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The Top 10 worst-to-first seasons in NFL history

By Erik Lambert

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 24: Jake Elliott #4 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates with teammates after making a game winning 61 yard field goal against the New York Giants on September 24, 2017 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 24: Jake Elliott #4 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates with teammates after making a game winning 61 yard field goal against the New York Giants on September 24, 2017 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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02 Dec 2001 : Mike Brown of the Chicago Bears heads downfield against the Detroit Lions during the game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Lions 13-10. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit : Jonathan Daniel/Alllsport
02 Dec 2001 : Mike Brown of the Chicago Bears heads downfield against the Detroit Lions during the game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Lions 13-10. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit : Jonathan Daniel/Alllsport /

No. 9: 2001 Chicago Bears

People will notice that most great turnarounds in NFL history are sparked by the sudden rise of a young quarterback. The Chargers were a perfect example with Brees. However, the Bears, as they so often do, bucked that trend in 2001. This wasn’t a team that was led by a rising young star QB. They did it the old fashioned way with power running and great defense. It’s crazy to think they accomplished what they did given the division had Brett Favre and a young Daunte Culpepper in it.

The team certainly didn’t look like anything special having finished with a 5-11 record the previous year. They had some promising young talent on defense including Rookie of the Year recipient Brian Urlacher. Even so, nothing about the team stood out at first. That change with the arrival of GM Jerry Angelo. He made some key additions to the defensive line in the form of hulking defensive tackles Keith Traylor and Ted Washington.

Their ability to swallow up the run game suddenly made the Bears defense one of the best in the league. Together with the unexpected rise of rookie running back Anthony Thomas, they rode a wave of early success that included back-to-back overtime wins over San Francisco and Cleveland. Both included epic comebacks that were won by pick-sixes from safety Mike Brown. They finished 13-3 and won their first division championship in 11 years.

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