The Bears honored several groups of IHSA girls flag and boys football players and coaches during Sunday's game against the Lions at Soldier Field for their outstanding performances throughout the 2024 season.
On-field recognitions included the IHSA Boys State Football Champions and Girls Flag Football Champions as well as the Boys and Girls High School Coaches of the Year, Coaches of the Week, Players of the Week and High School All-Stars.
The halftime recognition of the IHSA Boys State Champions are brought to you by Athletico Physical Therapy. The Bears, along with partners Buffalo Wild Wings, Gatorade, Nike and Visa, are proud supporters of girls flag football.
"Recognizing and honoring exceptional coaches and student-athletes is a critical component in growing the game of football and highlights the inclusivity, accessibility and diversity in the game," Bears manager of youth and high school football Gustavo Silva said. "You get more of what you celebrate, so we celebrate the coaches and players that make a positive impact on the success of the game.
"This was an especially significant year, as it was the first time that girls flag football Coaches of the Week and Players of the Week were honored, marking another milestone on the path to creating equity."
At halftime, the eight boys varsity teams that won the state championships — from Class 1A to Class 8A — were recognized. Those winners were Althoff Catholic, Chicago Christian, Montini Catholic, DePaul College Prep, Nazareth Academy, East St Louis Senior, Mount Caramel and Loyola Academy. Also honored was Fremd High School, the inaugural IHSA girls flag football state champion.
The recipients of the 2024 Chicago Bears High School Varsity Football Coach of the Year (sponsored by Athletico Physical Therapy), Girls Flag Football Coach of the Year and Girls Flag Football Player of the Year (both sponsored by Dunkin') received on-field honors during the game.
East St. Louis coach Darren Sunkett — the Boys Varsity Coach of the Year — led his varsity boys team to the 6A championship, marking his fifth state championship with the school and the 11th state title. Sunkett is also known for developing well-rounded student-athletes as many of his players excel at top universities and professional leagues.
Guilford High School girls flag football coach Greg Taylor — who was surprised with Girls Flag Football Coach of the Year honors at the All-State dinner in November — led the program to its first-ever championship game, where his team finished runner-up. Taylor has been a driving force behind the growth of girls flag football in the Rockford area for years.
"Being recognized at the game Sunday was one of the proudest moments, if not the proudest moment I've had in coaching for the past 43 years," Taylor said. "To think that the Bears organization and the State Of Illinois coaches recognized me as coach of the year for girls flag football means so much to me. It's something that I never expected and that I was never trying to achieve. I am so thankful to the McCaskey family, the Bears organization, the Rockford, Park District and the IHSA for pushing the initiative for a much-needed sport for the young ladies of the state of Illinois.
"I would like to thank Gustavo Silva of the Bears, Juliana from the Chicago public school leagues, and Lamont Jones of the Rockford Park District's Northern Illinois Girls High School Football League for all the hard work that they put in over the past three years to make that moment for me and the Rockford Guilford Vikings young ladies possible."
Jones College Prep senior Tory Smith was named the inaugural girls flag football player of the year honor. Smith was the top receiver in Illinois with 2,367 receiving yards on 126 catches and 25 touchdowns. The star athlete helped guide Jones College Prep to a regional championship and sectional final appearance.
During the second and third quarters of Sunday's game, the 18 varsity boys and girls flag coach of the week recipients, nine girls flag player of the week recipients and nine boys all-star recipients were honored.
Along with the on-field recognitions, the high school players and coaches were celebrated throughout Soldier Field Sunday with IHSA State Title displays in the South Courtyard.
