Bears take former players on first-ever alumni road trip to Green Bay
The Chicago Bears hosted their first-ever alumni road trip Sunday, bussing 14 former players to Green Bay to watch the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. The Bears allowed the group to bring a guest and provided pregame passes, game tickets and access to a pregame tailgate gathering. The road trip complemented the franchise’s annual alumni golf tournament and alumni weekend by giving former players a dedicated gameday experience.
The organization organized the trip to give alumni another forum to reconnect and celebrate their legacy. “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, the team’s director of player and alumni relations. He said it was valuable to see players from different eras engage with each other and create new memories together.
Former Bears who made the trip included 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. Henry Melton, a Bears defensive tackle from 2009-13, said the trip coincided with his birthday and called the experience “awesome” and “well-organized.” Brent Novoselsky, a tight end for the Bears in 1988, called the event “phenomenal” and said the team treats its alumni “so well.”
The trip included three alumni who played for Coach Mike Ditka, who died last Friday at age 86. Novoselsky recalled that Ditka met with every player who was cut, often spending time to thank them and offer guidance on what to work on. “He appreciated what it was to be a player and you knew that, which was really cool,” Novoselsky said.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The first alumni road trip reinforced the Bears’ effort to maintain ties with former players across eras by combining gameday access with organized social opportunities. Participants praised the logistics and the chance to connect, and the event allowed the franchise to celebrate its legacy. The recent death of Coach Mike Ditka made the gathering more resonant for alumni who played for him.