NFL training camp is full of quirky traditions.
There are the pranks. Rookies carrying the pads of their veteran teammates. And fans coming out in masses to get a behind-the-scenes look at their favorite players.
On Sunday, the Bears took part in a tradition all their own at the conclusion of their final training camp practice. For the last 15 years, the team's coaching staff has donated bicycles they use during camp to local deserving kids.
On Sunday, Bears coaches gave out 28 bikes. Each recipient also received a helmet, bike lock and Bears hat. The Bears team up with local community organizations to select recipients. This year the team worked with Catholic Charities-Diocese of Joliet, Resurrection Community Church of the Nazarene and Love Faith & Deliverance Outreach in Bourbonnais to identify deserving children.
The tradition started in 2004 under former Bears head coach Lovie Smith. Smith wanted to navigate the team's Bourbonnais campus on two wheels instead of the traditional four-wheel golf carts reserved for coaches. The team ended up providing bikes for the entire coaching staff and at the conclusion of camp they donated them to local children. The Bears have continued the tradition ever since. To date, the team has donated more than 300 bikes to children through the initiative.
The Bears took time throughout this year's training camp to give back to the community. The team hosted several community groups during camp including the Special Olympics, USO of Illinois, By the Hand Club for Kids and multiple youth football organizations. The team's charity, Bears Care, also hosted a Back to School Fair during camp for more than 1,000 area children with free haircuts, school supplies and dental care.
As the regular season nears, the Bears look forward to continuing their tour de force of goodwill off the field as they work to be good teammates in the community.
Bears photographer Jacob Funk selected his best photos from throughout the Bears 2018 training camp at Olivet Nazarene University.
LS Patrick Scales, P Pat O'Donnell, K Cody Parkey
RB Tarik Cohen
ILB Joel Iyiegbuniwe
WR Taylor Gabriel
DT John Jenkins
WR Demarcus Ayers, RB Tarik Cohen
WR Garrett Johnson
OT Bobby Massie, OG Brandon Greene
Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, OT Bobby Massie
TE Adam Shaheen
QB Mitchell Trubisky
WR Kevin White
TE Daniel Brown
TE Trey Burton
DE Bilal Nichols
WR Demarcus Ayers
CB Doran Grant
WR Kevin White, wide receivers coach Mike Furrey
CB Doran Grant
DL John Jenkins
TE Dion Sims
RB Jordan Howard
ILB Nick Kwiatkoski
WR Demarcus Ayers
WR Javon Wims
WR Allen Robinson
DE Nick Williams
FB Michael Burton
QB Chase Daniel
WR Anthony Miller, WR Allen Robinson II
RB Tarik Cohen
WR Allen Robinson II
DE Nick Williams
WR Allen Robinson II
DE Akiem Hicks
TE Adam Shaheen
WR Garrett Johnson
QB Tyler Bray, quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone
ILB Nick Kwiatkoski
Head coach Matt Nagy
WR Anthony Miller
Deiondre' Hall
Head coach Matt Nagy, QB Mitchell Trubisky
QB Mitchell Trubisky
WR Bennie Fowler III
WR Tanner Gentry
Offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich
QB Mitchell Trubisky
DE Akiem Hicks
C Hroniss Grasu
RB Tarik Cohen
OG Charles Leno Jr.
Head coach Matt Nagy
WR Kevin White
