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1983 Chicago Bears-Getting Ready to Roll
By Roy Taylor, www.BearsHistory.com
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1983 Chicago Bears team photo.
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Mike Ditka expected his team to make the playoffs in 1983.
Bolstered by one of the best drafts in team history, the team was "ready to
roll."
September 4, 1983 provided for the last opening day Bears loss
they would have to endure for the next 10 seasons. It was a 20-17 heartwrencher
at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons. The game featured the debut of three
rookie starters-Jim Covert, Willie Gault, and Mike Richardson. After opening
day, the Bears beat Tampa Bay at home, 17-10. After this win, the team then
dropped two overtime games. They lost in New Orleans 34-31 in a game that
featured a high powered offensive showing led by Jim McMahon, Walter Payton,
and rookie speedster Willie Gault. The next week, they went to Baltimore and
lost 22-19 in OT, and after the game, coach Mike Ditka broke his hand by
punching a locker. His team was just too good to be dropping the close ones.
Chicago came home and smoked the Denver Broncos 31-14, then
lost 2 straight division games to Minnesota and Detroit. They then wrapped up
the first half of the season with an unimpressive 3-5 record. In Mike Ditka's
second year, many, including the coach himself, were expecting much more from
the young team.
The following week, October 30th, they opened the second half
of the season by losing at Detroit. The day after, October 31, 1983, George
Halas passed away from pancreatic cancer. The team, city, and NFL mourned its
88-year old founder. Halas had summoned his hand-picked coach shortly before
his death, and gave him a present, not to be opened until after the team won
the super bowl. Ditka promised Halas he would deliver the goods.
The team seemed to have a spark after Halas' death. Although
they lost the first game in Los Angeles to the Rams, they seemed recharged.
They rattled off 3 wins over Philadelphia, Tampa and San Francisco, then lost
at Green Bay by 3 points. On December 11th, they won at Minnesota. And on
December 18th, they finished the 1983 season at home against the hated rival
Packers. Green Bay led throughout the contest in one of the coldest games ever
played at Soldier Field. With less than a minute remaining, Jim McMahon drove
Chicago down the field, Bob Thomas kicked the winning field goal, and Green Bay
was defeated. The Green Bay loss sealed the fate of long-time Green Bay coach
Bart Starr, as he was fired the next day.
Chicago wrapped up the 1983 season at 8-8, with many positives
to dwell upon in the offseason. First, they had finished the second-half of the
season 5-3, and may have finished as strong as 11-5 had they pulled out a few
close losses. Statistically, they were enormously better than in 1982, thanks
to the additions of rookies from the star class of '83. They improved from 26th
on offense, to 4th overall, 1st in rushing, and 2nd in passing. Defensively,
they moved up from 16th overall to 8th.
As 1983 turned to 1984, the team felt that they may be just on
the verge of something special.
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Quote of the Year: "Ditka got done chewing us out, then he
turns around and sees one of those equipment lockers, and just hits
it...BAM. I think he thought it was made of particle board or something,
but it was hard plywood. In a high-pitched voice, he asks an assistant to
lead us in prayer. None of us could get through that prayer without
laughing." -Walter Payton describes the scene in the postgame
locker room in Baltimore, when Ditka broke his hand
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1983 Records:Preseason 3-1, Regular Season 8-8
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1983 NFL Rankings: Offense 4th
overall, 1st rush, 2nd pass; Defense 8th overall, 11th
rush, 12th pass
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1983 Coaches: Mike Ditka, Head Coach; Buddy Ryan,
Defensive Coordinator; Ed Hughes, Offensive Coordinator
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DATE
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TEAM
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RESULT
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NOTES
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8/6
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Bills
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27-17
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Preseason
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8/13
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Cardinals
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24-27
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Preseason
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8/20
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Raiders
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27-21
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Preseason
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8/27
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Chiefs
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20-17
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Preseason
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9/4
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Falcons
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17-20
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Last opening loss til 93
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9/11
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Bucs
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17-10
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Record even.
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9/18
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Saints
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31-34
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Gault big day.
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9/25
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Colts
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19-22
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Ditka smashes hand.
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10/2
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Broncos
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31-14
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Big bounce back.
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10/9
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Vikings
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14-23
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Central loss.
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10/16
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Lions
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17-31
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No match for Lions.
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10/23
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Eagles
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7-6
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Turnaround begins.
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10/30
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Lions
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17-38
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Another Lion loss.
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11/6
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Rams
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14-21
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Halas mourned.
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11/13
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Eagles
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17-14
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Sweep of Philly.
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11/20
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Bucs
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27-0
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Tampa good medicine.
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11/27
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49ers
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13-3
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Defense coming on.
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12/4
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Packers
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28-31
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Loss ends plyoff hopes.
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12/11
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Vikings
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19-13
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Even score with Vikes.
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12/18
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Packers
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23-21
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Loss gets Starr fired.
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Passing: Jim McMahon- McMahon was benched at one
point for veteran Vince Evans, but led the team with 2,184 yards passing and a
77.7 rating.
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Rushing: Walter Payton-Payton again increased his average
to 4.5 yards per carry and rushed for 1,421 yards and 6 touchdowns. Matt
Suhey added another 621 as the Bears led the league. He also threw
three TD passes.
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Receiving Yards: Willie Gault- As a rookie,
Gault led the Bears with 836 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Payton
led the team in receptions.
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Scoring: Bob Thomas- Thomas returned to the
Bears and led the team with 77 points.
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Sacks: Mike Hartenstine- In his ninth year with
the Bears, Hartenstine led the team with 12 sacks. He also knocked four
passes down and forced three fumbles.
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Interceptions: Leslie Frazier- The 1981 free
agent signing led the team with seven interceptions and defensed 21 passes.
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1983 Chicago Bears Normal Starters
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9 QB
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34 RB
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26 RB
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82 WR
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83 WR
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74 LT
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65 LG
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63 C
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79 RG
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78 RT
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87 TE
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16 K
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99 DE
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76 DT
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68 DT
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73 DE
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90 LB
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50 MLB
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55 LB
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21 CB
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25 SS
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45 FS
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27 CB
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86 P
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McMahon started the majority of the season at quarterback, but
was benched for a period while the offensive line had its problems.
Rookies Jim Covert and Willie Gault made their first starting appearances at LT
and WR, respectively. Third-year center Jay Hilgenberg replaced longtime
veteran Dan Neal. On defense, Dan Hampton is listed as playing right
defensive end, although he missed some time with knee injuries. Steve
McMichael made his first starts at tackle, and Al Harris moved from defensive
line to linebacker, replacing Gary Campbell. Rookie Mike Richardson
started at cornerback. Bob Parsons punted for most of the
season, his last as a Bear, while former Packer Ray Stachowicz did some of
the punting. From left to right: Offense Jim
McMahon, Walter Payton, Matt Suhey, Ken Margerum, Willie Gault, Jim Covert,
Noah Jackson, Jay Hilgenberg, Kurt Becker, Keith Van Horne, Emery Moorehead,
Bob Thomas. Defense Dan Hampton, Steve McMichael, Jim
Osborne, Mike Hartenstine, Al Harris, Mike Singletary, Otis
Wilson, Leslie Frazier, Todd Bell, Gary Fencik, Mike Richardson,
Bob Parsons.
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7
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QB
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Bob Avellini
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Maryland
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9
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8
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QB
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Vince Evans
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USC
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7
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9
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QB
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Jim McMahon
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BYU
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2
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16
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K
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Bob Thomas
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Notre Dame
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8
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19
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WR
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Dan Plater
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BYU
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1
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20
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S
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Kevin Potter
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Missouri
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R
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21
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CB
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Leslie Frazier
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Alcorn St.
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3
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22
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S
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Dave Duerson
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Notre Dame
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R
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25
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S
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Todd Bell
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Ohio State
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3
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26
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RB
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Matt Suhey
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Penn St.
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4
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27
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CB
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Mike Richardson
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Arizona St.
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R
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29
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RB
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Dennis Gentry
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Baylor
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2
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32
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RB
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Anthony Hutchinson
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Texas Tech
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R
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33
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RB
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Calvin Thomas
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Illinois
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2
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34
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RB
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Walter Payton
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Jackson St.
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9
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43
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CB
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Walt Williams
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New Mexico
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7
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44
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CB
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Terry Schmidt
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Ball St.
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10
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45
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S
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Gary Fencik
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Yale
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8
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50
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LB
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Mike Singletary
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Baylor
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3
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51
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LB
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Kevin Atkins
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Illinois
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1
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53
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LB
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Dan Raines
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Cincinnati
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2
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54
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LB
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Brian Cabral
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Colorado
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5
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55
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LB
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Otis Wilson
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Louisville
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4
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57
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LB
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David Simmons
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N. Carolina
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3
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59
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LB
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Gary Campbell
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Colorado
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7
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62
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G
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Mark Bortz
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Iowa
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R
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63
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C
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Jay Hilgenberg
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Iowa
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3
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64
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G
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Rob Fada
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Pitt
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R
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65
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G
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Noah Jackson
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Tampa
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9
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68
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DT
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Jim Osborne
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Southern
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12
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71
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T
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Andy Frederick
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New Mexico
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7
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73
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DL
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Mike Hartenstine
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Penn St.
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9
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74
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T
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Jim Covert
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Pitt
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R
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76
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DT
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Steve McMichael
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Texas
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4
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78
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T
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Keith Van Horne
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USC
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3
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79
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G
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Kurt Becker
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Michigan
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2
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80
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WR
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Rickey Watts
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Tulsa
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5
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81
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TE
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Jay Saldi
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S. Carolina
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8
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82
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WR
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Ken Margerum
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Stanford
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3
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83
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WR
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Willie Gault
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Tennessee
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R
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84
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WR
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Brian Baschnagel
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Ohio State
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8
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85
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WR
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Dennis McKinnon
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Florida St.
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R
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86
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P
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Bob Parsons
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Penn St.
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12
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87
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TE
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Emery Moorehead
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Colorado
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7
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88
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TE
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Pat Dunsmore
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Drake
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R
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90
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DE
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Al Harris
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Arizona St.
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5
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95
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DE
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Richard Dent
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Tenn. St.
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R
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98
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DE
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Tyrone Keys
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Miss. St.
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R
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99
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DL
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Dan Hampton
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Arkansas
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5
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Ditka on his dream
88 year old NFL and Bears founder George Halas had completely
remade his team in late 1981 and '82, but by the beginning of the 1983 season
he was ailing and out of the public view.
According to Armen Keteyan's book Monster of the Midway,
Mike Ditka was summoned to Halas' deathbed in his final days.
Halas presented Ditka with a bottle of champagne with a note attached, which
read "Don't open until you win the Super Bowl."
Halas passed away on October 31, 1983.
The Chicago Bears Board of Directors, headed by Hala's
daughter Virginia and her husband Ed, chose their 39 year old son
Michael to become the new President and CEO of the club.
History would show that in the late 1980's, Michael would
declare a "New era of fiscal responsibility" for the
Bears. Evidently part of the plan for this era would be to refuse to
pay stars such as Willie Gault and Wilber Marshall, and the release of popular
General Manager and Ditka ally Jerry Vianisi. McCaskey would later fire
Ditka after just his second losing season of the 10 seasons he worked
for the new President.
The following are interesting quotes from an article by Mark
Friedlander of the Bear Report from November 17, 1983:
"He's a very sharp guy. He'll do some things to help
this organization. He won't make changes just for the sake of making
changes." -Ditka on McCaskey
"Projections show profits will be declining for all NFL clubs
in future years. We have a smaller stadium and not a favorable lease
compared to other clubs. Imagination and hard work in management of this
team will pay off."
"George Halas was always captain of his ship. He was
involed in every major decision that involved the Chicago Bears. Pro
football in the 1980's has become a specialized endeavor, so we will try to
decentralize the front office."
"I've always advised people I've worked with, I don't come
into an organization and start making abrupt changes." -Michael
McCaskey
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According to my research, the last Chicago Bears home game
to not sell out was the 9/11/83 game against Tampa. Every
Bears regular season and playoff game has sold out since then. Prior to
the 2006 season, that's a streak of 192 consecutive home games. The Bears
made a whopping offensive improvement in 1983, improving to
4th overall, 1st rushing and 2nd passing. Coach Mike Ditka broke his
hand by punching a locker after the loss to Baltiimore.
According to Armen Keteyian's book Monster of the Midway, General
Manager Jerry Vanisi had dinner with Ditka prior to Chicago's game in
Philadelphia, and urged him to control his temper and motivate in a more
positive fashion. Ditka seemed to take notice and became close friends
with the GM. Normally teams only played teams within their own
division twice in a season, but by virtue of the Bears' last place finish in
1982, they played Philadelphia twice.
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1983 will forever
be remembered as the year of the quarterback in the draft, even though only two
of them really panned out. John Elway, Dan Marino, Tony Eason, Todd Blackledge
and Ken O'Brien are selected. Elway goes first, and remarkably, Marino is taken
last, after the other three. Elway is originally selected by Baltimore with the
first pick, but demands a trade and threatens to play baseball rather than for
the Colts. Denver steps up and trades for Elway, and the rest is history. The
49ers rebound to post an NFL-best 14-2 record, but lose to Washington 24-21 in
the conference championship game. Seattle, in its eighth year in existence,
advances to the AFC Championship, but the Seahawks lose to the Raiders. Oakland
wins Super Bowl 18 38-9, denying the Redskins a second straight championship.
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1983 Bears Draft
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Rd
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Pos
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Name
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School
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1a
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T
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Jim Covert
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Pitt
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1b
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WR
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Willie Gault
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Tennessee
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2
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CB
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Mike Richardson
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Arizona St.
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3
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S
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Mike Duerson
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Notre Dame
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4a
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OL
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Tom Thayer
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Notre Dame
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4b
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TE
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Pat Dunsmore
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Drake
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5-Traded to New England
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6-Traded to Cleveland
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7-Traded to Cleveland
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8a
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DE
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Richard Dent
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Tenn St.
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8b
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DT
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Mark Bortz
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Iowa
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9a
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G
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Rob Fada
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Pitt
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9b
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LB
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Mark Zavagnin
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Notre Dame
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10
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RB
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Anthony Hutchison
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Texas Tech
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11
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RB
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Gary Worthy
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Wilmington
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12a
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WR
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Oliver Williams
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Illinois
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12b-Traded to San Diego
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1983 Bears Trades
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Traded 1984 6th round pick to Dallas for TE Jay Saldi
Various draft-day trades
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1983 Bears Free Agent Signings
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WR Dan Plater
WR Dennis McKinnon
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1983 Bears Retirements
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None
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1983 Chicago Bears Awards
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Walter Payton, RB, Pro Bowl
Mike Singletary, LB, Pro Bowl
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