The
Chicago Bears are a professional
American football team based in
Chicago, Illinois.[1] They are currently members of the
North Division of the
National Football Conference (NFC) in the
National Football League (NFL), and are one of two remaining charter members of NFL.[2] Founded in 1919 by the
A.E. Staley Company as the Decatur Staleys and based in Chicago since 1922,[1] the Bears organization has become one of the most successful professional football teams, having won a total of nine
professional American football championships—eight
NFL Championships and one
Super Bowl—second most in the NFL, behind the
Green Bay Packers.[3] The franchise has recorded 18 NFL divisional titles, four NFL conference championships,[3] and the most regular season victories of any NFL franchise.[4] In 1963, the
Pro Football Hall of Fame was created to honor the history of professional American football and the individuals who have greatly influenced it.[5] Since the charter induction class of 1963, 32 individuals who have played, coached, or held an administrative position for the Bears have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Bears hold the record for the most individuals enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[6]
Of the 40 inductees, 32 made their primary contribution to football with the Bears, while the other eight contributed only a minor portion of their career with the Bears.[6] Of the original 17 individuals inducted in 1963, three spent a majority of their careers with the Chicago Bears. This includes the founder, long time
owner, and
head coach George Halas,[7] long time halfback and
two-way player
Bronko Nagurski,[8] and the "Galloping Ghost"
Red Grange.[9][10] The first few years of the Hall of Fame's existence saw 14 Bear players enshrined.
Jim Finks was enshrined due to his contributions to the team as a general manager, not a player.[11]Mike Ditka was inducted into the Hall of Fame while serving as the team's head coach.[12] The most recent Bears to be inducted were
Devin Hester and
Steve McMichael in 2024.
Inductees
Primary members
# §
Number was retired by the club for contribution with team
†
Major contribution for another team
Red Grange, a halfback and corner, had two different tenures with the Bears franchise (1925 and 1929–1934).George Halas founded the Bears franchise and played tight end with the team in the early 1920s. Halas owned the team until his death in 1983.