Recently, I got to visit Halas Hall in Lake Forest to check out the Chicago Bears practice in one of their final “open practices” before the season. But not only were we able to check out practice, we were also able to tour Halas Hall and see some of the media spaces inside the facility.
Entering Halas Hall for the first time was surreal. The facility was beautiful, modern, and full of memorabilia from over 100 years of Bears history. We got to check out the George “Mugs” Halas Jr. Auditorium, where full-team meetings are held, seating 130 people. We got to see interactive presentations showcasing Bears players from the past and the present. We even got to sit in on a press conference with several beat writers and caught a glimpse of all the cameras, microphones, and other equipment that it takes to make it all happen.
I also got to talk to former Chicago Bears defensive back Jerry Azumah, who donned the navy and orange from 1999-2005. He expressed great optimism about this upcoming season. “Everybody’s excited,” Azumah told me. “Everybody is ready to get after it…hopefully we can see a lot of wins and some great results for this season.”
As for the practice itself, the results were pretty good overall on the offensive side of the ball. Caleb Williams connected with Keenan Allen for three touchdowns during 11 on 11 drills. However, Williams did throw a pair of interceptions to third-year cornerback Kyler Gordon, one of which was taken all the way back for a touchdown. He also had a few passes that sailed his receivers and a couple of drops, but that’s to be expected from a rookie quarterback in practice.
To end our day at Halas, we got to check out the Bears indoor practice facility, the Walter Payton Center, which houses a full regulation football field in addition to some viewing areas for fans to check out practice on days where there is inclement weather.
Overall, our trip to Halas Hall was absolutely fantastic. Thanks to the Chicago Bears, and thanks to True Star for giving us the opportunity to come out and visit the beautiful campus.
By Jermale Dabney, Senior, Lindblom Math and Science Academy
Instagram: @jermale_d
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