As a finalist for the 2025 Chicago Bears Fan of the Year, Jonathan Otten thought he was being interviewed on a video call as a last step in the competition. But that wasn't the case.
To Otten's surprise and delight, Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland popped on Otten's computer screen and delivered the news that the lifelong fan had won the contest.
"I was blown away," Otten told ChicagoBears.com. "It means the world to me because the Chicago Bears have been a part of my life since I was a kid. There have been some great years. There have been some down years. But through thick and thin it's something I have a passion for, and I've always been a huge Bears fan."
Otten, 42, inherited his love for the Bears from his father, Jay, who was raised in the Chicago area and later moved to Peoria. Otten remained loyal to the Monsters of the Midway despite growing up in Lions territory just outside of Detroit, often wearing his Brian Urlacher jersey to school. Two of his favorite Bears memories include safety Mike Brown winning back-to-back games with interception return touchdowns in overtime against the 49ers and Browns during the magical 2001 season and attending a 2005 Bears win over the 49ers when Nathan Vasher returned a missed field goal attempt for a then-NFL record 108 yards for a touchdown on a blustery day at Soldier Field.
After graduating high school, Otten joined the Navy and later served as an officer on the USS Michigan. During that time, he proudly wore a Bears hat and drew a Bears logo on his hearing protection.
"I take a lot of pride in what I've done in my life and if I were to go tomorrow, I could die a happy man," Otten said. "I'm really proud of the time I spent in the Navy and what I accomplished in submarining. It's not an easy feat. Not that many people can do it, and that's something that I'll always hold very close to my heart.
"But I'm most proud of my boys and how my wife, Sarah, and I are raising them. They're just really good kids—and they're Bears fans. I'm proud of that too."
Otten's sons Raymond, 9; Zachary, 7; and Jacob, 4, no doubt are also proud of their father, who continues to serve the military as a radiation safety officer for the department of veteran affairs in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Otten was thrilled to take Raymond to his first Bears game Dec. 31, 2023, when they saw their favorite team beat the Falcons in the snow.
"Just having him experience that is something I'll never forget," Otten said.
Another experience Otten will never forget was attending Urlacher's Hall of Fame induction in Canton, Ohio, in 2018.
"I almost missed the birth of my second son," he said. "But I had to be there. Brian was my guy."
These days, Otten is active in his town's Cub Scout pack, which he dubbed the "Rank of the Bears." The den has volunteered to place United States flags on gravestones of fallen service members at a local cemetery and has also participated in food drives to help feed those in need. He also hosts an annual Thanksgiving turkey bowl that consists of a punt, pass and kick competition followed by a parents-versus-kids touch football game.
Otten is not only a loyal Bears fan, but he embodies the spirit of Chicago: showing up with heart, giving back with purpose and proving that true dedication extends far beyond the stadium.
The annual NFL Fan of the Year contest celebrates the most passionate and inspiring fans across all 32 teams. One fan will be voted the ultimate fan of the year. You can vote for Otten by visiting NFL.com/FanoftheYear.
