The 1982 Chicago Bears season was the team's strike-shortened 63rd season in the National Football League, and their first under head coach Mike Ditka. The team failed to improve on their 6–10 record from 1981 to finish at 3–6 and failed to make the playoffs for the third consecutive season. The Bears would end up being the only team in the NFC Central to not make the playoffs in 1982. This particular feat would be repeated in a full 16-game season in 1997.
The strike also prevented the Bears–Packers rivalry from being played this year, making the Lions–Packers rivalry the longest-running annual series in the league.
This would be the final full season that George Halas was the Bears' owner, as he died during the following season on October 31, 1983 at the age of 88.
Offseason
1982 NFL draft
Undrafted free agents After the draft, the Bears signed 2 undrafted free agents, linebacker Dan Rains from Cincinnati and running back Calvin Thomas of Illinois. + 1982 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeMark BornholdtRunning backBall StateFred BrockingtonWide receiverMichiganBrett CarselloCenterWisconsin–Eau ClaireClinton DavenportTackleEastern IllinoisBill HuskissonDefensive tackleWestern IllinoisBret HybteLinebackerCentral MichiganDean MasztakTight endNotre DameJeff OrlandoDefensive endCal LutheranTerry PorterWide receiverMontclair StateDennis RunckRunning backDartmouthJim SchtetzerPunterLees–McRae CollegeCalvin ThomasRunning backIllinoisSteve VeithKickerWisconsin
Roster
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 12 at Detroit Lions L 10–17 0–1 Pontiac Silverdome 71,337 2 September 19 New Orleans Saints L 0–10 0–2 Soldier Field 56,600 September 26 at San Francisco 49ers canceled 0–2 Candlestick Park1982 NFL players strike October 3 Minnesota Vikings canceled 0–2 Soldier Field October 10 Green Bay Packers canceled 0–2 Soldier Field October 17 at St. Louis Cardinals canceled 0–2 Busch Memorial Stadium October 24 Tampa Bay Buccaneers canceled 0–2 Soldier Field October 31 at Green Bay Packers canceled 0–2 Lambeau Field November 7 Atlanta Falcons canceled 0–2 Soldier Field November 14 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers postponed 0–2 Tampa Stadium 3 November 21 Detroit Lions W 20–17 1–2 Soldier Field 46,783 4 November 28 at Minnesota Vikings L 7–35 1–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 54,724 5 December 5 New England Patriots W 26–13 2–3 Soldier Field 36,973 6 December 12 at Seattle Seahawks L 14–20 2–4 Kingdome 52,826 7 December 19 St. Louis Cardinals L 7–10 2–5 Soldier Field 43,270 8 December 26 at Los Angeles Rams W 34–26 3–5 Anaheim Stadium 46,502 9 January 2, 1983 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 23–26 3–6 Tampa Stadium 68,112 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
References
1982 Chicago Bears Season at www.bearshistory.com