The move of the Cardinals to St. Louis left the Bears as Chicago's only NFL team to start the 1960's, a decade marked by seasons of greatness and disappointment. They went a combined 22-17 in the first three years with no playoff appearances, but tight end Mike Ditka won the NFL's rookie of the year award in 1961 after catching 56 passes for 1076 yards and 12 touchdowns. Ditka's redefinition of his position was a critical development, one that set the stage for 1963.
The Bears wen't 11-1-2 that year, eventually beating the Giants at Wrigley Field for their eighth NFL title. In that 14-10 win, the Bears' intimidating defense intercepted YA Tittle five times, writing yet another chapter of dominance.
They missed the playoffs in 1964, but the next season saw the arrival of two first-round draft picks: running back Gale Sayers and linebacker Dick Butkus. Sayers played nothing short of one of the greatest individual games in league history that year, scoring six touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers. He went on to win the NFL rookie of the year award after scoring 22 touchdowns, still a franchise record.
1967 was not only the year the NFL introduced the Super Bowl, it was the last time George Halas would coach the Chicago Bears, handing the reins to Jim Dooley because of a hip injury that wouldn't allow him to stand on the sidelines. Halas ended his run with 318 victories, and his mere six losing seasons at the helm were matched by six NFL championships.