Listen to the full interview via the podcast.

One of the most anticipated sports books from America this Christmas is Monsters: The 1985 Chicago Bears And The Wild Heart of American Football.

That ‘85 Bears team which went on to win that year's Superbowl were one of the greatest NFL teams of all time, with amazing characters like coach Mike Ditka, quarterback Jim McMahon, and the 400-pound William ‘Refrigerator’ Perry.

Ger caught up with the book’s author Rich Cohen. The lifelong Bears fan met his heroes from that '85 team as part of the research for the book.

"I never had this rosy eyed picture of these guys because it's the most violent, brutal game and you know these guys are complicated. Actually, I was surprised that so many of the guys I spoke to were so smart and reflective," revealed Cohen.

The '85 Bears, under "charismatic but crazy" head coach Mike Ditka and defensive co-ordinator Buddy Ryan, had one of the most imperious defences in the history of the NFL.

"For one year, I think that team was the greatest team that ever played football," said Cohen.

"But they did that by breaking the code of football and realizing that the quarter-back in American football had become so important. Rather than chase people all over the field, they sent these incredible athletes after the quarter-back with the idea of knocking him out and concussing him. 

"The way the Bears played would now be considered completely illegal. They were actually trying to put people out of the game. It was organised chaos and very violent. That was the '85 Bears and at the top of it was Mike Ditka who himself had been a great Hall of Fame football player - the first modern tight end and it took him to whip the players and fans into shape."