1985 Bears Coverage: Perry: man in motion

Every day of the 2015 Chicago Bears season, Chicago Sun-Times Sports will revisit its coverage 30 years ago during the 1985 Bears’ run to a Super Bowl title.

Perry: man in motion

Herb Gould

Originally published Nov. 11, 1985

The Refrigerator didn’t mind when coach Mike Ditka shut the door on his goal-line antics.

“It was a blocking play for me. You can’t run the ball every time,” said William Perry, who went in motion as a 308-pound decoy while another former Clemson star, Steve Fuller, sneaked in for the Bears’ first touchdown.

What really frosted Perry, though, was his introduction to winter in Chicago.

“Whoo! It was cold out there today,” Perry said. “I’m telling you, it was miserable for me, because this was my first time. I played in Maryland once when it was cold, but it was nothing like this.”

While on the sidelines, Perry said, “I just got a coat and stood by the heater.”

Perry also stayed warm by playing virtually the entire game at his other calling, defensive tackle.

“Everything’s fine on defense,” said Perry, who was credited with two of the Bears’ four sacks. “I’m just doing what I’m supposed to be doing, when I’m supposed to be doing it. I’m just having fun out there.”

“The biggest thing with William,” said middle linebacker Mike Singletary, “is that he’s willing to do whatever you ask. That makes all the difference. And he’s working extremely hard. He looks good out there.”

Perry plans to have some more fun tonight when he appears on “Late Night with David Letterman” (Channel 5, 11:30 p.m.). “It’ll probably be mostly Q and A,” Perry said. “He might crack a couple of jokes. I might crack a couple back.”

Perry has some experience in these matters. When it comes to warming up audiences, particularly in Soldier Field, Letterman would be hard-pressed to do better. Even on a cold day.