who was bears 1985 radio color commentator cheering and laughing on the air?
The Bears’ 1985 radio color commentator who was famously cheering and laughing on the air was Dick Butkus.
The 1985 Bears Radio Team
Who Was On Air?
In 1985, WGN Radio carried Chicago Bears games with:
- Play-by-play: Wayne Larrivee
- Color commentators: Dick Butkus and Jim Hart (both listed as secondary/alternate colors in some sources)
Butkus was the one most associated with the enthusiastic, sometimes over-the- top, fan-like reactions that made those broadcasts so memorable.
Why the “Cheering and Laughing” Reputation?
Dick Butkus was a legendary Bears defensive star from the 1960s–70s, not a polished broadcaster. On the 1985 radio team:
- He was an out-and-out fan at heart, reacting like someone in the stands.
- He would laugh, cheer, and gush after big plays, sacks, and scoring drives.
- Over time, that became a defining feature of the 1985 Bears radio experience.
Fans and former players still talk about how Butkus sounded like a proud, excited neighbor rather than a “professional” announcer, which is exactly what made those broadcasts special.
Wayne Larrivee vs. Dick Butkus
Role| Person| Style / Notes
---|---|---
Play-by-play announcer| Wayne Larrivee| Calm, steady narrative voice; carried
the game description and structure 14
Color commentator| Dick Butkus| Fan-like, emotional, often laughing and
cheering; the “hype” voice people remember 2
Short Answer
Dick Butkus was the Bears’ 1985 radio color commentator whose cheering, laughing, and fan-like excitement became a signature part of those legendary broadcasts. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.