They walk up to you, all big-eyed and bushy-tailed, their newly minted Caleb Williams jersey noticeably lacking any mustard stains or the faint smell of stale Old Style. Their face is full of optimism and hope. They have an eager energy about them, as if they may take off and run to their seats in any moment. You know, instantly, this is a brand new fan of the Chicago Bears.
What do you say to them? How do you prepare them to be a fan of the Chicago Bears? What advice would best ready and steady this neophyte Bears fan for the history, the glory, the pain, and the punishment that all comes packed in the baggage of a Chicago Bears fan? Do they need a cold dose of reality? Do you regail them with tales of the blocked field goal against the Packers last year, the Double-Doink, or how about the secondary breakdowns that led to Randall Cob’s 48 yard touchdown to win the NFC North against the Bears, or Daniel Manning forgetting he was supposed to cover in the Miami rain in the 2006 Super Bowl against the Colts? Is the advice, prepare for the pain? Or do you strike a more hopeful, optimistic tone? Perhaps citing the nine NFL titles the Bears have won, second only to the Packers? Or do you regale them with tales of the legendary ’85 Bears? Or Lovie’s Tampa 2 defense that dominated with Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs?
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
My Five Bits of Advice for the New Chicago Bears Fan
Enjoy the Ride
So no, I wouldn’t talk about any of that. Not the decades of mediocrity. Not the painful losses. Not the what-could-have-beens. My advice to a new Bears fan would be this: don’t worry about any of that history. Even the good history, although every Bears fan has a right to take pride in this historical franchise. But there is plenty of time for that after the season. Right now, every fan should enjoy the ride, because there is no better time to be a fan of the Chicago Bears since the early 2000s, if not the 1980s.
We have a QB1. We have a well-regarded, young, exciting head coach. We have talent on both sides of the ball. And we’re just getting started on building under Ben Johnson. So dadgummit – ENJOY it. Enjoy the optimism. Enjoy this team pulling itself out of the muck and mire of years of failure to be a young, talented, ready-to-go football team.
Don’t Get Too Up or Too Down.
This is a young team with a lot of young players at some of the most important positions on the football field. We have a new head coach and a new offense. There are going to be mistakes. We are going to fumble away a game or two we should have won, because of those mistakes. But have trust in what Ben Johnson is building here, and have trust in the talent that is building on both sides of the ball.
Attend at Least One Home Game in Chicago
I’ll never forget my first live Chicago Bears home game. It was one of the windiest games in history, in a city nicknamed for its wind. Against the Forty-Niners, Halloween of 2005. Nathan Vasher planted himself in the endzone as the Niners tried a (foolish) long field goal right before half. A missed field goal and 108 yards later, escorted by Brian Urlacher, Vasher scored a touchdown. And we’d go on to win the game. It was especially sweet for me, as I have two brothers who were at the game with me and are Niners fans. So go – get at least one home game in. Eat a hot dog at Portillo’s. Go eat some deep dish at Giordano’s or some tavern style at Geno’s East. Hell, drink some Old Style. Crash a tailgate. And then go enjoy the atmosphere of the Beloved playing in Soldier Field. That first time you hear “are you reaaaaddddddyyyyyyyyy!!!!” – it’s an experience.
Get an Orange Jersey
I know this is going to be controversial – but I love my orange #54 Brian Urlacher jersey. And yes, it might have a little to do with the fact that the Bears were in their Orange and White for that game in 2005, but I just think it’s a nice look. I expect some in the comments will differ.
Join a Bears Community
Here at Windy City Gridiron, we have one of the best communities of Chicago Bears fans out there. I have interacted with Bears fans here for years – and not only are Bears fans loyal to our team, but we are loyal to each other (even if we bicker and fight over what’s best for the team). But find someone – a bunch of someones – to talk to and have some camaraderie with in your fellow Bears fandom. Being part of the Bears fandom isn’t just about watching the games and rooting on the Bears, but enjoying the thrills and chills of the Bears season with other Bears fans. It’s cool to give that nod of respect to the guy walking through the airport with his Bears hat on…or to high-five everyone at the game, or in the sports bar, or on the couch at home when the Bears score a touchdown. Finding a Bears community may be the best advice I can give a new Chicago Bears fan.
But what advice would you give? Tell us in the comments below!