Why do the Chicago Bears have orange and blue uniforms? It’s because owner and University of Illinois alum George Halas thought those colors would be perfect for the franchise.

But that’s not the only connection.

Whenever the Bears and the NFL needed Illinois’ help, the Fighting Illini were there for them.

Early struggles

After A.E. Staley — the Decatur Staley owner — gave Halas control of the team, they moved up to Chicago in 1921 and played football at Wrigley Field.

They won the first NFL title in 1921, but college football remained top dog.

“Pro football was really having trouble with getting fans to pay to come to games at some in certain cities,” said Kent Brown, an Illini historian.

Halas was already the head coach, owner and player for the Bears but knew what to do.

He needed Illinois’ star running back Red Grange to join the Bears and attract fans to the Bears’ and NFL’s games.

“Babe Ruth was the biggest baseball player athlete. Red Grange was the best football name in the country,” said Brown.

Grange led the Fighting Illini to 1923 national championship.

The Galloping Ghost became a legend in 1924, after scoring four touchdowns in 12 minutes in a win over Michigan.

The Bears signed him to a contract worth $100,000 dollars and they embarked on a 18 game, 67 day “barnstorming tour across America”. Grange would get a big portion of the revenue.

“This barnstorming tour to see Red Grange play in person may have saved the NFL from going under financially,” said Brown. “The Mara family, who still is owners of the New York Giants, credited that game to saving the franchise.”

A 21st Century Connection

In 2002, Soldier Field was under renovation, and the Bears needed a stadium for its home games — the Illini would help out.

“Welcome to Champaign. 140 miles south of Chicago. On I-57 to play their home games at Memorial Stadium. In front of 70,000, the Bears come out to the field,” said Monday Night Football announcer Al Michaels in 2002.”

The Bears, coming off a 13-win season, won just four games in 2002. But the Urbana-Champaign community, along with many traveling fans from Chicagoland, got to see Brian Urlacher and other stars at Memorial Stadium.

“I loved going to the games. As somebody who grew up in the Chicago area and grew up in a bears household, it was our first and only time that we were ever Bears’ season ticket holders,” said Laura Weis, CEO of Champaign County Chamber of Commerce. And I would say that my eight year old learned a lot of new language during the Bears games.”

Local laws were changed so you could buy alcohol early on Sundays. Some students would sell tickets for big games, and enjoy a night at campus bar Kams. The Bears helped Illinois get its first video scoreboard and renovated Illinois’ locker rooms

“And I will say one of the most surreal experiences I ever was a part of was the Monday night game the Bears played the Packers here,” said Brown. “I’m not sure we would want to host it every year. It was the first time we’d ever sold beer at the stadium. Being a part of of that event was something we’ll remember forever.”