The Chicago Bears and USAA held their third-annual Salute to Service NFL Boot Camp at Halas Hall on Monday. Special guests Devin Hester and Ian Rapoport were there to encourage, mentor, and coach the competitors as they participated in NFL Draft events for a chance to win tickets to a Bears game.
On Monday, the Bears and USAA hosted 100 active duty military members from Naval Station Great Lakes. This was the third time the Bears had partnered for the event, but this time Hester was brought in as a special guest coach.
The military members were split into teams and then coached and mentored by Hester in drills similar to those seen at the NFL Combine. They participated in the 40-yard dash, broad jump, receiving gauntlet, three-cone shuttle, and QB arm challenge. Each servicemember was awarded points, and the winning team won tickets to the Salute to Service game.
Devin Hester was bringing smiles to Chicago Bears training camp
Before the event, the lucky participants were treated as VIP guests during practice. While attending, Hester surprised a fan while being interviewed and asked questions about the Hall of Famer. She was all smiles!
While at practice, the servicemembers met with players and received autographs. The event seems to be getting more and more attention. Ian Cunningham and Rapoport were also in attendance. Another change this year compared to years past is that they had an electronic scoreboard that posted live results. This made it easier for participants to know what they needed to do to win, while also allowing those covering the day to better track the leaders.
Devin Hester had this to say about the event:
"I had a ton of fun partnering with USAA for the Salute to Service Boot Camp to participate in what really felt like the NFL Combine. I have cousins and an uncle who served in the military, so I have always had a deep appreciation for what our servicemembers sacrifice for our country, and it was a great chance for me to connect with some local military to hear their stories, as well as share some coaching and motivation as our military guests ran through the football drills."Devin Hester
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In the end, Hester and Rapoport spent time taking photographs, signing autographs, and handing out the prizes to the winners. It was an unforgettable experience for any fan of the NFL, especially those who love the Chicago Bears or Hester himself.