The 1966 season was the Chicago Bears' 47th in the National Football League. The team failed to improve on their 9–5 record from 1965 and finished with a 5–7–2 record under head coach George Halas, earning them a fifth-place finish in the NFL Western Conference. This was the franchise's second losing season in the past three.
Offseason
Undrafted free agents
1966 undrafted free agents of note
| Player |
Position |
College |
|---|
| Tom Cruickshank |
Defensive back |
Utah State |
| Ron Kupisch |
Linebacker |
Illinois |
Roster
| Chicago Bears 1966 roster |
| Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
|
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
|
|
Taxi squad
Reserve List
|
Schedule
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Record |
Venue |
Attendance |
| 1 |
September 11 |
at Detroit Lions |
L 3–14 |
0–1 |
Tiger Stadium |
52,225 |
| 2 |
|
at Los Angeles Rams |
L 17–31 |
0–2 |
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
58,916 |
| 3 |
Bye |
| 4 |
October 2 |
at Minnesota Vikings |
W 13–10 |
1–2 |
Metropolitan Stadium |
47,426 |
| 5 |
October 9 |
Baltimore Colts |
W 27–17 |
2–2 |
Wrigley Field |
47,452 |
| 6 |
October 16 |
Green Bay Packers |
L 0–17 |
2–3 |
Wrigley Field |
48,573 |
| 7 |
October 23 |
Los Angeles Rams |
W 17–10 |
3–3 |
Wrigley Field |
47,475 |
| 8 |
|
at St. Louis Cardinals |
L 17–24 |
3–4 |
Busch Memorial Stadium |
49,516 |
| 9 |
November 6 |
Detroit Lions |
T 10–10 |
3–4–1 |
Wrigley Field |
47,041 |
| 10 |
November 13 |
San Francisco 49ers |
T 30–30 |
3–4–2 |
Wrigley Field |
47,078 |
| 11 |
November 20 |
at Green Bay Packers |
L 6–13 |
3–5–2 |
Lambeau Field |
50,861 |
| 12 |
November 27 |
Atlanta Falcons |
W 23–6 |
4–5–2 |
Wrigley Field |
44,777 |
| 13 |
December 4 |
at Baltimore Colts |
L 16–21 |
4–6–2 |
Memorial Stadium |
60,238 |
| 14 |
December 11 |
at San Francisco 49ers |
L 14–41 |
4–7–2 |
Kezar Stadium |
37,170 |
| 15 |
December 18 |
Minnesota Vikings |
W 41–28 |
5–7–2 |
Wrigley Field |
45,191 |
| Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text. |
- A bye week was necessary in 1966, as the league expanded to an odd-number (15) of teams (Atlanta); one team was idle each week.
Standings
- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Game summaries
Week 4: vs. Baltimore Colts
| Game information |
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- CHI – Gale Sayers 30-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick) – Bears 17–3
- CHI – Roger LeClerc 27-yard field goal – Bears 20–3
- BAL – Bobby Boyd 37-yard interception return (Lou Michaels kick) – Bears 20–10
- Fourth Quarter
- CHI – Gale Sayers 7-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick) – Bears 27–10
- BAL – John Mackey 79-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Lou Michaels kick) – Bears 27–17
|
- Colts
- Johnny Unitas
18/38, 274 Yds, TD, 2 INT
- Tom Matte
4 Rush, 57 Yds
- John Mackey
2 Rec, 89 Yds, TD
- Bears
|
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