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85: The Greatest Team in Football History? A Legacy Forged in Dominance and its Impact on the NFL
By Dr. Marcus Jones, PhD
Dr. Marcus Jones holds a PhD in Sports Management from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a renowned sports historian specializing in the impact of dominant teams on league dynamics.
Published by: The Gridiron Gazette
The Gridiron Gazette, a leading publication in sports journalism for over 50 years, is known for its in-depth analysis and commitment to factual accuracy. It consistently ranks among the top sports publications in terms of readership and influence.
Edited by: Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen has been a senior editor at The Gridiron Gazette for 12 years, with extensive experience in editing long-form sports articles and managing fact-checking processes. She has a deep understanding of NFL history and holds a Master's degree in Journalism.
Introduction: The Myth and the Reality of '85 Bears
The question hangs in the air, a perennial debate amongst football fanatics: Was the 1985 Chicago Bears the greatest team in NFL history? The claim is bold, even audacious. Yet, the sheer dominance displayed by "85: the greatest team in football history" makes it a discussion worthy of serious consideration. This article will delve into the evidence supporting this claim, examining not only their on-field achievements but also the profound impact "85: the greatest team in football history" had on the industry itself – from its influence on coaching strategies to its lasting legacy on the cultural landscape of football.
H1: On-Field Dominance: The Statistical Case for Greatness
The 1985 Chicago Bears achieved a regular season record of 15-1, a testament to their overwhelming talent and coaching prowess. This wasn't merely a case of winning games; it was about how they won. Their defense, famously dubbed the "46 Defense" by their innovative coach, Buddy Ryan, was historically dominant, leading the league in nearly every defensive category. They allowed a minuscule 12.4 points per game – a figure unheard of in modern football. "85: the greatest team in football history" didn't just win; they obliterated opponents, setting a standard of defensive excellence rarely matched since. Their offensive firepower, led by Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, and a cast of talented players, provided a potent counterbalance to their stifling defense. Their playoff run, culminating in a resounding Super Bowl XX victory over the New England Patriots (46-10), cemented their place in NFL lore. This wasn’t a close victory; it was a statement, a showcase of unparalleled dominance on the grandest stage. This kind of complete dominance across all phases of the game is what makes many believe "85: the greatest team in football history" holds a unique position in the sport’s annals.
H2: The 46 Defense: A Revolutionary Impact on NFL Strategy
The 46 Defense, a complex and aggressive scheme created by Buddy Ryan, was more than just a collection of players; it was a revolutionary approach to defense that redefined the game. This innovative defensive scheme, central to the success of “85: the greatest team in football history”, shifted the power balance in football. Its aggressive blitzing strategies forced offenses to adjust their approaches, influencing defensive playbooks for years to come. Many teams attempted to replicate the 46’s success, leading to a significant shift in defensive philosophy throughout the NFL. The lasting impact of the 46, a direct consequence of '85: the greatest team in football history's success, is undeniable evidence of their lasting influence on the sport.
H3: The Cultural Impact: Beyond the Gridiron
The 1985 Chicago Bears transcended the realm of sport; they became a cultural phenomenon. Their personalities, their swagger, their unbridled confidence, captured the public imagination. From the Super Bowl Shuffle, their iconic rap music video, to their individual player personalities, "85: the greatest team in football history" became synonymous with fun, dominance, and irresistible charisma. Their impact extended far beyond the game itself, shaping the way teams were marketed and perceived. The commercial success of the team, its cultural influence and its impact on the entertainment industry underscores the reach of "85: the greatest team in football history”.
H4: The Debate Continues: Challengers to the Throne
While the case for "85: the greatest team in football history" is strong, the argument is never truly settled. Teams like the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the undefeated champions, the early dynasty-era teams of the Dallas Cowboys, and more recent dominant squads like the 2007 New England Patriots consistently enter the conversation. Each team possesses unique strengths and compelling arguments for greatness. However, the combination of regular season dominance, playoff success, defensive revolution, and undeniable cultural impact provides a compelling case for the 1985 Chicago Bears' claim to the title.
Conclusion:
The 1985 Chicago Bears’ legacy extends far beyond their impressive win-loss record. "85: the greatest team in football history" represents a unique blend of on-field excellence, innovative coaching, and cultural impact. While the "greatest team ever" debate will likely continue for generations, the evidence supporting the 1985 Bears’ claim is undeniable, leaving an undeniable mark on the history and strategy of the NFL. Their story serves as a testament to the power of teamwork, innovative coaching, and the ability to transcend the boundaries of sport itself.
FAQs:
1. What made the 46 Defense so effective? The 46's effectiveness stemmed from its aggressive blitzing schemes, its ability to confuse opposing quarterbacks, and its overall defensive pressure.
2. Who were the key players on the 1985 Bears? Key players included Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, Richard Dent, Mike Singletary, Otis Wilson, and many others.
3. What was the Super Bowl Shuffle? A humorous rap video created by the Bears, celebrating their team and their upcoming Super Bowl appearance.
4. How did the 1985 Bears impact NFL coaching strategies? Their aggressive defensive schemes influenced defensive strategies and playbooks throughout the NFL.
5. Were there any weaknesses in the 1985 Bears team? While dominant, some argue their passing game was inconsistent at times.
6. How did the media portray the 1985 Bears? The media largely portrayed them as a fun-loving, dominant team with strong personalities.
7. What is the lasting legacy of Buddy Ryan's coaching style? His innovative defensive schemes continue to influence NFL defensive strategies.
8. Did the 1985 Bears inspire other teams to adopt similar strategies? Yes, many teams attempted to replicate their defensive and offensive success, leading to significant changes in NFL strategies.
9. What makes the 1985 Bears a strong contender for the "greatest ever" title? The combination of their regular season dominance, playoff success, innovative defense, and significant cultural impact solidifies their claim.
Related Articles:
1. The 46 Defense: A Tactical Masterpiece: A deep dive into the innovative defensive strategies employed by the 1985 Bears.
2. Walter Payton's Legacy: Beyond the Numbers: An exploration of Payton's career and his enduring impact on the game.
3. Buddy Ryan's Coaching Genius: An examination of Ryan's coaching career and his contribution to the NFL.
4. The Super Bowl Shuffle: A Cultural Phenomenon: An analysis of the cultural impact of the Bears' iconic rap video.
5. Comparing the '85 Bears to the '72 Dolphins: A head-to-head comparison of two of the most dominant teams in NFL history.
6. The Impact of the '85 Bears on Defensive Strategy: How the Bears' defensive innovation changed the NFL game.
7. The 1985 Bears: A Team Built on Chemistry: An exploration of the team's camaraderie and its contribution to their success.
8. The Undefeated Season Myth: Debunking the '72 Dolphins' Invincibility: Exploring the concept of undefeated seasons and their place in NFL history.
9. The Rise and Fall of NFL Dynasties: Lessons from the '85 Bears: An examination of the challenges faced by dominant teams in maintaining success over time.
| 85 the greatest team in football history: The '85 Bears Mike Ditka, Rick Telander, 2015-09-14 The ultimate record of a great franchise's greatest season as told by none other than Da Coach himself In Ditka's own words, this 30th anniversary volume of The '85 Bears is packed with special features that make it the ultimate must-have treasure for every Bears fan. This updated edition features the authors' reflections on the incredible championship season as well as recaps and statistics for every regular- and post-season game bring the entire 1985 campaign to life. Interviews with fan favorites—from the Fridge to Buddy Ryan—as well as special commentary from Gary Fencik offer extra insight into the team's Super Bowl run. Capping off a truly memorable volume is a bonus audio CD that features an exclusive interview with Mike Ditka, providing even more memories from a truly golden era of Chicago football. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: The Rise and Self-destruction of the Greatest Football Team in History John Mullin, 2005 This book is the story of one of the greatest football teams in the history of the NFL: the '85 Bears. They were, for a brief, magical moment, a band of eccentrics who went from nobodies to rock stars and cult figures--they took America on a wild ride in the middle of one of the wildest times in history. The Rise and Self-Destruction of the Greatest Football Team in History reveals all the stories from that year, like how Walter Payton ended up hiding in a storage closet and why the team collapsed under the weight of its own greatness. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Monsters Rich Cohen, 2013-10-29 Monsters: The 1985 Chicago Bears and the Wild Heart of Football is the New York Times bestselling gripping account of a once-in-a-lifetime team and their lone Super Bowl season. For Rich Cohen and millions of other fans, the 1985 Chicago Bears were more than a football team: they were the greatest football team ever—a gang of colorful nuts, dancing and pounding their way to victory. They won a Super Bowl and saved a city. It was not just that the Monsters of the Midway won, but how they did it. On offense, there was high-stepping running back Walter Payton and Punky QB Jim McMahon, who had a knack for pissing off Coach Mike Ditka as he made his way to the end zone. On defense, there was the 46: a revolutionary, quarterback-concussing scheme cooked up by Buddy Ryan and ruthlessly implemented by Hall of Famers such as Dan Danimal Hampton and Samurai Mike Singletary. On the sidelines, in the locker rooms, and in bars, there was the never-ending soap opera: the coach and the quarterback bickering on TV, Ditka and Ryan nearly coming to blows in the Orange Bowl, the players recording the Super Bowl Shuffle video the morning after the season's only loss. Cohen tracked down the coaches and players from this iconic team and asked them everything he has always wanted to know: What's it like to win? What's it like to lose? Do you really hate the guys on the other side? Were you ever scared? What do you think as you lie broken on the field? How do you go on after you have lived your dream but life has not ended? The result is Monsters: The 1985 Chicago Bears and the Wild Heart of Football, a portrait not merely of a team but of a city and a game: its history, its future, its fallen men, its immortal heroes. But mostly it's about being a fan—about loving too much. This is a book about America at its most nonsensical, delirious, and joyful. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Chicago Bear #85 Silky D Bares All Chet Coppock, Dennis McKinnon, 2019-08-31 Wide receiver for the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears, Dennis McKinnon chronicles his life experiences on the field and off. Touching stories of pain and sacrifice interspersed with the heartbreak of racism, domestic violence and political activism. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: The 1951 Los Angeles Rams George Bozeka, 2022-04-25 The 1951 Los Angeles Rams were one of the greatest teams in professional football history. Led by pioneer owner Daniel Reeves, head coach Joe Stydahar, and future Hall of Famers Bob Waterfield, Norm Van Brocklin, Elroy Hirsch, Tom Fears, and Andy Robustelli, the team won the NFL championship of that season. In doing this, they defeated the defending champion Cleveland Browns in a fantastic rematch of the 1950 title game. The Rams were the first team in a major professional sports league to relocate to the West Coast, forever changing the face of the NFL and professional sports in America. Fueled by an exciting and accomplished lineup of veteran star players and impactful rookies, the product of the Rams' innovative scouting system and their reintegration of the NFL in 1946, the Rams successfully married the NFL to the glamorous world of Hollywood. Delve into the story of the '51 Rams, the NFL's First West Coast Champions. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: "Then Ditka Said to Payton. . ." Dan Jiggetts, Fred Mitchell, 2008-09-01 Written for every sports fan who follows the Bears, this account goes behind the scenes to peek into the private world of the players, coaches, and decision makers—all while eavesdropping on their personal conversations. From the Chicago locker room to the sidelines and inside the huddle, the book includes stories about Dick Butkus, Red Grange, George Halas, Walter Payton, and Gale Sayers, among others, allowing readers to relive the highlights and the celebrations. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: 100 Yards of Glory Joe Garner, Bob Costas, 2011 The creators of the best-selling And the Crowd Goes Wild present an officially endorsed collection of key historical events that combines archival photography with coverage of such famed stories as the Immaculate Reception, the Ice Bowl and the Music City Miracle, in a volume complemented by a 10-part documentary by an Emmy Award-winning team. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Sweetness Jeff Pearlman, 2012-08-28 The definitive biography of Chicago Bears and Hall of Fame superstar Walter Payton. Based on meticulous research and interviews with nearly 700 contacts, an unforgettable portrait that describes a man who lived his life just like he played the game: at full speed. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Appalachian State Silences the Big House David J. Marmins, Steven K. Feit, 2017-06-23 They are known as cupcake games--lower division teams get paid to travel to college football Meccas where the hosts make a nice profit from an extra game. On September 1, 2007, the University of Michigan Wolverines, with more wins than any team in history, hosted the Appalachian State Mountaineers from Boone, North Carolina, in the first such game at Michigan Stadium, the largest stadium in the country. App State was no cupcake. Coach Jerry Moore, in the spirit of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team and other memorable underdogs, assembled his team with two things in mind--speed and character--and conditioned them to the breaking point. We're fixin' to shock 'em, he shouted at practice, in the locker room, at the dinner table. This book tells the inside story of Moore's legendary team and the Mountaineers' historic win. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: If These Walls Could Talk: Chicago Bears Otis Wilson, Chet Coppock, 2017-09-01 Led by stars like Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, Mike Singletary, William Refrigerator Perry, head coach Mike Ditka, and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, the Chicago Bears in the 1980s were an NFL powerhouse. As anyone who's seen The Super Bowl Shuffle surely knows, they were also an unforgettable group of characters. Otis Wilson, the Bears starting outside linebacker, was right in the center of the action, and in this book, Wilson provides a closer look at the great moments and personalities that made this era legendary. Readers will meet the players, coaches, and management and share in their moments of triumph and defeat. Be a fly on the wall as Wilson recounts stories from those days in Chicago, including the 1985 Super Bowl-winning season. If These Walls Could Talk: Chicago Bears will make fans a part of the team's storied history. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Chicago Bears Jeff Davis, 2009 The Chicago Bears were once the face of the NFL. Today they are one of its most popular and most fascinating franchises. Experience the magnificent history of pro football's charter franchise and the games most storied team |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Archival Storytelling Sheila Curran Bernard, Kenn Rabin, 2020-04-28 Fully revised and updated, Archival Storytelling second edition is a timely, pragmatic look at the use of audiovisual materials available to filmmakers and scholars, from the earliest photographs of the 19th century to the work of media makers today. Whether you’re a top Hollywood filmmaker or a first-time documentarian, at some point you are going to want to find, use, and license third-party materials—images, audio, or music that you yourself did not create—to use them in your work. This book explains what’s involved in researching and licensing visuals and music, and exactly what media makers need to know when filming in a world crowded with rights-protected images and sounds. Filled with insights from filmmakers, archivists, and intellectual property experts, this second edition defines key terms such as copyright, fair use, public domain, and orphan works. It guides readers through the complex archival process and challenges them to become not only archival users but also archival and copyright activists. This book is an essential resource for both students and professionals, from seasoned filmmakers to those creating their first projects, offering practical advice for how to effectively and ethically draw on the wealth of cultural materials that surround us. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Greatest Team Owners in Football History: Top 100 Alex Trost, Vadim Kravetsky, 2014-06-13 Are you looking for a journey that will take you through this amazing obok, along with funny comments and a word puzzle? Then this book is for you. Whether you are looking at this book for curiosity, choices, options, or just for fun; this book fits any criteria. Writing this book did not happen quickly. It is thorough look at accuracy and foundation before the book was even started. This book was created to inform, entertain and maybe even test your knowledge. By the time you finish reading this book you will want to share it with others. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Team of the Century Al Pickett, 2004 Fifty years ago Abilene High School, under legendary Coach Chuck Moser, became a football dynasty in Texas. Moser moved to Abilene in 1953 at age thirty-four. What followed were seven of the most amazing years in the rich history of Texas high school football. The 1954, 1955, and 1956 teams won state championships. From 1954 to 1957 the Eagles won an incredible forty-nine consecutive games. Abilene captured six district titles in a row in a rugged West Texas league known as the Little Southwest Conference. In Moser's seven years, Abilene won seventy-eight games and lost only seven. In its 1999 wrap-up of the twentieth century in Texas, The Dallas Morning News designated the Eagles of 1954-57 as the Team of the Century in high school football. Veteran sports writer Al Pickett explores how Moser worked his magic to galvanize an entire community in support of his program and turn an otherwise ordinary group of high school kids into the best football team in Texas history. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Beyond a Boundary Cyril Lionel Robert James, 1993 In C. L. R. James's classic Beyond a Boundary, the sport is cricket and the scene is the colonial West Indies. Always eloquent and provocative, James--the black Plato, (as coined by the London Times)--shows us how, in the rituals of performance and conflict on the field, we are watching not just prowess but politics and psychology at play. Part memoir of a boyhood in a black colony (by one of the founding fathers of African nationalism), part passionate celebration of an unusual and unexpected game, Beyond a Boundary raises, in a warm and witty voice, serious questions about race, class, politics, and the facts of colonial oppression. Originally published in England in 1963 and in the United States twenty years later (Pantheon, 1983), this second American edition brings back into print this prophetic statement on race and sport in society. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Great Teams in Pro Football History Joe Giglio, 2006 Discusses ten of the greatest pro football teams ever and explains what it was that made each one so great. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: The Greatest Football Teams of All Time (a Sports Illustrated Kids Book) Sports Illustrated Kids Editors, 2018-10-09 Covering individual teams (Hello, 1972 Miami Dolphins!) but also the best eras in famous teams' history, such as the Patriots of the '00s and the Steelers of the late 1970s, the editors at Sports Illustrated Kids dissect the best of the gridiron to show the whys and hows of team building, brilliant strategy, player combinations, and that special magic that the greatest teams have and which owners can't buy--even if there weren't a salary cap. Player profiles, stats and records, and thrilling narratives show the march to the Super Bowl and into history of America's favorite spectator sport. Amazing photos, insider stories, and fun facts capture the cultural phenomenon that is football in the U.S.! The SI Kids editors won't forget college ball! Picture the 2001 Miami Hurricanes cruising to the national title with a perfect season that was fun and full of swagger, displaying an absurd level of talent with six first-team All-Americans leading the way. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Beyond Broadway Joe Bob Lederer, 2018-09-11 A celebration of the Jets’ 1968 historic Super Bowl team, filled with exclusive insights and stories from the surviving players, coaches, and management In 1968, Joe Namath, the quarterback of the New York Jets, dominated the headlines as a national celebrity and counterculture figure. The Jets were a vastly talented but underappreciated team that drew constant attention due to Namath, but were not taken seriously by fans. When the Jets earned their way to Super Bowl III to face an eighteen-point favorite Baltimore Colts squad, Namath put all the pressure on himself by shockingly “guaranteeing” a Jets victory. He fulfilled his promise, but knew he didn’t do it alone. As Broadway Joe said in the postgame locker room: “We’ve got the team, brother.” In Beyond Broadway Joe: The Super Bowl TEAM That Changed Football, thirty-six surviving members of that legendary 1968 team share for the first time their funny, poignant, and insightful personal stories about their Super Bowl teammates and coaches, and the historic win that changed football forever. Readers will learn what Namath’s teammates thought about his “guarantee,” find out what Jets coaches discovered on the field early during Super Bowl III that Namath and the defense used to frustrate the Colts, and delight in how the thirty-nine Jets who took the field each week with Namath enabled him to live up to his Super Bowl vow. Author Bob Lederer reviews head coach Weeb Ewbank’s never-before-seen player evaluations—that they didn’t know existed—and provides a rich history of the Jets franchise, from how these thirty-nine forgotten players became Jets, and the road ten of them took to become AFL all-stars in 1968. This definitive review of the entire Jets’ Super Bowl team is a must for every Jets diehard, for fans of the old American Football League, and for all who love the game. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: We Are the Troopers Stephen Guinan, 2022-08-30 Discover the unlikely story of the Toledo Troopers, the winningest team in the National Women's Football League, who won seven league championships in the 1970s—and gain full access to the players and key figures in the organization. Amid a national backdrop of the call to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, the National Women’s Football League was founded as something of a gimmick. However, the league’s star team, the Toledo Troopers, emerged to challenge traditional gender roles and amass a win-loss record never before or since achieved in American football. The players were housewives, factory workers, hairdressers, former nuns, high school teachers, bartenders, mail carriers, pilots, and would-be drill sergeants. Black, white, Latina. Mothers and daughters and aunts and sisters. But most of all, they were athletes who had been denied the opportunity to play a game they were born to play. Before the protests and the lobbyists, before the debates and the amendments, before the marches and the mandates, there was only an obscure advertisement in a local Midwestern paper and those who answered it, women such as Lee Hollar, the only woman working the line at the Libbey glass factory; Gloria Jimenez, who grew up playing sports with her six brothers; and Linda Jefferson, one the greatest, most accomplished athletes in sports history. Stephen Guinan grew up in Toledo pulling for his hometown football team, and—in the innocence of youth—did not realize at the time what a barrier-breaking lost piece of history he was witnessing. We Are the Troopers shines light on forgotten champions who came together for the love of the game. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: It's Better to Be Feared: The New England Patriots Dynasty and the Pursuit of Greatness Seth Wickersham, 2021-10-12 NOW WITH A NEW EPILOGUE ON THE 2021 SEASON AND TOM BRADY’S BRIEF RETIREMENT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER SPORTS ILLUSTRATED • NONFICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR National Sports Media Association • Book of the Year Kirkus Reviews • Best Nonfiction of the Year “Seth Wickersham has managed to do the impossible: he has pulled off the definitive document of the Belichick/Brady dynasty.” —Bill Simmons, The Ringer The explosive, long-awaited account of the making of the greatest dynasty in football history—from the acclaimed ESPN reporter who has been there from the very beginning. Over two unbelievable decades, the New England Patriots were not only the NFL’s most dominant team, but also—and by far—the most secretive. How did they achieve and sustain greatness—and what were the costs? In It's Better to Be Feared, Seth Wickersham, one of the country’s finest long form and investigative sportswriters, tells the full, behind-the-scenes story of the Patriots, capturing the brilliance, ambition, and vanity that powered and ultimately unraveled them. Based on hundreds of interviews conducted since 2001, Wickersham’s chronicle is packed with revelations, taking us deep into Bill Belichick’s tactical ingenuity and Tom Brady’s unique mentality while also reporting on their divergent paths in 2020, including Brady’s run to the Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Raucous, unvarnished, and definitive, It’s Better to Be Feared is an instant classic of American sportswriting in the tradition of Michael Lewis, David Maraniss, and David Halberstam. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Chicago Bears Lew Freedman, 2008-09-15 The ultimate history of the legendary Chicago Bears, from Halas to Hester, with hundreds of photos, stats, and player profiles. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Chicago Bears Centennial Scrapbook Dan Pompei, Don Pierson, 2019-06 |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: The Unforgettable Buzz Earl Shores, Roddy Garcia, Michael Kronenberg, 2013-06 The Unforgettable Buzz is a thoroughly researched and cleverly written study of electric football. Every Baby Boomer who played the game - and that's all of us - will love this book. - Ray Didinger, Pro Football Hall of Fame Sportswriter and NFL Films Emmy Award Winning Writer and Producer This is such a great book. It immediately took me back to those special moments of my childhood. Shores and Garcia have done their homework in opening a sacred portal to the past. - Rick Burton, David B. Falk Professor of Sport Management, Syracuse University The Unforgettable Buzz is the first and only book ever written on the topic of Electric Football. Yet it's about much more than just a game. It's about receiving the best Christmas gift ever - that's what Electric Football means to millions of Baby Boomers who grew up between 1950 and 1980. Authors Earl Shores and Roddy Garcia have spent over a decade carefully weaving the timelines of Electric Football, Baby Boomer culture, and the NFL into perhaps the most complete toy story ever written. With over 300 images and a stunning cover-to-cover design by Marvel Graphic Artist Michael Kronenberg, Christmas morning is always just a page-turn away in The Unforgettable Buzz. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: The History Of The Foley Lions To 1955 Keith Lester Smith, 2021-11-15 The town of Foley, Alabama was founded by John Burton Foley, a very successful businessman from Chicago, and was settled by individuals and families from all over our great nation. This community grew to love its football team and supported it passionately. Through the perspective of Foley High School, we see one of the most tumultuous times in our nation’s history, a period that defined the history of the United States. These individuals lived through the Great Depression and two World Wars to emerge as the greatest and most powerful country in the history of our planet. Our citizens, not only in Foley but also throughout every corner of our nation, were guided by a deep respect and reverence for the Bible. Our hope and prayer is that this book will serve as a reminder of our Christian heritage and the importance of seeking the guidance of our Creator in everything we do if we hope to remain free and strong. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Run to Daylight! Vince Lombardi, 2014-01-14 In the golden years of professional football, one team and one coach reigned supreme: the 1960s Green Bay Packers, and the fiery Vince Lombardi. Run to Daylight! is Lombardi’s own diary of a week at the helm of that magnificent club. Together with legendary sports-journalist, W.C. Heinz, Lombardi takes us from the first review of game films on Monday right through the final gun on Sunday afternoon. We see the planning, the plotting, the practice and the pain as forty-plus men come together to form that precision unit that makes for winning football. Lombardi gives us his views on life, the game, coaching, success, family, and the famed “Lombardi Sweep.” Now, in this anniversary edition, with a special foreword by David Maraniss, we are once again reminded of the passion and power behind America's greatest game. Written in W.C. Heinz’s inimitable style, Run to Daylight! is part diary, part philosophy text, part coaches manual. Here, is professional football at its best. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Fear and Loathing in La Liga Sid Lowe, 2014-03-18 Fear and Loathing in La Liga is the definitive history of the greatest rivalry in world sport: FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid. It's Messi vs. Ronaldo, Guardiola vs. Mourinho, the nation against the state, freedom fighters vs. Franco's fascists, plus majestic goals and mesmerizing skills. It's the best two teams on the planet going head-to-head. It's more than a game. It's a war. It's El Cláco. Only, it's not quite that simple. Spanish soccer expert and historian Sid Lowe covers 100 years of rivalry, athletic beauty, and excellence. Fear and Loathing in La Liga is a nuanced, revisionist, and brilliantly informed history that goes beyond sport. Lowe weaves together this story of the rivalry with the history and culture of Spain, emphasizing that it is never about just the soccer. With exclusive testimonies and astonishing anecdotes, he takes us inside this epic battle, including the wounds left by the Civil War, Madrid's golden age in the fifties when they won five European cups, Johan Cruyff's Barcelona Dream Team, the doomed Galáico experiment, and LuíFigo's betrayal. By exploring the history, politics, culture, economics, and language -- while never forgetting the drama on the field -- Lowe demonstrates the relationship between these two soccer giants and reveals the true story behind their explosive rivalry. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Introduction to Probability Joseph K. Blitzstein, Jessica Hwang, 2014-07-24 Developed from celebrated Harvard statistics lectures, Introduction to Probability provides essential language and tools for understanding statistics, randomness, and uncertainty. The book explores a wide variety of applications and examples, ranging from coincidences and paradoxes to Google PageRank and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). Additional application areas explored include genetics, medicine, computer science, and information theory. The print book version includes a code that provides free access to an eBook version. The authors present the material in an accessible style and motivate concepts using real-world examples. Throughout, they use stories to uncover connections between the fundamental distributions in statistics and conditioning to reduce complicated problems to manageable pieces. The book includes many intuitive explanations, diagrams, and practice problems. Each chapter ends with a section showing how to perform relevant simulations and calculations in R, a free statistical software environment. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Red Grange Chris Willis, 2019-08-09 In celebration of the National Football League’s 100th season, noted football historian Chris Willis brings to life the story of Red Grange, the nation’s first NFL star, in this definitive biography. Harold “Red” Grange became a national sensation as a junior halfback at the University of Illinois in the 1920s. He quickly joined other great athletes of the Roaring Twenties such as Bobby Jones, Jack Dempsey, and Babe Ruth in enthralling audiences on the radio and in newspapers on a daily basis. A year later the Galloping Ghost stunned the country by dropping out of school after his last collegiate game and going pro with the six year old NFL, signing with the Chicago Bears. In Red Grange: The Life and Legacy of the NFL’s First Superstar, Chris Willis tells the remarkable story of a humble football player who rose to fame in the 1920s and became an icon. With unlimited access and complete cooperation of the Grange family, Willis offers new insight into Grange’s rags-to-riches story, including details about his tomboy mother who died when Grange was six years old and never-before-published information on Grange’s barnstorming tour with the Chicago Bears that instantly gave credibility to the fledgling NFL. With over fifty original interviews, personal letters to and from Grange, and more than forty photos, this definitive biography reveals in intimate detail the life of a sports pioneer. Whether as a player, coach, broadcaster, pitchman, Hall of Famer, ambassador, or icon, Red Grange was, and still is, the face of the early NFL and one of the greatest athletes of all-time. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: The Book of Basketball Bill Simmons, 2010-12-07 #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The wildly opinionated, thoroughly entertaining, and arguably definitive book on the past, present, and future of the NBA—from the founder of The Ringer and host of The Bill Simmons Podcast “Enough provocative arguments to fuel barstool arguments far into the future.”—The Wall Street Journal In The Book of Basketball, Bill Simmons opens—and then closes, once and for all—every major NBA debate, from the age-old question of who actually won the rivalry between Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain to the one about which team was truly the best of all time. Then he takes it further by completely reevaluating not only how NBA Hall of Fame inductees should be chosen but how the institution must be reshaped from the ground up, the result being the Pyramid: Simmons’s one-of-a-kind five-level shrine to the ninety-six greatest players in the history of pro basketball. And ultimately he takes fans to the heart of it all, as he uses a conversation with one NBA great to uncover that coveted thing: The Secret of Basketball. Comprehensive, authoritative, controversial, hilarious, and impossible to put down (even for Celtic-haters), The Book of Basketball offers every hardwood fan a courtside seat beside the game’s finest, funniest, and fiercest chronicler. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: The Things They Carried Tim O'Brien, 2009-10-13 A classic work of American literature that has not stopped changing minds and lives since it burst onto the literary scene, The Things They Carried is a ground-breaking meditation on war, memory, imagination, and the redemptive power of storytelling. The Things They Carried depicts the men of Alpha Company: Jimmy Cross, Henry Dobbins, Rat Kiley, Mitchell Sanders, Norman Bowker, Kiowa, and the character Tim O’Brien, who has survived his tour in Vietnam to become a father and writer at the age of forty-three. Taught everywhere—from high school classrooms to graduate seminars in creative writing—it has become required reading for any American and continues to challenge readers in their perceptions of fact and fiction, war and peace, courage and fear and longing. The Things They Carried won France's prestigious Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger and the Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize; it was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Jim Brown Dave Zirin, 2018-05-15 A unique biography of Jim Brown—football legend, Hollywood star, and controversial activist—written by acclaimed sports journalist Dave Zirin. Jim Brown is recognized as perhaps the greatest football player to ever live. But his phenomenal nine-year career with the Cleveland Browns is only part of his remarkable story, the opening salvo to a much more sprawling epic. Brown parlayed his athletic fame into stardom in Hollywood, where it was thought that he could become “the black John Wayne.” He was an outspoken Black Power icon in the 1960s, and he formed Black Economic Unions to challenge racism in the business world. For this and for his decades of work as a truce negotiator with street gangs, Brown—along with such figures as Muhammad Ali, Bill Russell, and Billie Jean King—is revered as a socially conscious athlete. On the most hypermasculine cultural canvases of the United States—NFL football, the Black Power movement, Hollywood's blaxploitation films, gang intervention both inside and outside prison walls—Jim Brown has made his mark. Yet in the landscape of the most toxic expression of “what makes a man”—numerous accusations of violence against women—he has left a jagged mark as well. Dave Zirin's book redefines an American icon, and not always in a flattering light. At eighty-one years old, Brown continues to speak out and look for fights. His recent public support of Donald Trump and criticism of Colin Kaepernick are just the latest examples of someone who seems restless if he is not in conflict. Jim Brown is a raw and thrilling account of Brown's remarkable life and a must-read for sports fans and students of the black freedom struggle. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: The Greatest Story in Sports - Green Bay Packers 1919 -2019 Cliff Christl, 2021-12 |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Get Your Own Damn Beer, I'm Watching the Game! Holly Robinson Peete, Daniel Paisner, 2005-08-15 A guide for women football fans explains each component of the game of football, describes the role of each position player, outlines common plays, and provides descriptions of some of the most memorable moments in NFL history. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Guinness World Records 2011 Craig Glenday, 2011 The 2011 edition of the most famous book of world records, including circus skills and sideshow arts, celebrity exploits, animal activities, and a tour of the world of records in a city-by-city guide. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Defense, One Year United States. Office for Emergency Management, 1941 |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Pep Guardiola - 85 Passing, Rondos, Possession Games & Technical Circuits Direct from Pep's Training Sessions Soccertutor Com, 2019-09-20 After the hugely popular Volume 1, Volume 2 gives you another rare opportunity into Pep Guardiola's Training Sessions with 85 Practices taken directly from Pep's training sessions including: Technical Circuits, Passing, Rondos, Positional and Possession Games, Small to Large Sided Games at Manchester City, Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Landry's Last Stand Ryan C. Bush, 2018-08-07 The year was 1985, and times were changing fast in Dallas. The mighty Cowboys, participants in five Super Bowls during the previous decade, had been crippled by poor drafts and untimely injuries. But head coach Tom Landry couldn't afford to tear the roster down and start all over from scratch. Rumblings of impatience from the owner's box made it imperative that Landry either right the ship...or be tossed overboard. Landry's Last Stand is the story of Tom Landry's final winning season in Dallas, when he guided the underdog Cowboys on a wildly unpredictable climb up the NFC East ladder. It's a story about a parting plea, a promise well-kept, and a race to the NFL playoffs too impossible to be anything less than true. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Great Teams in College Basketball History Luke DeCock, 2005-12-14 Discusses ten of the greatestcollege basketball teams in the history of the game, and explains what made each one great. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: The Running Back Leroy Collins, 2019-07-30 The true story of faith and triumph of one man's journey from his childhood wheelchair to the NFL. This true story follows a young man's journey as he battles back from injuries sustained in a tragic automobile accident. From the vantage point of his wheelchair an NFL game on TV inspires him to dream the impossible. As he recovers, he sets his sights on playing football in the NFL. This story takes you into his mind and heart as he makes decisions that take him off track from reaching his dream. He develops some bad habits that can not only destroy a career but can potentially take his life. But his faith along with the love from his family put his life back on course making his unlikely dream a miraculous reality. |
| 85 the greatest team in football history: Monsters: The 1985 Chicago Bears and the Wild Heart of Football Rich Cohen, 2013-10-29 An account of the 1985 Chicago Bears and the author's personal relationship with the football team-- |
'85: The Greatest Team in Football History (2016) - IMDb
'85: The Greatest Team in Football History: Directed by Scott Prestin. With Barack Obama, Mike Singletary, Jim McMahon, Jeremy Piven. 1985 Chicago Bears. This movie will reveal the full …
85: The Greatest Team in Football History - amazon.com
Filmmaker Scott Prestin examines the 1985 Chicago Bears and their road to the Super Bowl.
'85: The Greatest Team in Football History - Apple TV
Featuring interviews with Bill Murray, Mike Ditka, Mike Singletary and more, '85 chronicles how the 1985 Chicago Bears dominated on and off the field as they shuffled their way to the …
85: The Greatest Team in Football History - Pluto TV
Stream 85: The Greatest Team in Football History for free on Pluto TV. Filmmaker Scott Prestin examines the 1985 Chicago Bears and their road to the Super Bowl. Includes interviews with …
'85: The Greatest Team in Football History (2016) - JustWatch
Currently you are able to watch "'85: The Greatest Team in Football History" streaming on The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads for free with ads or buy it as …
’85: The Greatest Team in Football History Showtimes
Jan 29, 2018 · The championship team, led by Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, William ‘The Refrigerator’ Perry, and Coach Mike Ditka, dominated on and off the field! ‘85: The Greatest …
'85: The Greatest Team in Pro Football History 2017
This captivating story dives into the team's unforgettable journey, from their dominant defense to Walter Payton's unmatched talent, showcasing why they are considered one of the greatest …
’85: The Greatest Team in Football History (2018) review
Apr 23, 2025 · When all else fails, nostalgia warms the heart like a fluffy blanket, and Prestin’s documentary takes a player-centered approach in effort to capturing the essence of one of the …
'85: The Untold Story of the Greatest Team in Pro Football ...
Discover reviews, ratings, and trailers for '85: The Untold Story of the Greatest Team in Pro Football History on Rotten Tomatoes. Stay updated with critic and audience scores today!
'85: The Greatest Team in Football History (2016) - Movie
Through never-been-seen-before footage and fascinating interviews with key members of the 1985 Chicago Bears -- Mike Ditka, Jim McMahon, Mike Singletary, and others -- you will hear …
'85: The Greatest Team in Football History (2016) - IMDb
'85: The Greatest Team in Football History: Directed by Scott Prestin. With Barack Obama, Mike Singletary, Jim McMahon, Jeremy Piven. 1985 Chicago Bears. This movie will reveal the full story …
85: The Greatest Team in Football History - amazon.com
Filmmaker Scott Prestin examines the 1985 Chicago Bears and their road to the Super Bowl.
'85: The Greatest Team in Football History - Apple TV
Featuring interviews with Bill Murray, Mike Ditka, Mike Singletary and more, '85 chronicles how the 1985 Chicago Bears dominated on and off the field as they shuffled their way to the championship.
85: The Greatest Team in Football History - Pluto TV
Stream 85: The Greatest Team in Football History for free on Pluto TV. Filmmaker Scott Prestin examines the 1985 Chicago Bears and their road to the Super Bowl. Includes interviews with …
'85: The Greatest Team in Football History (2016) - JustWatch
Currently you are able to watch "'85: The Greatest Team in Football History" streaming on The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads for free with ads or buy it as download on …
’85: The Greatest Team in Football History Showtimes
Jan 29, 2018 · The championship team, led by Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, William ‘The Refrigerator’ Perry, and Coach Mike Ditka, dominated on and off the field! ‘85: The Greatest …
'85: The Greatest Team in Pro Football History 2017
This captivating story dives into the team's unforgettable journey, from their dominant defense to Walter Payton's unmatched talent, showcasing why they are considered one of the greatest …
’85: The Greatest Team in Football History (2018) review
Apr 23, 2025 · When all else fails, nostalgia warms the heart like a fluffy blanket, and Prestin’s documentary takes a player-centered approach in effort to capturing the essence of one of the …
'85: The Untold Story of the Greatest Team in Pro Football ...
Discover reviews, ratings, and trailers for '85: The Untold Story of the Greatest Team in Pro Football History on Rotten Tomatoes. Stay updated with critic and audience scores today!
'85: The Greatest Team in Football History (2016) - Movie
Through never-been-seen-before footage and fascinating interviews with key members of the 1985 Chicago Bears -- Mike Ditka, Jim McMahon, Mike Singletary, and others -- you will hear the …
