Bears bring Nike Rivalries program to Carmel Catholic Homecoming
The Chicago Bears joined Nike’s Rivalries program at Carmel Catholic High School on Friday for the school’s Homecoming game against St. Ignatius. The team helped stage varsity girls flag football and varsity boys tackle contests and provided custom Rivalries uniforms for the competing teams. Nike uses the Rivalries program to connect NFL franchises with local high school rivalries and engage community members. All four teams that competed wore custom Rivalries uniforms provided by Nike.
George H. McCaskey, the Bears’ chairman, former Bears defensive back Jerry Azumah, mascot Staley Da Bear and team staff attended the event and supported activities throughout the evening. The Bears set up a display of their Rivalries uniforms as a photo opportunity for fans and students and brought members of the Monster Squad to energize the crowd. Staley led Carmel Catholic in the walkout and spent time with the cheerleading squad, the dance team and the Homecoming court. The team also joined school leaders and alumni in pregame traditions to amplify the Homecoming atmosphere.
Gustavo Silva, the Bears’ director of football development, said the program highlighted the quality, passion and excitement of Illinois high school football and that the uniforms added another level of excitement to the games. Nate Brill, Carmel Catholic athletic director, praised the Bears for their ongoing support and said the franchise sought ways to assist the school community rather than wait to be invited. He added that the inclusion of girls flag football in the Homecoming lineup proved especially impactful for the student athletes.
The varsity girls flag football game replaced the typical JV boys contest as the prelude to the varsity matchup and drew a strong crowd. McCaskey became licensed as a girls flag football official three years ago and worked the down marker during the contest. He said participation and competition have increased across the state and that it is great for the girls to get Friday night lights like the boys.
Azumah served as the honorary captain for both contests and presented the Bears’ Player of the Game awards after the girls match. Azumah, who was drafted by the Bears in 1999 and retired in 2006, has remained active in the Chicago community and has worked with former teammates who now coach at Carmel Catholic, including Jason McKie, Olin Kreutz and Rashied Davis. He called flag football “super awesome” and said its recent sanctioning and growth across the state is inspiring.
After the girls game, the boys team prepared for its contest and the Bears joined the pregame walkout that included fans, students, the band and the team. The Bears also supported in-game traditions and community engagement through staff and alumni presence. The Rivalries campaign will include the Bears’ own Rivalries uniform debut on Christmas Day when they host the Green Bay Packers.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The Bears’ participation in Nike’s Rivalries program at Carmel Catholic underscores the franchise’s emphasis on grassroots engagement and support for the expansion of girls flag football. By combining alumni presence, club officials and fan-facing activations, the team helped elevate a traditional Homecoming rivalry into a broader community event. The program also ties to the Bears’ broader Rivalries campaign and will culminate with the team wearing its Rivalries uniform on Christmas Day against the Green Bay Packers.