ESPN took the stage at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena with an impressive lineup of new 30 For 30 films planned for the first part of 2016. Joining ESPN execs was Vince Vaughn and Emmy winning producer/director Jason Hehir (The Fab Five) who discussed their passion project, The ’85 Bears, airing Feb. 4 at 9pm ET. The film is a fresh yet nostalgic look at one of the most iconic teams in NFL history — the Super Bowl XX champion 1985 Chicago Bears.
“I wanted to personalize these guys who are seen as giants among men and show that they have the same sorts of hopes and fears and the same sorts of relationships and bonds they form in locker rooms that the rest of us have in the workplace or neighborhoods or things like that,” Hehir explains.
A short clip shared some rare and emotional footage, including a recent moment with Buddy Ryan and Mike Singletary. “We weren’t even expecting to get Buddy Ryan in this thing. I knew he was very ill. And the more interviews we did, the more the players, I think, started to trust the storyline that we were pursuing,” Hehir says.
He credits Hall of Famer Dan Hampton for calling Buddy Ryan’s nurse and suggesting they allow camera crews to come film him. “The dominoes fell from there because Mike [Singletary] and Buddy, as you will see in the film, have been very, very close from the time that Mike was a rookie with the Bears, and they are almost like a father and son now. And that visit that you saw, given Buddy’s current health, is probably the last time that they will see each other or the last time, at least, that Mike will come down to visit him.”
For Vaughn this story was extremely personal having grown up in that era in the suburbs of Chicago. “It’s something I’m passionate about so it was an easy thing to be a part of and lend myself to,” he tells us. “To be that bad for that long and then to have a team that is really undeniably the greatest teams in the history of the league was such a special, special year.”
And that special feeling went beyond the playing field. “These guys would say what was on their mind to the media. They would, you know, kind of hang out and let it all, kind of, fall in front of everybody, and the city fell in love with them. They felt very Chicago. They felt very authentic. And people, myself included, didn’t just love the winning and what they did. They loved the dynamic and the personalities and the friendships that were very apparent there with that season.”
Vaughn’s been a lifelong Chicago Bears fan, he grew up watching the games with his family. “We always watched, my dad and myself. Being in Lake Forest I use to walk down and watch the practices as a kid at Halas Hall. We were very aware of the tradition and what George Halas did, obviously, with the college draft and bringing Red Grange to the Bears.”
As for today’s Bears led by Jay Cutler, Vaughn says: “I think the whole team took a step up this year. I think Fox [head coach John Fox] has done a good job. It’s been one year and it looks like they took a step in the right direction and it feels like they are making good decisions so it will be interesting to see what they do.”
Dear Jason,
I just finished watching “The ’85 Bears”. Normally, like most, I just watch a program and have done.
On this particular case, I am compelled to write and thank you for such an outstanding production.
You did such a great job of capturing the moment, good and bad. Thanks for letting us viewers see
behind the scenes, for the laughs and the tears.
John L Beasley
Mr.Hehir, the bears 85 documentary was brilliant. As a 50 year bears fan you did a great job of displaying what a special and unique group of players they were and era that will be forever frozen in time to us bears fans.