There was a quote from an underrated movie once called “The Junction Boys.” In it the coach told the father of a player that “football is war.” The father calmly looked at the coach and replied, “Coach I’ve seen war. Football? It’s a sport.” Sometimes it’s important to keep that sort of perspective. At the same time, this sport means so much to people and can offer men a chance to give back. Matt Nagy has embraced this chance from the outset.
Most of the coverage around the Bears lately has centered on Nagy’s work on the field. No surprise since that’s where he gets the most attention. He isn’t the type to seek out the spotlight for what he’s doing away from work. Yet sometimes the job presents him opportunities to send a positive message.
One such moment came up recently. According to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bears rookie head coach took some time to attend the funeral of a deceased Chicago firefighter named Juan Bucio.
Heard from a fireman friend that #Bears coach Matt Nagy attended the funeral for Chicago firefighter Juan Bucio today at St. Rita's on the South Side. Unbelievably classy gesture for the new coach.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) June 4, 2018
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Bucio was a 46-year old veteran diver of the Chicago Fire Department. He perished a week ago trying to rescue 28-year old Alberto Lopez who’d fallen into the south branch of the Chicago River. The funeral was reportedly attended by hundreds and it appears Nagy wished to pay his respects. Not a lot of coaches would do something like that. It speaks to the kind of man he is and also the kind of message he wants this organization to send moving forward.
Yes they’re about winning, but they’re also about representing their city the right way.
