They are showing up in person, wearing the gear, and passing the torch to the next generation. The Chicago Bears organization made this shift official in October with their first-ever UK Grand Tour. The team visited all four nations during a three-week trip to connect with supporters. Bournemouth, Cardiff, Leeds, Glasgow and Belfast saw events attended by over a thousand fans.
Tom and Joseph Bond traveled from Newport to Cardiff with Joseph’s eight-month-old daughter, Eleia. They wanted to introduce her to the fandom she is being raised with. Tom recalled seeing the event on social media and asking his brother to join. He views his role as an uncle as a duty to make her a true Bears fan.
From Cubs to Bears
Joseph did not love the sport until a decade after Tom started watching around 2006. Prior to switching football teams, he was a fan of the Chicago Cubs during the 2010s. He decided to stick with the Chicago franchise and join his brother in their support. “I thought I might as well stick with the team in Chicago, and now I’m a big Bears fan too,” Joseph said. The two brothers have bonded closer over the last ten years through their shared love of the team. Anticipating further community growth, they credit the leadership of coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams.
Strangers now recognize each other on the street. Tom noted that people walk around wearing Bears hats and gear. He once spotted a man with the same hat in a supermarket. They exchanged a silent nod of recognition. “I saw a guy with the same Bears hat on a random day in the supermarket, and we both gave each other the little nod. Yeah, it’s a bit of a unique thing,” Tom said.
New Faces, Old Nicknames
Dale Edwards arrived at Cardiff Castle dressed to honor the late Mike Ditka. He wore a No. 89 jersey and painted his nails in the same design his coach uses. Dale only became a Bears fan six years ago when he bought a random NFL jersey with a friend. The Walter Payton jersey he picked up matched his childhood nickname, “The Bear.” He said the nickname came simply because he “was big and hairy.” Before that moment, he had no interest in the sport.
“I wasn’t interested in football,” Dale said. He knew nothing about the game until a friend changed his mind. Now he is part of a growing group that travels across the UK to support the team. The fans believe the team is turning a corner after some rough years. They are eager for the NFL season to return. The last two years have been incredible for the franchise, and this season looks to be good.
The Bears defense has also shown it can win games on its own. The unit recorded seven sacks in just two games after trading for Jeffery Simmons. This performance helped the team beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-24 on Sunday, Nov. 8 at Soldier Field. The defense allowed only two third-down conversions on 12 attempts during that game.
