Football in Illinois

America's favorite sport has deep, deep roots in Illinois. Originally founded in Decatur, the Chicago Bears became one of the NFL's two flagship franchises in 1919. They moved to Chicago in 1920, playing all home games at Wrigley Field until 1970 – when historic Soldier Field was constructed.

The Chicago Bears have won multiple NFL and Super Bowl championships– making them a fan-favorite in not only Chicago, but across the country. The success and popularity of the team gave way to the famous "Saturday Night Live" reoccurring skit, "The Super Fans." The Fans coined the catchphrase, "Da' Bears!", and are now forever a part of the Bears' legacy.

The Bears play home games at Soldier Field in downtown Chicago every fall, beginning in early September through early January. The stadium can hold over 63,000 fans on game day and has gone through many renovations and modernizations to enhance the experience.

Are you thinking about catching a game this fall? If so, don't forget to bring a coat! Soldier field is as outdoor stadium and conditions can be extremely frigid in December. But, hey, that only adds to the mystique, right?