1979 Chicago Bears Statistics

National Football League (NFL)
Team Record: 10-6
Finishing 1st in the NFL's Central Division of the National Football Conference
Postseason: 0-1 Lost Wild Card
Coach: Neill Armstrong (10-6)
Location: Chicago, Illinois

1979 Chicago Bears Roster
1979 Chicago Bears Results

The Chicago Bears of the National Football League ended the 1979 season with a record of 10 wins and 6 losses, finishing first in the NFL's Central Division of the National Football Conference. The team compiled a postseason mark of 0-1.

The Bears racked up 306 points, and the stingy defense gave up 249. Walter Payton spearheaded the running game, rushing for a 1,610 yards for Chicago.

Mike Phipps passed for 1,535 yards. Dave Williams hauled in 42 balls, while Brian Baschnagel added 452 receiving yards. Rickey Watts and James Scott provided receiving help as well.

The opportunistic defense created 43 turnovers. Gary Fencik and Terry Schmidt each seized 6 opponent throws.

Neill Armstrong coached the team. The 1979 Chicago Bears lost in the Wild Card.

Click on column headings to sort.

Passing:

Player	Att	Comp	Comp %	Yds	Yds/Att	TDs	TD %	Ints	Int %	Long	Sacked	Yds Lost	Rating
Mike Phipps	255	134	52.5	1535	6.0	9	3.5	8	3.1	68	15	145	69.6
Vince Evans	63	32	50.8	508	8.1	4	6.3	5	7.9	65	8	75	66.1
Bob Avellini	51	27	52.9	310	6.1	2	3.9	3	5.9	54	8	58	60.1
Walter Payton	1	1	100.0	54	54.0	1	100.0	0	0.0	54	0	0	158.3
Bob Parsons	2	1	50.0	22	11.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	22	0	0	89.6
Brian Baschnagel	1	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0	0	39.6
Totals	373	195	52.3	2429	6.5	16	4.3	16	4.3	68	31	278

Rushing:

Player	No.	Yds	Avg.	Long	TDs
Walter Payton	369	1610	4.4	43	14
Dave Williams	127	401	3.2	16	1
Willie McClendon	37	160	4.3	33	1
Robin Earl	35	132	3.8	12	0
Vince Evans	12	72	6.0	17	1
Mike Phipps	27	51	1.9	12	0
Jack Deloplaine	7	18	2.6	6	0
Doug Buffone	1	14	14.0	14	0
Lonnie Perrin	5	14	2.8	5	0
John Skibinski	3	10	3.3	4	0
Bob Avellini	3	10	3.3	5	0
Rickey Watts	1	-6	-6.0	-6	0
Totals	627	2486	4.0	43	17

Receiving:

Player	No.	Yds	Avg.	Long	TDs
Dave Williams	42	354	8.4	54	5
Walter Payton	31	313	10.1	65	2
Brian Baschnagel	30	452	15.1	54	2
Rickey Watts	24	421	17.5	68	3
James Scott	21	382	18.2	64	3
Greg Latta	15	131	8.7	25	0
Robin Earl	8	56	7.0	19	0
Mike Cobb	6	91	15.2	38	0
Willie McClendon	6	27	4.5	13	0
Golden Richards	5	107	21.4	52	1
Steve Schubert	2	29	14.5	15	0
Jack Deloplaine	2	13	6.5	15	0
Lonnie Perrin	1	27	27.0	27	0
Doug Buffone	1	22	22.0	22	0
John Skibinski	1	4	4.0	4	0
Totals	195	2429	12.5	68	16

Kicking:

Player	X/CA	X/CM	X/CP %	FGA	FGM	FG %	Pts.
Bob Thomas	37	34	91.9	27	16	59.3	82
Totals	37	34	91.9	27	16	59.3	82

Punting:

Player	No.	Yds	Avg.	Long
Bob Parsons	92	3486	37.9	54
Totals	92	3486	37.9	54

Punt Returns:

Player	No.	Yds	Avg.	Long	TDs
Steve Schubert	25	238	9.5	77	1
Len Walterscheid	14	96	6.9	14	0
Totals	39	334	8.6	77	1

Kick Returns:

Player	No.	Yds	Avg.	Long	TDs
Len Walterscheid	19	427	22.5	44	0
Rickey Watts	14	289	20.6	83	1
Brian Baschnagel	12	260	21.7	32	0
Steve Schubert	2	45	22.5	27	0
Lonnie Perrin	1	13	13.0	13	0
Willie McClendon	1	12	12.0	12	0
Greg Latta	1	8	8.0	8	0
Bruce Herron	1	0	0.0	0	0
Totals	51	1054	20.7	83	1

Interceptions:

Player	No.	Yds	Avg.	Long	TDs
Terry Schmidt	6	44	7.3	20	1
Gary Fencik	6	31	5.2	17	0
Tom Hicks	3	85	28.3	66	1
Allan Ellis	3	67	22.3	24	0
Doug Plank	3	33	11.0	22	0
Virgil Livers	2	41	20.5	30	0
Doug Buffone	2	11	5.5	11	0
Wentford Gaines	1	38	38.0	38	0
Gary Campbell	1	32	32.0	32	0
Len Walterscheid	1	15	15.0	15	0
Jerry Muckensturm	1	5	5.0	5	0
Totals	29	402	13.9	66	2

Defense and Fumbles:

Player	Tackle	Brup	Fum	FRec	FYds	FTD
Gary Fencik		0	0	2	0	0
Dan Hampton			0	2	0	0
Walter Payton			7	2	0
Jerry Muckensturm		0	0	2	0	0
Tom Hicks		0	0	2	0
Jim Osborne			0	1	0	0
Virgil Livers		0	0	1	0	0
Mike Hartenstine			0	1	0	0
Doug Plank		0	0	1	17	0
Revie Sorey			0	1	0	0
Brian Baschnagel			0	1	0
Mike Phipps			2	1	-3	0
Wentford Gaines		0	0	1	0	0
Alan Page			0	1	0	0
Gary Campbell		0	0	1	0	0
Len Walterscheid		0	2	1	0	0
Robin Earl			3	0	0	0
Rickey Watts			1	0	0
Bruce Herron			1	0	0	0
Vince Evans			1	0	-2
Dave Williams			4	0	0
Totals	0	0	21	21	12	0

Total Scoring:

	Touchdowns								Other					Total
Player	Rush	Rec	Punt	Kick	MFG	Int	Fum	Other	FG	X/C	Single	2Pt	Saf	Points
Walter Payton	14	2							0	0	0			96
Bob Thomas									16	34	0			82
Dave Williams	1	5							0	0	0			36
Rickey Watts	0	3		1					0	0	0			24
James Scott		3							0	0	0			18
Brian Baschnagel		2		0					0	0	0			12
Steve Schubert		0	1	0					0	0	0			6
Willie McClendon	1	0		0					0	0	0			6
Tom Hicks						1			0	0	0			6
Terry Schmidt						1			0	0	0			6
Vince Evans	1								0	0	0			6
Golden Richards		1							0	0	0			6
Totals	17	16	1	1	0	2	0	0	16	34	0	0	0	304