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The Chicago Bears gave members of the media a sneak peek at their recently renovated training facility in Lake Forest, Illinois. This is is the second major expansion of Halas Hall since the team moved to it’s present location in 1997.

This new complex is easily four times the size of the original building. This expansion added 162,000 square feet to the 142,000 that were completed in 2013.

The first thing players see when entering the building is a decorative hallway featuring all fourteen of the Bears’ retired numbers, wall/ceiling lights that illuminate as players enter, and music capabilities leading up to a video wall comprised of nine screens.

Virtually every aspect of the facility has doubled in size, from the coaches offices to the player meeting rooms, draft room, lounges, dining areas, and weight room. The sports medicine space is four times as big as the original area, and features two hydrotherapy pools, two plunge pools, a float pod, sauna and steam room. Now there is a 13,000-square-foot indoor turf space adjacent to the position meeting rooms. If a coach has a brainstorm, the players can literally try it out, steps away, all indoors.

The renovation and expansion of Halas Hall have created a first-class facility that provides a daily reminder and motivation to help us work towards the goal of being a championship team. This upgrade furthers the continued support from the McCaskey family and their commitment to attract, develop and retain the most talented roster possible both on and off the field.

Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Pace

Hungry Bears? No more. The team and staff café more than doubled to over 7,600 square feet, including the dining area and kitchen space. The café features the “Bearista” coffee bar, a smoothie/juice bar, standalone soup and salad bar, daily live action station and hot food, sandwich and dessert bars. Next to the café is the “Sideline,” which provides additional seating and lounge space. Atop the expansion is a 4,200-square-foot rooftop dining area and garden from which the café will source herbs.

The workout space boasts an amazing array of weight training equipment. No more taking turns, or waiting in line. The locker room is much larger, roomier. This is quite an impressive facility now.

The project broke ground in March 2018. HOK was the design firm, Mortenson Construction was the general contractor and Corporate Concepts provided the furniture. All photos are by SRN Broadcasting, except as noted.

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The two major takeaways from the Chicago Bears first preseason game of 2019 were the performances of David Montgomery and kicker Elliott Fry.

Montgomery, the team’s third round draft pick from Iowa State had three runs, including a touchdown and three receptions.

Just being able to be out there with the guys is the most important thing for me. Being able to get comfortable out there on the field and get acclimated to the NFL.

-David Montgomery

Coach Matt Nagy discussed his rookie runner’s progress, “No, it’s been steady and just completely in one direction. OTAs (offseason training activities) was a lot of pass game, so he got good at that, and then we get to training camp and we get to put the pads on and we can see what can he digest. You can see his arrow is up. He wanted more carries. I would have loved to give him more carries, but you have to be smart.”

Another player who’s stock may have risen as a result of this game was undrafted free agent tight end Ian Bunting from Cal. His 45-yard catch and run set up a 43-yard field goal as time was expiring in the first half. Nagy was asked about Bunting brings to the offense. “His size. He’s a big kid. He’s super smart. He’s really smart. He has big hands. A lot of times when people are big hands, they’re a natural catcher. He’s a natural pass catcher. This is just a really good opportunity for him to see how much can he digest in this playbook, and when the plays come to him and he gets a chance to make a play, does he make it. He did a good job with that. He executed everything we asked him to do and it was productive for him.”

Thursday evening. Fry won the kicker battle against Eddy Pineiro, who missed a 48-yarder wide left on the previous possession. “I thought it was awesome,” said Fry. “It was really fun. Obviously I’ve never played at this level before, so it was fun to get back out there.” He didn’t even realize the significance of his kick was the same distance and end zone as Cody Parkey missed field goal to end the 2018 season until it was brought to his attention after the game.

The number’s been ingrained into my memory. But I’m not out there thinking about Cody’s kick. I’m not thinking about anything like that. I’m just going in and focusing on making it. You really tune out the fans. The fans are yelling all game, so you’re not tuned in.

-Elliott Fry

Perhaps if neither kicker impresses the coaching staff, the team should look no further than Joey Slye, who is challenging Panther’s place kicker Graham Gano. Slye converted a 55-yard attempt early in the game, that could easily have been good from sixty yards out.

Several of the starters, including Mitch Trubisky were in for a series or less. As Nagy explained, “That’s what I was telling him earlier here, is that it’s mentally preparing himself. There were other guys that just played a few plays. I think it’s so important for some guys, and it could be good for Mitch, too, that’s why I did it, was to just stay mentally prepared, pregame warm-ups, before the game, the pat and go, getting underneath the lights, taking snaps from center, and even though it was just a couple of hand-offs, I feel like just that part is good for him.”

Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano’s defense played well against the run, but looked a little suspect on passing plays. That will need to be tightened up before the season begins.

These two Chicago Bears standouts were selected by their teammates to receive this distinguished honor.

The Piccolo Award has been given to a Bears rookie every season since 1970 in memory of Brian Piccolo. In 1992, the award was expanded to include a veteran as well. The Piccolo Award is a special honor voted on by Bears players, who select a teammate they feel best exemplifies the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor of the late Brian Piccolo.

Patrick McCaskey, grandson of Bears founder George Halas acted as master of ceremonies. First he introduced Piccolo’s daughter Traci who noted, “It’s hard to believe that it’s been forty-nine years since we founded the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund to carry on my father’s legacy and find a cure. She went on to talk about how much money has been raised, some of the current research, and expressed her thanks to the McCaskey family for all their support.

Coach Matt Nagy went next. He stressed how the team makes Piccolo’s legacy important, and how much it means to the players and coaches. “I think Our whole city, our whole family, our whole organization, should be extremely proud of the high character people we have, and how much family we’ve become.”

Assistant Linebackers coach Bill Shuey introduced rookie honoree Roquan Smith by saying, “Roquan epitomizes the characteristics associated with the Brian Piccolo award. Courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication, and the sense of humor. He has all of them.” Shuey added, “He’s an extremely hard worker, and he practices like he plays, but he also has a lighthearted side to him. His (Roquan’s) fast and tenacious style of play, coupled with humble and hard-working approach to the game, has earned him the respect of his coaches and teammates.”

The soft spoken Smith humbly accepted his award. “I’m honored to stand if front of you guys. I would like to thank the entire Chicago Bears organization for giving me an opportunity to live out my dream. To my teammates, I wouldn’t be here without you guys who have encouraged, motivated, and graciously taught me so much about this game on a daily basis. And also for noticing my hard work, courage, loyalty , and teamwork.”

New Defensive Coordinator Chuck Pagano talked about his own personal battle with cancer. “To the Piccolo family, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your advocacy. The Piccolo fund research saved my life.” He discussed how the cure rate for the form of leukemia that he got back in 2012, had a cure rate of 90 percent, up from merely 50 percent thirty years ago. Pagano added, “I certainly know and understand the significance of this award, and everything that comes with it. It’s all about representing the decal on the helmet, and the name on the jersey. He turned to Hicks and explained that in the 2012 draft, the Colts picked below New Orleans, and stated, “had you slipped three spots, you would have been a Colt.”

“I watched the movie last night. Hicks thanked the McCaskey family for bringing him to Chicago and making him a part of the organization, and Ryan Pace for drafting him in New Orleans (where he served as player personnel director). This award means so much. You can be nothing better than a team guy, a coach once told me. You go nowhere without your teammates. No matter how strong, how big, and how fast you are, you can’t beat eleven guys by yourself. I understood that with a team, it takes everybody coming together. One of the biggest differences in our season this year was how we were able to come together and be teammates, and care for one another. It’s so important.”

After the presentation, both players met with the media. Hicks talked about how he holds the history of the organization in high regard. “I’ve met I don’t know how many of the Chicago Bear greats. I met Dan Hampton, Richard Dent, Mike Singletary. In other organizations that I’ve been in, I never had that opportunity.” He also explained why he voted for Roquan, “From his his first day, he came here with the right mind set. He was focused. He was hard working. He had respect for the were here before him. The way he approached the game as a young man, You don’t see that all the time when guys come into the league.”

Smith noted, “Last year at this time, I was more focused on ‘where I was going to go’ and now I can focus on my craft.” He also commented on coach Pagano. “He’s a great guy. Great sense of humor. I love his character. He comes to work every day with a positive attitude.” His goals for this season. “Try to pick up where we left off last year. It didn’t end the way we would have liked it. Put pour heads down and keep working to not make this year a disappointment like last year.”

Roquan Smith and Akiem Hicks feature prominently in our new book, The 2018 Chicago Bears – Return to Respectability, available exclusively on Amazon Kindle. Get it for a limited time for only 99 cents, a Dan Hampton friendly price.

It is an understatement to say that Chicago Bears running back and kick returner Tarik Cohen has a chip on his shoulder.

Despite excelling in both football and track & field, Cohen’s size hampered his ability to land a college scholarship. Only one school, North Carolina A&T, offered him an opportunity to play college football.

Not only did excel there, he finished as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s all-time rushing leader with 5619 yards, and set the the single-season touchdown record with 19, while also tying the school record for the single-season rushing touchdowns record with 18. He holds several other school and conference records. That led to Cohen winning the prestigious Deacon Jones Trophy, given to the most outstanding all-around collegiate football player of the year, among teams from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. “I feel like they rewarded me for choosing them. They helped me grow into the player that I am,” he states about his time at A&T.

The Bears selected Cohen in the fourth round, 119th overall, of the 2017 NFL Draft. He played in all sixteen games, teaming up with Jordan Howard, and ran for 370 yards, while also catching 53 passes for 353 yards. Tarik scored four touchdowns, two on the ground, one on a pass, and also notched a punt return for a TD. Most notably, he threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Zach Miller in an October game against Baltimore.

You always have the dream of making it to the NFL, no matter what school you go to.

-Tarik Cohen

The diminutive Cohen stands all of five foot six inches. He barely tips the scales at 180 pounds. However, he uses his speed and agility to elude linebackers, which is why he’s been so effective as a pass receiver. In post game or weekday interviews, he flashes a 100-watt smile and gold capped teeth, as well as plenty of glittery bling. He’s affable, congenial, and doesn’t hesitate to speak to the media.

One of the more remarkable things about his agility is on full display in a YouTube video of him catching footballs while doing a back flip.

When asked about how he learned about life in the NFL, Cohen admits, “You get guidance from the other players on the team, who have been in the league for a couple of years now. That’s mainly what I did last year. You look to the guys who’ve been there before, and the staff on the team.”

Cohen gave his mid-season perspective in a media interview. “I feel like we did OK. We think we did better than some people thought we were going to do. But we haven’t lived up to our own expectations.” What were those expectations? “To be more consistent,” he says. “To finish some of those games that we could have finished. Where we were in position to win.”

2018 was another solid year for Cohen. He increased his rushing totals to 444 yards and three TD’s. He more than doubled his receiving yards to 725 and scored five touchdowns, plus threw another TD pass. Tarik led the league in punt return yards, which resulted in being named to the 2019 Pro Bowl.

Off the field, Cohen likes to play video games, “To relieve the stress,” he notes. NFL 2K or Call of Duty are his games of choice. “I have to get away from football from time to time. I talk to my teammates from back in college. They help me relax.” Cohen is also a fan of AMC’sThe Walking Dead, based on his Twitter posts.

He enjoys social media and says that Twitter is his favorite method to communicate with the fans. “People say congratulations on the good games that I have. They tell me that they’re fans and they are going to get my jersey. Things of that nature.” He will also take to Twitter to defend teammates like Mitch Trubisky. “He is like my brother on the team, so I’m going to protect him.”

Tarik was asked about winning the 2018 NFC North title and responded, “It means a lot. What we went through last year, not winning any division games, then we came from the bottom, and we finally got to the top now.”

Cohen has a marketing advisor and an agent to take care of his business affairs. “They help me out with some things, like getting commercials and appearances and signings. I enjoy it a lot. I enjoy making money.”

At least he’s honest.