The 1980 season was the Chicago Bears' 61st in the National Football League, and their third under head coach Neill Armstrong. The team failed to improve from their 10–6 record from 1979 to finish at 7–9, and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1978.
One of the victories was on Thanksgiving at Detroit; Chicago entered the Thursday game at 4–8, last place in the NFC Central division, and were trailing 17–3 after three quarters. With no time left in regulation, Bears quarterback Vince Evans scored a game-tying touchdown that sent the game into overtime. Then, before a national television audience on CBS, Dave Williams returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown on the first play of overtime for a 23–17 victory over the stunned Lions.
Running back Walter Payton once again led the NFC in rushing for the fifth straight year with 1,460 yards; he also had the league's highest annual salary at $475,000.
Offseason Draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1980 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeVincent AllenRunning BackIndiana StateRennie BucknerTackleBoise StateMike HarrisWide receiverPurdueLarry JamiesonLinebackerJackson StateChuck MateKickerNotre DameRick NashWide ReceiverIdaho StateMike WrightQuarterbackBowling Green
Roster
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 7 at Green Bay Packers L 6–12 0–1 Lambeau Field 54,381 2 September 14 New Orleans Saints W 22–3 1–1 Soldier Field 62,523 3 September 21 Minnesota Vikings L 14–34 1–2 Soldier Field 59,983 4 September 28 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 3–38 1–3 Three Rivers Stadium 53,987 5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 23–0 2–3 Soldier Field 61,350 6 October 12 at Minnesota Vikings L 7–13 2–4 Metropolitan Stadium 46,751 7 October 19 Detroit Lions W 24–7 3–4 Soldier Field 58,508 8 October 26 at Philadelphia Eagles L 14–17 3–5 Veterans Stadium 68,752 9 at Cleveland Browns L 21–27 3–6 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 84,225 10 November 9 Washington Redskins W 35–21 4–6 Soldier Field 57,159 11 November 16 Houston Oilers L 6–10 4–7 Soldier Field 59,390 12 November 23 at Atlanta Falcons L 17–28 4–8 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 49,156 13 November 27 at Detroit Lions W 23–17 5–8 Pontiac Silverdome 75,397 14 December 7 Green Bay Packers W 61–7 6–8 Soldier Field 57,176 15 December 14 Cincinnati Bengals L 14–17 6–9 Soldier Field 48,808 16 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 14–13 7–9 Tampa Stadium 55,298 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Season summary Week 1: at Green Bay Packers
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 15
Week 16
Standings
References