More than 100 former Bears from six decades gathered back in Chicago this weekend for the team's annual Alumni Homecoming.

The group kicked off the weekend with a dinner party Saturday night before heading to Soldier Field Sunday to watch the Bears' season-opening 24-17 win over the Titans.

"The Bears have done a good job — they keep improving what they're doing for the alumni because it's important," former receiver Wendell Davis said. "This is a sport, a career that you choose and it's something you do most of your lifetime. It gives us an opportunity to kind of relive that and come back to be able to do that with guys that you played with and even with generations before and after you. The Bears doing this every year is awesome. It's good for everybody."

Saturday night's dinner gave the alumni a chance to reunite with former teammates and connect with other generations of Bears players.

For alumni who no longer reside in Chicago like former receiver Bernard Berrian — who played with Hall of Famer Devin Hester on the 2006 NFC Champions — the weekend provided a locker room feel that cannot be replicated anywhere else.

"It's a great event," Berrian added. "Just another chance to reconnect with the guys that we played with, shared memories with. We can reminisce on some of those memories, talk about what we're doing now in the present, what we're thinking about doing in the future. We've got kids, so bringing our families together. It's just another way that the camaraderie exists beyond the field."

One of the players Berrian reconnected with was long snapper Patrick Mannelly — another member of the 2006 squad. Since Berrian spends most of his time in Fresno, Calif., and Mannelly is typically in Florida, the pair always finds time to catch up at Alumni Homecoming.

Mannelly also appreciates Alumni Homecoming for providing an opportunity to meet and talk with Bears legends such as Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary.

"You're always going to see someone," Mannelly said. "I remember seeing Bernard a couple years ago, like I hadn't seen him in forever. That's the cool thing. And with the older guys, there's so much respect in this room. I think there's respect for the hard work that's been put in. You see guys like Mike Singletary. Mike shows up and I'm always like, 'wow.' There's some that are just at a different level."

Both the 1985 Super Bowl and the 2006 NFC Championship teams were represented over the weekend and showed their support for 2024 Hall of Fame inductees Hester, Steve McMichael and Julius Peppers. Charles Tillman, Mannelly and Jim Osborne participated in a panel just before dinner Saturday to reminisce on their memories with the Hall of Famers.

Chairman George H. McCaskey — who was joined by his brothers Brian and Patrick along with President & CEO Kevin Warren — described the experience of seeing "heroes worshipped among our heroes" as surreal.

"Peanut Tillman, Patrick Mannelly and Jim Osborne were up there, so they really represent at least two generations of Bears players," McCaskey said. "To see their high regard for each other and hear them talking about Steve McMichael and Devin Hester with such great affection — I mean these are Bears greats in their own right looking up to guys that have made the Hall of Fame. It's very gratifying."

Members of the famed Super Bowl XX champion team that were in attendance of either the dinner or the game included Brian Baschnagel, Kurt Becker, Jim Covert, Richard Dent, Gary Fencik, Jim Morrissey, Singletary, Tom Thayer, Calvin Thomas, Henry Waechter and Otis Wilson.

The 2006 squad was represented by Berrian, Mike Brown, Rashied Davis, Chris Harris, Israel Idonije, Mannelly, Brandon McGowan and Tillman.

For members of the '85 team and former teammates of McMichael, the weekend culminated during halftime of Sunday's game. The Bears honored McMichael by presenting his Ring of Excellence from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. McMichael was represented at the game by his wife, Misty.

"There's a lot of '85 guys in town," Morrissey said. "We're here to support Steve for sure. Knowing that team, knowing the group of guys that we had, that made it to the top and won the Super Bowl, there's obviously a connection there and has been for 39 years now.

"Knowing you played with six of the greatest football players of all time when there's only 371 in the Hall — that's special. Special for me, but I'm also so happy for Steve."