Chicago Bears Retired Jerseys: Every Retired Number and Who Wears What
Posted by JerseyZenith on Oct 25th 2026
- The Bears' 14 retired numbers are the most in the NFL.
- Walter Payton's 34 and Dick Butkus's 51 are retired.
- Brian Urlacher's 54 and Mike Singletary's 50 are not retired; Logan Jones wears 54 and Grady Jarrett wears 50 in 2026.
- Caleb Williams wears 18, Luther Burden III wears 10, Rome Odunze 15 and Kyle Monangai 25.
This guide covers the Chicago Bears' retired numbers and the numbers fans buy in 2026. It does not cover the NFL's position rules, which have their own guide.
All 14 retired Bears numbers
| Number | Player | Position | Years with the Bears |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Bronko Nagurski | Fullback/linebacker/tackle | 1930–1937, 1943 |
| 5 | George McAfee | Running back/defensive back | 1940–1941, 1945–1950 |
| 7 | George Halas | End/head coach, founder | 1920–1983 |
| 28 | Willie Galimore | Running back | 1957–1963 |
| 34 | Walter Payton | Running back | 1975–1987 |
| 40 | Gale Sayers | Running back/kick returner | 1965–1971 |
| 41 | Brian Piccolo | Running back/fullback | 1965–1969 |
| 42 | Sid Luckman | Quarterback | 1939–1950 |
| 51 | Dick Butkus | Middle linebacker | 1965–1973 |
| 56 | Bill Hewitt | End | 1932–1936 |
| 61 | Bill George | Middle guard/linebacker | 1952–1965 |
| 66 | Clyde "Bulldog" Turner | Center/linebacker | 1940–1952 |
| 77 | Red Grange | Running back/defensive back | 1925, 1929–1934 |
| 89 | Mike Ditka | Tight end | 1961–1966 |
Walter Payton's 34 and Dick Butkus's 51
Payton's No. 34 is the Bears' most recognizable number. He played running back from 1975 to 1987. Butkus's No. 51 belongs to the middle linebacker who played from 1965 to 1973. Because both numbers are retired, no current player wears them. Fans buy them as legend jerseys, and the same goes for the other twelve retired numbers in the table.
Is Brian Urlacher's 54 retired?
No. The Bears have not retired Urlacher's number, and the October 2026 ESPN roster lists center Logan Jones in 54. Fans still search for a Brian Urlacher jersey, and it remains a legend pick. Mike Singletary's 50 is also not retired. Defensive end Grady Jarrett wears it now.
Mike Ditka and the last retirement
Ditka's No. 89 was retired on December 9, 2013. It is the last number the Bears retired. Ditka died on October 9, 2026, and the Bears honored him with a No. 89 helmet sticker on October 11 and a football-shaped jersey patch on October 18. Read how patches work in our GSH on the Bears jersey guide.
Current Bears numbers fans buy
| Player | Number | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Caleb Williams | 18 | Quarterback |
| Luther Burden III | 10 | Wide receiver |
| Rome Odunze | 15 | Wide receiver |
| Kyle Monangai | 25 | Running back |
| Colston Loveland | 84 | Tight end |
| D'Andre Swift | 4 | Running back |
| Montez Sweat | 98 | Defensive end |
| Jaylon Johnson | 1 | Cornerback |
| Player | Number | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Thuney | 62 | Guard |
| Darnell Wright | 58 | Offensive tackle |
| T.J. Edwards | 53 | Linebacker |
| Kyler Gordon | 6 | Cornerback |
| Dillon Thieneman | 31 | Safety |
| Tory Taylor | 19 | Punter |
Rosters change during the season, so confirm a player is still on the team before you order a name and number. The NFL jersey number rules explain how the league assigns numbers by position.
Retired numbers by era
| Era | Numbers | Players |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s–1930s | 3, 7, 56, 77 | Nagurski, Halas, Hewitt, Grange |
| 1940s–1950s | 5, 42, 61, 66, 28 | McAfee, Luckman, George, Turner, Galimore |
| 1960s | 40, 41, 51, 89 | Sayers, Piccolo, Butkus, Ditka |
| 1970s–1980s | 34 | Payton |
The table groups each player by when they began with the Bears. It shows that no player who joined the Bears after 1975 has a retired number.
Tribute patches for numbers that are not retired
The Bears have honored players with jersey patches too. They wore a No. 34 patch for Payton in 1999 and a No. 51 patch for Butkus in 2023, according to Wikipedia. In 1992 they wore a black No. 50 patch for Mike Singletary's final home game. Those tributes are not retirements, so check the roster before you assume a number is available.
Why the Bears have so many
The Bears were founded in 1920 and have won nine league titles, including Super Bowl XX after the 1985 season, according to Wikipedia. Retired numbers cover nearly every era, from Red Grange in the 1920s to Ditka in the 1960s. That is why a Bears number often tells you the era.
Sizing and ordering
Browse Chicago Bears jerseys for the players above. Check the NFL jersey size chart, then confirm the name and number match what you want.
Nike makes every Chicago Bears jersey we sell, in home, away, alternate, Rivalries and throwback styles where the team has them, so a player's number is the same on each style. Compare Game and Limited in our tier guide and shop all Bears jerseys.
Bears numbers FAQ
How many numbers have the Bears retired?
Fourteen, the most of any NFL team.
Which was the last number the Bears retired?
Mike Ditka's No. 89, on December 9, 2013.
Is Brian Urlacher's number retired?
No. His No. 54 is not on the list.
Is Walter Payton's number retired?
Yes. The Bears retired No. 34 and no current player wears it.
Is Mike Singletary's 50 retired?
No. It is not on the list of 14, and Grady Jarrett wears 50 in 2026.
What number does Caleb Williams wear?
No. 18.
What is the Caleb Williams jersey number?
Caleb Williams wears No. 18.
What is the Walter Payton jersey number?
Walter Payton wore No. 34, which is retired.
What is the Cole Kmet jersey number?
Cole Kmet wears No. 85 and is on injured reserve.
What is the Colston Loveland jersey number?
Colston Loveland wears No. 84.
What is D'Andre Swift's jersey number?
D'Andre Swift wears No. 4.