1985 Bears Coverage: News of the World to interview William Perry

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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.

Kevin Lamb

Originally published Nov. 8, 1985

Coach Mike Ditka said he would wait until today to put James Maness on injured reserve and replace him with either veteran Brian Baschnagel or rookie Keith Ortego, both wide receivers. Apparently they have put Baschnagel or Ortego on procedural waivers to avoid using one of their five free moves from injured reserve to the roster. That gives each other NFL team a chance to make a claim.

William Perry’s next interviewer will be a reporter from News of the World in London, which has the biggest Sunday circulation in the world. Perry has been a sensation in England, which is turning on to American football – right down to Super Bowl parties. The Bears have played in three of the weekly football telecasts, which draw about four million viewers.

The Bears are the fifth NFL team to go 9-0 since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. None of the four previous lost more than twice all season. They were Miami in 1984 (11-0 and 14-2), Minnesota in 1975 (10-0 and 12-2), Minnesota in 1973 (9-0 and 12-2) and Miami in 1972 (14-0). The only Super Bowl winner in that group was the 1972 Dolphins.

Two years ago during the 10th week of the season, George Halas died, Jim McMahon regained the starting quarterback job and the Bears lost to the Rams to go 3-7. Since then, their record is 24-7, and 20-3 in McMahon’s starts.

A year ago, the Bears scored on their opening drives in seven of their first nine games, including six in a row. This year they have done it three times.

The defense used a new personnel combination in the “46” with Wilber Marshall at Richard Dent’s weakside end spot, Dent at Perry’s weakside tackle and Shaun Gayle at Marshall’s linebacker spot. “That gave us our best pass rushers,” Ryan said, with Marshall, Dent, Dan Hampton, Steve McMichael and Otis Wilson on the line. . .No tickets are available for any remaining Bear home games.

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