The Chicago Bears are one of the most iconic franchises in the National Football League (NFL). Known for their tenacious defense and rich history, the Bears have developed a huge fan following over the decades. One of the most recognizable aspects of the Bears is their team colors – navy blue and orange. But did the Bears ever change their colors over the years? Let’s take a look at the history of the Chicago Bears’ colors.
The Early Years
The Chicago Bears franchise was founded in 1919 as the Decatur Staleys, representing the A.E. Staley food starch company based in Decatur, Illinois. The team colors back then were simply the company colors – navy blue and gold. When the team moved to Chicago in 1921 and became the Chicago Staleys, they retained the navy blue and gold color scheme.
In 1922, the franchise was renamed the Chicago Bears after team sponsor George Halas changed the team name. However, the colors remained the same. It was not until 1929 that the Bears first modified their team colors. They changed the navy blue to a lighter shade known as “UCLA Blue” and also changed the secondary color from gold to orange.
The Classic Navy and Orange
The Bears’ colors evolved to the classic navy blue and orange combination in the early 1930s. Navy blue and bright orange perfectly represented the grit, power and energy of the hard-nosed Bears squads of that era. Led by stars like Bronko Nagurski, Red Grange and Sid Luckman, the Bears cemented their “Monsters of the Midway” reputation wearing these colors.
The navy and orange colors became synonymous with the Chicago Bears as they enjoyed immense success through the 1940s, including four NFL championships. Several Hall of Fame players from the era like linebacker Bill George and running back Rick Casares sported these colors during their time in Chicago.
| Decade | Primary Color | Secondary Color |
|---|---|---|
| 1919-1929 | Navy Blue | Gold |
| 1929-1933 | UCLA Blue | Orange |
| 1933-Present | Navy Blue | Orange |
Consistency in the Modern Era
The Bears have retained the classic navy blue and orange uniform identity throughout the modern era. Even as the NFL experienced major uniform and logo shifts through the 1960s and 70s, the Bears maintained their traditional look and colors.
In fact, the navy blue and orange is so ingrained within the Bears franchise that any change would be unthinkable for most fans. Generations of supporters have grown up watching Bears legends like Walter Payton, Mike Ditka and Brian Urlacher wearing those colors.
There have been minor alterations, like incorporating orange and navy into a new helmet design in 1962. But for the most part, the core uniform concept has remained consistent over several decades. This enduring brand identity is a point of immense pride for the Bears organization and its fans across the world.
Special Commemorative Uniforms
While the Chicago Bears have never changed their official team colors, they have worn special commemorative uniforms a few times. These one-off uniforms are worn to pay tribute to important moments or figures in Bears history.
Some examples include:
- Orange alternate jerseys worn in the 2004 season to celebrate the franchise’s 85th anniversary.
- 1940s throwback uniforms worn twice during the 2019 season to mark the Bears’ 100th year.
- Special anniversary patches to honor late Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton.
These uniforms are not permanent changes and the Bears only wear them for select games before returning to their regular navy and orange outfits.
Could the Colors Ever Change?
Given the deep tradition and identity tied to the navy blue and orange, it seems unlikely that the Chicago Bears would ever completely overhaul their team colors.
A color scheme change would also mean abandoning nearly a century of brand history and merchandise. The navy and orange are also massively popular among Bears fans.
However, the NFL is a business, so small modifications are always possible. Many teams have introduced alternate jerseys and supplementary colors over the years to boost merchandise sales.
But even if the Bears add some colors to their visual program, the classics navy and orange will surely remain prominent. After all, Bears legends like Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary looked pretty good in those colors!
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the Chicago Bears’ colors have evolved slightly over their 100+ year history, they have worn some form of navy blue and orange since 1929. The classic look has become an integral part of the Bears identity and brand.
Aside from occasional commemorative uniforms, the Bears have not strayed from their navy and orange roots. And it appears quite unlikely they will ever overhaul this color scheme that is deeply ingrained within the franchise and its widespread fanbase.
So for the foreseeable future, Bears fans can continue enjoying their team taking the field in the classic navy and orange that pays homage to the legends from years past.