Game time: 12:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 43 °F (6 °C), wind 10 mph (16 km/h)
* Referee: Tom Dooley
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 11: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Bears | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
* Date: Sunday, November 13
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 33 °F (1 °C), wind 8 mph (13 km/h)
* Referee: Bob McElwee
* TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 12: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bears | 0 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 27 |
| Buccaneers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida
* Date: Sunday, November 20
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C), wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
* Referee: Red Cashion
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 13: vs. San Francisco 49ers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| 49ers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Bears | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
* Date: Sunday, November 27
* Game time: 12:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 39 °F (4 °C), wind 18 mph (29 km/h)
* Referee: Pat Haggerty
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 14: at Green Bay Packers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bears | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| Packers | 14 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 31 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
* Date: Sunday, December 4
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 25 °F (−4 °C), wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
* Referee: Ben Dreith
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 15: at Minnesota Vikings

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bears | 10 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 19 |
| Vikings | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 |

#### Week 16 vs. Green Bay Packers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Packers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Bears | 7 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 23 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
* Date: December 18
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 1 °F (−17 °C)
* Game attendance: 35,807
* Referee: Red Cashion
* Pro-Football-Reference.com, The Football Database
Game information :
First quarter
CHI – Willie Gault 35-yard pass from Jim McMahon (Bob Thomas kick), 9:24. Bears 7–0.
GB – Lynn Dickey 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 8:10. Tie 7–7.
Second quarter
GB – James Lofton 31-yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Jan Stenerud kick), 3:05. Packers 14–7.
Third quarter
CHI – Dennis McKinnon 22-yard pass from Jim McMahon (Bob Thomas kick), 6:35. Tie 14–14.
Fourth quarter
CHI – Jim McMahon 6-yard run (kick failed), 4:34. Bears 20–14.
GB – Paul Coffman 5-yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Jan Stenerud kick), 3:08. Packers 21–20.
CHI – Bob Thomas 22-yard field goal, 0:10. Bears 23–21.
Top passers
GB – Lynn Dickey – 10/30, 262 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT
CHI – Jim McMahon – 14/25, 162 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
GB – Jessie Clark – 7 rushes, 61 yards
CHI – Walter Payton – 30 rushes, 148 yards
Top receivers
GB – Paul Coffman – 4 receptions, 122 yards, TD
CHI – Willie Gault – 2 receptions, 50 yards, TD :

### Standings

NFC Central :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Detroit Lions$^{(3)}$ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 7–1 | 8–4 | 347 | 286 | W1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–4 | 6–6 | 429 | 439 | L1 |
| Chicago Bears | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–4 | 7–7 | 311 | 301 | W2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–4 | 4–8 | 316 | 348 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 1–7 | 1–11 | 241 | 380 | L3 |