chicago bears retired jerseys represent one of the most exclusive clubs in all of professional football, with only a select few players earning the honor of having their number hoisted to the rafters. The franchise has retired 14 jersey numbers in its long history, yet most fans can name only a handful.
The problem is that reliable information is scattered across old media guides, conflicting fan forums, and outdated team pages.
This guide fixes that. You'll get the complete list of retired numbers, the stories behind the legends who wore them, the strict criteria the team follows, and answers to the questions fans ask most. Whether you're a lifelong supporter or a new fan, you'll finish with a clear picture of the Bears' most sacred traditions.
The Complete List of chicago bears retired jerseys
The chicago bears retired jerseys span nearly a century of football history, honoring players from the 1920s through the 2000s. Each number tells a story of dominance at a specific position.
Here are the 14 officially retired numbers, with the player and the era they defined:
- No. 3 — Bronko Nagurski (RB/LB/DT, 1930–1937, 1943)
- No. 5 — George McAfee (RB/DB, 1940–1941, 1945–1950)
- No. 7 — George Halas (founder, owner, coach; retired 1983)
- No. 28 — Willie Galimore (RB, 1957–1963)
- No. 34 — Walter Payton (RB, 1975–1987)
- No. 40 — Gale Sayers (RB/DB, 1965–1971)
- No. 41 — Brian Piccolo (RB, 1965–1969)
- No. 42 — Sid Luckman (QB, 1939–1950)
- No. 51 — Dick Butkus (LB, 1965–1973)
- No. 56 — Bill Hewitt (DE, 1932–1936)
- No. 61 — Bill George (LB, 1952–1965)
- No. 66 — Bulldog Turner (C/LB, 1940–1952)
- No. 77 — Red Grange (RB/DB, 1925, 1929–1934)
- No. 89 — Mike Ditka (TE, 1961–1966)
A surprising fact: three of these numbers (41, 51, and 89) were retired for reasons that go beyond pure on-field stats. Piccolo's story of courage and friendship with Gale Sayers, and Ditka's role as the face of the 1985 championship team, both shaped the franchise's identity as much as any stat line.
How to apply this: Save this list and cross-check it against the official Bears media guide before citing numbers in any fan project or discussion.
How the Bears Decide Which Numbers to Retire
The chicago bears retired jerseys process is deliberately conservative, and that's a key part of what makes the honor meaningful. The team has not retired a new number since Mike Ditka's No. 89 in 2013, and no number has been added in over a decade.
The organization historically weighs several factors:
- Sustained excellence over multiple seasons, not a single great year
- Championship contribution to title-winning teams
- Historical significance to the franchise and the league
- Character and legacy off the field
Notice that pure statistics aren't the deciding factor. The Bears use a separate Ring of Honor, established in 2019 at Halas Hall, to recognize many more great players without retiring their numbers. This lets the team celebrate modern legends like Brian Urlacher and Devin Hester while keeping retired numbers rare.
The distinction matters for fans debating whether a current star deserves the ultimate honor. According to the Chicago Bears official site, the team frames the Ring of Honor as its primary recognition vehicle for modern-era players.
How to apply this: When arguing about whether a player "deserves" a retired number, check whether they're in the Ring of Honor first—that's usually the team's stepping stone.
The Stories Behind the Most Legendary Retired Numbers
The chicago bears retired jerseys aren't just numbers—they're chapters of football history. A few stand out even among this elite group.
Walter Payton's No. 34 is the most recognizable. "Sweetness" retired as the NFL's all-time leading rusher in 1987, and his tragic death in 1999 cemented his legacy beyond football. The number is treated as untouchable.
Gale Sayers' No. 40 honors a player whose career was cut short by knee injuries but whose rookie-season brilliance remains legendary. The Pro Football Hall of Fame notes Sayers scored 22 touchdowns in just 14 games as a rookie, a record that stood for decades.
Red Grange's No. 77 connects directly to the league's origin. The "Galloping Ghost" helped legitimize professional football in the 1920s, and his number represents the sport's founding era.
Dick Butkus' No. 51 is the standard for defensive intensity. The Bears' official history describes him as the most feared linebacker of his generation, and his number remains a badge of defensive excellence.
Here's a quick reference table for the most searched retired numbers:
| Number | Player | Position | Era | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | Walter Payton | RB | 1975–1987 | All-time rushing leader at retirement |
| 40 | Gale Sayers | RB/DB | 1965–1971 | Rookie TD record, Hall of Fame |
| 51 | Dick Butkus | LB | 1965–1973 | Standard for defensive toughness |
| 89 | Mike Ditka | TE | 1961–1966 | Last number retired (2013) |
| 77 | Red Grange | RB/DB | 1925–1934 | Founding-era legend |
How to apply this: Use this table as a quick reference when explaining Bears history to newer fans.
Common Myths and Mistakes About Retired Numbers
A lot of confusion surrounds the chicago bears retired jerseys, and clearing it up saves fans from embarrassing errors.
One widespread myth claims the team has retired more than 20 numbers. That's false—the list stands at 14. Another common mistake is confusing retired numbers with the Ring of Honor, which includes far more players and doesn't remove a number from circulation.
A third error: assuming a number is "unofficially retired" just because no one has worn it recently. In reality, the Bears sometimes hold numbers out of circulation for years before making a formal decision, so absence of use isn't proof of retirement.
To verify any claim, check two sources: the official Bears media guide and the Pro Football Hall of Fame records. Wikipedia and fan sites frequently diverge on dates and details. The Bears' own archives remain the gold standard.
How to apply this: Bookmark the team's official media guide page and treat it as your source of truth over any forum or wiki entry.
How to Research and Verify Retired Jersey Information
If you want accurate, citable details about chicago bears retired jerseys, a few real research tools do the heavy lifting. Start with the team's official records, then cross-reference with league and museum archives.
Helpful tools and sources:
- Google Search — use
site:chicagobears.comto pull only official team pages. - Pro Football Hall of Fame — verified player bios and career stats.
- Wikipedia — useful for quick orientation, but always confirm against primary sources.
A common scenario: a fan writes a school project claiming the Bears retired 18 numbers. A quick Hall of Fame and team-site check reveals the true count of 14, saving the project from a factual error.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame explains its enshrinement standards on its official site, and those records are the most reliable way to verify a player's career achievements before citing them.
How to apply this: Run a site:chicagobears.com search plus a Hall of Fame lookup before publishing any Bears history claim.
Frequently Asked Questions About chicago bears retired jerseys
How many chicago bears retired jerseys are there in total?
There are 14 officially retired numbers. Some fans count the Ring of Honor inductees and inflate the figure, but only 14 numbers have been formally retired. If you see a source claiming 20 or more, it is likely mixing in Ring of Honor members.
Always confirm the total against the chicago bears retired jerseys list in the team's official media guide.
Who was the last player to have a chicago bears retired jersey?
Mike Ditka's No. 89 was the most recent number retired, in 2013. Since then, the team has leaned on the Ring of Honor to recognize modern-era legends instead. This means a recently retired star could join the Ring of Honor long before any number retirement. The chicago bears retired jerseys policy remains deliberately slow and selective.
Can a current Bears player wear a retired jersey number?
No. Once a number is officially retired, no player can wear it again. This is why certain low numbers never appear on the field for Chicago. Occasionally a number is held out of circulation before formal retirement, which fans sometimes confuse with the official status. The chicago bears retired jerseys rule is permanent and binding once announced by the team.
Is the Ring of Honor the same as a chicago bears retired jersey?
No—they are two different honors. The Ring of Honor, launched in 2019, celebrates many great players without retiring their numbers. A retired jersey is a permanent, number-specific tribute. A player can be in the Ring of Honor without having a chicago bears retired jersey, and that distinction trips up many fans comparing the two.
No, the Ring of Honor and chicago bears retired jerseys are two distinct honors with different purposes within the organization.
The Ring of Honor celebrates many great players, while chicago bears retired jerseys represent a permanent, number-specific tribute.
How can I verify a chicago bears retired jersey claim?
Use official sources: the Bears' media guide, the team website, and Pro Football Hall of Fame records. Fan wikis and forums often contain outdated or conflicting dates. A single Hall of Fame cross-check usually resolves disputes. When researching chicago bears retired jerseys, treat the team's own published records as the final authority.
Final Thoughts and Your Next Step
The chicago bears retired jerseys tradition is smaller and more selective than most fans assume—14 numbers, each tied to a defining chapter of the franchise. Here's what to remember:
- The list runs from Red Grange's No. 77 to Mike Ditka's No. 89.
- The Bears separate retired numbers from the broader Ring of Honor.
- Verification always starts with official team and Hall of Fame records.
- No new number has been retired since 2013.
Your next step is simple: bookmark the official Bears media guide and Hall of Fame sites, then check one number you're unsure about today. A few minutes of verification will make you the most reliable Bears historian in the room.
