Here’s the latest news on how COVID-19 is impacting Chicago and Illinois.

Latest

Latest statewide vaccine doses below average, but Pritzker sees hope with United Center, other sites in the game

Provided Photo

As the first COVID-19 shots went into arms outside the United Center Tuesday, public health officials announced another 75,372 vaccinations had been administered statewide the day before.

Monday’s shot total was nearly double the figure from a day earlier when fewer than 30,000 doses were given out, but it was still barely half the state’s record high of more than 134,000 set last week.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he expects those numbers to consistently increase as vaccine supply grows and as more vaccination sites are up and running like that outside the Near West Side stadium.

Illinois providers are now doling out an average of 92,180 shots per day, “a number that’s already growing every week,” Pritzker said at the United Center.

Twelve weeks since the first vaccine shipments arrived in Illinois, almost 3.5 million shots have been administered. About 1.2 million residents have been fully vaccinated since then, or about 9.4% of the population.

Half of all Illinoisans 65 or older have gotten at least one shot, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Overall, about a fifth of residents 16 or older have gotten a dose, Pritzker said.

Read the full report from Mitchell Armentrout.

News

6:29 p.m. Volunteers are key at vaccine sites. It pays off with a shot

SEATTLE — When Seattle’s largest health care system got a mandate from Washington state to create a mass COVID-19 vaccination site, organizers knew that gathering enough volunteers would be almost as crucial as the vaccine itself.

“We could not do this without volunteers,” said Renee Rassilyer-Bomers, chief quality officer for Swedish Health Services and head of its vaccination site at Seattle University. “The sheer volume and number of folks that we wanted to be able to serve and bring in requires … 320 individuals each day.”

As states ramp up vaccination distribution in the fight against the coronavirus, volunteers are needed to do everything from direct traffic to check people in so vaccination sites run smoothly. In return for their work, they’re often given a shot. Many people who don’t yet qualify for a vaccine — including those who are young and healthy — have been volunteering in hopes of getting a dose they otherwise may not receive for months. Large vaccination clinics across the country have seen thousands trying to nab limited numbers of volunteer shifts.

It’s raised questions at a time when supplies are limited and some Americans have struggled to get vaccinated even if they are eligible. But medical ethicists say volunteers are key to the public health effort and there’s nothing wrong with them wanting protection from the virus.

Ben Dudden, 35, of Roanoke, Virginia, volunteered at a mass vaccination clinic in the nearby city of Salem on a day off from his part-time job at the Roanoke Pinball Museum. His wife, a nurse practitioner who was administering doses, encouraged him to volunteer in case he could get vaccinated.

Get the full report here.

3:18 p.m. Illinois’ daily COVID-19 caseload, death count dip to last summer’s numbers

Illinois public health officials announced 1,182 new cases of the coronavirus Monday as well as five deaths — the lowest daily fatality count in nearly six months.

The new cases come from a batch of 39,636 tests. As of Sunday night, 1,178 people with COVID-19 were reported to be in the hospital. Of that number, 266 patients were in intensive care units throughout the state; 118 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.

The state’s preliminary seven-day statewide case positivity is 2.3%.

The last time the state saw a daily death toll this low was Sept. 14, when the state logged five deaths. Illinois hasn’t seen a single-digit daily death rate since early Oct. 11, when health officials announced nine deaths.

The deaths reported Monday bring the state’s total COVID-19 toll to 20,767 people.

Health officials also reported 3.38 million vaccines have been administered so far, with an average of of 90,135 doses administered daily in the past seven days, slightly less than the 93,183 rolling average of shots reported Sunday.

State health officials on Sunday reported 1,068 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest number of new cases recorded in a day since July 21. Illinois’ daily caseload has surpassed 2,000 only twice so far in March.

Read the full story from Rachel Hinton here.

9:27 a.m. At Dubai airport, travelers’ eyes become their passports thanks to iris scanner identification

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Dubai’s airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, already can feel surreal, with its cavernous duty-free stores, artificial palm trees, water cascades and near-Arctic levels of air-conditioning.

Now, the key east-west transit hub is rolling out another addition from the realm of science fiction — an iris-scanner to verifies each traveler’s identity, eliminating the need for any human interaction when entering or leaving the country.

It’s the latest artificial intelligence program the United Arab Emirates has launched amid the surging coronavirus pandemic — contact-less technology the government promotes as helping to stem the spread of the virus.

But the efforts also have renewed questions about mass surveillance in the federation of seven sheikhdoms, which experts believe has among the highest per capita concentrations of surveillance cameras in the world.

Dubai’s airport started offering the program to all passengers last month.

Read the full story here.

9:20 a.m. Pope weighed Iraq virus risk but believes God will protect

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Francis said Monday he weighed the risks of a high-profile trip to Iraq during the coronavirus pandemic, but said he decided to go ahead with it after much prayer and belief that God would look out for the Iraqis who might get exposed.

Francis described his decision-making process en route home from Iraq amid concerns that his four-day visit, which featured oftentimes maskless crowds in packed churches, singing — could result in the spread of infections in a country with a fragile health care system and a sustained surge in new cases.

Francis said the idea of a trip “cooks over time in my conscience,” and that the pandemic was the issue that weighed most heavily on him. Francis has experienced close-up the ravages of COVID-19 in Europe given Italy has had one of the worst outbreaks in the world, with the official death toll soon to hit 100,000.

“I prayed a lot about this. And in the end I took the decision freely,” Francis said. “It came from inside. I said ‘He who makes me decide this way will look after the people.’”

“I took the decision this way, but after prayer and knowing the risks,” he said.

Read the full story here.

New Cases

• Illinois public health officials announced 1,182 new cases of the coronavirus Monday as well as five deaths.
• The new cases come from a batch of 39,636 tests.
• The state’s preliminary seven-day statewide case positivity is 2.3%.

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It’s good to see City Hall making a serious attempt to revitalize Chicago’s historically neglected South and West side commercial areas.

An architecturally significant, but long-abandoned Austin neighborhood bank could see new life as a vibrant multi-use building featuring a cafe, a blues museum — and even a bank branch.

The proposed $37.5 million transformation of the old Laramie State Bank, 5200 W. Chicago Ave., is one of the first three projects announced this week under the city’s Invest South/West program.

It’s still early — and we certainly reserve permission to criticize Invest South/West if it starts to go sidewise — but for now, we’re glad to see the city making a serious attempt at revitalizing historically disinvested South and West side commercial areas.

No top/down neighborhood planning

Invest South/West has been a signature initiative of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration. Announced in 2019, the three-year plan seeks to invest $750 million in dormant and struggling retail areas in 10 neighborhoods.

The city’s planning department identified parcels and issued requests for proposals for the sites to redevelopment teams. The first three winning teams — selected after their schemes were reviewed by the targeted communities — were announced this week.

We like that city Planning Commissioner Maurice Cox, a transplant who is a newcomer to our ways here, is willing to buck the past and give communities a voice in guiding the selection process.

It’s at least a sign that that Chicago’s typical top-down, “We know what’s best for you,” approach to neighborhood planning might finally be on its way out, as is City Hall’s successor tactic of making a show of holding community meetings — only to do what it wants anyway.

As an apparent result of this transparency and community engagement, the three proposals go far beyond the same-old, same-old proposals for the South and West sides.

In Auburn Gresham, a team composed of Evergreen Real Estate Group and the Imagine Group promises a $19.4 million project of 56 units of affordable housing with ground-floor retail on a now-vacant lot at 838 W. 79th St.

The stylish and contemporary new building would be across the street from a rehabbed 1920s structure — not part of the Invest South/West proposal — that will be home to a fitness center, a pharmacy, a green roof and office space for community organizations.

And in another $10.3 million proposal, the development team Englewood Connect seeks to turn a shuttered 1929 firehouse at 62nd and Green streets into a commercial kitchen.

The Englewood proposal also includes reusing and programming a plaza outside the station and calling for the creation of a second building — an “eco-food hub” — that would house a business incubator, and training and employment facilities. The complex would be able to feed local residents, as well.

West Side benefits

It is encouraging to see Austin on the city’s West Side — a part of town too often overlooked when redevelopment spoils are dealt — as the site of the largest and most expensive of the planned three Invest South/West developments.

In addition to the old Laramie State Bank renovation, the Austin United Alliance team — led by non-profit Oak Park Regional Housing and the Heartland Alliance — seeks to build a multi-story, mixed-income rental building complete with a green roof, public plaza and outdoor art.

“Do you feel the buzz and excitement in this room? I do,” Lightfoot told an audience Monday at the Kehrein Center for the Arts in Austin as the winning plans were announced. “That tells me this is a new day.”

We hope so. And one that’s long overdue.

Send letters to [email protected].

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Though many of Chicago’s hot spots for spooky nighttime ramblings in the rubble are disappearing (the demolition of famed Edgewater Medical Center began a few years ago to make way for apartments), there are still a few abandoned structures in the metro area to be explored and appreciated. Check out these 6 nearby abandoned buildings:

Damen Silos

2860 S Damen Ave, Chicago IL 60608

One of Chicago’s most famous attractions for urban exploration, this grouping of 15-story grain silos has been unused since an explosion in the 1970s. A network of dark tunnels and rooms lie underneath the site, but it is technically illegal to enter and explore them.

Joliet Correctional Center

1125 N Collins St, Joliet IL 60432

Now called the Old Joliet Historic Prison Site by the Joliet Area Historical Museum, the correctional center was closed in 2002— long after complaints about its conditions surfaced in the early 1900s. Last year, the Joliet Area Historical Museum reopened the site for tours, upgrading the spooky abandoned prison to a still-spooky destination for history enthusiasts.

Pullman Clock Tower and Administration Building

11057 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago IL 60628

The few remaining buildings in the Pullman Company neighborhood include the historic clock tower and Administration Building— both of which began undergoing the process of a National Parks Service makeover last year. It was already rebuilt once in 2005 after a 1998 fire seriously damaged the structure, and in 2015 was designated a National Monument. To this day, they still remain two abandoned spots in Chicago with the most history. 

City Methodist Church 

577 Washington St, Gary IN, 46402

Once home to “the largest Methodist congregation of the Midwest,” City Methodist’s life as a church was bright but brief, and the structure has sat unused since the 1970s. In 2019, City Methodist received an Indiana state historical marker, though it retains its allure as a “symbol of urban decay.”

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

W 19th St & S Peoria St, Chicago IL 60608

Known as Pilsen’s “ghost church,” Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church was built in 1880, but was almost entirely destroyed by a fire in 1979. Several decades (and one windstorm) later, the facade and tower of the church have been restored, and remain as a kind of skeleton of the former house of worship.

St. Stephen’s Church

5640 S Blackstone Ave, Chicago IL 60637

A long line of developers, banks, and other interested parties have been unsuccessful in redeveloping this Hyde Park property since at least 1997. With an awe-inspiring domed interior and a massive, impressive facade, St. Stephen’s Church eludes demolition and renovation to this day.

Abandoned Spots Chicago Featured Image Credit: Ken Fager on Flickr

The post 6 Abandoned Spots in Chicago You Should Visit For a Spooky Adventure appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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As the Chicago Cubs and White Sox begin preparing for the final weeks of spring training, the city announced on Monday that they would be softening coronavirus restrictions and allowing 20 percent capacity for Opening Day at both Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field.

*insert any GIF ever of someone saying YESSSSS* 

The Cubs are set to open their 2021 campaign at Wrigley Field on April 1st while the White Sox will kick off their home schedule on April 8th. There will be fans in the stands for both games and throughout the 2021 season. Halle-freakin’-lujah!

Mayor Lightfoot’s office used a short 70 second video to announce the news that 20 percent capacity will be allowed at each stadium with at least six-feet distance between standings. Wrigley Field holds about 42,500 fans at full capacity and Guaranteed Rate Field roughly 40,600. Meaning both stadiums will be permitted 8,274 and 8,122 fans respectively.

Folks, we’ve significantly slowed the spread of COVID, getting our positivity rate down to 2.8%. And now, we can begin to safely welcome fans back to our baseball stands on opening day. Although we’re reopening, masking is still of utmost importance. pic.twitter.com/pkGnMDkSUc

— Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) March 8, 2021

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Fans entering Guaranteed Rate Field or Wrigley Field will be required to wear masks at the game and there will be “comprehensive screening and sanitation procedures” in place at each ballpark per a news release from the Mayor’s office. Regardless, this is a validation of the hard work all parties have put into combating the COVID-19 virus. In the video, posted on Twitter, the Mayor announced that the city’s positivity rate was down to 2.8 percent and she went out of her way to credit both teams for their cooperation and diligence in working hand in hand with the public health department and city officials to help develop this plan.

Some other small safety implementations at both stadiums include additional restrooms per guest, entry and amenity zones such as ticketing gates and concourses will have limited-contract entry, all concessions and shops will be cashless, reduced queueing times, and reconfigured indoor spaces to better aid the flow of foot traffic. All in all this is a monumental step towards social normalcy in Chicago. Ballgames in the summer are a staple of the Chicago experience and while it’s just a first step, it’s one in the right direction.

1:20 PM first pitch at Wrigley may not have the same feel as it did in 2019, but an ice cold beer in the bleachers is a language that translates to any day of any year. And just nine miles to the south Chicago White Sox prepare for a 2021 season in which they are legitimate contenders to win a World Series and the opportunity to play in front of 8,000 hungry Sox fans is only going to be more motivating as they chase their first World Series title since 2005.

Bars and restaurants are permitted up to 50 percent capacity and can remain open until 1 AM, the number of vaccinated Chicagoans continues to increase while the United Center is set to vaccinate 110,000 more in the coming weeks, and in just one short month we’ll see fans in the stands of both Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field.

Featured Image Credit: Guaranteed Rate Field on Facebook

The post Mayor Lightfoot Announces 20% Capacity at Wrigley Field, Guaranteed Rate Field for Opening Day appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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The Press Room is a small restaurant with a big heart in Chicago’s West Loop, serving sophisticated but familiar food, friendly wines and classic cocktails. The Press Room runs on attentive service and friendly vibes. It’s on the lower level of a century-old building, originally the Free Methodist Publishing House. It continues to find ways to surprise and delight guests with special experiences amidst the pandemic’s restrictions, most recently with Dead Plants — a 1920s speakeasy brought to life. 

Dead Plants at The Press Room brings the speakeasy experience from the 1920s into this century by launching a live music series on the second Saturday of each month. Priced at $45 per person, each ticket will include a 90-minute show and one cocktail. Doors open at 8:30pm and the show will start at 9pm. Only 26 tickets will be available per show, guaranteeing an intimate live-entertainment event.

Starting on the second Saturday of each month, you can experience the ultimate speakeasy feel with special musical acts. The first musical guest will be Brandon Markell Holmes on March 13th, who will be performing a tribute show to Luther Vandross. You can expect to hear songs by Luther Vandross, Smokey Robinson Algreen and many more. 

On April 10th, you can enjoy Jazz and pop classics from Sam Fazio. Sam has established a name for himself in the music scene over the past several years and has entertained audiences at some of the most prestigious venues in the country, including Green Mill, Jazz Showcase, Andy’s Jazz Club, City Winery, Untitled, and more.

You are more than welcome to enjoy a full evening of revelry at Dead Plants – when making a reservation for dinner, a request to purchase tickets to the event can be made, allowing you to experience dinner and a show.

Additionally, the team behind The Press Room is behind another new Chicago hot-spot, Dough Daddy’s. Dough Daddy’s, a new virtual restaurant based out of Chicago’s West Loop, opened on Thursday, January 21. Available exclusively for takeout and delivery through GrubHub, this pop-up offers Chicago a chance to experience Detroit-style pizzas created with a special sourdough starter, that has been with Chef Noah Zamler for five years.

Dead Plants The Press Room Featured Image Credit: The Press Room

The post Chicago’s Newest Speakeasy, Dead Plants, Launches Monthly Cabaret Series at The Press Room appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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Eileen Coglianese was a mom with two kids in grade school when her husband Edmond, a Chicago Fire Department lieutenant, died while trying to save people from a hotel fire on Super Bowl Sunday in 1986.

She was about to head to her sister’s house to watch the game when her doorbell rang. She saw a man standing outside with a fire department insignia on his shirt. Realizing he was a chaplain, she knew something was wrong.

“As soon as he said what his name was, I said, ‘You’re not here for that, are you?’ ” she later recalled. “And he was.”

Her husband died during the rescue efforts at the Mark Twain Hotel at Clark and Division streets. He led two people down ladders but, when he re-entered the building to look for more people still inside, was overcome by smoke.

As Mrs. Coglianese comforted her children, grappled with grief and sorted out funeral details, the family felt as if everybody else was celebrating the Bears’ Super Bowl victory and that reports of his death seemed like just a footnote in the news.

She went on, in 1991, to help establish the Chicago Fire Department Gold Badge Society, which assists families of firefighters and paramedics who’ve died in the line of duty.

Mrs. Coglianese, 72, who was president of the volunteer group for more than a decade, died Thursday at her Tinley Park home of complications from surgery, according to her daughter Allyson.

The society was the nation’s first formal support group for families of fallen firefighters and paramedics, according to the Rev. Tom Mulcrone, a former Chicago Fire Department chaplain who was also among the founders.

Mrs. Coglianese “wanted to help others and make sure they didn’t go through what we did,” according to her daughter.

“As soon as there would be a line-of-duty death, we would go to the E.R.,” said Allyson Coglianese, who is vice president of the society.

Stunned survivors would turn to Mrs. Coglianese and ask, “How are we going to survive?”

“She was there pretty much from the moment I heard my husband passed away,” said Susan Johnson, whose husband Capt. Herbert Johnson died fighting a fire in 2012. “She helped me and my children negotiate everything that was about to happen.”

Provided

The Chicago Fire Department Gold Badge Society helps families navigate their immediate needs after a loved one’s death, like securing death benefits.

“They had workshops for spouses and children,” said former Chicago fire Commissioner Bob Hoff, who lost his firefighter-dad Thomas Hoff in the line of duty in 1962. “You talked about your families. She ran all that stuff and was so good about it. What she did for the families was something no one else could do because she lived through it. She always knew the right thing to say.”

The society also holds annual golf outings and “Battle of the Badges” fundraisers, with police officers and firefighters squaring off at boxing matches and ballgames to raise scholarship money for the children of fallen firefighters and police officers.

Mrs. Coglianese worked to build a memorial park near McCormick Place for firefighters and paramedics who died in the line of duty.

“What Eileen and her cohorts did was nothing short of spectacular,” Mulcrone said.

Young Eileen grew up in Markham, one of seven kids of Joseph and Marion Coad. Her father was a CTA bus driver. She attended Bremen High School.

Provided

Her dad was in a citizen’s band radio club. She met her future husband, a CB fan, when he visited the Coad home. They were married in 1969 and raised their family in Mount Greenwood.

After her husband’s death, she enrolled at St. Xavier University and got a degree in religious studies and was a substitute teacher at Mother McAuley High School.

She enjoyed playing cards, golfing and trips with other firefighter widows to the Riviera Maya region of Mexico.

At family gatherings, she always wanted people to connect with each other — to the point that she once disconnected the satellite dish at her house so relatives and friends would talk to one another rather than watch TV.

Mrs. Coglianese also is survived by her son Matthew; sisters MaryRose Balassone, Geraldine Howe, Kathleen Turek, Bernadette Hughes, Rosella Lichtenstein and two grandchildren.

Visitation is from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Blake Lamb Funeral Home in Oak Lawn and at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, 7740 S. Western Ave., followed by her funeral there at 11 a.m. Thursday.

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A fire in Des Plaines that killed four children and their mother in January likely started at least seven minutes before anyone called 911.

And firefighters were “challenged by a rapidly evolving scene” that included more victims than initially expected and fire blocking the only stairwell to the family’s apartment.

That’s according to a 43-page report released Tuesday by the Des Plaines Fire Department that provides a timeline and video of the city’s response to the blaze at 714 W. Oakton St.

The cause of the Jan. 27 fire remains undetermined, but the report said the blaze began at the top of the only stairwell leading to the second-floor apartment where the family was found. A space heater and extension cord were found in the area.

The apartment had a second exit — a small balcony — but it didn’t have stairs to the ground level, the report states.

Des Plaines Fire Department report

According to a timeline of events, surveillance video shows a bright flash of light in the second-floor window at 10:03 a.m., indicting a possible fire. It wasn’t until 10:10 a.m. that a 911 call was received, and it took another two minutes until the caller could provide an address.

A Des Plaines police officer was the first responder to arrive, at 10:16 a.m., and survey the building and help remove two people safely from the building. An ambulance arrived at 10:17 a.m., and the first fire engine arrived at 10:19 a.m.

Firefighters, hearing that two children may be trapped on the second floor, encountered “significant” smoke and fire, and knocked down flames with a hose, the report states. Within seconds, crews found the first victim in a bedroom and four others in another room.

Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic

The fatalities were Cythaly Zamodio, 25, and her daughters: Grace Espinosa, 1; Allizon V. Espinosa, 3; Genesis A. Espinosa, 5; and Renata P. Espinosa, 6. At the time, a neighbor said their father was work during the fire.

The report states that the department’s response to the fire satisfied standards set by the National Fire Protection Association and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

“Firefighters made a valiant effort to give those trapped a chance to survive by locating them and removing them from the hazardous conditions,” the report states. “The efforts of all those involved are to be commended.”

Des Plaines, a northwest suburb with about 58,000 residents, was rattled by the fatal fire — its worst in over a generation.

At the time, Des Plaines Fire Chief Daniel Anderson said it was his “worst day” in nearly 30 years on the job.

Read the city’s report, and a summary of the report.

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Chicago Bears: Kyle Long is officially coming out of retirement by Adam Rosen

In what may have been the worst kept secret of the NFL off-season, the Chicago Bears announced on Tuesday that they have placed the franchise tag on wide receiver Allen Robinson.

Robinson and the Bears appear to be at odds in regards to their current contract negotiations as there have been no discussions between the two sides since September of last year. Robinson has taken to social media to take cryptic shots at the Bears while his agent has been highly critical of off-season comments made by Bears’ general manager Ryan Pace.

Tuesday’s move likely will do nothing in resolving the tension between Robinson and the Bears’ front office. What the transaction does do is buy the Bears more time to work out a long-term contract extension with Robinson. With the franchise tag applied, the Bears and Robinson have until July 15 to come to terms on a long-term contract extension. If the two sides are unable to come to terms, Robinson will play the 2021 season with a cap hit of $16,430,000.

So, what is next for Allen Robinson and the Chicago Bears going forward?

For Robinson and the Bears, they now have until July to come to terms on a long-term contract extension. For all sides involved, a long-term extension between the Bears and Robinson is what is best. Robinson receives the long-term security that he has been seeking whereas the Bears are able to keep their primary receiver in the fold. The tag also allows the Bears to figure out their salary cap situation first before finalizing an extension for Robinson.

Bears placed franchise tag on WR Allen Robinson, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2021

What if Robinson and the Chicago Bears are unable to reach a long-term deal?

If a long-term deal is not finalized between the Bears and Robinson, then chances are the 2021 season will be the last season that Robinson plays for them. Robinson has not been shy of his criticism over how the Bears (specifically Pace) have handled negotiations. It stands that if no deal is reached in July, that would be the nail in the coffin for any potential long-term future for Robinson with the Bears.

What’s next for the Chicago Bears in terms of their 2021 offseason plans?

All eyes are on the quarterback position. Quarterback is without question the most important need that the Bears have. Russell Wilson has been the priority for the Bears this off-season. With Robinson being tagged, the Bears now can put all their attention towards acquiring the Seahawks’ pro-bowl quarterback.

Related Story: Russell Wilson’s list is down to three teams

Not to mention, if the Bears were to acquire Wilson, the team would have time to make room within the salary cap for an extension of Robinson by July 15. For now, we know that Allen Robinson will be with the Chicago Bears in 2021.

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Chicago Bears: Bobby Massie release enforces why 2021 Draft must be different by Ryan Heckman

Former Chicago Bears offensive guard/tackle Kyle Long is planning to come out of retirement after one season out of the league. This is according to Macon Gunter, who is an insider on the Green Light Podcast, hosted by Kyle’s older brother Chris Long. Kyle Long, 31, made three Pro Bowls during his seven seasons with the team.

Long originally retired on January 6th, 2020 and the team declined his option which made him a free agent despite his retirement. Due to this, Long is free to sign with whomever he desires as he would no longer be under contract.

Long played in 77 games for the Bears during his tenure, making 76 starts. Most of his starts came on the interior of the offensive line. However, he started 16 games at tackle in 2015, and he even made the Pro Bowl.

The Bears, who are planning to release right tackle Bobby Massie, could definitely use Long’s services. With the Jaguars tagging Cam Robinson, Kyle Long’s return replenishes the offensive linemen market which is filled with great veteran talents.

Three-time Pro Bowl OL Kyle Long is returning to the NFL. He is 315 lbs., healthy, happy, nasty, and shredded, and has signed with Jeff Nalley of Select Sports Group.

— Macon Gunter (@macongunter) March 9, 2021

If Chicago wants to bring Kyle Long back, it would take some money. It could also demand a bit of reconciliation. Long has been very outspoken in his criticisms of head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace. Even once saying he would not come back to play for the team under the current staff.

I would wait for a new staff https://t.co/sWbjeCobTQ

— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) June 15, 2020

In an early February interview with Matt Zahn of CBS 2 in Chicago, Long praised but also criticized Pace’s draft history.

“Ryan Pace has hit on some late-round draft picks. Ryan Pace has also missed some fastballs on hitter’s counts,” Long said.

Additionally in the interview, Long was asked about still wanting to play.

“Everybody still wants to play,” Long said. “Can you still play is the question and I don’t know the answer to that. I may be seeking that answer until the day I die.”

Recently, Long has said that he still loves Chicago and would love for the fanbase to have a Super Bowl eventually. Long was a fan favorite so bringing him back would be a great move if he can stay healthy.

I hope all my former teammates win Super Bowls in Chicago and the fans get to flood the park and dye the river orange. I really really mean that, I just see so many opportunities to crack jokes and be salty. Don’t get it confused with I want the bears to do poorly. I don’t

— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) February 25, 2021

Related Story: Bobby Massie to be Released

With the Bears seeming to build a trade package for Russell Wilson, Kyle Long returning to the Bears could be a fantastic signing for the right price. The fans would no doubt love to see it.

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Chicago Bears: These draft prospects would compliment Russell Wilson by Ryan Heckman

This week, the Chicago Bears will likely go through some drastic changes, and the release of Bobby Massie is only the beginning.

The Bears announced they were declining Massie’s option for the 2021 season, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Bears’ starting right tackle for the past five seasons, Massie made huge strides in Chicago after coming over from the Arizona Cardinals.

Due to the salary cap changing for the 2021 season, Massie is one of many cuts which are going to happen around the NFL this offseason. Several cuts have already been announced, but more are on the way.

The Bears were going to part with either Massie or Charles Leno, or maybe even both, before the offseason is over. First and foremost, it’s about saving money. However, the close second reason is due to a blatant decline in play for Leno in particular. Massie’s issue is his recent struggle to stay healthy.

Needless to say, Chicago needs an offensive tackle or two before they take the field in 2021. But, didn’t they need one last year as well?

More from Da Windy City

• Chicago Bears: These draft prospects would compliment Russell Wilson
• Chicago Bears: Russell Wilson’s list now down to three teams
• Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Kane is set for his 1000th game
• Chicago Bears: It might be smart to avoid going for Russell Wilson
• Blackhawks: Three risky trades to make with Nashville Predators

Going into the 2020 NFL Draft, most would have assumed the Bears come away with at least a mid-round tackle to compete with Leno or Massie. Offensive line was a major need, and Ryan Pace had to address it.

Instead, Pace skipped offensive line altogether in the first six rounds before finally taking seventh round fliers on two guys whom would never make an impact: Lachavious Simmons and Arlington Hambright.

Pace got lucky that Sam Mustipher and Alex Bars were able to step up in place of some injuries last year, but this year will be different. The Bears are not only declining Massie’s option but also not bringing back Rashaad Coward.

Frankly, neither one of them should have been brought back, so Pace is making the correct call with both. But, that means this year’s draft has to see the Bears take a serious approach when it comes to the offensive line.

Look, the Bears may end up with a quarterback like Russell Wilson if the stars align. But, even if they don’t, Pace has to find a better quarterback solution. His job depends on it.

That quarterback, whomever it is, must be protected. Without Massie, Pace absolutely must take an offensive tackle in the first three rounds next month. There is zero excuse for him skipping out on offensive line until the later rounds this year.

Pace likes to get cute and try to be the smartest man in the room at times with some of his picks, but he had to be kidding himself if he thought Simmons or Hambright were going to offer this roster anything of real value.

Leno is the best offensive tackle on the roster right now, and even if you count Bars as a potential tackle, that still holds true. Bars is better suited at guard, and should offer Chicago some great depth there going forward.

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Bears: Draft prospects to compliment Russell Wilson

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Tackle remains a question, and it is now more important than ever for Pace to take this position seriously. This is a position that successful teams have locked down, but the Bears haven’t drafted an offensive tackle higher than the fifth round since 2011. That has to change, and it has to change this year.

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