2001 Chicago Bears season
Encyclopedia
The 2001 Chicago Bears
season was their 82nd regular season
and 23rd postseason
completed in the National Football League
. The club posted a surprising 13-3 record under head coach Dick Jauron
en route to an NFC Central title and the number two seed in the NFC
. The Bears, led by Jim Miller
, seemed like a team of destiny, with five comeback wins during the season, including two straight improbable wins where safety Mike Brown
returned an interception for the game-winning touchdown in overtime. However, it was not to be as the Bears were upset at home by the Philadelphia Eagles
33-19 in the NFC Divisional playoffs.
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). Then, they went back home and won against the Arizona Cardinals
20-13. Afterwards, they went on the road and shut out the Cincinnati Bengals
24-0. After that, they went home for three games. They won against the San Francisco 49ers
(37-31) and the Cleveland Browns
(27-21). Both were won in overtime and both had the same end result. In both games, 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) made them bury their win streak at home, with a final score of 20-12. Fortunately, the Bears would win their next three games. First, they won on the road against their former division rival, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
27-24. Then, they traveled to the Metrodome and swept the Vikings (13-6). Then, when their divisions rival the Detroit Lions
came to town, the Bears defended their turf and won 13-10. Unfortunately, the Bears traveled to Lambeau Field
and were swept by the Packers 17-7. Fortunately, that would be their last loss of the regular season. The Bears would win their last four games against the Buccaneers at home (27-3), the Washington 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 ended their magical season on a sour note, losing 33-19 to the Philadelphia Eagles
in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs at Soldier Field
.
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
season was their 82nd regular season
Regular season (NFL)
The National Football League regular season begins the weekend after Labor Day. Each team plays 16 games during a 17-week period. Traditionally, the majority of each week's games are played on Sunday afternoon, with weekly games on Sunday night and Monday night, and occasional games on Thursday...
and 23rd postseason
NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held at the end of the regular season to determine the NFL champion. Six teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records, and a tie-breaking procedure exists in the...
completed in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. The club posted a surprising 13-3 record under head coach Dick Jauron
Dick Jauron
Richard Manuel Jauron is the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was the head coach for the Buffalo Bills from 2006 until November 2009. Jauron has previously held head coaching positions with the Chicago Bears and, on an interim basis, with the...
en route to an NFC Central title and the number two seed in the NFC
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
. The Bears, led by Jim Miller
Jim Miller (quarterback)
James Donald Miller is a former NFL quarterback, last under contract with the New York Giants. He was drafted in the 6th round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, 178th overall. Miller attended Waterford Kettering High School and graduated in 1989...
, seemed like a team of destiny, with five comeback wins during the season, including two straight improbable wins where safety Mike Brown
Mike Brown (American footballer)
Mike Brown is an American football safety that is a Free Agent in the NFL. He was originally selected with the eighth pick of the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft out of the University of Nebraska by the Chicago Bears.-High school career:Mike Brown graduated from Saguaro High School in...
returned an interception for the game-winning touchdown in overtime. However, it was not to be as the Bears were upset at home by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
33-19 in the NFC Divisional playoffs.
Season narrative
The Bears surprised most with a breakout campaign in 2001. After they lost their first game of the season to the Super Bowl XXXVSuper Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
Champion Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
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
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
in the Bears' home-opener. They carried their momentum through the Week 3 Bye and won on the road against the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(31-3). Then, they went back home and won against the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
20-13. Afterwards, they went on the road and shut out the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
24-0. After that, they went home for three games. They won against the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
(37-31) and the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(27-21). Both were won in overtime and both had the same end result. In both games, 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
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
(their historic rival) made them bury their win streak at home, with a final score of 20-12. Fortunately, the Bears would win their next three games. First, they won on the road against their former division rival, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
27-24. Then, they traveled to the Metrodome and swept the Vikings (13-6). Then, when their divisions rival the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
came to town, the Bears defended their turf and won 13-10. Unfortunately, the Bears traveled to Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...
and were swept by the Packers 17-7. Fortunately, that would be their last loss of the regular season. The Bears would win their last four games against the Buccaneers at home (27-3), the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
(20-15), the Lions on the road (24-0), and then their season-finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(33-13). The Bears ended the regular season with a 13-3 record. The Bears ended their magical season on a sour note, losing 33-19 to the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs at Soldier Field
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
.
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | TV Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 9, 2001 | at Baltimore Ravens Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his... |
L 17-6 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 2 | September 23, 2001 | Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
W 17-10 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 3 | Bye | ||||
| 4 | October 7, 2001 | at Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 31-3 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 5 | October 14, 2001 | Arizona Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 20-13 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 6 | October 21, 2001 | at Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
W 24-0 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 7 | October 28, 2001 | San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
W 37-31 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 8 | November 4, 2001 | Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 27-21 | CBS 3:15pm | |
| 9 | November 11, 2001 | Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
L 20-12 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 10 | November 18, 2001 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... |
W 27-24 | FOX 3:15pm | |
| 11 | November 25, 2001 | at Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
W 13-6 | ESPN 7:30pm | |
| 12 | December 2, 2001 | Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
W 13-10 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 13 | December 9, 2001 | at Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
L 17-7 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 14 | December 16, 2001 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... |
W 27-3 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 15 | December 23, 2001 | at Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
W 20-15 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 16 | December 30, 2001 | at Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
W 24-0 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 17 | January 6, 2002 | Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 33-13 | CBS 12:00pm | |
Standings
| NFC Central | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 13 | 3 | 0 | .812 | 338 | 203 |
| Green Bay Packers 2001 Green Bay Packers season The 2001 Green Bay Packers season ended with a loss to the St. Louis Rams in the NFC divisional playoff game, where Packers quarterback Brett Favre threw a career high 6 interceptions.-2001 NFL draft:... |
12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 390 | 266 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season The 2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to improve on a 10-6 season. It was Tony Dungy's final season as the Buccaneers head coach. He was fired after losing in the playoffs to Philadelphia for the second straight season.-Staff:... |
9 | 7 | 0 | .562 | 324 | 280 |
| Minnesota Vikings 2001 Minnesota Vikings season 2001 was the 41st year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Tragedy struck the Minnesota Vikings in the summer of 2001, when Offensive Lineman Korey Stringer died of heat stroke in training camp in Mankato, Minnesota... |
5 | 11 | 0 | .312 | 290 | 390 |
| Detroit Lions 2001 Detroit Lions season Marty Mornhinweg was named the twenty-first head coach in franchise history on January 21, 2001.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Schedule:-Standings:-External links:**... |
2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 270 | 424 |
Roster
| Chicago Bears 2001 roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Ryan Benjamin Ryan Arthur Benjamin is a former American football long snapper of the National Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2001... C Blake Brockermeyer Blake Weeks Brockermeyer is an American football offensive tackle who formerly played for the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, and Denver Broncos in the NFL. He attended High School at Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, TX were he was an 1991 All-American. He played college football at... T Kevin Dogins Kevin Ray Dogins is a former professional American football offensive lineman for five seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Chicago Bears.... C Jimmy Herndon James Scott Herndon is a former professional American football player who played offensive tackle for five seasons for the Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars.... T Rex Tucker Rex Tucker was a British television director in the 1950s and 1960s.He was born in March in the Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire. Amongst his work, he was a driving force during the formative stages of Doctor Who in 1963, acting as a caretaker producer prior to the arrival of Verity Lambert... G Chris Villarrial Chris Villarrial is a former American football guard who played with the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills in the National Football League. He played college football at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.... G Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Rosevelt Colvin Rosevelt Colvin, III is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. Drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft, he played college football at Purdue.... OLB Warrick Holdman Warrick Donte Holdman is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft... OLB Bobbie Howard Bobbie Allen Howard, Jr. is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for three seasons for the Chicago Bears.... LB Khari Samuel Khari Iman Mitchell Samuel is a former American football linebacker who played with the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions in the National Football League. He played college football at Massachusetts.-College career:... LB Brian Urlacher Brian Keith Urlacher is an American football player for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League . He attended the University of New Mexico, where he was one of the school's most decorated athletes. In addition to setting multiple university records, Urlacher earned consideration for the... ILB Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
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2001 Chicago Bears draft choices
| Round | Pick | Name | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | David Terrell | WR | Michigan Michigan Wolverines football The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history... |
| 2 | 38 | Anthony Thomas Anthony Thomas (American football) Anthony Jermaine Thomas is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the running backs coach at at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Thomas was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft... |
RB | Michigan Michigan Wolverines football The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history... |
| 3 | 68 | Mike Gandy Mike Gandy Michael Joseph Gandy is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft and later played for the Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals... |
OL | Notre Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an... |
| 4 | 103 | Karon Riley Karon Riley Karon J. Riley is an gridiron football defensive lineman who most recently played for the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League-High school career:... |
LB | Minnesota Minnesota Golden Gophers football The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as... |
| 5 | 138 | Bernard Robertson Bernard Robertson Bernard H. Robertson, III. is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football for Tulane University. He played two years for the Bears and for the Buffalo Bills in... |
OL | Tulane Tulane Green Wave football The Tulane Green Wave football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents Tulane University in New Orleans. The team is a member of Conference USA and is led by interim head coach Mark Hutson, who took over on October 18, 2011, when fifth-year head coach Bob Toledo resigned... |
| 7 | 208 | John Capel John Capel John Capel, Jr. is an American track and field athlete who was a world champion sprinter. Capel played college football for the University of Florida, where he was also a member of the Florida Gators track and field team.... |
WR | Florida Florida Gators football The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference... |