1989 Chicago Bears season
| 1989 Chicago Bears season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Mike Ditka |
| Home field | Soldier Field |
| Results | |
| Record | 6–10 |
| Division place | 4th NFC Central |
| Playoff finish | did not qualify |
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| Scoring summary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHI | Butler 21-yard field goal | Bears 3–0 | |
| 1 | CHI | Muster 6-yard run (Butler kick) | Bears 10–0 | |
| 2 | DET | Sanders 3-yard run (Murray kick) | Bears 10–7 | |
| 2 | CHI | McKinnon 40-yard pass from Tomczak (Butler kick) | Bears 17–7 | |
| 2 | DET | Murray 40-yard field goal | Bears 17–10 | |
| 2 | CHI | Butler 22-yard field goal | Bears 20–10 | |
| 2 | DET | Murray 48-yard field goal | Bears 20–13 | |
| 3 | CHI | Anderson 53-yard run (Butler kick) | Bears 27–13 | |
| 3 | DET | Gagliano 1-yard run (Murray kick) | Bears 27–20 | |
| 3 | CHI | Butler 25-yard field goal | Bears 30–20 | |
| 3 | CHI | Butler 32-yard field goal | Bears 33–20 | |
| 4 | CHI | Muster 3-yard pass from Tomczak (Butler kick) | Bears 40–20 | |
| 4 | CHI | Harbaugh 1-yard run (Butler kick) | Bears 47–20 | |
| 4 | DET | Gagliano 1-yard run (Murray kick) | Bears 47–27 | |
The 1989 Chicago Bears season was their 70th regular season completed in the National Football League. The Bears were looking to win the NFC Central for a sixth consecutive season, but instead finished with a 6–10 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1983. The Bears' offseason moves prior to this season also had consequences for years afterward as the pieces from Super Bowl XX's team slowly began to leave or retire.
In the winter of 1989 after Super Bowl XXIII, NFL owners and players ratified a new free agency plan. The plan would force teams to designate 37 players as "protected", with the rest becoming free agents able to sign with any team during the months of March and April. The first 1989 winds of change began to blow when the team left long-time veteran Super Bowl champion players Otis Wilson and Mike C. Richardson unprotected. Al Davis' Los Angeles Raiders signed both players, but neither would make the club that year and would be forced to retire. Another veteran of note unprotected was linebacker/defensive end Al Harris, who signed with Buddy Ryan's Philadelphia Eagles.
Changes to the organization and team continued throughout the spring. Longtime offensive coordinator Ed Hughes was "promoted" to the title of assistant Head Coach, which simply meant that assistant Greg Landry took over as offensive coordinator while Hughes was relegated to coaching receivers. Head coach Mike Ditka announced at this time that that starting quarterback position was up for grabs, meaning incumbents Jim McMahon, Mike Tomczak and 1987 first-round draft pick Jim Harbaugh would battle for the starting role. McMahon had started the previous NFC Championship Game but couldn't muster the team to more than three points, so his long-standing starting job was by no means safe.
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