The sports world crowns a new set of champions every year. A few times in a generation, however, the rarest of those champions will break through and reach the echelon of history's most iconic teams.
The 1985 Chicago Bears, who will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the franchise's only Super Bowl title next week, were one of those truly eternal championship squads.
For four decades in the Windy City, no member of the "Super Bowl Shuffle" Bears has ever had to buy a drink on Rush Street.
A Super Bowl look that became legendary ????????
— Goldin (@GoldinCo) January 17, 2026
Mike Ditka’s coach-worn Bears sweater vest from Super Bowl XX. Signed by Ditka and accompanied by PSA/DNA authentication, Resolution LOO, and Ditka LOP.
Explore more iconic football items now in our January Elite Auction:… pic.twitter.com/IhdGBdd4oP
Featuring huge personalities such as Jim McMahon and William "Refrigerator" Perry, along with Hall of Fame leaders Walter Payton and Mike Singletary, those Bears finished the regular season at 15-1 and then steamrolled all comers in the playoffs, dominating the Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX in New Orleans.
Fiery head coach Mike Ditka led that group of personalities to arguably the most impressive campaign in NFL history, earning praise (worship?) on a recurring "Saturday Night Live" skit entitled "Bill Swerski's Superfans" in the early 1990s.
Now, one of the most recognizable artifacts from Ditka's tenure on the Bears sideline — the sweater vest he wore in Chicago's Super Bowl demolition of the Pats — is up for auction at Goldin.
Bidding for the vest has reached $93,940 with more than 19 days remaining in the auction. The vest comes with a letter of provenance, signed by Ditka. Resolution Photomatching was able to return a "possible" photo-match on the item.
The dark blue vest is size XXL and features "BEARS" in prominent white letters across the front.
Ditka, 89, won three Super Bowls in his career, adding titles as a Cowboys tight end in 1972 and a Dallas assistant coach in 1978. He was the first tight end elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
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Kevin Jackson is the chief content officer for cllct. He spent 25 years at ESPN Digital Media, where he was the founding editor of Page 2, and nearly four years as the Executive Director for Digital Content at FOX Sports.