For the Chicago Bears the 1980s started slowly after a playoff appearance in 1979. The primary source of excitement was following the relentless rushing of Walter Payton, who continued his climb to all-time greatness even as his teams struggled for victories. But fortunes changed after George Halas hired Mike Ditka to return as coach before the strike-shortened season of 1982. He re-cast the franchise in his image, and that, coupled with the aggressive strategy of defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan and some wildly productive draft classes, propelled the 1984 team to ten wins, a spot back in the playoffs, and the promise of much more to come.
The next year, so laden with promise and bravado, did not at all disappoint. The Bears would go 15-1, and then romp though the playoffs to Super Bowl XX in New Orleans, where they crushed the Patriots 46-10 and forged a legend that remains to this day. But as it turned out, it would be the only championship in that era of dominance.
The rest of the '80s brought the Bears three more divisional titles, but also playoff ousters at the hands of Washington twice and then San Francisco in the 1988 NFC championship game. In all, they posted 92 regular-season wins in the 1980's, by far the most in any one decade in their history, one that still resonates for all of us who lived it.