The Chicago Bears have many traditions they like to uphold. Such is the reality of being an NFL founding franchise. It is one of the big reasons Matt Eberflus was eager to become their new head coach. Few people are a bigger football junky than him and he idolized Dick Butkus growing up. This man felt he was preparing for this chance his entire life. That is why he apparently got choked up delivering the good news to his mother when he got the job.
However, the story gets better. During his initial visit to Halas Hall, Eberflus ended up meeting everybody in the building. That included longtime Bears equipment manager Tony Medlin. When they met in the locker room for the first time, he had a surprise for the new head coach. A hat. Not just any hat though. Medlin revealed on the first episode of 1920 Football Drive, the Bears’ annual offseason YouTube series, that this specific hat held a special significance.
It was the only one in the building with its specific logo on it. Here’s why.
That is amazing. It was always interesting that Lovie Smith, Marc Trestman, John Fox, and Matt Nagy all seemed to prefer the same type of hat with the same logo. Many thought it was just a coincidence. Now we know that isn’t the case. It is a new tradition the team started in order to pay homage to Papa Bear himself. He wore that logo during his final years as the head coach. It seems rather fitting only future Bears head coaches are permitted to wear it.
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Matt Eberflus even admitted he got a little emotional hearing that. It is easy to see why. That is some heavy stuff. Here is hoping he is able to live up to that logo. The real action begins this May when minicamps get going.
