Staley Da Bear
Well-known member
- Mar 16, 2019
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In 1920, George Halas met in Chicago with George Chamberlain, who was the general superintendent of the A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company in Decatur, Ill. Chamberlain offered Halas the opportunity to learn the starch business and be the company's athletic director and football coach. He could also play on the Staley football and baseball teams. Halas accepted the offer and created the Decatur Staleys football team, which moved to Chicago in 1921 and became the Chicago Bears in 1922.
In 1970, 50 years after he helped create the Bears and the NFL, Halas was elected the first president of the newly-formed National Football Conference as the NFL merged with the AFL and split into two conferences.
In 2018, the Bears matched an offer sheet that Kyle Fuller signed with the Green Bay Packers and inked the veteran cornerback to a four-year contract. "We could not be happier to have Kyle under contract for four more years," general manager Ryan Pace said at the time. "We feel he is an ascending player on our top 10 defense and we look forward to him having many more productive seasons here in Chicago." Fuller responded with his best pro season; he was voted first-team All-Pro and named to his first Pro Bowl after tying for the NFL lead with a career-high seven interceptions.
In 1959, former center Jay Hilgenberg was born. Hilgenberg played his first 11 seasons with the Bears from 1981-91 after signing with them as an undrafted free agent from Iowa. He anchored one of the best offensive lines in NFL history for a decade, helping the Bears win six division championships, one conference title and one Super Bowl. Hilgenberg was a five-time All-Pro who started in seven straight Pro Bowls from 1985-91.
In 1960, former left tackle Jimbo Covert was born. Covert played his entire eight-year NFL career with the Bears from 1983-90 after being selected with the sixth pick in the first round of the 1983 draft out of Pittsburgh. Covert was a two-time first-team All-Pro who helped the Bears win six division championships, one conference title and one Super Bowl. He will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2020 in September.