The 50 Greatest Players in Chicago Bears History. Robert W. Cohen

174 non-strike games.

Although the Bears compiled a losing record in each of his first two seasons, Singletary gradually emerged as a team leader during that time, calling all the signals on the defensive side of the ball, while influencing his teammates with the incredible focus and extraordinary level of intensity he displayed on the playing field. Nicknamed “Samurai Mike” for his aggressive style of play and passion for the game, the 6-foot, 230-pound Singletary discussed the approach he took to his craft, saying, “Hitting people has always been my style . . . I’m not tall, but sometimes small things are the most dangerous. It’s like a snake when it’s coiled. You don’t know when it’ll strike, and whoosh, it’s got you.”

      Making an extremely strong impression on Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann, Singletary drew praise from his frequent foe, who said, “People say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Well, if you played opposite Mike Singletary, you saw everything that was going on in his soul because those eyes were just lit up—they never blinked.”

      Theismann continued, “Nobody was more prepared than Mike Single-tary. I think two things make Mike Singletary unique—his intelligence and his passion for the game. Nobody played it with more passion than Mike Singletary . . . I can close my eyes today. I can see Richard Dent. I can see Mike Singletary. I can see Wilber Marshall. It was like chaos. Mike was the centerpiece of it all. Mike held it together.”

      Theismann then went on to call Singletary “an extremely bright guy,” saying, “He had to be to play that kind of defense. God gives us athletic ability. What you do between your ears is what makes you a great player. That’s the area where Mike really excelled. Being able to get people lined up, knowing how to flow, how to run under blocks if you need to, how to take on a big 300-pound guard, shed him, and go make a play. And the intuitive nature of reading plays.”

      After being named team captain in 1983, Singletary began a string of 10 straight seasons in which he recorded more than 100 tackles, leading the Bears in that category on eight separate occasions. In addition to gaining Pro Bowl recognition in each of those campaigns, Singletary earned All-Pro honors eight times, being named to the First Team seven times and the Second Team once. And, with the Bears fielding one of the league’s top-ranked defenses throughout most of that period, Singletary received much of the credit, being accorded NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in both 1985 and 1988.

      As Singletary established himself as the focal point of the Bears’ defense, he developed a symbiotic relationship with Buddy Ryan, with teammate Otis Wilson stating, “He knew exactly what was going on. That was Buddy’s guy. He was really a coach on the field . . . Mike was a student of the game. He studied six, seven, eight hours of film.”

      Noting that Singletary’s hard work paid off, Bears safety Gary Fencik claimed that the middle linebacker typically knew every play the opposing team intended to run, saying, “Singletary’s calling out plays, and it’s the actual play that they’re going to run.”

Fencik added, “The confidence that Buddy had that you had a middle linebacker who was completely prepared, who’d do anything that he wanted to do, was just tremendous trust. . . . He was always looking for ways to improve himself. He was very serious in that way.”

      Looking back on his unique relationship with Ryan, Singletary said, “I really didn’t like Buddy for a long time. But he taught me about myself, made me reach for things I thought I never had. I never would have achieved what I have without Buddy.”

      Even though Singletary continued to excel at middle linebacker after Ryan left Chicago at the end of 1985 to become head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, reserve defensive lineman Tyrone Keys maintained that his teammate never again shared the same level of trust with any of his other coaches, stating, “The number one thing was Singletary was able to make adjustments on the field when he was there with Buddy Ryan. After Buddy left, they had to stay in that same defense, and he wasn’t allowed to make changes like that. When both Buddy and Mike were there, Buddy gave him the freedom to make the calls he saw fit.”

      Singletary remained in Chicago until 1992, announcing his retirement at season’s end after earning his 10th consecutive Pro Bowl selection. Concluding his career with an unofficial total of 1,488 tackles (885 solo), Singletary ranks second only to Dick Butkus in that category in team annals. He also recorded 19 sacks, seven interceptions, and 12 fumble recoveries during his time in the Windy City. The Pro Football Hall of Fame subsequently wasted little time in opening its doors to Singletary, admitting him in 1998, the first time his name appeared on the ballot.

      Unable to attain the same level of success as an NFL coach, Single-tary has assumed several coaching positions around the league, including working as an assistant with the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, and Los Angeles Rams. He also spent two years serving as head coach of the 49ers, before being relieved of his duties following the conclusion of the 2010 campaign. After taking a brief break from football, Singletary became head coach of Trinity Christian Academy in Addison, Texas, on March 29, 2018. Less than two months later, he also assumed head coaching duties for the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

      Best Season

      Singletary played his best ball for the Bears from 1984 to 1991, earning All-Pro honors in each of those eight seasons. Performing especially well in 1985 and 1988, Singletary gained recognition as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year following the conclusion of each of those campaigns. With the Bears winning the NFL championship in 1985 and Singletary recording three sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, and an unofficial total of 161 tackles (109 solo), all while anchoring a defense that ranked first in the league against the run and third against the pass, we’ll identify that as his finest all-around season.

      Memorable Moments/Greatest Performances

      Singletary excelled in his third start as a pro, recording 10 tackles and forcing a fumble during a 16–13 overtime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on November 8, 1981.

      Singletary recorded the first interception of his career during a 35–24 win over the Denver Broncos in the final game of the 1981 regular season.

      Singletary anchored a Chicago defense that recorded five sacks and allowed just 132 yards of total offense during a 27–0 shutout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 20, 1983.

      Singletary helped lead the Bears to a convincing 34–14 victory over Tampa Bay in the 1984 regular-season opener by intercepting a pass and recording a sack.

      Singletary followed that up in Week 2 by leading a Bears defense that created four turnovers and surrendered just 130 yards of total offense during a 27–0 win over the Denver Broncos.

      Singletary earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors by recording an interception and a career-high three sacks during a 20–7 win over the Patriots on September 15, 1985.

      Singletary led a stifling Bears defense that created four turnovers, recorded four sacks, and allowed just 106 yards of total offense during a 24–3 win over the Lions on November 10, 1985.

      Excelling against the Giants in the divisional round of the 1985 play-offs, Singletary recorded a sack, recovered a fumble, and anchored a defense that allowed just 32 yards rushing and 181 yards of total offense during a 21–0 Bears victory.

In addition to serving as the focal point of a defense that surrendered just 7 yards rushing and 123 yards of total offense to the Patriots in Super Bowl XX, Singletary recovered two fumbles during the lopsided 46–10 victory.

      Singletary recorded two of the nine sacks the Bears registered against New York quarterbacks Phil Simms and Jeff Rutledge during their convincing 34–19 win over the Giants in the 1987 regular-season opener.

      Singletary earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second and final time by recording a career-high 20 tackles, including 10 of the solo variety, during the Bears’ 16–13