# Bears–Giants rivalry

The Bears–Giants rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants. The rivalry was notable for the six NFL championship games between the two teams before the creation of the Super Bowl, and the two subsequent Super Bowl-era playoff meetings that involved two of the NFL's greatest defensive units: the Bears' 46 defense crew helmed by Buddy Ryan, and the Giants' Big Blue Wrecking Crew mentored by Bill Belichick.

## History
### Pre-Super Bowl era

The Bears and Giants met in six NFL championship games, more than any common matchup in either the NFL Championship or Super Bowl. Between 1933 and 1946, the Bears and/or the Giants appeared in 12 of 14 NFL championship games, and combined to win seven championships in that span. Their first meeting came in the first-ever NFL Championship Game that concluded the 1933 season. In a close-knit affair, the Bears won the game and the championship 23–21 by scoring the game-winning touchdown in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. It was Chicago's second consecutive championship, having previously won in 1932 when the league awarded the title to the team with the best regular season winning percentage. However, the Giants returned the favor in the 1934 NFL Championship Game, winning 30–13 by outscoring the Bears 27–0 in the fourth quarter. The game was forever immortalized as the "Sneakers Game", as the Giants switched to basketball sneakers at the half due to the slick frozen conditions that affected the Polo Grounds field.
The Bears and Giants met for a third time in the 1941 NFL Championship Game. This game was notable as it happened two weeks following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; as a result, only 13,341 fans attended the game at Wrigley Field, the lowest of any NFL championship game. The Bears dominated the Giants 37–9 to win their fifth NFL title, thanks to four unanswered touchdowns in the second half. A fourth meeting took place in the 1946 NFL Championship Game, in which a then-record 58,346 fans witnessed the Bears defeat the Giants 24–14 in New York. The game was tied 14–14 after three quarters before the Bears scored ten unanswered points. The victory was marred, however, by a bribery scandal involving two Giants players.
In the 1956 NFL Championship Game, the Giants routed the Bears 47–7 at Yankee Stadium to win the championship. It was the team's last title until Super Bowl XXI in 1986. Similar to the 1934 title game, the Giants wore sneakers in order to gain traction on an icy field. Seven years later, the Giants and Bears met for a sixth time to decide the 1963 NFL Championship. In a low-scoring affair, the Bears prevailed 14–10 to win their eighth NFL championship, their last until Super Bowl XX in 1985. It was also the final meeting between the Bears and Giants that decided the NFL championship.

### Super Bowl era

The two teams underwent lengthy rebuilding periods following the 1963 title game, but in the 1980s, the Bears and Giants reemerged into title contention, thanks to two of the greatest defensive units in NFL history. Chicago's 46 defense, coached by Mike Ditka and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, featured Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary, and defensive ends Richard Dent and Dan Hampton. New York's Big Blue Wrecking Crew, on the other hand, were coached by Bill Parcells and defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, and featured Hall of Fame linebackers Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks and Harry Carson. The two teams first squared off in the 1985 NFC Divisional Round, in which Chicago's defensive crew outplayed their Giant counterparts in a 21–0 shutout. The tone of the game was set when a punt attempt by Giants punter Sean Landeta was muffed in the strong winds and Shaun Gayle returned it five yards for a touchdown. The Bears went on to win the Super Bowl that season. A rematch then took place in the 1990 NFC Divisional Round, which also ended in a blowout. This time, however, the Giants dominated Chicago in a 31–3 rout, and went on to win Super Bowl XXV. To date, this was the most recent meeting in the playoffs between the Bears and the Giants.

### Recent years

After the 1990 playoff meeting, the rivalry cooled off a bit, though games between the two teams remained highly competitive. However, there were some notable moments that took place since then. During Week 10 of the 2006 season, Bears returner Devin Hester returned a missed field goal a then-record 108 yards for a touchdown, culminating in the Bears' 38–20 victory. The win proved crucial for the Bears as they went on to finish with the NFC's best record at 13–3, en route to a Super Bowl XLI appearance. The Giants, on the other hand, turned a 6–2 start into a 2–6 finish, ending with an 8–8 record and losing in the Wild Card Round to the rival Philadelphia Eagles. Then in Week 4 of the 2010 season, the Giants defense sacked Bears quarterback Jay Cutler nine times in the first half en route to a 17–3 victory, dealing Chicago its first loss of the season. In a Week 13 game in 2018, the Bears trailed the Giants 27–17. With 1:15 left in regulation, Bears kicker Cody Parkey kicked a field goal which made it 27–20. The Bears recovered the onside-kick with 1:13 left which was recovered by Daniel Brown. The Bears drove from their own 44 to the Giants' 1 with 3 seconds left. On a last ditch play, quarterback Chase Daniel handed it off to Trey Burton who tossed the ball back to Tarik Cohen and Cohen threw the ball for a touchdown to Anthony Miller with no time on the clock. The extra point by Parkey was good which sent the game to overtime tied at 27. The Giants won the overtime coin toss and received the ball. The Giants drove from their own 25 to the Bears' 23. They got backed to the 26 where they would kick a field goal to take a 30–27 lead with 5:57 left in the game. But the Bears failed to respond after Daniel fumbled 3 times and failed a last ditch pass deep down the field that was broken up to preserve a 30–27 Giants win.

## Season-by-season results

Chicago Bears vs. New York Giants season-by-season results :
1920s (Giants, 5–3)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1925
Bears 19–7
Polo Grounds
Bears 1–0
Giants' inaugural season. First meeting at Polo Grounds.
Giants 9–0
Wrigley Field
Tied 1–1
First meeting at Wrigley Field.
1926
Bears 7–0
Wrigley Field
Bears 2–1
1927
Giants 13–7
Polo Grounds
Tied 2–2
Giants win 1927 NFL Championship.
1928
Bears 13–0
Wrigley Field
Bears 3–2
1929
Giants 26–14
Wrigley Field
Tied 3–3
Giants 34–0
Polo Grounds
Giants 4–3
Giants take first lead in the series.
Giants 14–9
Wrigley Field
Giants 5–3 :
1930s (Bears, 11–6–1)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1930
Giants 12–0
Wrigley Field
Giants 6–3
Bears 12–0
Polo Grounds
Giants 6–4
1931
Bears 6–0
Wrigley Field
Giants 6–5
Bears 12–6
Polo Grounds
Tied 6–6
Giants 25–6
Wrigley Field
Giants 7–6
1932
Bears 28–8
Polo Grounds
Tied 7–7
Bears won 1932 NFL Championship.
Bears 6–0
Wrigley Field
Bears 8–7
1933
Bears 14–10
Wrigley Field
Bears 9–7
Giants 3–0
Polo Grounds
Bears 9–8
1933 playoffs
Bears 23–21
Wrigley Field
Bears 10–8
First scheduled NFL Championship game in league history.
1934
Bears 27–7
Wrigley Field
Bears 11–8
Bears 10–9
Polo Grounds
Bears 12–8
1934 playoffs
Giants 30–13
Polo Grounds
Bears 12–9
1934 NFL Championship Game. Popularly known as the Sneakers Game.
1935
Bears 20–3
Polo Grounds
Bears 13–9
Giants lose NFL Championship.
Giants 3–0
Wrigley Field
Bears 13–10
1936
Bears 25–7
Polo Grounds
Bears 14–10
1937
Tie 3–3
Polo Grounds
Bears 14–10–1
Bears lose NFL Championship.
1939
Giants 16–13
Polo Grounds
Bears 14–11–1
Giants lose NFL Championship. :
1940s (Bears, 6–2)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1940
Bears 37–21
Polo Grounds
Bears 15–11–1
Bears win NFL Championship.
1941 playoffs
Bears 37–9
Wrigley Field
Bears 16–11–1
1941 NFL Championship Game
1942
Bears 26–7
Wrigley Field
Bears 17–11–1
Bears lose NFL Championship.
1943
Bears 56–7
Polo Grounds
Bears 18–11–1
Most lopsided Bears victory and highest-scoring game in the rivalry. Bears win NFL Championship.
1946
Giants 14–0
Polo Grounds
Bears 18–12–1
1946 playoffs
Bears 24–14
Polo Grounds
Bears 19–12–1
1946 NFL Championship Game
1948
Bears 35–14
Wrigley Field
Bears 20–12–1
1949
Giants 35–28
Polo Grounds
Bears 20–13–1
Final meeting at Polo Grounds. :
1950s (Giants, 1–0–1)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1956
Tie 17–17
Yankee Stadium
Bears 20–13–2
First meeting at Yankee Stadium.
1956 playoffs
Giants 47–7
Yankee Stadium
Bears 20–14–2
NFL Championship Game. Giants' largest margin of victory in the rivalry. :
1960s (Bears, 3–2)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1962
Giants 26–24
Wrigley Field
Bears 20–15–2
Giants lose NFL Championship.
1963 playoffs
Bears 14–10
Wrigley Field
Bears 21–15–2
Sixth and final NFL Championship Game between the two teams. The Bears finished with a 4–2 record in NFL Championship Games against the Giants. Last playoff meeting until 1985.
1965
Bears 35–14
Yankee Stadium
Bears 22–15–2
1967
Bears 34–7
Wrigley Field
Bears 23–15–2
Final meeting at Wrigley Field.
1969
Giants 28–24
Yankee Stadium
Bears 23–16–2 :
1970s (Bears, 3–0)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1970
Bears 24–16
Yankee Stadium
Bears 24–16–2
Final meeting at Yankee Stadium.
1974
Bears 24–16
Soldier Field
Bears 25–16–2
First meeting at Soldier Field.
1977
Bears 12–9(OT)
Giants Stadium
Bears 26–16–2
First meeting at Giants Stadium. Chicago's victory clinched their first post-season appearance since 1963. :
1980s (Bears, 2–0)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1985 playoffs
Bears 21–0
Soldier Field
Bears 27–16–2
NFC Divisional Round. Bears win Super Bowl XX.
1987
Bears 34–19
Soldier Field
Bears 28–16–2 :
1990s (Giants, 3–2)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1990 playoffs
Giants 31–3
Giants Stadium
Bears 28–17–2
NFC Divisional Round. First meeting in New York since 1977. Giants win Super Bowl XXV. Most recent playoff meeting between the two teams.
1991
Bears 20–17
Soldier Field
Bears 29–17–2
1992
Giants 27–14
Soldier Field
Bears 29–18–2
1993
Giants 26–20
Soldier Field
Bears 29–19–2
1995
Bears 27–24
Giants Stadium
Bears 30–19–2 :
2000s (Tied, 2–2)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
2000
Giants 14–7
Soldier Field
Bears 30–20–2
Giants lose Super Bowl XXXV.
2004
Bears 28–21
Giants Stadium
Bears 31–20–2
2006
Bears 38–20
Giants Stadium
Bears 32–20–2
Final meeting at Giants Stadium. Bears lose Super Bowl XLI.
2007
Giants 21–16
Soldier Field
Bears 32–21–2
Giants win Super Bowl XLII. :
2010s (Giants, 3–2)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
2010
Giants 17–3
MetLife Stadium
Bears 32–22–2
First meeting at MetLife Stadium.
2013
Bears 27–21
Soldier Field
Bears 33–22–2
2016
Giants 22–16
MetLife Stadium
Bears 33–23–2
2018
Giants 30–27(OT)
MetLife Stadium
Bears 33–24–2
2019
Bears 19–14
Soldier Field
Bears 34–24–2 :
2020s (Bears, 2–1)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
2020
Bears 17–13
Soldier Field
Bears 35–24–2
No fans in attendance for game due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2021
Bears 29–3
Soldier Field
Bears 36–24–2
Bears hold Giants to -10 net passing yards, the worst in team history. Giants coach Joe Judge goes on epic 11-minute rant in postgame interview.
2022
Giants 20–12
MetLife Stadium
Bears 36–25–2 :
Summary of results
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bearsat New York GiantsNotes
Regular season
Bears 31–22–2
Bears 16–11
Bears 15–11–2
Postseason
Bears 5–3
Bears 4–0
Giants 3–1
NFL Championship Game: 1933, 1934, 1941, 1946, 1956, 1963 NFC Divisional: 1985, 1990
Regular and postseason
Bears 36–25–2
Bears 20–11
Bears 16–14–2 :

## Players who played for both teams

| Name | Pos. | Years with Bears | Years with Giants |
| Prince Amukamara | CB | 2017–2019 | 2011–2015 |
| Martellus Bennett | TE | 2013–2015 | 2012 |
| Zack Bowman | CB | 2008–2011, 2012–2013 | 2014 |
| Dave Duerson | S | 1983–1989 | 1990 |
| Mike Glennon | QB | 2017 | 2021 |
| Robbie Gould | K | 2005–2015 | 2016 |
| Brandon Marshall | WR | 2012–2014 | 2017 |
| Brad Maynard | P | 2001–2010 | 1997–2000 |
| Bennie McRae | CB | 1962–1970 | 1971 |
| Alec Ogletree | LB | 2021 | 2018–2019 |
| Antrel Rolle | CB | 2015 | 2010–2014 |