2001 Chicago Bears season

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 2001 NFL draft

Undrafted free agents

Staff

• Chairman emeritus – Ed McCaskey

• chairman of the board – Michael McCaskey

• Secretary – Virginia Halas McCaskey

• President and CEO – Ted Phillips

• Vice president of player personnel – Mark Hatley

• Director of college scouting – Greg Gabriel

• Director of pro personnel – Bobby DePaul

• Head coach – Dick Jauron

• Offensive coordinator – John Shoop

• Running backs – Earle Mosley

• Wide receivers – Todd Haley

• Tight ends – Pat Flaherty

• Offensive line – Bob Wiley

• Offensive quality control – Charlie Coiner

• Defensive coordinator – Greg Blache

• Defensive line – Rex Norris

• Linebackers – Dale Lindsey

• Defensive backs – Vance Bedford

• Defensive quality control – Chuck Bullough

• Special teams – Mike Sweatman

• Physical development coordinator – Russ Riederer

• Assistant physical development coordinator – Steve Little

Roster

• James Allen

• Autry Denson KR

• Leon Johnson KR/PR

• Stanley Pritchett FB

• Daimon Shelton FB

• D'Wayne Bates

• Marty Booker

• Ahmad Merritt

• Dez White

• Fred Baxter

• John Davis

• Dustin Lyman

• Blake Brockermeyer T

• Damion Cook G/T

• Kevin Dogins C/G

• Mike Gandy G/T

• Jimmy Herndon T

• Olin Kreutz C

• Bernard Robertson T

• Rex Tucker G

• Chris Villarrial G

• James Williams T

• Alfonso Boone DT

• Phillip Daniels DE

• Carl Powell DE/DT

• Bryan Robinson DE

• Joe Tafoya DE

• Keith Traylor NT

• Ted Washington DT

• Rosevelt Colvin OLB

• Warrick Holdman OLB

• Bobbie Howard MLB

• Greg Jones LB

• Karon Riley OLB

• Brian Urlacher MLB

• Jerry Azumah CB

• Mike Brown FS

• Mike Green SS

• Walt Harris CB

• Todd McMillon CB

• R. W. McQuarters CB/PR

• Than Merrill FS

• Tony Parrish SS

• Larry Whigham FS

• Paul Edinger K

• Patrick Mannelly LS

• Brad Maynard P

• Brian Edwards RB (IR) [[File:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

• Robert Newkirk DT (IR) [[File:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

• Marcus Robinson WR (IR) [[File:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

• Kaseem Sinceno TE (IR) [[File:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

• Frankie Smith CB/S (IR) [[File:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

• Eric Johnson S

• Tim Johnson LB

• Devin Lemons LB

• Roshaun Matthews DE

• Willie Spencer WR

Season narrative

The Bears surprised most with a breakout campaign in 2001. After losing the opening game of the season to the Super Bowl XXXV Champion Baltimore Ravens 17–6 on the road, the Bears won their next six games, starting with a 17–10 victory against their division rival, the Minnesota Vikings in the Bears’ home opener. They carried their momentum through the Week 3 Bye and won on the road against the Atlanta Falcons (31–3).

The Bears returned home and won against the Arizona Cardinals 20–13. After a road shutout of the Cincinnati Bengals 24–0 the Bears played three home games. The first two games of this stretch were back-to-back overtime wins, first against the San Francisco 49ers (37–31), then against the Cleveland Browns (27–21). Both times safety Mike Brown capped remarkable comebacks (the Bears trailed 28–9 in the third quarter against San Francisco, and 21–7 with seconds remaining against Cleveland) by returning an interception in overtime for a touchdown.

Unfortunately the Green Bay Packers (their historic rival) buried the Bears’ win streak at home, 20–12. The Bears rebounded, winning their next three games. They first defeated then-division rival Tampa Bay 27–24. A season sweep of the Vikings (13–6) followed, then the Bears defended their turf against the Detroit Lions 13–10.

The Bears then traveled to Lambeau Field and were swept by the Packers 17–7. Once again the Bears rebounded, winning their last four games, against the Buccaneers at home (27–3), the Redskins (20–15), the Lions on the road (24–0), and then their season-finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars (33–13). The Bears ended the regular season with a 13–3 record.

The Bears entered the playoffs with the league's top defense (allowing a league-low 203 points), an offense ranked 11th in points scored (338 points), and a plus-13 turnover differential (4th in the league), but their magical season ended on a sour note, losing 33–19 to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs at Soldier Field.

Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1

Week 2

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

The Bears trailed the 49ers 28–9 in the third quarter. The Bears would score 22 unanswered points after Shane Matthews threw two touchdown passes to David Terrell in the last four minutes to tie the game 31–31. The 49ers won the coin toss and elected to receive. On the first play of overtime, quarterback Jeff Garcia threw a pass to Terrell Owens which Owens bobbled it out of his hands and was intercepted by Mike Brown. Brown would return the ball all the way for a walk-off pick six to win the game for the Bears 37–31.

Week 8

The Bears trailed the Browns 21–7 with 30 seconds left in the game. The Bears were able to score 14 points in those 30 seconds after Shane Matthews threw a touchdown pass to Marty Booker, Bears get the onside kick, and Matthews throwing a Hail Mary that got tipped up in the air and somehow caught in the endzone by James Allen for a touchdown. The game would go into Overtime for the second game in a row for the Bears. The Bears won the coin toss but had to punt it to the Browns. On the Browns' third play of their drive, Tim Couch threw a pass that was batted up in the air by Bryan Robinson and fell into the hands of Mike Brown who would return it for a game winning pick six. Brown became the first and currently only player in NFL history to have back-to-back games with a game winning pick six in overtime.

Week 9

The loss had snapped the Bears six game win streak and dropped them to 6-2.

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

After the winless Lions control play for most of the first half, Detroit kicker Jason Hanson misses three relatively easy field goals and the Bears recover their offense for a come-behind victory. The win moves the Bears to 9–2 but leave the Lions at 0–11 and looking down the barrel of the first 0–16 season in NFL history.

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Week 16

Quarterback Miller controls play, and the Bear defence dominates Lion QB Ty Detmer, so that the Lions suffer a second home shutout for the first time since 1942. The Bears’ first playoff berth in eight seasons becomes settled and the team gains an opportunity to win the NFC Central – in the last year under that banner – for the first time since 1990.

Week 17

;Jaguars

• Mark Brunell 19/36, 189 Yds, 2 TD, 3 INT
• Stacey Mack 11 Rush, 66 Yds
• Keenan McCardell 9 Rec, 93 Yds, TD ;Bears
• Jim Miller 19/28, 159 Yds, TD
• Anthony Thomas 33 Rush, 160 Yds, TD
• D'Wayne Bates 4 Rec, 50 Yds

The game's biggest highlight was defensive tackle Keith Traylor intercepting a Mark Brunell pass and returning it 67 yards setting up a David Terrell touchdown in the third quarter. With the win, the Bears clinched the NFC Central and the #2 seed in the NFC at 13-3.

Standings

Playoffs

Notes

References

References

1. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200109090rav.htm Chicago Bears at Baltimore Ravens – September 9th, 2001]
2. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200109230chi.htm Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – September 23rd, 2001]
3. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200110070atl.htm Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons – October 7th, 2001]
4. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200110140chi.htm Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears – October 14th, 2001]
5. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200110210cin.htm Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals – October 21st, 2001]
6. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200110280chi.htm San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears – October 28th, 2001]
7. "Throwback Thursday: Mike Brown, Bears win wild OT thriller against the 49ers".
8. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200111040chi.htm Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears – November 4th, 2001]
9. "Celebrating 20th anniversary of Bears' miracle wins".
10. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200111110chi.htm Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – November 11, 2001]. Retrieved 2018-Sep-14.
11. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200111180tam.htm Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – November 18th, 2001]. Retrieved 2018-Sep-14.
12. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200111250min.htm Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – November 25th, 2001]. Retrieved 2018-Sep-14.
13. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200112020chi.htm Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears – December 2nd, 2001]. Retrieved 2018-Sep-14.
14. Dowbiggin, Bruce; ‘Lions give futility a whole new meaning: After an 0-11 start, the history books beckon for woeful NFL franchise’; ''[[Calgary Herald]]'', 15 December 2001, p. D3
15. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200112090gnb.htm Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – December 9th, 2001]. Retrieved 2018-Sep-14.
16. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200112160chi.htm Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears – December 16th, 2001]. Retrieved 2018-Sep-14.
17. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200112230was.htm Chicago Bears at Washington Redskins – December 23rd, 2001]. Retrieved 2018-Sep-14.
18. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200112300det.htm Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions – December 30th, 2001]. Retrieved 2018-Sep-14.
19. ‘Miller dominates Lions; QB throws two TDs in Bears’ win’; ''[[The Windsor Star]]''; December 31, 2001, p. C1
20. "Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears - January 19th, 2002 {{!}} Pro-Football-Reference.com".