Every year, the Bears hold an alumni golf tournament in the summer and an alumni weekend early in the football season. Last Sunday, the organization hosted its first alumni road trip.
The Bears bused 14 of their former players to Green Bay to watch a battle between the NFC North rivals at Lambeau Field. The alums were able to bring along a guest, were treated to a pregame tailgate gathering and were given pregame passes and game tickets.
"The road trip to Green Bay provided another way for our alumni players to reconnect with one another and reinforce that they will always be a valued part of the Chicago Bears," said Matt Simeone, Bears director of player and alumni relations. "It is always great to see players from different eras engage with each other, and these experiences allow us to celebrate their legacy while creating new memories together."
Former Bears who made the trip were Kurt Becker, Joique Bell, Fabien Bownes, Sean Cattouse, Terry Cousin, Chris Draft, Levi Horn, Dana Howard, Henry Melton, Brent Novoselsky, Anthony Oakley, Terry Obee, Michael Schofield and Jim Thornton.
"It was my birthday Sunday," said Melton, a Bears defensive tackle from 2009-13. "I was trying to figure out something to do and then I got the email from the Bears about the road trip and I said, 'Yeah, let's do it.' I thought it was awesome. It was well-organized. It was a great experience."
Novoselsky, a Bears tight end in 1988 who grew up in Skokie cheering for his hometown team, felt the same way.
"It was phenomenal," he said. "It was really top notch. They treat us so well. All different eras [were represented]. It doesn't matter when you played; there's a brotherhood."
Novoselsky was one of three alums on the trip who played for legendary coach Mike Ditka, who passed away last Friday at the age of 86. Novoselsky, who played Ditka's tight end position and even wore his famed No. 89 jersey before it was retired by the Bears, loved playing for 'Da Coach.'
"It was awesome," Novoselsky said. "I was cut in camp and then called back when Emery Moorehead broke his leg. When [players] got cut, coach Ditka brought every single guy into his office. He spent 20 minutes with me, just thanking me for coming and telling me what I needed to work on.
"He appreciated what it was to be a player and you knew that, which was really cool. He was a great players' coach. If you pay attention, you know your plays, you be where you're supposed to be, you had absolutely no problem. You would not get in his doghouse. He was a great coach in that regard."
