Buccaneers vs. Bears: All-Time Matchup History
Head-to-Head Snapshot
- All-Time Record: Bears lead series 40–22 (.355)
- First Meeting: 1977
- Most Recent Meeting: 2023 season
- Postseason Meetings: None
Last Five Matchups
- 2023: Buccaneers 27, Bears 17 (home)
- 2021: Buccaneers 38, Bears 3 (home)
- 2020: Bears 20, Buccaneers 19 (away)
- 2018: Bears 48, Bears 10 (away)
- 2017: Buccaneers 29, Bears 7 (home)
Series Overview
The Buccaneers and Bears were division foes in the NFC Central from 1997-2001 and Chicago dominated the series for the first 20 of those 25 years. In a 33-game stretch running from 1979 through 1997, the Bears won 26 times to open a large lead in the overall head-to-head battle. The Buccaneers closed the gap a bit by winning six straight matchups in the late 90s and prevailing in four of the last six meetings.
Notable Matchups
- 2021 Regular Season: Tampa Bay's defense intercepts young passer Justin Fields three times and Tom Brady throws four touchdown passes in the most lopsided win in the Bucs' 14-3 season.
- 2002 Regular Season: With a first-round playoff bye on the line, the Buccaneers record four interceptions in a 15-0 shutout in windy Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois, with all the game's points coming on Martin Gramatica field goals.
- 1982 Regular Season: On the final weekend of the strike-shortened 1982 season, the Buccaneers clinch a playoff berth with a 26-23 overtime win with Doug Williams leading a 20-point rally with a pair of touchdown passes to Jimmie Giles.
Series Trends
- The Buccaneers have won four of the six meetings since 2016, scoring at least 27 points in each victory.
- The Bears won 12 straight games in the series from 1983-1988.
- Since the Bucs moved out of the Bears' division and into the NFC South in 2002, the two teams have forged a 7-7 split.
- The Bears had four shutouts in the first 15 years of the rivalry but the Bucs have had the only two shutouts since.
2025-26 Green Bay Packers Season Snapshot
- 2025 Record: 11–6
- Division Finish: 1st in NFC North
- Playoffs: Lost in Divisional round to L.A. Rams
- 2026 Head Coach: Ben Johnson (second year)
2026 Key Additions
S Coby Bryant, S Dillon Thieneman, C Logan Jones, TE Sam Roush, WR Zavion Thomas, CB Malik Muhammad, DL Neville Gallimore, CB Cam Lewis, WR Kalif Raymond, DL Kentavius Street, LB Devin Bush, C Garrett Bradbury, T Jedrick Wills
2026 Key Departures
LB Tremaine Edmunds, S Kevin Byard, S Jaquan Brisker, S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, CB Nahshon Wright, TE Durham Smythe, DL Andrew Billlings, ED Dominique Robinson, WR D.J. Moore, WR Olamide Zaccheaus
Notable Players
QB Caleb Williams, G Joe Thuney, T Darnell Wright, WR Rome Odunze, TE Colston Loveland, DE Montez Sweat, CB Jaylon Johnson, CB Tyrique Stevenson, DT Gervon Dexter, LB T.J. Edwards
Full Matchup History
| Season | Winner | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Buccaneers | 27-17 | Tampa |
| 2021 | Buccaneers | 38-3 | Tampa |
| 2020 | Bears | 20-19 | Chicago |
| 2018 | Bears | 48-10 | Chicago |
| 2017 | Buccaneers | 29-7 | Tampa |
| 2016 | Buccaneers | 36-10 | Tampa |
| 2015 | Bears | 26-21 | Tampa |
| 2014 | Bears | 21-13 | Chicago |
| 2011 | Bears | 24-18 | London |
| 2008 | Buccaneers | 27-24 (OT) | Chicago |
| 2006 | Bears | 34-31 (OT) | Chicago |
| 2005 | Bears | 13-10 | Tampa |
| 2004 | Buccaneers | 19-7 | Tampa |
| 2002 | Buccaneers | 15-0 | Champaign |
| 2001 | Bears | 27-3 | Chicago |
| 2001 | Bears | 27-24 | Tampa |
| 2000 | Bears | 13-10 | Chicago |
| 2000 | Buccaneers | 41-0 | Tampa |
| 1999 | Buccaneers | 20-6 | Chicago |
| 1999 | Buccaneers | 6-3 | Tampa |
| 1998 | Buccaneers | 31-17 | Chicago |
| 1998 | Buccaneers | 27-15 | Tampa |
| 1997 | Buccaneers | 31-15 | Tampa |
| 1997 | Bears | 13-7 | Chicago |
| 1996 | Buccaneers | 34-19 | Tampa |
| 1996 | Bears | 13-10 | Chicago |
| 1995 | Bears | 31-10 | Chicago |
| 1995 | Bears | 25-6 | Tampa |
| 1994 | Bears | 20-6 | Tampa |
| 1994 | Bears | 21-9 | Chicago |
| 1993 | Buccaneers | 13-10 | Tampa |
| 1993 | Bears | 47-17 | Chicago |
| 1992 | Buccaneers | 20-17 | Tampa |
| 1992 | Bears | 31-14 | Chicago |
| 1991 | Bears | 27-0 | Chicago |
| 1991 | Bears | 21-20 | Tampa |
| 1990 | Bears | 27-14 | Chicago |
| 1990 | Bears | 26-6 | Tampa |
| 1989 | Buccaneers | 32-31 | Chicago |
| 1989 | Buccaneers | 42-35 | Tampa |
| 1988 | Bears | 27-15 | Tampa |
| 1988 | Bears | 28-10 | Chicago |
| 1987 | Bears | 27-26 | Tampa |
| 1987 | Bears | 20-3 | Chicago |
| 1986 | Bears | 48-14 | Chicago |
| 1986 | Bears | 23-3 | Tampa |
| 1985 | Bears | 27-19 | Tampa |
| 1985 | Bears | 38-28 | Chicago |
| 1984 | Bears | 44-9 | Tampa |
| 1984 | Bears | 34-14 | Chicago |
| 1983 | Bears | 27-0 | Tampa |
| 1983 | Bears | 17-10 | Chicago |
| 1982 | Buccaneers | 26-23 (OT) | Tampa |
| 1981 | Buccaneers | 20-10 | Tampa |
| 1981 | Bears | 28-17 | Chicago |
| 1980 | Bears | 14-13 | Tampa |
| 1980 | Bears | 23-0 | Chicago |
| 1979 | Bears | 14-0 | Tampa |
| 1979 | Buccaneers | 17-13 | Chicago |
| 1978 | Bears | 14-3 | Chicago |
| 1978 | Buccaneers | 33-19 | Tampa |
| 1977 | Bears | 10-0 | Tampa |
Historical Note
The 1989 season was a notable aberration in the Bears stretch of dominance from 1983-1995, with the Bucs winning both matchups, 42-35 and 32-31.
FAQs
- What is the Bucs' longest winning streak against the Bears? Tampa Bay beat Chicago six straight times from 1997-2000.
- When was Chicago's most recent victory in Tampa? The Bears beat the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in 2015 but the Bucs have won the last four matchups in Florida.
- When was the last time the Buccaneers and Bears made the playoffs in the same season? In 2020, which ended with Tampa Bay winning Super Bowl LV, the Bears also made the playoffs with an 8-8 record as a Wild Card team.