The Chicago Bears were a good team throughout most of the 2000s. They went 13-3 in 2001, and after a brief lull over the next three years, they rebounded to post a winning record four times between 2005 and 2010 while making the playoffs three times. Much of that had to do with a talented roster, but also the determined coaching of Lovie Smith. Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery only got to experience it for one season in 2012. However, it left a lasting impression in multiple ways.
One that stood out was how the Bears approached bad weather. He revealed to Johnny Manziel on his podcast that Smith made no exceptions. Temperature? Rain? Snow? Wind? It didn’t matter. The Bears always practiced outside. If the team were to play in the elements at Soldier Field, practicing in them was crucial.
Former Bears WR Alshon Jeffery says when he first came to Chicago, Brian Urlacher, Devin Hester and other veterans on the had a rule where the team ALWAYS practiced outside. Players couldn’t wear sleeves in the cold.
Those old Bears teams were different. 😳 pic.twitter.com/0Hkw1YINzN
— Bearsszn (@bearssznn) June 17, 2025
This goes a long way toward explaining what happened in the 2010s. The Bears seemed to lose their edge in outdoor games. Much of that likely had to do with subsequent head coaches removing the rule of always practicing outside. It started with Marc Trestman in 2013.
“With all these indoor practices the Chicago Bears have been going through, perhaps new coach Marc Trestman thinks he’s still in Canada in early winter, preparing for a Grey Cup with the Montreal Alouettes.
Despite ideal temperatures Wednesday and only moderate humidity levels with clouds providing natural shade, Trestman had the Bears practicing inside the Walter Payton Center.”
There will come a day when the Bears no longer play in the elements. They will leave Soldier Field for their new stadium within the next five years. It will be a domed complex. At that point, practicing inside makes perfect sense. Until then, one would think the smart decision is to stay outdoors as often as possible, regardless of weather conditions. New Bears head coach Ben Johnson hasn’t faced that challenge yet. He’s been blessed with consistently good weather throughout OTAs and minicamps. Training camp begins July 22nd. From there, he will be challenged by rain, wind, and eventually snow at some point. If he moves inside for those instances, he may fall into the same trap Alshon Jeffery talked about.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.