The 2007 season was the Chicago Bears' 88th season in the National Football League (NFL), and the fourth under head coach Lovie Smith. The season officially began on September 9, 2007, against the San Diego Chargers, and concluded on December 30 against the New Orleans Saints.NFL.com, Chicago Bears — Team Schedule Retrieved on April 4, 2007 The Bears entered the 2007 season as the National Football Conference (NFC) Champions and had hopes of returning to the Super Bowl,Chicagobears.com, Bears determined to complete unfinished business Retrieved on April 4, 2007 but instead finished the season with a 7–9 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004. The season marked the most recent time that the Bears swept the Green Bay Packers.
Offseason
Roster changes One of the biggest stories in the Bears' off-season was Tank Johnson's jail sentence. In December 2006, Johnson came under increased scrutiny after police entered his house in Gurnee, Illinois, and found several guns and weapon paraphernalia.NBC5.com, Tank Johnson Charged After Police Raid Home Retrieved on March 17, 2007 The situation was further complicated when Johnson's friend, William Posey, was murdered the following evening while defending Johnson at a nightclub. On March 15, 2007, a judge in Skokie, Illinois sentenced Johnson to 120 days in jail and fined him $2,500.CBS Chicago, Tank Johnson Sentenced To 120 Days In Jail Retrieved on March 15, 2007 He was released from jail on May 13, 2007, due to good behavior.Chicagosports.com, Tank's a free man again Retrieved on May 29, 2007 Johnson also faced an additional eight-game suspension from the NFL.Chicagobears.com, Will Tank Johnson be suspended? Retrieved on March 17, 2007 The league ultimately suspended Johnson for half of the regular season on June 4.Chicagobears.com, NFL announces Tank Johnson suspension , Retrieved on June 4, 2007 Despite vowing to amend his ways, Johnson was pulled over for speeding in Arizona, and was later given a blood test after an officer suspected he was driving under the influence. The incident prompted the Bears to waive Johnson on June 25.Chicagobears.com, Bears say goodbye to troubled defensive tackle , Retrieved on June 25, 2007 Johnson was replaced by Darwin Walker.
Additionally, controversy ensued between the Bears' management and Lance Briggs. Only weeks after losing Super Bowl XLI, the Bears placed a franchise tag worth nearly 7.2 million dollars on the Pro Bowl-caliber linebacker, keeping him with the team for another year.Chicagobears.com, Bears designate Briggs as franchise player Retrieved on February 17, 2007 Briggs became unhappy with the action and voiced his anger on The Mike North Morning Show.Chicago Sun-Times, Briggs to Bears: Pay me or trade me Retrieved on March 3, 2007 He even went as far to claim he no longer wanted to be a member of the Bears, a statement he later reiterated nationally on FoxSports.com.Fox Sports, Bears Pro Bowler ready to sit out season Retrieved on March 17, 2007 Despite Briggs' remarks, the Bears stated that they planned to keep him with the organization for the 2007 season.Chicagobears.com, Briggs remains in Bears' plans for 2007 season Retrieved on March 17, 2007 The Washington Redskins offered to exchange first-round draft picks with the Bears in exchange for Briggs.The Washington Times, Gibbs acknowledges talks, but Briggs trade unlikely Retrieved on March 31, 2007 Angelo deferred the offer on April 3,ESPN.com, Bears tell Redskins draft pick swap won't do Retrieved on April 3, 2007 but later stated they were interested in negotiating another deal the following day.Chicagobears.com, Bears still negotiating with Redskins Retrieved on April 4, 2007 Briggs came to terms with the Bears on July 25, and accepted the 7.2 million dollar contract.Gano, Rick, Briggs agrees to 1-year deal with Bears (July 25, 2007), Yahoo! Sports, Retrieved on July 25, 2007.
The team traded running back Thomas Jones to the New York Jets and their second-round (63rd overall) pick for the Jets' second-round (37th overall) pick in the 2007 NFL draft. In addition to the loss of Jones, Todd Johnson, Cameron Worrell, and Justin Gage left the Bears for other teams later.Chicagobears.com, Bears continuing their march to a championship Retrieved on March 11, 2007Profootballweekly.com, Bucs net June; No match for Fowler; Titans sign WR Gage Retrieved on March 17, 2007 In order to fill the void, the Bears acquired strong safety Adam Archuleta from the Washington Redskins in exchange for their sixth-round draft pick.Upi.com, Redskins trade safety Archuleta to Chicago Retrieved on March 20, 2007 They also signed former Redskins' kicker Nick Novak to back up Robbie Gould.Chicagobears.com, Will Hester play on offense in 2007? Retrieved on February 18, 2007 Defensive tackle Anthony Adams also was signed to further bolster the Bears' defensive line, following the departures of Alfonso Boone and Ian Scott.ESPN, Adams will sign a four-year contract with Bears Retrieved on March 25, 2007Chicagobears.com, Adams prepared to tackle new challenge with Bears Retrieved on April 8, 2007
The Bears re-signed Ruben Brown, the team's last remaining free agent from the previous season, to a one-year extension for an undisclosed amount of money.Yahoo! Sports, Retrieved on March 25, 2007 Amidst these significant changes, Jerry Angelo, the team's general manager, stated, "I know on the outside it looks like we want to dismantle the team. It has nothing to do with that. We want to keep this the best possible football team that we can. And that's what we're trying to do.", while addressing the media in March.Yahoo! Sports, Angelo: Bears building, not dismantling, winner Retrieved on March 25, 2007 By the end of May, the Bears had lost ten members of their 2006 roster.Yahoo! Sports, Notes and Transactions Retrieved on April 8, 2007
The team re-signed Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman to multi-year contracts.Associated Press, Bears sign Vasher to five-year deal (June 25, 2007), Yahoo! Sports, Retrieved on July 25, 2007.Mayer, Larry, Tillman agrees to six-year contract extension (July 24, 2007), chicagobears.com, Retrieved on July 24, 2007. The team traded one of their draft picks to the Buffalo Bills for Darwin Walker, who will replace Tank Johnson.Seligman, Andrew, Bears, Walker agree on 5-year contract (July 31, 2007), Yahoo! Sports, Retrieved on August 1, 2007. The Bears traded safety Chris Harris to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick in 2008.Mayer, Larry, Depth at safety made Harris expendable (August 2, 2007), chicagobears.com, Retrieved on August 2, 2007. Dante Wesley was also traded to the New England Patriots in exchange for a seventh-round pick.McClure, Vaughn, For safety Brown, it's all about staying in one piece (August 7, 2007), Chicago Tribune, Retrieved on August 8, 2007.
Coaching changes The Bears' coaching staff also saw significant changes during the off season. The team did not re-sign defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, whose contract expired at the end of the 2006 season.Fox Sports, Bears won't renew Rivera's contract Retrieved on February 19, 2007ESPN, Chicago doesn't plan to retain D-coordinator Rivera Retrieved on February 19, 2007 He was replaced by linebackers coach Bob Babich, who had followed head coach Lovie Smith from the St. Louis Rams.Yahoo! Sports, Bears named Babich defensive coordinator Retrieved on February 19, 2007 Eventually, five assistant coaches, including quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson, would leave the Bears for other teams.Chicagobears.com, Wilson leaves Bears for same job with Cowboys Retrieved on February 19, 2007 The team worked out a contract extension with Lovie Smith, which extended his contract for four years to 2011. Smith will make a total of $22 million during the course of the deal.ESPN, Lovie Smith scores $22 million extension with Chicago Retrieved on March 1, 2007 Jerry Angelo, the team's general manager, also signed a six-year deal on the same day.Chicagobears.com, Smith, Angelo sign contract extensions Retrieved on February 28, 2007 The Bears billed Pep Hamilton of the San Francisco 49ers as their new quarterback coach, and Charles London of Duke University as the team's offensive quality control coach.Chicagobears.com, Bears add Hamilton, London to coaching staff Retrieved on March 11, 2007
2007 NFL draft
Round Pick Player Position College 1 31 Greg Olsen Tight end Miami 2 62 Dan Bazuin Defensive end Central Michigan 3 93 Garrett Wolfe Running back Northern Illinois 3 94 Michael Okwo Linebacker Stanford 4 130 Josh Beekman Guard Boston College 5 167 Kevin Payne Strong safety Louisiana-Monroe 5 168 Corey Graham Cornerback New Hampshire 7 221 Trumaine McBride Cornerback Ole Miss 7 241 Aaron Brant Offensive tackle Iowa State Going into the 2007 NFL draft, the Bears did not reveal which prospects they were interested in, but stated that they entered the draft looking for the "best athlete available".Chicagobears.com, Bears sticking with best player available approach Retrieved on February 28, 2007. As the loser of the previous Super Bowl, the Bears entered the 2007 NFL draft ostensibly with the thirty-first selection in each of the seven rounds of the draft.NFL.com, 2007 NFL Draft order Retrieved on February 17, 2007 However, as a result of trading activity, both before and during the draft, the Bears ended up with nine picks instead of seven, and only five of those nine were in the 31st position.
Trade activity The Bears improved their placement in the second round by trading Thomas Jones and their second round pick for the New York Jets' second round pick, which was the fifth pick of the second round. Thus, the Bears then possessed the 31st and 37th overall picks of the draft.ESPN, Sources: Bears to swap Jones for Jets draft pick Retrieved on March 3, 2007 However, the Bears then traded this second round pick to San Diego in exchange for the Chargers' 2007 draft picks in the second round (62 overall), third round (93), and fifth round (167), as well as the Chargers' third round pick in the 2008 draft. The Bears also traded away their sixth round pick (186th overall) to the Washington Redskins for Adam Archuleta.Yahoo! Sports, Bears acquire S Archuleta from Redskins Retrieved on March 31, 2007. Additionally, the Bears acquired the 11th pick of the 7th round (221) by trading Lennie Friedman to the Cleveland Browns. (This pick had earlier been acquired by Cleveland from the San Francisco 49ers.)ESPN.com, Browns trade draft pick for Bears lineman Friedman Retrieved on April 29, 2007
Actual selections The team used their 31st overall selection to draft Greg Olsen to solidify their tight end position.Yahoo! Sports, Retrieved on April 28, 2007 They later traded their second round, 37th overall selection to the San Diego Chargers, in exchange for the team's second (62), third (93), fifth (167) and next year's third selection.Chicagobears.com, Bears trade second-round pick to Chargers Retrieved on April 28, 2007 Next, Dan Bazuin was selected to further bolster the Bears' defensive line, while Chicago native Garrett Wolfe was selected in the third round following Thomas Jones' departure.Chicagobears.com, Defensive end Bazuin a value pick in second round Retrieved on April 28, 2007 The team spent their other third-round pick to acquire linebacker Michael Okwo.Chicagobears.com, Bears choose Wolfe, Okwo in Round 3 Retrieved on April 28, 2007 The bears drafted Offensive guard Josh Beekman in the fourth round, and then selected two defensive backs, Kevin Payne and Corey Graham in the fourth round.Fox23news.com, Beekman Selected by Bears in 4th Round Retrieved on April 29, 2007Chicagobears.com, Bears boost secondary with safety, cornerback Retrieved on April 29, 2007 Lastly, the team drafted offensive tackle Aaron Brant and cornerback Trumaine McBride in the seventh round.Chicagobears.com, Bears draft corner, tackle in seventh round Retrieved on April 29, 2007