Windy City Gridiron
Historian Jeff Berckes has another take on the Bears' retired jersey situation, and his plan involves George Halas’ number 7 going back in circulation to start the cycle.
The Chicago Bears have a league-leading fourteen numbers retired. I agree with my colleagues Jack Silverstein (The 50-Year Plan - Jack’s story is great and this builds upon it so read his first) and Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. (It’s time for the Chicago Bears to unretire some jersey numbers), but I’m going to take it one step further:
The Chicago Bears should start with the number 7.
Can you list all 14 retired jersey numbers? Can you name the man behind each number? Do you know why the franchise set aside that number?
If so, you’re in the minority. Reading through comments on Twitter and Windy City Gridiron from dedicated Bears fans has revealed a layer of dust on the legacies of some of these great gridiron legends.
Someone posted a screenshot of Bronko Nagurski’s stats through the lens of a 2025 football fan as if his legend wasn’t as tall as Paul Bunyan when he played.
Questioning Bronko F’ing Nagurski?!
I about died.
Football continues to evolve. Watch a game from the 1990s and tell me it’s the same game we’re watching today. I dare you. But that’s the beauty of covering this great game. Understanding the evolutions and history of football for how we went from leather helmets and playing games in the shadow of a circus to millions of people watching the 3-day NFL Draft while hundreds of thousands attend in person to watch names be called at a podium.
How can something so popular lose touch with those who built the foundation?
The Bears stated that Mike Ditka’s number 89 would be the last jersey they would retire. Ditka last played for the Bears in 1966. For a franchise steeped in history, ending the practice of retiring jerseys threatens to keep you stuck in the past and removes the ability to properly honor greatness of the current generation.
I propose that the Bears evolve their thinking when it comes to retired jerseys and use the opening of their new stadium as a catalyst to make it happen. As I write this, we don’t know if the stadium will be in Arlington Heights or along the lakeshore or some third location we haven’t heard of yet, but one day in the not-too-distant future, the Bears will open a new stadium.
Once inside, they will finally have an opportunity to introduce a Ring of Honor, a Chicago Bears-specific Hall of Fame of players and contributors. Let’s call it the “Den of Honor” because, well, Bears. In year 1 of the new stadium, they should induct one name and one name only:
George Halas.
How many Bears fans know the name George Halas? Probably quite a few. How many know his legacy, including his playing days, and even that he wore the number 7? I’d...
