This Week in 49ers History: Week 10, 1966

Apologies to Paul for once again uploading his 49er history piece after the actual week for which it was intended. This fine look back at a classic clash with the Chicago Bears is still worth your attention, though, and Paul will be back with more ahead of Week 11 - Nick.


In the year that is synonymous with the soccer World Cup in England, the San Francisco 49ers were coming off of their strongest season for several years.

The team posted a 2-12 record in 1963, which was their worst in franchise history. Over the next two years they started to gradually rebuild and finished 1965 with a 7-6-1 record, good enough for fourth in the Western Conference of the NFL.

In 1966 the 49ers were looking to push forward with their ascent in the league standings and attempt to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1957.

Quarterback John Brodie was in his 10th season with the Niners, whose running game was spearheaded by 23 year-old Ken Willard. The sophomore player, a first-round pick in 1965, would finish the season with over 1100 combined yards and made the Pro Bowl for the second straight year.

It was the emergence of Brodie as a successful quarterback, alongside the addition of Willard and John David Crow into the backfield that had led to the turnaround of the team's fortunes during 1965.

Defensively, linebacker Matt Hazeltine was the star for the 49ers. In his 12th year in the league and with the team, the California native would have one of his most successful seasons, providing exemplary leadership and consistent play as well as scoring the third touchdown of his career on a 22-yard fumble recovery in an epic Week 5 win against the then-undefeated Green Bay Packers.

That win against the Packers gave the Niners their first win of 1966. After such a promising preseason following on from the improvements seen in ‘65, the 49ers opened the new season with a tie against the Minnesota Vikings, which – after a bye week – was followed up by consecutive losses to the Baltimore Colts and the Los Angeles Rams respectively. The season that had promised so much was already on the verge of being a write-off.

The turnaround began with that win over Green Bay and by Week 10 the 49ers' record was 4-3-1. Not what they had hoped for, but San Francisco had at least reversed the poor form that had blighted them at the start of the season.

Week 10 saw the 49ers play at Wrigley Field, Chicago, against the conference rival Bears.

Chicago were still under the guidance of legendary coach George Halas, who had coached them to the World Championship in 1963, a triumph they had since struggled to replicate.

The Bears did have several standout players on their roster, many of whom would go on to become legends in their own right.

Running back Gale Sayers racked up over 1200 rushing yards in ‘66 on an offense that also included tight end Mike Ditka, who of course would go onto coaching glory with the Bears after retiring from playing pro football. Meanwhile the defense feature a phenom at linebacker by the name of Dick Butkus.

On a muddy, cut up field and in a damp, brisk lake wind that took the temperature below zero, the 4-3-1 49ers faced up against the 3-4-1 Chicago Bears in front of over 47,000 frozen and sodden fans at Wrigley Field.

The game

The home team were first to open the scoring when Ralph Kurek went in from three yards out early in the first quarter but the 49ers hit back immediately thanks to the brilliance of Brodie who, unaffected by the frigid weather, manoeuvred San Francisco down to the one-yard line for Willard to smash in for the tying score.

However, the temperature began to take its toll during the second quarter, with the teams trading field goals as both offenses slowed down to knot the scores up a 10-10 at the half.

Entering the second half Brodie was able to find more success against a Bears defense that seemed intent on focusing solely on the 49ers' rushing attack. Brodie took advantage of the soft secondary play and again led the Niners down to the goal-line, where Willard did the rest once more to give the visitors a seven-point advantage.

That proved to be the only score of the third quarter and so the Bears had 15 minutes left in the game to make a comeback in front of an increasingly agitated home crowd.

They duly obliged with the first big play of the game as Bears quarterback Rudy Bukich found Sayers for a 43-yard touchdown. Sayers had been a bright spot for the Bears during the game, rushing for 87 yards, but it was his long touchdown catch that was the highlight.

As turgid as the Bears passing game had been all game, the long touchdown seemed to break the ice off of Bukich and no sooner had Chicago pulled level than they went ahead, this time with a 32-yard touchdown pass caught by Jim Jones.

The 49ers defense, which had been relatively stout up to that point, was on the brink of being blown wide open after allowing 14 points in the space of a few minutes. San Francisco's offense had to take action fast to try to take the pressure off of their reeling defensive comrades.

With a mixture of Brodie passes and rushing gains by both 49er backs, the team rallied and worked their way into the red zone , only for the drive to stall and force the Niners to settle for a Tommy Davis field goal.

After holding the Bears on their next offensive drive, the 49ers got the ball looking to regain the lead but instead they went backwards with a penalty and a sack before a disastrous seemingly put San Francisco on the brink of defeat.

Backed up on their own 11-yard line, the 49ers fumbled the ball, which was scooped and returned for a touchdown by Bears defensive end Ed O’Bradovich, with the missed extra point putting the hosts up 30-20 with time ticking away.

Undeterred, Brodie led another methodical drive into Bears territory, relying heavily on third-down conversions from Willard and leaning on wide receiver Bernie Casey to put the 49ers in position to strike again from the one-yard line for the third time. Without hesitation, 49ers head coach Jack Christiansen called for another Willard run and the 219lb former North Carolina Tarheel broke the plane of the goal-line for his third and final one-yard rushing touchdown of the game.

Following the extra point, San Francisco were still behind 30-27. Was there enough time left to finish the comeback?  The defense made sure there was with another stop, giving the offense the chance to complete the turnaround late in an enthralling encounter.

Utilising Casey yet again, Brodie guided the team down the icy field. This time, however, he couldn't repeat his previous accomplishments and the drive was halted 44 yards from the end zone. On came Davis into the Wrigley Field gusts, which were in full effect when the ball was placed down

The kick was long enough but was being buffeted by the wind.  With inches to spare it bobbled in between the goalposts secured a dramatic tie.

For the 49ers, it was the first time in their history that they had tied two separate games within the same season, while the Bears tied their second straight game after they had finished all square with the Detroit Lions during week 9.

John Brodie finished 28-56 for 327 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception.

Ken Willard rushed for 56 yards from 17 carries and three touchdowns.

Sixth year 49er wideout Bernie Casey enjoyed a career day with an incredible 12 catches for 225 yards. Casey would leave the team after the ‘66 season, spending two years with the Rams before enjoying a long and successful acting career, appearing in a variety of TV shows ranging from  “Streets of San Francisco” to “Star trek: Deep Space 9” and movies such as “Guns of the Magnifcent Seven” and the critically acclaimed football movie ”Brian's Song”, where he played Chicago Bears team captain J.C.Caroline.

The 49ers went on to finish the season with a 6-6-2 record, good enough for fourth place in the Western Conference. The Bears finished just one place behind San Francisco and with one more loss, at 5-7-2.

In 1966 San Francisco showed that they had the makings of a decent offense and finished sixth in the entire league in offensive scoring, however, their Achilles heel was once again their defense, which on average allowed more points per game than the team's offense scored.

Thanks for reading,

Paul Kadwill