It was announced on Tuesday that retired Chicago Bears guard and three-time Pro Bowler, Kyle Long was returning to the NFL. This move was announced by Macon Gunter on Twitter, where he also announced that he has signed with Jeff Nalley of Select Sports Group.
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 (@MaconPlays) March 9, 2021
Soon following the announcement, Long himself tweeted his gratitude towards the amazing Bears fans.
Thank you for the well wishes everyone, particularly the amazing Bears fans who have treated me as family for years 💯
— kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 9, 2021
Over the years, and especially the last three, Long and the Bears coaching team and management have grown apart. Long is a bruising, tough, lineman, something that is apparent in the running game. Yes, linemen get paid to keep the QBs jersey clean, but great O-linemen love pushing defenders around in the run game. Matt Nagy just simply doesn’t believe in the running game.
The issues between the way the Bears were coached and Long became apparent last year. On multiple occasions Kyle would speak rather openly about their philosophy and his disagreement. There was also something else going on with the Bears behind the scenes. Perhaps there were conversations to mutually part, maybe that conversation wasn’t exactly mutual. So instead of cutting him, Long took control and “stepped away.”
I didn’t retire I got fired. I will know with conviction whether I’m done for good or not in the next few weeks. Full transparency I miss football but at what cost 😂😂🙏🏼 I’m most likely gonna be on golf courses instead of gridiron’s https://t.co/qmNbTEeTHk
— kyle (@Ky1eLong) June 15, 2020
While Long’s health pushed him from the game, leading up to his retirement (or non-retirement) in January, 2020, his relationship with the current Bears staff didn’t help.
Now, I’m not trying to paint Long as a prima dona, he isn’t. I’m not saying he’s selfish, he isn’t. There was something else going on which strained this relationship, so much so that Long suggests the Bears broke the man that proclaimed he would never wear another jersey.
They killed that guy
— kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 9, 2021
So, don’t expect Long to consider a return to the Chicago Bears. While he will always have fond memories, and definitely appreciate Bears fans, the Bears organization did something to burn that bridge.
It has appeared that the organization has had a difficult time with player relations over the past half-dozen years. It seems Long is the only one of those players that had disagreements with the business and gameday, but there’s something going on at Halas Hall which is turning players off.
