Everybody knew that longtime guard Kyle Long was coming into the 2020 offseason with uncertainty. He’d gone on Injured Reserve for the fourth-straight season, this time with a persistent hip issue. Given his advancing age and somewhat pricey contract, many Chicago Bears fans wondered if his time with the team was at an end. The team has remained quiet on that subject. As for the man himself though?
Long has dropped plenty of hints already that it’s his belief he is done However, the most recent is by far the easiest to read into. When a fan tweeted their belief that he was going to resurge under new offensive line coach Juan Castillo, the former three-time Pro Bowler poured ice cold water on the idea with one simple response.
Kyle Long exit just doesn’t seem fair
It’s hard to call this statement a true shock. Most people with common sense could see it coming. Even so, actually hearing it from the man himself is still tough to swallow. Long is one of the most beloved players in recent memory about Bears fans. An absolute beast in his prime who was also incredibly entertaining off the field. It’s a crime that his body broke down before he got to realize his full potential.
As to his future? Long doesn’t sound like a man who is too interested in furthering his career elsewhere. He’s made it clear on many occasions that he considers himself a Bear for life. Playing in another uniform wouldn’t feel right. At the same time, the obvious broken-down state of his body is likely the bigger driving force to a decision on retiring.
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It’s nice to think that nobody else will get to enjoy what Long gave Bears fans for years through some dark times, but it still makes his career feel that much more bittersweet.
