Chicago Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl-Winning Team Will Finally Visit the White House
More than 25 years after shuffling to a win in Super Bowl XX, the 1985 Chicago Bears have been extended an invitation to the White House, CSN Chicago reports.
The NFL team that wins the Super Bowl is usually invited to the White House during the year of their victory. However, the Challenger exploded only two days after the Bears' win.
Chicago, led by NFL Hall of Famers Richard Dent, Mike Singletary and Dan Hampton on defense, the late Walter Payton on offense and head coach Mike Ditka, never visited the White House.
President Barack Obama, a Bears fan and former senator from Illinois, has reportedly invited the members of the '85 team to Washington next month.
…the 1985 Chicago Bears have been offered the opportunity to be honored at the White House by President Barack Obama on Oct. 7 in a ceremony to honor the Super Bowl XX champions. ...
Most of the members of the team and some members of the coaching staff and front office are expected to attend the ceremony but a final list of attendees has not yet been confirmed."
The Bears finished the 1985 regular season with a 15-1 record and rolled through the NFC playoffs into Super Bowl XX. Chicago dominated New England, 46-10, at the Superdome in New Orleans to give the iconic NFL franchise its only Super Bowl title.
In addition to the Hall of Fame-caliber players, the '85 Bears, considered to be one of the best in NFL history, also had charismatic athletes like quarterback Jim McMahon and defensive lineman/fullback William "Refrigerator" Perry. The team recorded a song, "The Super Bowl Shuffle," months prior to its title game appearance. The song, which ranked as high as No. 41 on Billboard charts, had a corresponding video in which the players danced and lip synched.
[Via CSN Chicago]