The 2003 Chicago Bears season was the franchise's 84th season in the National Football League (NFL). The team improved to a 7–9 record over its 4–12 record from 2002 under head coach Dick Jauron. The team was once again in a quarterbacking carousel with quarterbacks Kordell Stewart, Chris Chandler, and rookie Rex Grossman. In the end, head coach Dick Jauron was fired after the conclusion of the season.

Draft

Stadium changes and new mascot

During this season, the team returns to their original home, Soldier Field, after a year of renovations and rebuilding during the previous season; in which the home games were temporary held at Memorial Stadium in the campus of the University of Illinois in Champaign. the first 2 pre-season games were held at Memorial Stadium before the reopening was on August 9 against the Indianapolis Colts and on August 16, against the Denver Broncos. The first home game held at the newly renovated Soldier Field was their primetime game against Green Bay Packers on September 29, 2003, televised on ABC's Monday Night Football.

Also introducing this season is the team's brand new mascot Staley Da Bear. Staley was introduced during the team's home game on September 29, 2003 against the Green Bay Packers. Prior to the start of this season, Don Wachter says that will no longer wear the team's unofficial mascot "Bearman", but they will continued to appear in the team's 2004 and 2005 seasons. Staley was officially selected as a mascot for the 2004 Pro Bowl.

Broadcasting changes

Beginning this season, the television broadcasts of the Bears preseason games were moved back to NBC Owned-and-operated station WMAQ-TV as part of a five-year broadcast partnership with the station and the team, these marked the return of the Bears preseason games on the station for the first time since the 1993 season and the return of the NFL games on the station for the first time since the 1997 season after the NBC network lost the rights of the American Football Conference to CBS (locally thru WBBM-TV) beginning with the 1998 season; ending its 9-year relationship with the team and WBBM-TV. the Pre-game show Bears Gameday Live and the Post-game show Bears Gamenight were also premiered on the station at the start of the regular season. Telemundo Owned-and-operated station WSNS-TV provided the spanish language broadcasts of the preseason games following the purchase of the station and the network by NBC. WBBM-AM regained their radio rights for the third season.

Staff

Roster

Schedule

Preseason

Regular season

Game summaries

Week 1: at San Francisco 49ers

at Candlestick Park in San Francisco

Scoring summary

Q1 – SF – 7:51 – Jeff Chandler 22 yd FG (SF 3–0)

Q1 – SF – 3:23 – 12 yd TD pass from Jeff Garcia to Garrison Hearst (Chandler kick) (SF 10–0)

Q2 – CHI – 12:05 – 3 yd TD pass from Kordell Stewart to Desmond Clark (Paul Edinger kick) (SF 10–7)

Q2 – SF – 6:01 – Jeff Garcia 3 yd TD run (Chandler kick) (SF 17–7)

Q2 – SF – 3:18 – 16 yd TD pass from Jeff Garcia to Tai Streets (kick failed) (SF 23–7)

Q2 – SF – 0:44 – Ahmed Plummer 68 yd interception return TD (Chandler kick) (SF 30–7)

Q2 – SF – 0:00 – Jeff Chandler 29 yd FG (SF 33–7)

Q3 – SF – 7:29 – Jeff Chandler 28 yd FG (SF 36–7)

Q3 – SF – 2:37 – Jeff Chandler 24 yd FG (SF 39–7)

Q4 – SF – 14:05 – Jeff Chandler 26 yd FG (SF 42–7)

Q4 – SF – 12:16 – Garrison Hearst 1 yd TD run (Chandler kick) (SF 49–7)

Attendance – 67,554

Week 2: at Minnesota Vikings

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Scoring summary

Q1 – MIN – 13:57 – Moe Williams 1 yd TD run (Aaron Elling kick) (MIN 7–0)

Q1 – CHI – 10:35 – Paul Edinger 42 yd FG (MIN 7–3)

Q2 – MIN – 11:18 – Aaron Elling 23 yd FG (MIN 10–3)

Q2 – MIN – 1:55 – 3 yd TD pass from Daunte Culpepper to Jim Kleinsasser (Elling kick) (MIN 17–3)

Q2 – CHI – 0:39 – 14 yd TD pass from Kordell Stewart to David Terrell (Edinger kick) (MIN 17–10)

Q3 – CHI – 4:43 – Paul Edinger 43 yd FG (MIN 17–13)

Q4 – MIN – 2:56 – 11 yd TD pass from Daunte Culpepper to Jim Kleinsasser (Elling kick) (MIN 24–13)

Attendance – 64,144

Week 3: Bye

Week 4: vs Green Bay Packers

at Soldier Field in Chicago

Scoring summary

Q1 – GB – 11:55 – Ahman Green 60 yd TD run (Ryan Longwell kick) (GB 7–0)

Q1 – GB – 2:32 – Ryan Longwell 34 yd FG (GB 10–0)

Q1 – GB – 0:19 – Ahman Green 6 yd TD run (Longwell kick) (GB 17–0)

Q2 – CHI – 9:07 – Paul Edinger 31 yd FG (GB 17–3)

Q2 – GB – 3:51 – 14 yd TD pass from Brett Favre to William Henderson (Longwell kick) (GB 24–3)

Q2 – CHI – 0:48 – Paul Edinger 38 yd FG (GB 24–6)

Q3 – CHI – 0:02 – Paul Edinger 41 yd FG (GB 24–9)

Q4 – CHI – 12:36 – Anthony Thomas 67 yd TD run (Edinger kick) (GB 24–16)

Q4 – GB – 8:51 – 9 yd TD pass from Brett Favre to Javon Walker (Longwell kick) (GB 31–16)

Q4 – GB – 4:21 – 1 yd TD pass from Brett Favre to Bubba Franks (Longwell kick) (GB 38–16)

Q4 – CHI – 1:28 – Kordell Stewart 1 yd TD run (Edinger kick) (GB 38–23)

Attendance – 61,500

Week 5: vs Oakland Raiders

at Soldier Field in Chicago

Scoring summary

Q1 – OAK – 6:10 – Zack Crockett 1 yd TD run (kick failed) (OAK 6–0)

Q2 – CHI – 11:05 – Paul Edinger 35 yd FG (OAK 6–3)

Q2 – OAK – 7:35 – Sebastian Janikowski 36 yd FG (OAK 9–3)

Q2 – OAK – 6:19 – Sebastian Janikowski 39 yd FG (OAK 12–3)

Q2 – OAK – 1:51 – Sebastian Janikowski 32 yd FG (OAK 15–3)

Q2 – OAK – 0:00 – Sebastian Janikowski 33 yd FG (OAK 18–3)

Q3 – CHI – 5:37 – Paul Edinger 50 yd FG (OAK 18–6)

Q4 – CHI – 14:53 – 14 yd TD pass from Kordell Stewart to Marty Booker (Edinger kick) (OAK 18–13)

Q4 – CHI – 6:58 – Stanley Pritchett 8 yd TD run (Kordell Stewart 2 pt conversion run) (CHI 21–18)

Q4 – OAK – 3:30 – Sebastian Janikowski 49 yd FG (21–21)

Q4 – CHI – 0:00 – Paul Edinger 48 yd FG (CHI 24–21)

Attendance – 61,500

Week 6: at New Orleans Saints

at Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana

Scoring summary

Q1 – NO – 7:53 – John Carney 50 yd FG (NO 3-0)

Q2 – CHI – 7:35 – Paul Edinger 28 yd FG (3–3)

Q2 – NO – 0:00 – John Carney 30 yd FG (NO 6-3)

Q3 – NO – 12:01 – 9 yd TD pass from Aaron Brooks to Ernie Conwell (Carney kick) (NO 13-3)

Q4 – CHI – 13:18 – Paul Edinger 31 yd FG (NO 13-6)

Q4 – NO – 7:18 – 6 yd TD pass from Aaron Brooks to Joe Horn (Carney kick) (NO 20-6)

Q4 – CHI – 2:10 – 4 yd TD pass from Kordell Stewart to Dez White (Edinger kick) (NO 20-13)

Attendance – 68,390

Week 7: at Seattle Seahawks

at Seahawks Stadium in Seattle

Scoring summary

Q1 – CHI – 3:08 – Paul Edinger 50 yd FG (CHI 3–0)

Q2 – SEA – 12:41 – Shaun Alexander 1 yd TD run (Josh Brown kick) (SEA 7–3)

Q2 – SEA – 8:47 – 25 yd TD pass from Matt Hasselbeck to Bobby Engram (Brown kick) (SEA 14–3)

Q2 – CHI – 1:49 – Paul Edinger 35 yd FG (SEA 14–6)

Q3 – SEA – 5:37 – Josh Brown 45 yd FG (SEA 17–6)

Q4 – CHI – 13:28 – Paul Edinger 40 yd FG (SEA 17–9)

Q4 – CHI – 4:12 – Stanley Pritchett 1 yd TD run (Chris Chandler 2 pt conversion run) (17–17)

Q4 – SEA – 0:58 – Shaun Alexander 25 yd TD run (Brown kick) (SEA 24–17)

Attendance – 65,671

Week 8: vs Detroit Lions

at Soldier Field in Chicago

Scoring summary

Q2 – CHI – 7:22 – 22 yd TD pass from Chris Chandler to Justin Gage (Paul Edinger kick) (CHI 7–0)

Q2 – CHI – 0:00 – Paul Edinger 37 yd FG (CHI 10–0)

Q3 – CHI – 14:46 – Jerry Azumah 89 yd kickoff return TD (Edinger kick) (CHI 17–0)

Q3 – CHI – 5:23 – Brock Forsey 8 yd TD run (Edinger kick) (CHI 24–0)

Q3 – DET – 5:10 – Reggie Swinton 96 yd kickoff return TD (2 pt conversion pass from Joey Harrington to Az-Zahir Hakim) (CHI 24–8)

Q4 – DET – 0:53 – 3 yd TD pass from Joey Harrington to Mikhael Ricks (2 pt conversion pass from Joey Harrington to Scotty Anderson) (CHI 24–16)

Attendance – 61,428

Week 9: vs San Diego Chargers

at Soldier Field in Chicago

Scoring summary

Q1 – CHI – 8:33 – Paul Edinger 38 yd FG (CHI 3–0)

Q2 – CHI – 9:27 – Anthony Thomas 1 yd TD run (Edinger kick) CHI 10–0)

Q3 – CHI – 4:27 – Paul Edinger 22 yd FG (CHI 13–0)

Q4 – SD – 9:13 – LaDainian Tomlinson 3 yd TD run (Steve Christie kick) (CHI 13–7)

Q4 – CHI – 0:21 – Anthony Thomas 1 yd TD run (Edinger kick) (CHI 20–7)

Attendance – 61,500

Week 10: at Detroit Lions

at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan

Scoring summary

Q1 – DET – 1:53 – Jason Hanson 24 yd FG (DET 3–0)

Q2 – CHI – 11:28 – Paul Edinger 43 yd FG (3–3)

Q2 – DET – 2:40 – Jason Hanson 25 yd FG (DET 6–3)

Q3 – CHI – 7:52 – 12 yd TD pass from Chris Chandler to Desmond Clark (Edinger kick) (CHI 10–6)

Q3 – DET – 2:49 – Jason Hanson 30 yd FG (CHI 10–9)

Q4 – DET – 0:39 – Jason Hanson 48 yd FG (DET 12–10)

Attendance – 61,492

Week 11: vs St. Louis Rams

at Soldier Field in Chicago

Scoring summary

Q1 – STL – 1:14 – Jeff Wilkins 41 yd FG (STL 3–0)

Q2 – CHI – 10:25 – R. W. McQuarters 60 yd punt return TD (Paul Edinger kick (CHI 7–3)

Q2 – CHI – 3:04 – Anthony Thomas 1 yd TD run (Edinger kick) (CHI 14–3)

Q3 – STL – 3:48 – 4 yd TD pass from Marc Bulger to Torry Holt (Wilkins kick) (CHI 14–10)

Q4 – STL – 12:46 – 4 yd TD pass from Marc Bulger to Brandon Manumaleuna (Wilkins kick) (STL 17–14)

Q4 – STL – 7:21 – Jeff Wilkins 44 yd FG (STL 20–14)

Q4 – CHI – 5:58 – 11 yd TD pass from Chris Chandler to Dez White (Edinger kick) (CHI 21–20)

Q4 – STL – 0:38 – Jeff Wilkins 31 yd FG (STL 23–21)

Attendance – 61,820

Week 12: at Denver Broncos

at INVESCO Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado

Scoring summary

Q1 – DEN – 3:59 – 1 yd TD pass from Jake Plummer to Rod Smith (Jason Elam kick) (DEN 7–0)

Q1 – CHI – 1:31 – Paul Edinger 33 yd FG (DEN 7–3)

Q2 – CHI – 1:57 – Paul Edinger 23 yd FG (DEN 7–6)

Q2 – CHI – 0:03 – Paul Edinger 54 yd FG (CHI 9–7)

Q3 – DEN – 11:41 – Jason Elam 25 yd FG (DEN 10–9)

Q4 – CHI – 12:45 – Kordell Stewart 1 yd TD run (Edinger kick) (CHI 16–10)

Q4 – CHI – 8:46 – Paul Edinger 47 yd FG (CHI 19–10)

Attendance – 75,540

Week 13: vs Arizona Cardinals

at Soldier Field in Chicago

Scoring summary

Q1 – CHI – 8:50 – 2 yd TD pass from Kordell Stewart to Marty Booker (Paul Edinger kick) (CHI 7–0)

Q1 – ARZ – 2:37 – Neil Rackers 32 yd FG (CHI 7–3)

Q4 – CHI – 13:55 – 10 yd TD pass from Kordell Stewart to Dez White (Edinger kick) (CHI 14–3)

Q4 – CHI – 7:46 – Kordell Stewart 8 yd TD run (Edinger kick) (CHI 21–3)

Q4 – CHI – 3:33 – Brock Forsey 9 yd TD run (Edinger kick) (CHI 28–3)

Attendance – 61,550

Week 14: at Green Bay Packers

at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Scoring summary

Q1 – CHI – 1:46 – 61 yd TD pass from Kordell Stewart to Marty Booker (Paul Edinger kick) (CHI 7–0)

Q1 – CHI – 0:50 – Lance Briggs 45 yd interception return TD (Edinger kick) (CHI 14–0)

Q2 – GB – 11:12 – Ryan Longwell 24 yd FG (CHI 14–3)

Q2 – GB – 9:57 – Ryan Longwell 38 yd FG (CHI 14–6)

Q2 – GB – 2:43 – 22 yd TD pass from Brett Favre to Javon Walker (Longwell kick) (CHI 14–13)

Q3 – GB – 6:52 – Ryan Longwell 35 yd FG (GB 16–14)

Q3 – GB – 0:43 – Ryan Longwell 45 yd FG (GB 19–14)

Q4 – GB – 9:16 – Mike McKenzie 90 yd interception return TD (2 pt conversion pass from Brett Favre to Bubba Franks) (GB 27–14)

Q4 – GB – 2:26 – Ahman Green 2 yd TD run (Longwell kick) (GB 34–14)

Q4 – CHI – 2:13 – Jerry Azumah 88 yd kickoff return TD (Edinger kick) (GB 34–21)

Attendance – 70,458

Week 15: vs Minnesota Vikings

at Soldier Field in Chicago

Scoring summary

Q1 – CHI – 13:10 – Paul Edinger 38 yd FG (CHI 3–0)

Q2 – CHI – 10:53 – Anthony Thomas 1 yd TD run (Edinger kick) (CHI 10–0)

Q2 – MIN – 1:10 – Aaron Elling 22 yd FG (CHI 10–3)

Q3 – CHI – 4:09 – Paul Edinger 22 yd FG (CHI 13–3)

Q4 – MIN – 10:23 – 16 yd TD pass from Daunte Culpepper to Randy Moss (Elling kick) (CHI 13–10)

Attendance – 61,804

Week 16: vs Washington Redskins

at Soldier Field in Chicago

Scoring summary

Q1 – WAS – 10:12 – John Hall 27 yd FG (WAS 3–0)

Q1 – CHI – 9:57 – 59 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Marty Booker (Paul Edinger kick) (CHI 7–3)

Q1 – CHI – 2:45 – Paul Edinger 19 yd FG (CHI 10–3)

Q1 – WAS – 0:48 – 36 yd TD pass from Rod Gardner to Chad Morton (Hall kick) (10–10)

Q2 – WAS – 0:16 – 14 yd TD pass from Tim Hasselbeck to Laveranues Coles (Hall kick) (WAS 17–10)

Q3 – CHI – 8:23 – 11 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Justin Gage (Edinger kick) (17–17)

Q3 – CHI – 0:34 – Anthony Thomas 3 yd TD run (Edinger kick) (CHI 24–17)

Q4 – WAS – 12:52 – 19 yd TD pass from Tim Hasselbeck to Laveranues Coles (Hall kick) (24–24)

Q4 – CHI – 0:05 – Paul Edinger 45 yd FG (CHI 27–24)

Attendance – 61,719

Week 17:at Kansas City Chiefs

at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri

Scoring summary

Q2 – KC – 13:40 – Priest Holmes 1 yd TD run (Morten Andersen kick) (KC 7–0)

Q2 – KC – 7:07 – 6 yd TD pass from Trent Green to Eddie Kennison (Andersen kick) (KC 14–0)

Q3 – CHI – 9:24 – Paul Edinger 48 yd FG (KC 14–3)

Q3 – KC – 0:58 – Priest Holmes 2 yd TD run (Andersen kick) (KC 21–3)

Q4 – KC – 10:03 – Morten Andersen 38 yd FG (KC 24–3)

Q4 – KC – 3:40 – Larry Johnson 5 yd TD run (Andersen kick) (KC 31–3)

Attendance – 78,413

Standings