1971 Chicago Bears season

1971 Chicago Bears season
Head Coach	Jim Dooley
Home Field	Soldier Field
Results
Record	6–8
Place	3rd NFC Central
Playoff Finish	did not qualify
Timeline
Previous season	Next season
1970	1972

The 1971 Chicago Bears season was their 52nd regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 6–8 record, another below .500 showing, eventually costing head coach Jim Dooley his job. This was their 1st season at Soldier Field.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1971 NFL draft

1971 Chicago Bears draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	11	Joe Moore	Running back	Missouri
2	28	Jim Harrison	Running back	Missouri
2	36	Charlie Ford	Cornerback	Houston
3	64	Tony McGee	Defensive end	Bishop
3	71	Bob Newton	Tackle	Nebraska
4	89	Jerry Moore	Defensive back	Arkansas
6	135	Earl Thomas	Wide receiver	Houston
7	167	Buddy Lee	Quarterback	LSU
Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Roster

1971 Chicago Bears roster
	Quarterbacks 11 Jack Concannon 10 Bobby Douglass 16 Kent Nix Running backs 33 Jim Grabowski FB 35 Jim Harrison FB 22 Cyril Pinder 24 Don Shy 34 Bill Tucker Wide receivers 43 George Farmer 45 Dick Gordon 84 Jim Seymour 21 Cecil Turner Tight ends 82 Earl Thomas 89 Bob Wallace		Offensive linemen 72 Jim Cadile G 70 Jeff Curchin T 52 Rich Coady C 50 Gene Hamlin C 61 Glen Holloway G 65 Randy Jackson T 78 Bob Newton G 73 Steve Wright T Defensive linemen 75 Dave Hale DT 79 John Hoffman DE 85 Willie Holman DE 71 Tony McGee DE 87 Ed O'Bradovich DE 67 George Seals DT 76 Bill Staley DT		Linebackers 31 Ross Brupbacher 55 Doug Buffone 51 Dick Butkus 30 Jimmy Gunn 53 Larry Rowden Defensive backs 32 Charlie Ford CB 17 Cliff Hardy 29 Bob Jeter CB 18 Jerry Moore 44 Garry Lyle FS 48 Ron Smith SS 20 Joe Taylor CB Special teams 88 Bobby Joe Green P 83 Mac Percival K		Reserve lists 40 Gale Sayers RB (IR) Practice squad Rookies in italics Active, Inactive, Practice squad

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 19, 1971	Pittsburgh Steelers	W 17–15	55,049
2	September 26, 1971	at Minnesota Vikings	W 20–17	47,900
3	October 3, 1971	at Los Angeles Rams	L 17–3	66,957
4	October 10, 1971	New Orleans Saints	W 35–14	55,049
5	October 17, 1971	at San Francisco 49ers	L 13–0	44,000
6	October 24, 1971	at Detroit Lions	W 28–23	54,418
7	October 31, 1971	Dallas Cowboys	W 23–19	55,049
8	November 7, 1971	Green Bay Packers	L 17–14	55,049
9	November 14, 1971	Washington Redskins	W 16–15	55,049
10	November 21, 1971	Detroit Lions	L 28–3	55,049
11	November 29, 1971	at Miami Dolphins	L 34–3	75,312
12	December 5, 1971	at Denver Broncos	L 6–3	51,200
13	December 12, 1971	at Green Bay Packers	L 31–10	56,263
14	December 19, 1971	Minnesota Vikings	L 27–10	55,049

Game summaries

Week 1

1 2 3 4 Total Steelers 0 6 6 3 15 Bears 0 3 0 14 17 at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois Date: Sunday, September 19 Game time: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 63°F, wind 12 mph Pro-Football-Reference.com Game information Second quarter Steelers – Preston Pearson recovered fumble in end zone (kick failed) – Steelers 6–0 Bears – Mac Percival 33-yard field goal – Steelers 6–3 Third quarter Steelers – Roy Gerela 32-yard field goal – Steelers 9–3 Steelers – Roy Gerela 29-yard field goal – Steelers 12–3 Fourth quarter Steelers – Roy Gerela 42-yard field goal – Steelers 15–3 Bears – Ross Brupbacher 30-yard fumble return (Mac Percival kick) – Steelers 15–10 Bears – George Farmer 8-yard pass from Kent Nix (Mac Percival kick) – Bears 17–15 Steelers Terry Bradshaw 10/24, 129 Yds, 4 INT John Fuqua 17 Rush, 114 Yds Ron Shanklin 6 Rec, 113 Yds Bears Jack Concannon 15/26, 116 Yds, INT Don Shy 9 Rush, 19 Yds George Farmer 4 Rec, 59 Yds, TD

Week 2

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 0 0 3 17 20 Vikings 0 7 10 0 17 Date: September 26 Location: Metropolitan Stadium Game start: 2:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 56°F; wind 13 Scoring summary Q2 MIN Grim 4 yard pass from Cuozzo (Cox kick) MIN 7–0 Q3 CHI Percival 45 yard field goal MIN 7–3 Q3 MIN Grim 52 yard pass from Cuozzo (Cox kick) MIN 14–3 Q3 MIN Cox 14 yard field goal MIN 17–3 Q4 CHI Gordon 36 yard pass from Nix (Percival kick) MIN 17–10 Q4 CHI Percival 45 yard field goal MIN 17–13 Q4 CHI Gordon 19 yard pass from Nix (Percival kick) CHI 20–17

• Dick Gordon 10 Rec, 115 Yds

Standings

Template:1971 NFC Central standings