1985 Bears Coverage: Bears ecstatic about revenge on 49ers

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.

Bears ecstatic about revenge on 49ers

Herb Gould

Originally published Oct. 15, 1985

It’s a good thing center Jay Hilgenberg and tackle Jim Covert are such good buddies. On the Bears’ grind-it-out drive for their final touchdown, Covert wound up in a pileup with his head between Hilgenberg’s legs. Thinking he had a 49er linebacker on top of him, Covert gave him a head-butt, flipping the center off him. “I heard this voice saying, `No, no, no. Don’t do it,’” said Covert, who showed no mercy, then strutted around until Hilgenberg’s scowl made him realize the error of his ways.

Defensive tackle Steve McMichael said, “The revenge factor was all there was to it,” after the Bears upset the 49ers, who blitzed the Bears 23-0 in last January’s NFC title game. “When somebody kicks you like that, you want to pay them back.”

Coach Mike Ditka said revenge wasn’t on his mind. “There was a little different reward a trip to the Super Bowl for their victory,” Ditka said.

But the victory was significant, he said: “I use the 49ers as a measuring stick because they’re the world champions.” Asked if the Bears are the measuring stick now, he said, “There are a lot of good teams out there.”

Injury update: Fullback Calvin Thomas, who apparently was kicked above the knee, may have tendon damage and could be lost for a long time, Ditka said. Extent of the damage will be determined tomorrow. . .OT Keith Van Horne has a severely sprained ankle. “He’s lucky he didn’t break his leg,” Ditka said. . .WR Dennis McKinnon (quadricep) and TE Emery Moorehead (knee) are expected to return to the lineup Monday night against Green Bay.