The 1956 season was the Chicago Bears' 37th in the National Football League. The team improved on their 8–4 record from 1955 and finished with a 9–2–1 record, under first-year head coach Paddy Driscoll to win the Western Conference and played in their first NFL championship game since 1946.
The title game against the New York Giants was at Yankee Stadium and the Giants won, 47–7.
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 30 at Baltimore Colts L 21–28 0–1 Memorial Stadium 45,221 Recap 2 October 7 at Green Bay Packers W 37–21 1–1 City Stadium 24,668 Recap 3 October 14 San Francisco 49ers W 31–7 2–1 Wrigley Field 47,526 Recap 4 October 21 Baltimore Colts W 58–27 3–1 Wrigley Field 48,364 Recap 5 October 28 at San Francisco 49ers W 38–21 4–1 Kezar Stadium 52,612 Recap 6 November 4 at Los Angeles Rams W 35–24 5–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 69,894 Recap 7 November 11 Green Bay Packers W 38–14 6–1 Wrigley Field 49,172 Recap 8 November 18 Los Angeles Rams W 30–21 7–1 Wrigley Field 48,102 Recap 9 November 25 at New York Giants T 17–17 7–1–1 Yankee Stadium 55,191 Recap 10 December 2 at Detroit Lions L 10–42 7–2–1 Briggs Stadium 57,024 Recap 11 December 9 Chicago Cardinals W 10–3 8–2–1 Wrigley Field 48,606 Recap 12 December 16 Detroit Lions W 38–21 9–2–1 Wrigley Field 49,086 Recap Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.
Postseason
Round Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Recap Championship December 30 New York Giants L 7–47 Yankee Stadium 56,836 Recap
Standings
Roster Chicago Bears 1956 roster Quarterbacks George Blanda K Ed Brown P Jim Haluska
Running backs Don Bingham Rick Casares John Hoffman Bobby Watkins
Receivers Jim Dooley Harlon Hill Bill McColl Gene Schroeder Offensive linemen Herman Clark G Kline Gilbert T Stan Jones G Dick Klawitter C John Mellekas T Tom Roggeman G Larry Strickland C Bill Wightkin T
Defensive linemen Doug Atkins DE Bill Bishop DT M. L. Brackett DE/DT Jack Hoffman DE Ed Meadows DE Fred Williams DT Linebackers Joe Fortunato OLB Bill George MLB Wayne Hansen OLB
Defensive backs J. C. Caroline CB/RB John Helwig CB McNeil Moore S Ray Gene Smith CB Stan Wallace S Reserve list Zeke Bratkowski QB/P (Military) Harland Carl RB (IR) Ron Drzewiecki RB (Military) Perry Jeter RB (IR) Charlie Sumner CB (Military)
Rookies in italics
References