The Bears were founded in 1919 in Decatur, Illinois, as the Decatur Staleys (named after their founder, A. E. Staley) and joined the NFL in 1920 as a charter franchise.<ref>The Bears are one of only two charter franchises (along with the Chicago Cardinals, now the [[Arizona Cardinals]]) that are still in operation.</ref> In 1921, the team moved to Chicago and became the Chicago Staleys for one year, changing its name to the Bears after the team was purchased by [[George Halas]] (who was the coach at the time; the Halas family still owns the team). | The Bears were founded in 1919 in Decatur, Illinois, as the Decatur Staleys (named after their founder, A. E. Staley) and joined the NFL in 1920 as a charter franchise.<ref>The Bears are one of only two charter franchises (along with the Chicago Cardinals, now the [[Arizona Cardinals]]) that are still in operation.</ref> In 1921, the team moved to Chicago and became the Chicago Staleys for one year, changing its name to the Bears after the team was purchased by [[George Halas]] (who was the coach at the time; the Halas family still owns the team). |