2021 Chicago Bears season

Summary

The 2021 season was the Chicago Bears' 102nd season in the National Football League (NFL), their 103rd overall, and their fourth and final under head coach Matt Nagy. This was the first season under the NFL's new 17-game schedule.

2021 Chicago Bears season
OwnerVirginia Halas McCaskey
General managerRyan Pace
Head coachMatt Nagy
Chris Tabor (Acting HC for Week 8 after Nagy tested positive for COVID-19)
Home fieldSoldier Field
Results
Record6–11
Division place3rd NFC North
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
AP All-Pros
3
Uniform

The Bears finished 6–11, failing to improve upon their 8–8 record from the previous year, and failed to return to the playoffs. Nagy along with general manager Ryan Pace were fired on January 10, 2022.[1]

Draft edit

2021 Chicago Bears Draft
Round Selection Player Position College
1 11 Justin Fields QB Ohio State
2 39 Teven Jenkins OT Oklahoma State
5 151 Larry Borom OL Missouri
6 217 Khalil Herbert RB Virginia Tech
221 Dazz Newsome WR North Carolina
228 Thomas Graham Jr. CB Oregon
7 250 Khyiris Tonga DT BYU

Notes

  • The Bears traded their first-round selection (20th overall) and their fifth-round selection (164th overall) as well as their 2022 first and fourth-round selections to the New York Giants in exchange for a first-round selection (11th overall).[2]
  • The Bears traded their second-round selection (52nd overall), third-round selection (83rd overall) and sixth-round selection (204th overall) to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a second-round selection (39th overall) and a fifth-round selection (151st overall).[3]
  • The Bears traded their fourth-round selection to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 2020 fifth-round selection.[4]
  • The Bears acquired a conditional seventh-round selection, which could be upgraded to a sixth-rounder, in a trade that sent tight end Adam Shaheen to the Miami Dolphins and the pick ended up becoming a sixth-round selection (208th overall).[5]
  • The Bears traded their sixth-round selection (208th overall) to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for 2020 sixth-round (217th overall) and seventh-round (250th overall) selections.

Staff edit

2021 Chicago Bears staff

Front office

  • Secretary of the board of directors – Virginia Halas McCaskey
  • Chairman – George McCaskey
  • President/CEO – Ted Phillips
  • General manager – Ryan Pace
  • Senior vice president/general counsel – Cliff Stein
  • Director of player personnel – Josh Lucas
  • Assistant director of player personnel – Champ Kelly
  • Director of college scouting – Mark Sadowski
  • Director of football administration – Joey Laine

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams coordinator – Chris Tabor
  • Assistant special teams – Brian Ginn

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Jason Loscalzo
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Anthony Hibbert
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Casey Kramer
  • Head athletic trainer – Andre Tucker

Final roster edit

2021 Chicago Bears final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
53 active, 11 inactive, 15 practice squad (+1 exempt)

Preseason edit

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 14 Miami Dolphins W 20–13 1–0 Soldier Field Recap
2 August 21 Buffalo Bills L 15–41 1–1 Soldier Field Recap
3 August 28 at Tennessee Titans W 27–24 2–1 Nissan Stadium Recap

Regular season edit

Schedule edit

The Bears' 2021 schedule was announced on May 12. The Bears alternated home and away games every game of the season, becoming first team to do so in a 17-game season and the fifth since the NFL season expanded to 16 games in 1978.

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 12 at Los Angeles Rams L 14–34 0–1 SoFi Stadium Recap
2 September 19 Cincinnati Bengals W 20–17 1–1 Soldier Field Recap
3 September 26 at Cleveland Browns L 6–26 1–2 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap
4 October 3 Detroit Lions W 24–14 2–2 Soldier Field Recap
5 October 10 at Las Vegas Raiders W 20–9 3–2 Allegiant Stadium Recap
6 October 17 Green Bay Packers L 14–24 3–3 Soldier Field Recap
7 October 24 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 3–38 3–4 Raymond James Stadium Recap
8 October 31 San Francisco 49ers L 22–33 3–5 Soldier Field Recap
9 November 8 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 27–29 3–6 Heinz Field Recap
10 Bye
11 November 21 Baltimore Ravens L 13–16 3–7 Soldier Field Recap
12 November 25 at Detroit Lions W 16–14 4–7 Ford Field Recap
13 December 5 Arizona Cardinals L 22–33 4–8 Soldier Field Recap
14 December 12 at Green Bay Packers L 30–45 4–9 Lambeau Field Recap
15 December 20 Minnesota Vikings L 9–17 4–10 Soldier Field Recap
16 December 26 at Seattle Seahawks W 25–24 5–10 Lumen Field Recap
17 January 2 New York Giants W 29–3 6–10 Soldier Field Recap
18 January 9 at Minnesota Vikings L 17–31 6–11 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap
Notes:
* Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Legend:
 #  Games played with navy uniforms.
 #  Games played with white uniforms.
 #  Game played with "classic" 1936 uniforms.
 #  Games played with alternate orange uniforms.
 –  Light green background indicates a victory.
 –  Light red background indicates a loss.

Game summaries edit

Week 1: at Los Angeles Rams edit

Week 1: Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 7 7014
Rams 10 3 14734

at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

Game information

Week 2: vs. Cincinnati Bengals edit

Week 2: Cincinnati Bengals at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bengals 0 0 31417
Bears 7 0 01320

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

Week 3: at Cleveland Browns edit

Week 3: Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 3 0 306
Browns 0 10 31326

at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

Week 4: vs. Detroit Lions edit

Week 4: Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 0 7714
Bears 7 7 10024

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

Week 5: at Las Vegas Raiders edit

Week 5: Chicago Bears at Las Vegas Raiders – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 14 0620
Raiders 3 0 069

at Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada

Game information

Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers edit

Week 6: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Packers 0 10 7724
Bears 7 0 0714

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: October 17
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 62 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 62,332
  • Referee: Brad Rogers
  • TV announcers (Fox): Joe Davis, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 7: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers edit

Week 7: Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 3 003
Buccaneers 21 14 0338

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Game information

Week 8: vs. San Francisco 49ers edit

Week 8: San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
49ers 3 6 61833
Bears 3 10 3622

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: October 31
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Partly sunny, 52 °F (11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 60,877
  • Referee: Land Clark
  • TV announcers (Fox): Adam Amin, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 9: at Pittsburgh Steelers edit

Week 9: Chicago Bears at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 3 32127
Steelers 7 7 6929

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

Week 11: vs. Baltimore Ravens edit

Week 11: Baltimore Ravens at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Ravens 0 6 01016
Bears 0 0 7613

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: November 21
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Mostly sunny, 43 °F (6 °C)
  • Game attendance: 60,679
  • Referee: Shawn Smith
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson and Gene Steratore
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 12: at Detroit Lions edit

Thanksgiving Day games

Week 12: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 13 0316
Lions 7 0 7014

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Game information

Week 13: vs. Arizona Cardinals edit

Week 13: Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 14 7 3933
Bears 0 7 7822

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: December 5
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 35 °F (2 °C)
  • Game attendance: 60,803
  • Referee: Jerome Boger
  • TV announcers (Fox): Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth and Shannon Spake
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 14: at Green Bay Packers edit

Week 14: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 3 24 0330
Packers 0 21 17745

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: December 12
  • Game time: 7:20 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 37 °F (3 °C)
  • Game attendance: 78,273
  • Referee: Ronald Torbert
  • TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Kathryn Tappen and Terry McAulay
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: vs. Minnesota Vikings edit

Week 15: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 3 7017
Bears 0 3 069

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

Week 16: at Seattle Seahawks edit

Week 16: Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 7 71125
Seahawks 7 10 7024

at Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: December 26
  • Game time: 3:05 p.m. CST/1:05 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: Snow, 25 °F (−4 °C)
  • Game attendance: 68,492
  • Referee: Carl Cheffers
  • TV announcers (Fox): Aaron Goldsmith, Aqib Talib and Megan Olivi
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 17: vs. New York Giants edit

Week 17: New York Giants at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 0 3 003
Bears 14 8 7029

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: January 2
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 24 °F (−4 °C)
  • Game attendance: 59,594
  • Referee: Shawn Hochuli
  • TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes and Jay Feely
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 18: at Minnesota Vikings edit

Week 18: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 3 11 3017
Vikings 0 3 72131

at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: January 9
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 66,625
  • Referee: Brad Allen
  • TV announcers (Fox): Gus Johnson, Aqib Talib and Megan Olivi
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Standings edit

Division edit

NFC North
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(1) Green Bay Packers 13 4 0 .765 4–2 9–3 450 371 L1
Minnesota Vikings 8 9 0 .471 4–2 6–6 425 426 W1
Chicago Bears 6 11 0 .353 2–4 4–8 311 407 L1
Detroit Lions 3 13 1 .206 2–4 3–9 325 467 W1

Conference edit

# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division winners
1[a] Green Bay Packers North 13 4 0 .765 4–2 9–3 .479 .480 L1
2[a] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South 13 4 0 .765 4–2 8–4 .467 .443 W3
3[b] Dallas Cowboys East 12 5 0 .706 6–0 10–2 .488 .431 W1
4[b] Los Angeles Rams West 12 5 0 .706 3–3 8–4 .483 .409 L1
Wild cards
5 Arizona Cardinals West 11 6 0 .647 4–2 7–5 .490 .492 L1
6 San Francisco 49ers West 10 7 0 .588 2–4 7–5 .500 .438 W2
7[c] Philadelphia Eagles East 9 8 0 .529 3–3 7–5 .469 .350 L1
Did not qualify for the postseason
8[c] New Orleans Saints South 9 8 0 .529 4–2 7–5 .512 .516 W2
9 Minnesota Vikings North 8 9 0 .471 4–2 6–6 .507 .434 W1
10[d] Washington Football Team East 7 10 0 .412 2–4 6–6 .529 .420 W1
11[d][e] Seattle Seahawks West 7 10 0 .412 3–3 4–8 .519 .424 W2
12[d][e] Atlanta Falcons South 7 10 0 .412 2–4 4–8 .472 .315 L2
13 Chicago Bears North 6 11 0 .353 2–4 4–8 .524 .373 L1
14 Carolina Panthers South 5 12 0 .294 2–4 3–9 .509 .412 L7
15 New York Giants East 4 13 0 .235 1–5 3–9 .536 .485 L6
16 Detroit Lions North 3 13 1 .206 2–4 3–9 .528 .627 W1
Tiebreakers[f]
  1. ^ a b Green Bay finished ahead of Tampa Bay based on conference record (9–3 vs. 8–4).
  2. ^ a b Dallas finished ahead of LA Rams based on conference record (10–2 vs. 8–4).
  3. ^ a b Philadelphia finished ahead of New Orleans based on head-to-head victory.
  4. ^ a b c Washington finished ahead of Atlanta and Seattle based on head-to-head victories.
  5. ^ a b Seattle finished ahead of Atlanta based on win percentage in common games (4–2 vs. 3–3 against: San Francisco, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Washington, and Detroit).
  6. ^ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.

References edit

  1. ^ "Pace, Nagy relieved of duties with the Bears". www.chicagobears.com. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "Chicago Bears select QB Justin Fields with No. 11 pick in NFL draft after making deal with New York Giants". ESPN.com. April 30, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  3. ^ Simmons, Myles (April 30, 2021). "Bears trade up for Teven Jenkins". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  4. ^ Mayer, Larry (April 26, 2020). "Bears draft Gipson with pick acquired in trade". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  5. ^ Mayer, Larry (July 26, 2020). "Bears trade Shaheen to Dolphins". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved July 26, 2020.

External links edit

  • Official website