Well, let me tell you, I’ve seen a lot of football in my days. And that Chicago Bears team, they’ve had more coaches than I’ve had hot dinners. These Chicago Bears Past Coaches, they come and they go. It’s a tough job, I reckon.

That Halas fella, now he was somethin’. George Halas, they called him. He was there from the start, pretty much. They used to be called the Decatur Staleys, can you believe it? Then they moved to Chicago, became the Staleys, then the Bears. And George Halas, he was coachin’ them for years and years. Like, forever it felt like! He was the big cheese, the owner too. Won a whole bunch of championships, that man did. He was the first one, you know, the first big-time Chicago Bears Head Coach. They say he’s in the Hall of Fame, whatever that is. Sounds fancy.
- That Halas, he coached forever. Then he retired. Then he came back! Retired again.
- They say he was still the boss man ’til the day he died. Tough old bird.
After him, well, there’s been a whole mess of ’em. Let’s see if I can remember some of these fellas.
There was this one fella, what was his name… Dave something? Dave Wannstedt! Yeah, that’s it. He was around for a while in the 90s, I think. Didn’t do too bad, but not great either. Reminded me of my neighbor’s boy, always tryin’ hard but just not quite gettin’ there. Then there was another one after him, Dick somethin’ or other, last name was like a type of car. Then, there was that Lovie Smith. He was a good one. He was there a good long while too, I remember. Lovie was a good coach. Coached the Bears good, for a time. A real good Bears Coach.
They had a few more between that Lovie and this new kid. This new one, Matt somethin’ or other, I can’t keep these names straight anymore. Eberflus, is it? They just got rid of him, that’s what I heard. Yep, fired. Just like that. One minute you’re in, the next you’re out. He wasn’t there long, just a couple of years. These days, they don’t give these coaches much time. Gone just like that, I reckon he didn’t do so hot. Poor fella. Just like that he’s on his way. Now they gotta find a new one, I suppose.
It’s a tough job, bein’ a Chicago Bears Coach. Lots of pressure. Everyone’s always yellin’ at ya, tellin’ ya what to do. Just like my grandkids with the TV remote! You gotta win, that’s the name of the game. And if you don’t win enough, well, you’re out on your ear.

- 18 head coaches for the Chicago Bears, that is a lot of coaches.
- Some of them were good, some not so much.
- That Eberflus fella just got the boot.
I remember one time, back when Halas was still around, they had a quarterback, Sid Luckman. He was a good one, that Sid. They don’t make ’em like that anymore. They had another one, Bobby Layne, he was tough as nails. And Johnny Lujack, he was in there for a bit too. See, I know my football!
Being a coach is tough. You gotta deal with all them players, keep ’em in line. It’s like herdin’ cats, I imagine. And then you got the owners breathin’ down your neck, and the fans, they’re always complainin’. It ain’t easy, that’s for sure. You got the big shots always yellin’ at ya, just like when my old man used to yell at the TV when the Bears were losin’.
This whole Chicago Bears Coaching History is long, I tell ya. They’ve been around a long time, those Bears. Over a hundred years, I heard someone say. That’s older than dirt! I reckon there’s been a lot of good times and a lot of bad times. Just like life, I suppose.
Well, I reckon that’s enough about that. My stories are probably borin’ you to tears. But, hey, you asked about those Chicago Bears past coaches, and I told ya what I know. These young fellas today, they don’t know nothin’ about the old days. They should listen to their elders more often. They might learn a thing or two.