By Jim Janus
The Chicago Bears.
They won the Super Bowl in 1986. Then decades of heartache followed. For me it became an unhealthy relationship. Night-game losses to Green Bay hurt the most, ruined the night and the following day.
In 2007 the Bear’s Super Bowl loss to the Colts was all I could take. I broke up with the Bears and eventually stopped watching football altogether.
A number of times since 2007 the Bears reached the playoffs–never the Big Game. It didn’t concern me because I didn’t watch. I put time into other things.
Nineteen more years passed and January 2026 came. I learned the Bears would face the Packers for the next step toward Super Bowl. They’d play on a Saturday night.
I weakened.
I came up with an excuse for watching. The game would make history no matter who won. I’d watch without rooting for either team.
But my calendar was booked. Saturday evenings I join my parents for pizza at their place. They’re in their nineties and follow strict routines. Dinner’s always in the dining room, no TV during dinner.
I needed to skirt the TV ban. That night only–that’s how I’d sell it–we’d watch while having pizza. It should be a fun change.
I phoned and they were quick to agree. Dad’s a Bears fan. Mom is too. She mostly likes watching us watch–and providing color commentary sometimes insightful, sometimes ridiculous.
Now I could watch the game without ending my Bears breakup. If anyone challenged me I could say my parents put the game on.
But we needed a screen in the dining room. Their TV’s too big to move from the den.
Abetting my own crime I brought my laptop. I put it right there on the dining table and streamed the broadcast.
As we awaited the kickoff we talked about 1985 and the parties and fun those games gave, watching McMahon, Payton, Perry, and team.
Now we hoped these Bears would win. But as we progressed through cocktails, dinner, and dessert we watched Chicago trail.
Before halftime my dad wrote off the Bears, noting their defense wasn’t strong enough to enable a win. Around 10 PM we watched the Packers get 6 more points.
27 to 16 with only 6 minutes left? I tell Mom and Dad, “I’m taking my computer and going home.”
As I’m packing, my dad walks to his den and turns on the TV. He calls me, extends the remote and says, “find the game.” I press the mic and say “Chicago Bears.” Bright green turf lights up the screen. Players in navy and in yellow move about. The score now shows Packers 27, Bears 24.
What?
Somehow the Bears scored 8 points during the brief blackout I imposed.
So there we are, my dad and I standing shoulder to shoulder, and my mom’s now in the den too, in a chair that’s facing us rather than the TV, and she’s watching Dad and I standing and cheering for the Bears like we did so many decades ago.
We watch the Packers miss a field goal with less than 3 minutes left, watch the bears get a TD with less than 2 minutes left. Now the Bears are ahead 31 to 27. They hold the Packers and ultimately break up their pass in the end zone to seal the win!
What a great time my dad, mom, and I had. Especially those last minutes of the game. It felt a bit like ’85.
Now I’m planning to watch the next game with them.
As for the Bears and me… Will I go back to being a fan? I’m telling myself to be strong. I’ve been hurt too many times. 😉
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