The Chicago Bears were just one more game away from the sport's biggest stage, and in Year 1 under Ben Johnson, nonetheless. Instead, they'll get to watch Super Bowl 60 on Sunday while the Seattle Seahawks represent the NFC.
On the opposite side are the New England Patriots, whom Bears fans might not have an opinion on one way or the other. Yet, when Patriots quarterback Drake Maye stepped to the podium on Super Bowl Opening Night, Bears fans immediately had a reason to cheer for the opposition.
One reporter asked Maye who he modeled his game after when he was growing up, and I'll give you one guess as to what he said:
"Kind of the first thing that comes to mind as a young middle schooler that fell in love with the position would be Aaron Rodgers. I was a big fan of Aaron Rodgers."
Bears fans now have a legitimate reason to root against Drake Maye in Super Bowl LX
Maye went on to praise Rodgers even further:
"Got a chance to play him a few times, and just how he's treated me ... he reached out to me after the game. He's such a special thrower of the football. He's got so much swag ... I've heard from teammates and coaches of his, how he treats others and cares about others in the facility is special."
Well, all due respect to Maye, but it is interesting to hear his opinion on Rodgers possessing "swag." Could Rodgers' arrogance be mistaken for swag? It sure sounds like it, at least to Bears fans, because he's been anything but kind to this fan base.
He might treat most people with respect and kindness, but that does not include the Bears' fan base -- not even close. It's truly hard to believe someone like Rodgers could be labeled as a person who treats people that well, given how he's carried himself over the years. But, to each his own, I suppose.
Now, when Maye takes the field on Sunday against the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, Bears fans will know exactly who to cheer for: Seattle.
We don't need a Rodgers admirer winning a Super Bowl anytime soon (unless it's Caleb Williams, of course).
Oh, and for people asking, "What about Williams' admiration for Rodgers?" I have a very simple and biased response: we aren't going to talk about that right now.
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It's called being selective. It's called being a fan.
And that's that.
Go Seahawks.