The team finished with a 13–3 record under head coach Dick Jauron en route to an NFC Central title and the number two seed in the NFC. With former 1st round pick Cade McNown being traded during training camp, the Bears were led by Jim Miller. The team had five comeback wins during the season, including two straight improbable wins where safety Mike Brown returned an interception for the game-winning touchdown in overtime. However, the Bears were upset at home by the Philadelphia Eagles 33–19 in the NFC Divisional playoffs.
Offseason
Staff
2001 Chicago Bears staff | | Front office Head coaches Offensive coaches | | | Defensive coaches Special teams coaches Strength and conditioning - Physical development coordinator – Russ Riederer
- Assistant physical development coordinator – Steve Little
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Roster
2001 Chicago Bears final roster | |
| | Quarterbacks Running backs Wide receivers Tight ends | | Offensive linemen Defensive linemen | | Linebackers Defensive backs Special teams | | Reserve lists
Practice squad
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- 46 Eric Johnson S
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- 97 Tim Johnson LB
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- 68 Devin Lemons LB
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- 76 Roshaun Matthews DE
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- 18 Willie Spencer WR
Rookies in italics
53 active, 5 inactive, 5 practice squad
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Season narrative
The Bears surprised most with a breakout campaign in 2001. After losing the opening game of the season to the Super Bowl XXXV Champion Baltimore Ravens 17–6 on the road, the Bears won their next six games, starting with a 17–10 victory against their division rival, the Minnesota Vikings in the Bears’ home-opener. They carried their momentum through the Week 3 Bye and won on the road against the Atlanta Falcons (31–3).
The Bears returned home and won against the Arizona Cardinals 20–13. After a road shutout of the Cincinnati Bengals 24–0 the Bears played three home games. The first two games of this stretch were back-to-back overtime wins, first against the San Francisco 49ers (37–31), then against the Cleveland Browns (27–21). Both times safety Mike Brown capped remarkable comebacks (the Bears trailed 28–9 in the third quarter against San Francisco, and 21–7 with seconds remaining against Cleveland) by returning an interception in overtime for a touchdown.
Unfortunately the Green Bay Packers (their historic rival) buried the Bears’ win streak at home, 20–12. The Bears rebounded, winning their next three games. They first defeated then-division rival Tampa Bay 27–24. A season sweep of the Vikings (13–6) followed, then the Bears defended their turf against the Detroit Lions 13–10.
The Bears then traveled to Lambeau Field and were swept by the Packers 17–7. Once again the Bears rebounded, winning their last four games, against the Buccaneers at home (27–3), the Redskins (20–15), the Lions on the road (24–0), and then their season-finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars (33–13). The Bears ended the regular season with a 13–3 record.
The Bears entered the playoffs with the league's top defense (allowing a league-low 203 points), an offense ranked 11th in points scored (338 points), and a plus-13 turnover differential (4th in the league), but their magical season ended on a sour note, losing 33–19 to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs at Soldier Field.
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | September 9 | at Baltimore Ravens | L 6–17 | 0–1 | PSINet Stadium | 69,365 |
| 2 | September 23 | Minnesota Vikings | W 17–10 | 1–1 | Soldier Field | 66,944 |
| 3 | Bye |
| 4 | October 7 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 31–3 | 2–1 | Georgia Dome | 46,483 |
| 5 | October 14 | Arizona Cardinals | W 20–13 | 3–1 | Soldier Field | 66,944 |
| 6 | October 21 | at Cincinnati Bengals | W 24–0 | 4–1 | Paul Brown Stadium | 63,408 |
| 7 | October 28 | San Francisco 49ers | W 37–31 (OT) | 5–1 | Soldier Field | 66,944 |
| 8 | November 4 | Cleveland Browns | W 27–21 (OT) | 6–1 | Soldier Field | 66,944 |
| 9 | November 11 | Green Bay Packers | L 12–20 | 6–2 | Soldier Field | 66,944 |
| 10 | November 18 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 27–24 | 7–2 | Raymond James Stadium | 65,612 |
| 11 | November 25 | at Minnesota Vikings | W 13–6 | 8–2 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,214 |
| 12 | December 2 | Detroit Lions | W 13–10 | 9–2 | Soldier Field | 66,944 |
| 13 | December 9 | at Green Bay Packers | L 7–17 | 9–3 | Lambeau Field | 59,869 |
| 14 | December 16 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 27–3 | 10–3 | Soldier Field | 66,944 |
| 15 | December 23 | at Washington Redskins | W 20–15 | 11–3 | FedExField | 78,884 |
| 16 | December 30 | at Detroit Lions | W 24–0 | 12–3 | Pontiac Silverdome | 76,067 |
| 17 | January 6 | Jacksonville Jaguars | W 33–13 | 13–3 | Soldier Field | 66,944 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | | Bears | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | | • Ravens | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 | |
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Week 2
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | | Vikings | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | | • Bears | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 17 | |
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Week 4
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | | • Bears | 0 | 10 | 0 | 21 | 31 | | Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
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Week 5
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | | Cardinals | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 | | • Bears | 3 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 20 | - Date: October 14
- Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Game start: 12:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 54 °F (12.2 °C) • Wind 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn)
- Referee: Johnny Grier
- TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee, Brian Baldinger
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| Scoring summary |
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| | 1 | | CHI | Paul Edinger 46-yard field goal | Bears 3–0 | | | 2 | | ARI | Bill Gramatica 40-yard field goal | Tie 3–3 | | | 2 | | CHI | James Allen 1-yard run (Paul Edinger kick) | Bears 10–3 | | | 2 | | ARI | Bill Gramatica 47-yard field goal | Bears 10–6 | | | 2 | | CHI | Paul Edinger 43-yard field goal | Bears 13–6 | | | 3 | | CHI | R. W. McQuarters 69-yard fumble return (Paul Edinger kick) | Bears 20–6 | | | 4 | | ARI | Frank Sanders 7-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Bill Gramatica kick) | Bears 20–13 |
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Week 6
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | | • Bears | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 | | Bengals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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Week 7
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | | 49ers | 14 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 31 | | • Bears | 0 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 6 | 37 | |
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| Scoring summary |
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| | 1 | | SF | Julian Peterson 26-yard fumble return (Jose Cortez kick) | 49ers 7–0 | | | 1 | | SF | Justin Swift 1-yard pass from Jeff Garcia (Jose Cortez kick) | 49ers 14–0 | | | 2 | | CHI | Safety, ball fumbled out of end zone | 49ers 14–2 | | | 2 | | CHI | Daimon Shelton 3-yard pass from Shane Matthews (Paul Edinger kick) | 49ers 14–9 | | | 3 | | SF | Garrison Hearst 60-yard pass from Jeff Garcia (Jose Cortez kick) | 49ers 21–9 | | | 3 | | SF | Zack Bronson 97-yard interception return (Jose Cortez kick) | 49ers 28–9 | | | 3 | | CHI | Anthony Thomas 19-yard run (Paul Edinger kick) | 49ers 28–16 | | | 4 | | SF | Jose Cortez 40-yard field goal | 49ers 31–16 | | | 4 | | CHI | David Terrell 13-yard pass from Shane Matthews (Paul Edinger kick) | 49ers 31–23 | | | 4 | | CHI | David Terrell 4-yard pass from Shane Matthews (Anthony Thomas run) | Tie 31–31 | | | OT | 14:44 | CHI | Mike Brown 33-yard interception return | Bears 37–31 |
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The Bears trailed the 49ers 28–9 in the third quarter. The Bears would score 22 unanswered points after Shane Matthews threw two touchdown passes to David Terrell in the last four minutes to tie the game 31–31. The 49ers won the coin toss and elected to receive. On the first play of overtime, quarterback Jeff Garcia threw a pass to Terrell Owens which Owens bobbled it out of his hands and was intercepted by Mike Brown. Brown would return the ball all the way for a walk-off pick six to win the game for the Bears 37–31.
Week 8
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | | Browns | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21 | | • Bears | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 27 | - Date: November 4
- Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Game start: 3:15 p.m. (originally scheduled for 12:00 pm)
- Elapsed time: 3:20
- Game attendance: 66,944
- Game weather: 53 °F (11.7 °C), wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
- Referee: Gerald Austin
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, and Armen Keteyian
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The Bears trailed the Browns 21–7 with 30 seconds left in the game. The Bears were able to score 14 points in those 30 seconds after Shane Matthews threw a touchdown pass to Marty Booker, Bears get the onside kick, and Matthews throwing a Hail Mary that got tipped up in the air and somehow caught in the endzone by James Allen for a touchdown. The game would go into Overtime for the second game in a row for the Bears. The Bears won the coin toss but had to punt it to the Browns. On the Browns' third play of their drive, Tim Couch threw a pass that was batted up in the air by Bryan Robinson and fell into the hands of Mike Brown who would return it for a game winning pick six. Brown became the first and currently only player in NFL history to have back-to-back games with a game winning pick six in overtime.
Week 9
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | | • Packers | 0 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 20 | | Bears | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 12 | |
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Week 10
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | | • Bears | 0 | 7 | 17 | 3 | 27 | | Buccaneers | 3 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 24 | |
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Week 11
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | | • Bears | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 13 | | Vikings | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | |
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Week 12
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | | Lions | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | | • Bears | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 13 | |
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After the winless Lions control play for most of the first half, Detroit kicker Jason Hanson misses three relatively easy field goals and the Bears recover their offense for a come-behind victory. The win moves the Bears to 9–2 but leave the Lions at 0–11 and looking down the barrel of the first 0–16 season in NFL history.
Week 13
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | | Bears | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | | • Packers | 7 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 17 | |
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Week 14
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | | Buccaneers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | | • Bears | 3 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 27 | |
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Week 15
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | | • Bears | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 20 | | Redskins | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 15 | |
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Week 16
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | | • Bears | 14 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 24 | | Lions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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Quarterback Miller controls play, and the Bear defence dominates Lion QB Ty Detmer, so that the Lions suffer a second home shutout for the first time since 1942. The Bears’ first playoff berth in eight seasons becomes settled and the team gains an opportunity to win the NFC Central – in the last year under that banner – for the first time since 1990.
Week 17
| Scoring summary |
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | | Plays | Yards | TOP | JAX | CHI | | 1 | 2:42 | | | | Bears | 47-yard field goal by Edinger | 0 | 3 | | 2 | 1:17 | | | | Bears | Leon Johnson 2-yard touchdown run, Edinger kick good | 0 | 10 | | 2 | 0:00 | | | | Bears | 23-yard field goal by Edinger | 0 | 13 | | 3 | 9:40 | | | | Bears | Terrell 9-yard touchdown reception from Miller, Edinger kick good | 0 | 20 | | 3 | 6:59 | | | | Jaguars | McCardell 15-yard touchdown reception from Brunell, Hollis kick no good | 6 | 20 | | 3 | 1:52 | | | | Bears | 25-yard field goal by Edinger | 6 | 23 | | 4 | 12:56 | | | | Bears | 22-yard field goal by Edinger | 6 | 26 | | 4 | 7:37 | | | | Bears | Thomas 2-yard touchdown run, Edinger kick good | 6 | 33 | | 4 | 3:50 | | | | Jaguars | Smith 3-yard touchdown reception from Brunell, Holmes kick good | 13 | 33 | | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 13 | 33 | |
The game's biggest highlight was defensive tackle Keith Traylor intercepting a Mark Brunell pass and returning it 67 yards setting up a David Terrell touchdown in the third quarter.
Standings
Playoffs
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | | • Eagles | 6 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 33 | | Bears | 0 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 19 | - Date: Saturday January 19, 2002
- Location: Soldier Field
- Game start: 3:37
- Elapsed time: 2:58
- Game attendance: 66,944
- Game weather: 31 °F (−0.6 °C), wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn), wind chill 19 °F or −7.2 °C
- Referee: Bill Carollo
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston, and Pam Oliver
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| Scoring summary |
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| | Q1 | 9:04 | PHI | Akers 34-yard field goal | PHI 3–0 | | | Q1 | 3:22 | PHI | Akers 23-yard field goal | PHI 6–0 | | | Q2 | 5:29 | CHI | Merritt 47-yard run (Paul Edinger | CHI 7–6 | | | Q2 | 0:14 | PHI | Martin 13-yard pass from McNabb (Akers kick) | PHI 13–7 | | | Q3 | 12:25 | CHI | Azumah 39-yard interception return (Edinger kick) | CHI 14–13 | | | Q3 | 5:55 | PHI | Staley 6-yard pass from McNabb (Akers kick) | PHI 20-14 | | | Q4 | 14:16 | CHI | Edinger 38-yard field goal | PHI 20–17 | | | Q4 | 8:48 | PHI | Akers 40-yard field goal | PHI 23–17 | | | Q4 | 6:28 | PHI | Akers 46-yard field goal | PHI 26–17 | | | Q4 | 3:21 | PHI | McNabb 5-yard run (Akers kick) | PHI 33–17 | | | Q4 | 0:00 | CHI | Safety | PHI 33–19 |
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Notes
