Jeff Dickerson has been a staple of the Chicago Bears beat for the past 20 years. A man respected and loved in equal measure by his peers. So when the ESPN reporter died after a long battle with colon cancer, it came as a tragic shock. Made all the worse knowing his 11-year old son Parker was now without both of his parents. His mother had also died from cancer two years prior. It was not the ending such a good man deserved.
The outpouring of affection and support since then is incredible. Donations to a GoFundMe set up by Parker’s aunt recently passed the $1 million mark. This helps assure the future of the young man will be well taken care of. Yet the faith in humanity restoration hasn’t stopped there. The Bears organization has stepped up with tributes of their own. Not only did they establish a small shrine to Dickerson in the press box, but they also will hold a moment of silence for him prior to kickoff against the New York Giants at Soldier Field.
The Soldier Field press box will never be the same.
Appreciate the #Bears doing this for @DickersonESPN. pic.twitter.com/aEVFLBsHJ0
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) January 2, 2022
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) January 2, 2022
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Bears are holding a moment of silence just before today’s National Anthem in memory of the late Jeff Dickerson. His usual press box seat also will be reserved and memorialized today.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 2, 2022
This should serve as a reminder to everybody.
While the Chicago Bears are a billion-dollar corporation in most respects, it’s still a family-owned business. The McCaskey family is as classy as they come. For them to honor a reporter for the team like this speaks to how much they value what both fans and the media have done for the success of the organization over the years. Dickerson was always a professional. He did right by the Bears.
So now they’re doing right by him. It’s just sad this sort of tribune had to happen at such a young age. The man never even got to see 50-years old. A reminder of how fragile life can be. Best to treasure it as much as possible. Here is hoping the Bears can deliver a win on a cold, snowy Sunday for his memory.
