Nov. 21--Lance Briggs weighed in with his three all-time greatest Bears coaches this week when he ranked George Halas, Mike Ditka and Lovie Smith at the top.
This reporter has been around here a little longer than Briggs. In fact, Halas once invited me to sit with him in his golf cart to watch a Bears practice in Lake Forest to tell me about the team he still owned and helped assemble in the '70s along with general manager Jim Finks.
Halas also had some innovative assistants and consultants during his 40-year coaching stint who helped make him a better head coach. For the 1938-39 seasons, Halas turned to University of Chicago coach Clark Shaughnessy to implement the T-formation for the Bears, who would go on to win championships in 1940, '41, '43 and '46.
George Allen, who later became a successful head coach (116-47-5) for the Redskins and Rams, was the defensive coordinator for the NFL champion '63 Bears. Halas presented Allen with the game ball after the Bears beat the Giants 14-10 for the title at Wrigley Field.
I agree with Briggs' top three Bears head coaches of all-time. The numbers don't lie. Filling out the rest of the top 10 list becomes a little dicey, but here's my effort, excluding only Jim Dooley (20-36), Abe Gibron (11-30-1) and incomplete incumbent Marc Trestman (12-14).
1. George Halas (1920-29, 1933-42, 1946-55, 1958-67), 324-152-31: Won eight NFL titles as an owner and/or coach.
2. Mike Ditka (1982-92), 112-68: Won Super Bowl with '85 Bears, six division championships.
3. Lovie Smith (2004-2012), 84-66: Led the Bears to their only other Super Bowl appearance, three division titles.
4. Hunk Anderson and Luke Johnsos (1942-45), 24-12-2: Won NFL championship in 1943 while Halas was serving in the Navy.
5. Ralph Jones (1930-32) 24-10-7: Won NFL championship in 1932.
6. Jack Pardee (1975-77), 20-23: Guided Bears to playoffs in 1977.
7. Paddy Driscoll (1956-57), 14-10-1: Lost to Giants in '56 championship game.
8. Dick Jauron (1999-2003), 35-46: Took Bears to playoffs in 2001 with 13-3 record.
9. Neill Armstrong (1978-81), 30-35: Went 10-6 and made the playoffs in 1979.
10. Dave Wannstedt (1993-98), 41-57: Went to the postseason with 9-7 record in '94 and won one playoff game.
