1990 Chicago Bears season

The 1990 Chicago Bears season was their 71st regular season and 20th postseason completed in the National Football League (NFL). The Bears were looking to return to the playoffs after missing them in 1989 and did so, winning their sixth NFC Central Division championship in seven seasons. With the change in playoff structuring that began in 1990, the Bears were not guaranteed a bye week for winning the division and had to play on Wild Card weekend. They defeated the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card round but were defeated by the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants at Giants Stadium in the Divisional Playoffs. This was also the last division title the Bears would win until 2001.

1990 Chicago Bears season
Head coach	Mike Ditka
Home field	Soldier Field
Results
Record	11–5
Division place	1st NFC Central
Playoff finish	Won Wild Card Playoffs (Saints) 16–6 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Giants) 31–3

For the only time in Mike Ditka's tenure as the Bears' head coach, the team played a regular season game in the state of Arizona when they visited the Phoenix Cardinals on October 28. Chicago left Tempe victorious; it was the Bears' first matchup against the Cardinals since Chicago visited the Cardinals in St. Louis six years earlier.

Late in the season, tragedy struck when defensive tackle Fred Washington, the Bears' second-round pick in the 1990 NFL Draft, was killed in a car accident on December 21, 1990.[1]

Offseason

NFL draft

1990 Chicago Bears draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	6	Mark Carrier *	Safety	USC
2	32	Fred Washington	Defensive tackle	TCU
2	33	Ron Cox	Linebacker	Fresno State
3	61	Tim Ryan	Defensive end	USC
3	63	Peter Tom Willis	Quarterback	Florida State
4	88	Tony Moss	Wide receiver	LSU
5	117	Pat Chaffey	Running back	Oregon State
6	144	John Mangum	Defensive back	Alabama
7	176	Bill Anderson	Center	Iowa
8	200	James Rouse	Running back	Arkansas
9	228	Johnny Bailey *	Running back	Texas A&M–Kingsville
10	255	Terry Price	Defensive end	Texas A&M
11	284	Brent White	Defensive end	Michigan
11	298	Roman Matusz	Offensive tackle	Pittsburgh
12	310	Anthony Cooney	Defensive back	Arkansas
Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[2]

Staff

1990 Chicago Bears staff

	Front office Chairman of the Board – Ed McCaskey President/Chief Executive Officer – Michael McCaskey Vice President of Player Personnel – Bill Tobin Assistant Director of Player Personnel – Rod Graves Head coaches Head Coach – Mike Ditka Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends/Special Teams Coordinator - Steve Kazor Offensive coaches Offensive Coordinator – Greg Landry Running Backs – Johnny Roland Wide Receivers – Vic Rapp Offensive Line – Dick Stanfel			Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator – Vince Tobin Defensive Line – John Levra Linebackers – Dave McGinnis Defensive Backs – Zaven Yaralian

Roster

1990 Chicago Bears roster

	Quarterbacks  4 Jim Harbaugh 18 Mike Tomczak 10 Peter Tom Willis Running backs 35 Neal Anderson 22 Johnny Bailey 31 Mark Green 25 Brad Muster FB 30 James Rouse FB 33 Lars Tate Wide receivers 82 Wendell Davis 29 Dennis Gentry 88 Glen Kozlowski 84 Ron Morris 85 Quintin Smith 87 Tom Waddle Tight ends 86 Cap Boso 89 James Coley 80 James Thornton		Offensive linemen 79 Kurt Becker G 62 Mark Bortz G 74 Jim Covert T 67 Jerry Fontenot C 63 Jay Hilgenberg C 57 Tom Thayer G 78 Keith Van Horne T 73 John Wojciechowski T Defensive linemen 93 Trace Armstrong DE 95 Richard Dent DE 99 Dan Hampton DT 76 Steve McMichael DT 72 William Perry DT 65 Terry Price DE 96 Tim Ryan DE 91 Fred Washington DT		Linebackers 54 Ron Cox OLB 53 Dante Jones MLB 51 Jim Morrissey OLB 52 Mickey Pruitt OLB 59 Ron Rivera OLB 55 John Roper OLB 64 Glenell Sanders LB 50 Mike Singletary MLB Defensive backs 20 Mark Carrier FS 37 Maurice Douglass CB 23 Shaun Gayle SS 24 Vestee Jackson CB 26 John Mangum CB/S 36 Markus Paul FS 32 Lemuel Stinson CB 49 David Tate SS 21 Donnell Woolford CB Special teams  8 Maury Buford P  6 Kevin Butler K		Reserve lists Practice squad Rookies in italics

[3]

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 9, 1990	Seattle Seahawks	W 17–0	64,400
2	September 16, 1990	at Green Bay Packers	W 31–13	58,938
3	September 23, 1990	Minnesota Vikings	W 19–16	65,420
4	September 30, 1990	at Los Angeles Raiders	L 24–10	80,156
5	October 7, 1990	Green Bay Packers	W 27–13	59,929
6	October 14, 1990	Los Angeles Rams	W 38–9	59,383
7	Bye
8	October 28, 1990	at Phoenix Cardinals	W 31–21	71,233
9	November 4, 1990	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 26–6	68,555
10	November 11, 1990	Atlanta Falcons	W 30–24	62,855
11	November 18, 1990	at Denver Broncos	W 16–13	75,013
12	November 25, 1990	at Minnesota Vikings	L 41–13	58,866
13	December 2, 1990	Detroit Lions	W 23–17	62,313
14	December 9, 1990	at Washington Redskins	L 10–9	53,920
15	December 16, 1990	at Detroit Lions	L 38–21	67,759
16	December 23, 1990	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 27–14	46,456
17	December 29, 1990	Kansas City Chiefs	L 21–10	60,262

Game summaries

Week 1

1 2 3 4 Total Seahawks 0 0 0 0 0 • Bears 3 7 0 7 17 Date: September 9 Location: Soldier Field, Chicago Game start: 12:00 p.m. Game attendance: 64,400 Game weather: 73°F, wind 7

Scoring summary 1 CHI Kevin Butler 47 yard field goal CHI 3–0 2 CHI Neal Anderson 17 yard run (Kevin Butler kick) CHI 10–0 4 CHI Neal Anderson 4 yard run (Kevin Butler kick) CHI 17–0

[4]

Week 2

1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 0 17 7 7 31 Packers 7 3 3 0 13 Date: September 16 Location: Lambeau Field Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 54°F; wind 13

Scoring summary Q1 GB Woodside 10 yard run (Jacke kick) GB 7–0 Q2 CHI Butler 41 yard field goal GB 7–3 Q2 CHI Anderson 1 yard run (Butler kick) CHI 10–7 Q2 CHI Harbaugh 2 yard run (Butler kick) CHI 17–7 Q2 GB Jacke 37 yard field goal CHI 17–10 Q3 CHI Morris 40 yard pass from Harbaugh (Butler kick) CHI 24–10 Q3 GB Jacke 37 yard field goal CHI 24–13 Q4 CHI Anderson 16 yard pass from Harbaugh (Butler kick) CHI 31–13

[5]

Standings

NFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
^(3) Chicago Bears	11	5	0	.688	6–2	9–3	348	280	L1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	6	10	0	.375	5–3	6–8	264	367	L2
Detroit Lions	6	10	0	.375	3–5	5–7	373	413	L1
Green Bay Packers	6	10	0	.375	3–5	5–7	271	347	L5
Minnesota Vikings	6	10	0	.375	3–5	4–8	351	326	L4

Post Season

In the Wild Card, the Bears defeated the New Orleans Saints to advance to a Divisional Round matchup against the New York Giants. The Giants ended the Bears playoff run on their way to winning the Super Bowl.

Wild Card

Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Saints	0	3	0	3	6
Bears	3	7	3	3	16

at Soldier Field, Chicago

• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/3:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: 22 °F (−6 °C), partly cloudy
• Game attendance: 60,767
• Referee: Jerry Seeman
• TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist and John Madden

Game information
Scoring CHI – field goal Butler 19 CHI 3–0 CHI – Thornton 18 pass from Tomczak (Butler kick) CHI 10–0 NO – field goal Andersen 47 CHI 10–3 CHI – field goal Butler 22 CHI 13–3 NO – field goal Andersen 38 CHI 13–6 CHI – field goal Butler 21 CHI 16–6

The Bears defense held the Saints to 193 total yards, 65 rushing yards, 6 first downs, and two field goals. Chicago also recorded 365 yards of total offense. Bears running back Neal Anderson compiled 102 rushing yards, 42 receiving yards, and threw a 22-yard Halfback option pass.

The score was 10–3 at the end of the first half, due to a Kevin Butler field goal and Mike Tomczak's 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end James Thornton. The Saints' only score of the half was a 47-yard field goal by Morten Andersen, who would later miss from 41 yards and have another attempt blocked. Also, with 3 minutes left before halftime, New Orleans starting quarterback Steve Walsh, who had completed just 6 of 16 passes, was knocked out of the game and replaced by John Fourcade. Fourcade fared no better, finishing the game with just 5 of 18 for 79 yards, including two interceptions.

Still the Saints were just trailing 10–3 near the end of the third quarter, and had a great chance to tie the game when defensive tackle Renaldo Turnbull blocked Butler's 45-yard field goal attempt. New Orleans defensive end Vince Buck recovered the ball and returned it 62 yards for a potential touchdown, only to see the play wiped out by an offsides penalty on teammate Robert Massey, who had lined up with his hand over the neutral zone. The penalty not only eliminated the score, but it also gave Chicago a first down, and 7 plays later, Butler kicked a 25-yard field goal to put them up 13–3.

With 5:52 left in the fourth quarter, Andersen's 38-yard field goal brought the scoring difference back to just a touchdown at 13–6. However, when faced with 3rd and 11 on the Bears ensuing drive, Tomczak completed a 38-yard pass to Dennis Gentry, enabling Chicago to maintain possession and drive to Butler's game clinching 21-yard field goal with 3:47 remaining on the clock.

You just try to line up as close as you can; I didn't realize I was offside", said Massey about his critical penalty after the game. "But when I saw the flag, I said, 'Oh, God!' I knew it was me."[6]

This was Mike Ditka's last playoff win as Bears head coach.

Divisional

Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	3	0	0	3
Giants	10	7	7	7	31

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 32 °F (0 °C), partly cloudy
• Game attendance: 77,025
• Referee: Dick Hantak
• TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden

Game information
Scoring NYG – field goal Bahr 46 NYG 3–0 NYG – Baker 21 pass from Hostetler (Bahr kick) NYG 10–0 CHI – field goal Butler 33 NYG 10–3 NYG – Cross 3 pass from Hostetler (Bahr kick) NYG 17–3 NYG – Hostetler 3 run (Bahr kick) NYG 24–3 NYG – Carthon 1 run (Bahr kick) NYG 31–3

The Giants defense dominated the game by allowing only 27 rushing yards and 3 points. This was the fewest rushing yards Chicago had gained in a game since 1967. Their previous low for the season was 100. Bears running back Neal Anderson, who had rushed for over 1,000 yards in the season and 102 yards in the previous playoff game, was held to 19 yards on 12 carries. Giants quarterback Jeff Hostetler, playing because starter Phil Simms suffered a season-ending injury, completed 10 out of 17 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 43 yards and another score.

On Chicago's second possession of the game, Giants defensive back Mark Collins intercepted Mike Tomczak's pass after it bounced out of the hands of Dennis Gentry and returned it 11 yards to set up a 46-yard field goal by Matt Bahr. The Bears took the ensuing kickoff and drove to the Giants 27, but on 4th down and 12, coach Mike Ditka decided against attempting a field goal in the 13 mph winds. On Chicago's conversion attempt, Anderson caught a pass from Tomczak, but was stuffed after a short gain. The Giants then drove 75 yards, including a 6-yard fourth-down conversion catch by reserve tight end Bob Mrosko, to go up 10–0 on Hostetler's 21-yard completion to Stephen Baker.

In the second quarter, Hosteler lost a fumble while being sacked by Steve McMichael, and Bears lineman Dan Hampton recovered the ball. Chicago then drove to the Giants 1-yard line. But on a 4th down conversion attempt, Giants defensive end John Washington plowed through Jim Covert's block attempt and tackled fullback Brad Muster for a loss. Still, the Bears managed to force a three-and-out, and convert good starting field position into a 33-yard field goal by Kevin Butler. But before the end of the half, the Giants went up 17–3 with an 80-yard, 11-play scoring drive. On the first play, Hostetler scrambled away from a Bears blitz and rushed for 11 yards. Later on, he converted a 4th and 1 at the Bears 32 with a 10-yard burst, and eventually he finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Howard Cross.

In the third quarter, Hostelter converted his third 4th down of the day with 9-yard scramble on 4th and 6, and finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, putting his team up 24–3. Chicago responded with a drive to the Giants 5-yard line. On 4th and goal, Muster caught a pass at the 1, but was dropped by linebackers Pepper Johnson and Gary Reasons before he could get across the goal line. In the fourth quarter, Giants defensive back Everson Walls returned an interception 37 yards to the Giants 49. The Giants then went on a 51-yard drive consisting of 16 running plays, the last a 1-yard touchdown plunge by fullback Maurice Carthon, that ate up 10:30 of play time.

This game offered a preview of what lay in store for Super Bowl XXV, as the Giants scored on drives of 75, 80, 49 and 51 yards, which lasted nine, 11, 11 and 16 plays. Overall, the Giants held the ball for 38:22, compared to Chicago's 21:38. The only negative thing for New York was the loss of running back Rodney Hampton, who suffered a broken leg in the first half.

References

1. "Bears' rookie, companion killed in auto crash". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 22, 1990. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
2. "1990 Chicago Bears draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
3. "1990 Chicago Bears starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
4. "Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears – September 9th, 1990". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
5. "Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers, September 16th, 1990". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
6. https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/07/sports/nfl-playoffs-saints-rue-crucial-penalty.html

External links

• 1990 Chicago Bears at Pro-Football-Reference.com