Welcome to the latest installment of my weekly "Lunch with Larry," which features wide-ranging conversations with Bears-related guests about their lives and careers.
This week my special guest is former fullback Jason McKie, who spent seven seasons with the Bears from 2003-09. Jason is now the sideline reporter on Bears radio broadcasts on ESPN 1000 and the head football coach at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein. Jason also spoke to me about his close friendship with Hall of Famer Devin Hester as well as working for ChicagoBears.com during his playing career.
Every week I select the best "Lunch with Larry" fan question, with the winner receiving a Connie's Pizza gift card. The question of the week can be found at the bottom of this article.
Throughout his Bears career, Jason developed a special bond with his teammates. He told me they loved each other like brothers, which was a key factor in their success on the field. Those Bears teams won NFC North championships in 2005 and 2006 and reached the Super Bowl in 2006. The group still stays in touch, often vacationing with their families together.
Jason remains close friends with Hester, the NFL's most prolific return specialist who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August. The two are godfathers to each other's kids. Jason recalls first meeting Hester and how the record-breaking returner fit in immediately as a Bears rookie, quickly earning the respect of the team's veterans due to his humility and work ethic.
I asked Jason about a memorable play in a 2006 Monday night game against the Rams when he caught a short pass, turned up field and knocked the helmet off a defensive back who tried to go high to tackle him. It was definitely an "Angry Run" before that segment was created by NFL Network's Kyle Brandt. Jason occasionally shows the play to his high school team!
Jason loves being a high school coach, mostly because it gives him the opportunity to impact young people's lives. His objective is to develop kids in the classroom, in the community and on the field. He also feels blessed that former Bears teammates Olin Kreutz and Rashied Davis assist him with coaching the team.
Jason enjoys working as the sideline reporter for Bears radio broadcasts. He considers play-by-play announcer Jeff Joniak and color analyst Tom Thayer as his teammates and not just colleagues. Jason relays news in his role, but he also aims to give fans insights about schemes and what to expect in the game.
Back during his playing days, I was actually teammates with Jason. No, I wasn't the emergency long snapper; Jason worked with the ChicagoBears.com. After majoring in broadcasting and communications at Temple University, he gained valuable experience with the website that he still leans on in terms of preparing for Bears radio broadcasts.
The winner of the "Lunch with Larry" fan question of the week and a Connie's Pizza gift card is Bryan I., who asks: What was it like blocking for Devin Hester?
In closing, I'd like to thank Jason for joining me on "Lunch with Larry." I really enjoyed covering his entire Bears career and value our friendship. I look forward to seeing Jason down on the field at every game, home and road.
