The Chicago Bears have made some awful decisions in their long franchise history. Figuring out the worst of the worst is tough. Younger fans will immediately point to drafting Mitch Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes in 2017. Somewhat older fans will say not taking Joe Montana in 1979 when they’d originally planned to or trading a 1st round pick for Rick Mirer. There was also letting Wilbur Marshall walk in 1987 and letting up-and-coming assistant coach George Allen walk rather than let him succeed George Halas as head coach.
All have valid arguments to be the worst decision in franchise history. However, longtime team history Dan Pompei of The Athletic went even further back than that. He feels the most damage choice made by the organization happened over 70 years ago with former quarterback Johnny Lujack, a two-time Pro Bowler who looked like the heir apparent to Sid Luckman.
“After the season, Lujack’s contract, which called for him to make $18,000 per year over four years, expired. Lujack thought he was underpaid in his initial agreement and was intent on making up for it in his next deal. Halas, who had concerns about Lujack’s shoulder and the amount of time he spent with non-football businesses, didn’t see it that way.
Lujack was open to being traded. The Rams attempted but wouldn’t meet Halas’ price of four star-caliber players.
Early in the offseason, while stalemated over a new contract, Lujack told Halas he had an offer to become an assistant coach at Notre Dame he was considering. Halas told him he was taking a month off in Arizona and didn’t want to discuss it until he returned. While Halas was on vacation, Lujack accepted the Notre Dame job, moved to South Bend and retired from the NFL.”
Lujack was 27 when this happened.
He was in the prime of his career. Halas’ reputation for penny-pinching hadn’t become a source of true frustration in those days. It would as the league began growing in the late 1950s and into the 1960s.
The Chicago Bears likely could’ve extended their dynasty with Lujack.
He’d developed into a legitimate two-way threat by the early 1950s. It isn’t a stretch to think he could’ve had the team in multiple championship games during that decade. They certainly had a good enough team. Speedy receiver Harlon Hill arrived in 1954. Bruising fullback Rick Caseres followed a year later. Defensively they had Hall of Famers Bill George and Doug Atkins by 1955. Not to mention All-Pro linebacker, Joe Fortunato. They were a talented team in those years. Unfortunately, they were always undone by erratic quarterback play.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
It wasn’t until Billy Wade finally stabilized the position in 1961 that the Chicago Bears regained their old form. They won the championship in 1963. While it was a great accomplishment, several veteran players on that roster were left wondering how different things might’ve been with better QB play. Lujack is the white whale that got away. Halas’ hesitation on contract talks proved disastrous. Truth be told, the Bears haven’t approached that level of quarterback excellence since he left.
Maybe that is a curse that goes unmentioned.
Russell….GREAT list. The Shea McClellin pick still confuses the fu*k out of me, but what can you expect from a GM (Phil Emery) who hired Marc Trestman over Bruce Arians, unceremoniously fired Brian Urlacher, giving the aging LB a “take it or leave it” contract offer. Emery allowed Julius Peppers to walk, overpaying a useless, WAY past his prime Jared Allen to replace his production. Allen was traded & retired after 1 ½ seasons, while Peppers went on to have 5 more VERY productive seasons for Green Bay and Carolina. OH…and my favorite of the bunch, Emery wasted a 2012… Read more »
20/20 hindsight, lol
WHO CARES?????????????????????
Retaining Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy??? Keeping DITKA over Buddy??? Trading Greg Olsen? Letting Mike Martz almost get Cutler killed with his insane offense? Moving up from 3rd overall to 2nd overall and giving up…. a 1st round pick?(to SF for Tribisky. I actually STILL hate SF and Lynch for that fleecing). The most embarrassing thing was they showed them literally LAUGHING out loud about it. Shea McC’… Mike Mayock was DUMBFOUNDED…. he really didn’t know what to say. I was literally embarrassed that the stupidity. Keeping Lovie Smith when he REFUSED to innovate ANYTHING… after the league had figured… Read more »
@soxrme The Bobby Lane trade ranked #4 on Mr. Pompei’s list. Pompei also noted that Halas said trading Lane was his worst mistake.