Chicago Bears: The 5 Best Teams That Never Won a Title

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6 Nov 1999: Virginia McCaskey, daughter of George Halas listens during Walter Payton’s Memorial Service at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /

#1: The 1942 Team

Most of the 1940s were filled with nothing but glory for the Bears. They were the first true dynasty of professional football, winning four championships in seven seasons. Most of that while their roster was being gutted by the demands of World War II no less. If anything that makes it even more impressive. Yet almost every dynasty has “that one that got away.”

For that era, it was unquestionably the 1942 squad. This was supposed to be the team that made history. Already the Bears had won back-to-back titles in 1940 and 1941. A completion of the mission that year would’ve given them the three-peat, the first team ever to do it. Not only that, but they also finished the regular season undefeated at 11-0.

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All they had to do was defeat the Washington Redskins in the NFL championship to close the deal. A team the Bears had walloped 73-0 just two years earlier. Unfortunately, they went into the game a little too cocky. The Redskins defense, ranked 2nd that year, shut down Sid Luckman and the Chicago offense all day. Sammy Baugh took advantage just enough to eek out a 14-6 stunner.

It was and remains one of the biggest upsets in NFL history and the biggest disappointment in Bears history.

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