The 1950's
| Year | Coach | W | L | T | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Totals |
70 | 48 | 2 | .592 | |
| 1950 | George Halas | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 |
| 1951 | George Halas | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 |
| 1952 | George Halas | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 |
| 1953 | George Halas | 3 | 8 | 1 | .292 |
| 1954 | George Halas | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 |
| 1955 | George Halas | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 |
| 1956 | Paddy Driscoll | 9 | 2 | 1 | .792 |
| 1957 | Paddy Driscoll | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 |
| 1958 | George Halas | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 |
| 1959 | George Halas | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 |
The 1950s offered two playoff appearance loses and one conference championship but no division or league titles. For the first time in 30 years, Halas experienced multiple losing seasons (3). Halas was responsible for two (52-53) and Paddy Driscoll, long-time friend and 56-57 Head Coach, responsible for the other.
The combination of retired players from the 40s dynasty teams and the rest of the league closing the gap on the NFL's charter organization. In fact, former Bears QB and future Hall of Famer George Blanda said that the game passed Halas by in 1956. Though you'd be hard-pressed to find personal attacks from formers players directed at Halas, you'd be equally hard-pressed to find personal accolades from former players other than Sid Luckman, Gale Sayers, and sometimes Red Grange.
Blanda could be accused of bitterness to his treatment by Halas, but Bears mediocrity started appearing in the 1950s. The league was more organized and competition from the American Football league started attracting players because the AFL offered more money. Clearly, Halas' power and influence in the NFL was starting to diminish, but not in Chicago. However, no man was more respected than George Halas in the world of Professional Football.
As far as the Bears were concerned, the 1950s still fielded tough running and abusive defenses. The Bears were still the Monsters of the Midway; if not in championships, they were in pedigree. Win or lose the Bears were going to punish the opponent.
Paddy Driscoll quietly coached the Bears during the 1956-1957 seasons. Many say he was a figure head as Halas actually ran the game from the press box. At the conclusion of the 1957 season, Halas came back to coach the Bears for the fourth time at age 63. This return would mark the final coaching tenure of George Halas.
Playoff Appearances/Championships
| Year | Record | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 9-2-1 | The Bears won the divsion title under the guidance of Paddy Driscoll. and it was their first playoff appearance since the 1946 title season. There are rumors that the title game's coaching was 'snatched' from Driscoll's hands by Halas. It is said that Halas was coaching from the press box and Driscoll was Head Coach in title only. Either way, it didn't really matter to fans because the Bears were destroyed by the New York Giants 47-7. |
All-Pros for the decade
This decade was loaded with talent and some of the greatest Bears players took the field in the 50s. The Bears actually had two Pro-Bowl QBs in the 50s something that seems unimaginable today.
| Bears Pro-Bowler | Pos | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Doug Atkins | DL | 1957, 1958, 1959 |
| Erich Barnes | DB | 1959 |
| Dick Barwegan | OL | 1950, 1951, 1952 |
| Bill Bishop | DL | 1954 |
| Ray Bray | DL | 1950, 1951 |
| Ed Brown | QB | 1955, 1956 |
| J. C. Caroline | DB | 1956 |
| Rick Casares | RB | 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 |
| George Connor | OL | 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 |
| Fred Davis | DL | 1950 |
| John Dottley | RB | 1951 |
| Joe Fortunato | LB | 1958 |
| Willie Galimore | RB | 1958 |
| Bill George | LB | 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 |
| Kline Gilbert | OL | 1957 |
| Harlon Hill | WR | 1954, 1955, 1956 |
| John Hoffman | RB | 1953 |
| Stan Jones | OL | 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 |
| Don Kindt | DB | 1953 |
| Johnny Lujack | QB | 1950, 1951 |
| Gene Schroeder | WR | 1952 |
| Larry Strickland | OL | 1956 |
| Ed Sprinkle | DL | 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954 |
| Bill Wightkin | OL | 1955 |
| Fred Williams | DL | 1952, 1953, 1958, 1959 |
