The Chicago Bears are barely above .500 in their 10 coldest games at Soldier Field since they began playing their home games there in 1971 — including 3 wins and 2 losses against the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers also played against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL’s coldest game — 13 degrees below zero on Dec. 31, 1967 — known as “The Ice Bowl.”
Temperature is recorded at kickoff in NFL games, which doesn’t take into consideration any fluctuations that happen after the game starts. USA Today has reported that late-in-the-season games are likely to end at a lower temperature.
Here’s a look at the 10 coldest Bears games at Soldier Field.
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Dec. 19, 2004: 12 degrees (22 degrees below normal)
Texans 24, Bears 5
Kickoff: 12:02 p.m.
“Sunday’s temperature was announced as 12 degrees at kickoff, with a minus-8 windchill. On days like this, the Bears are supposed to have the advantage over a team from a place that might confuse snow with cotton. But the Texans prevailed handily.” — Lew Freedman
Dec. 18, 2005: 12 degrees (22 degrees below normal)
Bears quarterback Rex Grossman in the fourth quarter against the Falcons at Soldier Field on Dec. 18, 2005. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Tribune)
Bears 16, Falcons 3
Kickoff: 7:37 p.m.
“The improbable play that ruined the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night was challenged, reviewed, dissected — and didn’t even involve points going up on the scoreboard. It happened in the fourth quarter when the Falcons trailed the Bears by the same 16-3 margin as the final score. Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick completed a pass to receiver Michael Jenkins for what should have been a gain to the 10-yard line. Instead, Bears safety Mike Green creamed Jenkins, flipping the ball into the air and into the arms of teammate Nathan Vasher. Falcons coach Jim Mora tossed the red replay flag onto the field. The officials ruled against him, and Mora gave them enough what-for to earn a 15-yard unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty. More than 12 minutes remained, but the Falcons never got within the same ZIP code of the end zone again. Asked about the officials’ decision, Mora said only, ‘I think they do a wonderful job.’ The Bears spent the frigid evening smothering the Atlanta offense. Yet the Falcons, most of whom wore long sleeves and spend much of their football lives in a climate-controlled dome, refused to admit being bothered.” — Lew Freedman
Dec. 23, 1990: 11 degrees (22 degrees below normal)
Bears 27, Buccaneers 14
Kickoff: 12:01 p.m.
“The cold, hard realities of football and life were at once addressed Sunday afternoon on the frozen tundra of Soldier Field. The Bears resurrected the momentum of their remarkable season with a 27-14 defeat of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in front of 46,456 hearty fans. … ‘That’s life. It is a tough thing,’ said linebacker Mike Singletary, ‘The injuries, the (death of) Fred Washington in the car wreck. It is the harsh reality of life. What are you going to do when that happens?’ … With the thermometer reading 11 degrees and a wind-chill factor of minus-3, the Bears overcame the slippery field conditions to run up 368 total yards.” — Fred Mitchell
Dec. 18, 2016: 11 degrees (25 degrees below normal)
Bears head coach John Fox on the sideline in the third quarter against the Packers at Soldier Field on Dec. 18, 2016. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Packers 30, Bears 27
Kickoff: 12:02 p.m.
“It was cold. It was blustery. It was another Bears loss. The Bears fell short with a rally against their archrivals when they fell to the Green Bay Packers 30-27 on Sunday at frigid Soldier Field. With the game-time temperature of 11 and a wind chill of 4 degrees below zero, the Bears fell behind the Packers 27-10 after three quarters before roaring back behind the arm of quarterback Matt Barkley. The Packers won it as time expired on Mason Crosby’s 32-yard field goal.” — Chris Kuc
Dec. 11, 1977: 10 degrees (26 degrees below normal)
Bears fullback Roland Harper takes a handoff from quarterback Bob Avellini against the Packers at Soldier Field on Dec. 12, 1977. Harper carried nine times for 55 yards. (Ernie Cox Jr./Tribune)
Bears 21, Packers 10
Kickoff: 2 p.m.
“The Bears failed to lose for the fifth game in a row Sunday, and it is still hard to tell whether they are getting easier or harder to believe. But get ready to believe. By Sunday’s 21-10 victory over Green Bay in frigid Soldier Field, they are one more victory from the playoffs unless the unbelievable happens again in an unbelievable season.” — Don Pierson
Dec. 17, 1989: 10 degrees (24 degrees below normal)
Packers 40, Bears 28
Kickoff: 12:02 p.m.
“Without having to loft nary a punt, the Packers dispatched the Bears 40-28 in front of 44,781 hearty souls, who braved a minus-7 degree wind chill factor and five Bear turnovers. In losing their fifth straight for the first time since 1978, the Bears (6-9) assured themselves a losing record for the first time since 1981.” — Fred Mitchell
Dec. 24, 2022: 9 degrees (25 degrees below normal
Fans brave the frigid temperatures during the Bears’ 35-13 loss to the Bills at Soldier Field on Dec. 24, 2022. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
The Bears offense leaves the field in the first quarter of the Bears’ 35-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears fans brave the frigid temperatures during the Bears’ 35-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Bears fans brave the frigid temperatures during a 35-13 loss to the Bills on Dec. 24, 2022, at Soldier Field. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears wide receiver Dante Pettis hauls in a first quarter touchdown in the Bears’ 35-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears fans brave the frigid temperatures during the Bears’ 35-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears wide receiver Dante Pettis hauls in a first quarter touchdown in the Bears’ 35-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Bears fans undeterred by the brutal cold during the Bears’ 35-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
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Fans brave the frigid temperatures during the Bears’ 35-13 loss to the Bills at Soldier Field on Dec. 24, 2022. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Bills 35, Bears 13
Kickoff: 12:02 p.m.
“The sprinkling of Chicago Bears fans who still were standing in the subzero windchill at Soldier Field as the clock ticked down Saturday weren’t gifted with a victory. The Bears defense had three takeaways but also gave up 254 rushing yards, including three touchdowns on the ground in the second half, in the Bills’ 35-13 victory. It was the Bears’ eighth straight loss.” — Colleen Kane
Dec. 14, 2025: 8 degrees (29 degrees below normal)
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams warms up to face the Browns on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Browns at Bears
Dec. 9, 2013: 8 degrees (29 degrees below normal)
Mike Ditka gives a speech during a halftime ceremony to retire his number at Soldier Field on Dec. 9, 2013. (Chris Sweda/ Chicago Tribune)
Fans build a fire while tailgating before the game between the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys on Monday, Dec. 9, 2013 at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears’ Kyle Long in final minutes of 45-28 win over Dallas Cowboys during NFL game at Soldier Field in Chicago on Dec. 9, 2013. (Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune)
Lou Gikas of Munster, Ind., mans the grill while tailgating before the game between the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 9, 2013 at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears quarterback Josh McCown (12) has a laugh with fellow quarterback Jay Cutler (6) late in the 4th quarter at Soldier Field on Dec. 9, 2013. (Chris Sweda/ Chicago Tribune)
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Mike Ditka gives a speech during a halftime ceremony to retire his number at Soldier Field on Dec. 9, 2013. (Chris Sweda/ Chicago Tribune)
Bears 45, Cowboys 28
Kickoff: 7:40 p.m.
“Mike Ditka didn’t bring the 1985 Bears defense with him down the red carpet to midfield at halftime Monday night. Because of the 2013 offense, he didn’t have to. Backup quarterback Josh McCown accounted for five touchdowns, three before the Bears retired their iconic coach’s jersey No. 89 at intermission, and their beleaguered defense benefited from playing with the lead in a 45-28 victory over the Cowboys at frigid Soldier Field.” — Rich Campbell
Jan. 10, 1988: 4 degrees (27 degrees below normal)
Bears running back Walter Payton eludes a Washington defender during a playoff game on Jan. 10, 1988 (John Swart/AP)
Redskins 21, Bears 17
Kickoff: 11:32 a.m.
“A whole bunch of eras ended for the Bears Sunday in Soldier Field, where the Washington Redskins knocked them out of the NFC divisional playoffs for the second year in a row, 21-17. It was a cold thing coach Joe Gibbs and the Redskins did, pulling the magic carpet out from under Jim McMahon just when everything appeared warmed up for a National Conference title game next week against the Minnesota Vikings.” — Don Pierson
Dec. 18, 1983: 3 degrees (31 degrees below normal)
Bears 23, Packers 21
Kickoff: 12:02 p.m.
“Jim McMahon and the Bears put on their gloves Sunday for more than warmth. When they just as easily could have gone stiff in the zero-degree cold of Soldier Field, the Bears proved that they, too, can be 8-8. Scoring twice in the final four minutes — three times in the last 22 minutes — they overcame the Packers 23-21 on a 22-yard field goal by Bob Thomas with 10 seconds left. McMahon threw two touchdown passes, ran for another score and set up a kick by Thomas with a masterful two-minute drive that warmed what was left of the crowd of 35,807 (29,986 no-shows). The Bears knocked Green Bay out of the playoffs and joined the clamor for anonymity in the National Five Hundred League, where it matters not whether you win or lose because everybody does.” — Don Pierson
Dec. 22, 2008: 2 degrees (31 degrees below normal)
Chicago Bears’ Brian Urlacher reacts after a successful fake punt by the Green Bay Packers in the second quarter at Soldier Field on Dec. 22, 2008. (Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune)
Bears fans in the cold as the Bears play the Packers on Dec. 22, 2008.(Charles Cherney/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears’ Alex Brown and Israel Idonije chase Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers in first quarter at Soldier Field on Dec. 22, 2008. (Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears’ Brian Urlacher in the first quarter against the Packers at Soldier Field on Dec. 22, 2008. (Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune)
Bears Fans watch the action as an image of George Halas is displayed at Soldier Field during the Bears game against the Packers on Dec. 22, 2008. (Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune)
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Chicago Bears’ Brian Urlacher reacts after a successful fake punt by the Green Bay Packers in the second quarter at Soldier Field on Dec. 22, 2008. (Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune)
Bears 20 Packers 17 (OT)
Kickoff: 7:40 p.m.
“With a chance to earn a spot in the postseason, the Bears looked early on like they had their minds on the off-season. If revenge is a dish best served cold, the Bears didn’t put it on the menu against the team that had beaten them by 34 points a month ago until the final course. But it tasted sweet as ever after Robbie Gould nailed a 38-yard field goal through the uprights in the south end zone to keep the Bears’ playoff hopes alive.” — David Haugh
Sources: National Weather Service, Chicago Bears, NFL, Tribune reporting and archives