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Have You Ever Met A Bears Player Or Coach In Real Life? Tell Us About It!

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BOURBONNAIS, IL - JULY 29: Chicago Bears defensive linemen Akiem Hicks (96) sings autographs for fans after a practice session during the Chicago Bears Training Camp on July 29, 2017 at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

We’re beyond the Super Bowl, but not quite to the start of the new league year, so it’s a somewhat quiet time in the NFL. Let’s pass the time by talking about the Chicago Bears. 

Here’s our question today.

Where’s the most random place you’ve run into a Bears player or coach, and who was it?

I’ll go first, and while the first Bears player I ever met was Walter Payton, I’ll save that story for if I ever meet you in real life.

Here are a few others…

I used to manage a private gun club way back in the day, and several Bears were members, and would come through now and again with guests. So I technically met Tom Thayer, Kevin Butler, James “Robocop” Thornton, Olin Kreutz, James “Big Cat” Williams, Bobby Engram, to name a few that I can remember.

I walked in on a barefoot Dan Hampton when I used to do a weekly spot for the NBC/Comcast website. Another weird story I’ll save for when I meet any of you guys.

The most recent Bear I saw out in the wild wasn’t actually a meeting, but I’ll share it anyway. I was walking back to the office (I work downtown Chicago at the real job) last year, and the streets were crowded. I saw a tall guy about to pass me in a crosswalk (I’m 6’6”, so I can see over the crowd), and he looked familiar. The other tall guy (he’s 6’4”, so he saw me too) must have realized I recognized him, and as we neared each other, he gave me the nod.

I nodded back.

It was former Bears head coach and current Chicago media member Dave Wannstedt.

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Tell us about any experience you’ve had meeting a Bears player (or multiple players if it’s happened more than once) in real life. Scroll down to the comment section below to weigh in with your experiences.