WACO, Texas (KWTX) – Chicago Bears defensive end Andrew Billings is thanking his Central Texas supporters after the team’s playoff run ended in the NFC Divisional Round.
The Bears lost to the Los Angeles Rams 20-17 in overtime on Jan. 18, ending their postseason hopes.
Billings, a 2013 Waco High School graduate and 2018 Baylor graduate, recorded 31 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack and five quarterback hits during the season. The Bears secured a division title.
“I just want to say thank you for all the support this season,” Billings told KWTX. “We had a great run, a lot of ups and downs but we pulled off a lot of good wins, and it makes it all the more better knowing I have all that support back home. Hoping for great things next season.”
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, right, scrambles away from Chicago Bears defensive tackle Andrew Billings (97) before throwing a touchdown pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)(Jed Jacobsohn | AP)
Community involvement
Billings has spent nine years in the NFL and continues giving back to Waco through his Billings Family Find-A-Way Foundation. The foundation supports youth development in local communities through multiple programs.
The foundation’s Bikes for Books program encourages students to focus on attendance and academics. In its first year, the initiative awarded bikes, helmets and books to 72 students at J.H. Hines and Provident Heights Elementary schools and has continued to grow each year.
“Attendance was important to me because as I told the students being at school is being successful,” Billings said. “So, every time you learn something you succeed at something.”
Chicago Bears defensive tackle Andrew Billings (97) leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)(Abbie Parr | AP)
Teacher support and recognition
The foundation also awarded 40 Waco ISD elementary school teachers with $250 mini-grants through the Huddy Up for Teachers program. The teachers work at Alta Vista, Dean Highland, J.H. Hines and Provident Heights elementary schools.
Billings attended Alta Vista Elementary and said the gifts were personal to him.
“I wanted to do this because my aunt is a teacher, and I’ve watched her struggle to get all the materials she needs so I thought this would be a great way to give back to this community,” Billings said.
Chicago Bears defensive lineman Andrew Billings (97) exits the field after the Bears defeat the Las Vegas Raiders 25-24 in an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)(Jeff Lewis | AP)
Billings was nominated for the 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year award, which recognizes an NFL player for excellence on and off the field. As part of the nomination, he invited sixth-grade Waco ISD student David Martinez to the Super Bowl.
Martinez is one of Billings’ biggest fans, whom he met through the Bikes for Books program. The two have stayed in contact through different foundation programs.
Before playing with the Bears, Billings had stops in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, Kansas City and Las Vegas during his nine-year NFL career.
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