NFL team season
The 1997 Chicago Bears season was their 78th regular season completed in the National Football League (NFL). The team finished with a 4–12 record under head coach Dave Wannstedt. It was the team's first 4-win season since they posted a 4–10 record in 1975. The team allowed a franchise-record 421 points in 1997.[1]
Offseason
NFL draft
[2]
Staff
1997 Chicago Bears staff | Front office Head coaches Offensive coaches | | | Defensive coaches - Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Bob Slowik
- Defensive line – Clarence Brooks
- Defensive backs – Carlos Mainord
- Defensive assistant – Greg Schiano
Special teams coaches - Special teams – Keith Armstrong
Strength and conditioning - Physical development coordinator – Russ Riederer
- Assistant physical development coordinator – Steve Little
|
[3]
Roster
1997 Chicago Bears roster |
| Quarterbacks Running backs Wide receivers Tight ends | | Offensive linemen Defensive linemen | | Linebackers Defensive backs Special teams | | Reserve lists - 32 Ricky Bell CB (NF-Inj.Tooltip Non-football injury and illness)
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Injury_icon_2.svg/10px-Injury_icon_2.svg.png) - 29 Raymont Harris RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Injury_icon_2.svg/10px-Injury_icon_2.svg.png) - 94 Rich Hogans LB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Injury_icon_2.svg/10px-Injury_icon_2.svg.png) - 75 Todd Perry G (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Injury_icon_2.svg/10px-Injury_icon_2.svg.png) - 19 Marcus Robinson WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Injury_icon_2.svg/10px-Injury_icon_2.svg.png) - 31 Rashaan Salaam RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Injury_icon_2.svg/10px-Injury_icon_2.svg.png) - 91 John Thierry DE (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Injury_icon_2.svg/10px-Injury_icon_2.svg.png) Practice squad - 97 Mark Lee DE
- 15 Chris Miller WR
- 73 Emmett Zitelli C
53 active, 7 inactive, 3 practice squad Rookies in italics |
[4]
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
1 | September 1 | at Green Bay Packers | L 24–38 | 0–1 | Lambeau Field | 60,766 |
2 | September 7 | Minnesota Vikings | L 24–27 | 0–2 | Soldier Field | 59,263 |
3 | September 14 | Detroit Lions | L 7–32 | 0–3 | Soldier Field | 59,147 |
4 | September 21 | at New England Patriots | L 3–31 | 0–4 | Foxboro Stadium | 59,873 |
5 | September 28 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 3–27 | 0–5 | Texas Stadium | 64,082 |
6 | October 5 | New Orleans Saints | L 17–20 | 0–6 | Soldier Field | 58,865 |
7 | October 12 | Green Bay Packers | L 23–24 | 0–7 | Soldier Field | 62,212 |
8 | Bye |
9 | October 27 | at Miami Dolphins | W 36–33 (OT) | 1–7 | Pro Player Stadium | 73,156 |
10 | November 2 | Washington Redskins | L 8–31 | 1–8 | Soldier Field | 53,052 |
11 | November 9 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 22–29 | 1–9 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,443 |
12 | November 16 | New York Jets | L 15–23 | 1–10 | Soldier Field | 45,642 |
13 | November 23 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 13–7 | 2–10 | Soldier Field | 43,955 |
14 | November 27 | at Detroit Lions | L 20–55 | 2–11 | Pontiac Silverdome | 77,904 |
15 | December 7 | Buffalo Bills | W 20–3 | 3–11 | Soldier Field | 39,784 |
16 | December 14 | at St. Louis Rams | W 13–10 | 4–11 | Trans World Dome | 66,030 |
17 | December 21 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 15–31 | 4–12 | Houlihan's Stadium | 70,930 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1: at Green Bay Packers
Game information |
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter - GB – Ryan Longwell 36-yard field goal. Packers 21–11.
- GB – Ryan Longwell 29-yard field goal. Packers 24–11.
Fourth quarter - GB – Dorsey Levens 1-yard run (Ryan Longwell kick). Packers 31–11.
- CHI – Ricky Proehl 22-yard pass from Erik Kramer (pass failed). Packers 31–17.
- GB – Gabe Wilkins 1-yard fumble return (Ryan Longwell kick). Packers 38–17.
- CHI – Raymond Harris 68-yard run (Jeff Jaeger kick). Packers 38–24.
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers - CHI – Raymont Harris – 4 receptions, 36 yards
- GB – Robert Brooks – 3 receptions, 71 yards, TD
| |
Week 2: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week Two: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Vikings | 3 | 0 | 10 | 14 | 27 |
Bears | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: September 7
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 59,263
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Game information |
First quarter - MIN – Greg Davis 33-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0.
Second quarter Third quarter - MIN – Greg Davis 28-yard field goal. Bears 10–6.
- MIN – Orlando Thomas 22-yard fumble return (Greg Davis kick). Vikings 13–10.
- CHI – Bobby Engram 10-yard pass from Erik Kramer (Jeff Jaeger kick). Bears 17–13.
Fourth quarter - MIN – Jake Reed 21-yard pass from Brad Johnson (Greg Davis kick). Vikings 20–17.
- CHI – Raymont Harris 59-yard run (Jeff Jaeger kick). Bears 24–20.
- MIN – Chris Walsh 9-yard pass from Brad Johnson (Greg Davis kick). Vikings 27–24.
| Top passers - MIN – Brad Johnson – 33/44, 285 yards, 2 TD, INT
- CHI – Erik Kramer – 21/36, 174 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers - MIN – Robert Smith – 13 rushes, 85 yards
- CHI – Raymont Harris – 8 rushes, 77 yards, TD
Top receivers - MIN – Jake Reed – 12 receptions, 118 yards, TD
- CHI – Bobby Engram – 6 receptions, 63 yards, TD
| |
Week 3: vs. Detroit Lions
Week Three: Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Lions | 3 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 32 |
Bears | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: September 14
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 59,147
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Week 4: at New England Patriots
Week Four: Chicago Bears at New England Patriots – Game summary
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bears | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Patriots | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 31 |
at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Date: September 21
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C)
- Game attendance: 59,873
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Game information |
First quarter Second quarter - NE – Troy Brown 52-yard pass from Drew Bledsoe (Adam Vinatieri kick). Patriots 14–0.
Third quarter Fourth quarter - NE – Adam Vinatieri 27-yard field goal. Patriots 17–3.
- NE – Curtis Martin 70-yard run (Adam Vinatieri kick). Patriots 24–3.
- NE – Lovett Purnell 20-yard pass from Scott Zolak (Adam Vinatieri kick). Patriots 31–3.
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers | |
Week 5: at Dallas Cowboys
Week Five: Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bears | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Cowboys | 0 | 7 | 17 | 3 | 27 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: September 28
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 78 °F (26 °C)
- Game attendance: 64,082
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Game information |
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter - DAL – Richie Cunningham 33-yard field goal. Cowboys 10–3.
- DAL – Michael Irvin 26-yard pass from Troy Aikman (Richie Cunningham kick). Cowboys 17–3.
- DAL – Deion Sanders 83-yard punt return (Richie Cunningham kick). Cowboys 24–3.
Fourth quarter - DAL – Richie Cunningham 23-yard field goal. Cowboys 27–3.
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers | |
Week 6: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week Six: New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Saints | 0 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 20 |
Bears | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Game information |
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter - NO – Mario Bates 49-yard run (Doug Brien kick). Saints 10–3.
- NO – Doug Brien 48-yard field goal. Saints 13–3.
Fourth quarter | Top passers Top rushers Top receivers | |
Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week Seven: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Packers | 0 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
Bears | 10 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 23 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: October 12
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C)
- Game attendance: 62,212
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Game information |
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter - CHI – Erik Kramer 3-yard run (Jeff Jaeger kick). Bears 17–14.
- GB – Mark Chmura 12-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick). Packers 21–17.
Fourth quarter - GB – Ryan Longwell 37-yard field goal. Packers 24–17.
- CHI – Chris Penn 22-yard pass from Erik Kramer (pass failed). Packers 24–23.
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers | |
Week 9: at Miami Dolphins
Week Nine: Chicago Bears at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
Bears | 7 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 3 | 36 |
Dolphins | 7 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 33 |
at Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: October 27
- Game time: 8:00 p.m. CST/9:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C)
- Game attendance: 73,156
- TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf and Lynn Swann
- Box score
Game information |
First quarter Second quarter - CHI – Jeff Jaeger 39-yard field goal. Bears 10–7.
- CHI – Dan Marino sacked in end zone. Bears 12–7.
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 23-yard field goal. Bears 15–7.
- MIA – Jerris McPhail 10-yard pass from Dan Marino (pass failed). Bears 15–13.
Third quarter - CHI – Jeff Jaeger 47-yard field goal. Bears 18–13.
- MIA – Terrell Buckley 22-yard fumble return (pass failed). Dolphins 19–18.
Fourth quarter - MIA – Troy Drayton 22-yard pass from Dan Marino (Olindo Mare kick). Dolphins 26–18.
- MIA – Karim Abdul-Jabbar 2-yard run (Olindo Mare kick). Dolphins 33–18.
- CHI – Bobby Engram 8-yard pass from Erik Kramer (Jeff Jaeger kick). Dolphins 33–25.
- CHI – Chris Penn 25-yard pass from Erik Kramer (Erik Kramer pass to Bobby Engram). Tied 33–33.
Overtime - CHI – Jeff Jaeger 35-yard field goal. Bears 36–33.
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers | |
Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins
Week Ten: Washington Redskins at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Redskins | 14 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: November 2
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C)
- Game attendance: 53,052
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Game information |
First quarter - WAS – James Jenkins 9-yard pass from Gus Frerotte (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 7–0.
- WAS – Larry Bowie 5-yard run (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 14–0.
Second quarter - WAS – Gus Frerotte 1-yard run (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 21–0.
- WAS – Scott Blanton 38-yard field goal. Redskins 24–0.
Third quarter - WAS – Leslie Shepherd 39-yard pass from Gus Frerotte (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 31–0.
Fourth quarter | Top passers Top rushers - WAS – Terry Allen – 20 rushes, 125 yards
- CHI – Raymont Harris – 13 rushes, 43 yards
Top receivers - WAS – Leslie Shepherd – 3 receptions, 68 yards, TD
- CHI – Curtis Conway – 3 receptions, 57 yards
| |
Week 11: at Minnesota Vikings
Week Eleven: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bears | 7 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 22 |
Vikings | 7 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 29 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: November 9
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (played indoors)
- Game attendance: 63,443
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Game information |
First quarter - MIN – David Palmer 8-yard run (Eddie Murray kick). Vikings 7–0.
- CHI – Raymont Harris 1-yard run (Jeff Jaeger kick). Tied 7–7.
Second quarter - MIN – David Palmer 7-yard pass from Brad Johnson (Eddie Murray kick). Vikings 14–7.
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 29-yard field goal. Vikings 14–10.
- MIN – Chuck Evans 3-yard run (Eddie Murray kick). Vikings 21–10.
Third quarter - CHI – Jeff Jaeger 22-yard field goal. Vikings 21–13.
- CHI – Ricky Proehl 59-yard pass from Erik Kramer (pass failed). Vikings 21–19.
Fourth quarter - CHI – Jeff Jaeger 36-yard field goal. Bears 22–21.
- MIN – Leroy Hoard 1-yard run (Brad Johnson pass to Cris Carter). Vikings 29–22.
| Top passers - CHI – Erik Kramer – 23/35, 256 yards, TD, INT
- MIN – Brad Johnson – 22/33, 203 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers - CHI – Darnell Autry – 13 rushes, 59 yards
- MIN – Chuck Evans – 8 rushes, 50 yards, TD
Top receivers | |
Week 12: vs. New York Jets
Week Twelve: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Jets | 10 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
Bears | 0 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 15 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: November 16
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 25 °F (−4 °C)
- Game attendance: 45,642
- TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Randy Cross
- Box score
Game information |
First quarter Second quarter - NYJ – John Hall 36-yard field goal. Jets 13–0.
- NYJ – John Hall 34-yard field goal. Jets 16–0.
- NYJ – Otis Smith 38-yard interception return (John Hall kick). Jets 23–0.
Third quarter Fourth quarter | Top passers Top rushers Top receivers | |
Week 13: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Thirteen: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Buccaneers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Bears | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: November 23
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 27 °F (−3 °C)
- Game attendance: 43,955
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Game information |
First quarter Second quarter - CHI – Jeff Jaeger 25-yard field goal. Bears 13–0.
Third quarter Fourth quarter | Top passers Top rushers Top receivers - TB – Reidel Anthony – 4 receptions, 59 yards, TD
- CHI – Chris Penn – 6 receptions, 53 yards
| |
Week 14: at Detroit Lions
Week Fourteen: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bears | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Lions | 3 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 55 |
at Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: November 27
- Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST/12:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather: None (played indoors)
- Game attendance: 77,904
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Game information |
First quarter Second quarter - CHI – Jeff Jaeger 52-yard field goal. Bears 17–3.
- DET – Herman Moore 8-yard pass from Scott Mitchell (Jason Hanson kick). Bears 17–10.
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 32-yard field goal. Bears 20–10.
- DET – Barry Sanders 40-yard run (Jason Hanson kick). Bears 20–17.
Third quarter - DET – Jason Hanson 29-yard field goal. Tied 20–20.
- DET – Johnnie Morton 50-yard pass from Scott Mitchell (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 27–20.
- DET – Barry Sanders 25-yard run (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 34–20.
Fourth quarter - DET – Barry Sanders 15-yard run (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 41–20.
- DET – Ron Rivers 13-yard run (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 48–20.
- DET – Tracy Scroggins 17-yard fumble return (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 55–20.
| Top passers - CHI – Erik Kramer – 13/26, 259 yards, TD
- DET – Scott Mitchell – 20/31, 282 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers Top receivers | |
Week 15: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week Fifteen: Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bills | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Bears | 0 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: December 7
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 31 °F (−1 °C)
- Game attendance: 39,784
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Jim Mora
- Box score
Game information |
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter - CHI – Jeff Jaeger 38-yard field goal. Bears 20–3.
| Top passers - BUF – Todd Collins – 13/32, 138 yards
- CHI – Erik Kramer – 23/33, 270 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Top rushers Top receivers | |
Week 16: at St. Louis Rams
Game information |
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter - STL – Jeff Wilkins 26-yard field goal. Rams 10–7.
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 27-yard field goal. Tied 10–10.
- CHI – Jeff Jaeger 21-yard field goal. Bears 13–10.
| Top passers - CHI – Erik Kramer – 14/22, 186 yards, TD, INT
- STL – Tony Banks – 13/28, 147 yards, 3 INT
Top rushers Top receivers | |
Week 17: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Seventeen: Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bears | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 15 |
Buccaneers | 14 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 31 |
at Houlihan's Stadium, Tampa Bay, Florida
- Date: December 21
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C)
- Game attendance: 70,930
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Game information |
First quarter Second quarter - CHI – Darnell Autry 3-yard run (Jeff Jaeger kick). Buccaneers 14–7.
- TB – Karl Williams 7-yard pass from Trent Dilfer (Michael Husted kick). Buccaneers 21–7.
Third quarter - TB – Michael Husted 20-yard field goal. Buccaneers 24–7.
- TB – Errict Rhett 5-yard run (Michael Husted kick). Buccaneers 31–7.
Fourth quarter - CHI – Rick Mirer 1-yard run (Rick Mirer run). Buccaneers 31–15.
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers | |
References
- ^ Mayer, Larry (November 14, 2013). "Have Bears had two 1,000-yard receivers?". Chicago Bears. Archived from the original on November 15, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ "1997 Chicago Bears draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- ^ "Club directory". Chicago Bears 1997 Media Guide. p. 2.
- ^ "1997 Chicago Bears starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
External links
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