THE APEX TIMES
Bears Show Support for Chicago State’s Inaugural Football Game, With Bobby Rome II Leading the Way
Chicago State University will play its first football game in school history as the Chicago Bears prepare for a preseason finale also headlined by former North Carolina teammates.
The Chicago Bears are using the same football weekend to spotlight a major milestone across town, with Chicago State University set to stage its first football game in program history. In a announcement, the team said it is “thrilled to support” Chicago State’s effort as the Cougars prepare to take the field for the first time.
The timing is notable for Bears fans following this preseason, because the Bears’ coaching staff is led on the sideline by Ben Johnson, who will direct Chicago into its preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans. Johnson’s name is linked in the Bears’ release to Chicago State through a shared connection from their college days at North Carolina.
That connection runs through Bobby Rome II, who will serve as Chicago State’s head coach for the Cougars’ first-ever football game. According to the Bears’ release, Rome and Johnson were teammates at North Carolina, turning the Bears’ weekend spotlight into a family of storylines that extend beyond the NFL preseason.
For Chicago State, the “first game” framing carries extra weight because it represents the earliest on-field chapter of an entirely new athletics chapter. Starting a football program is rarely just about one date on the calendar. It typically requires building operational stability, recruiting and development pipelines, and a culture that can survive the growing pains of an inaugural season, and this moment is presented as the public kickoff for that work.
The Bears’ support also underscores how NFL franchises sometimes use preseason platforms for community and institutional visibility. While preseason games are largely about evaluation, this announcement positions the Bears as participants in a broader football ecosystem, where progress at the college level can create new opportunities for local players and new stories for fans.
What to watch next is how Chicago State’s first contest will translate into momentum for a program still finding its footing. For the Bears, the watch item is simpler: Ben Johnson’s preseason finale remains a chance for continued evaluation as the team moves closer to its regular-season priorities. In the background, the Bears’ weekend serves as a reminder that football’s development pipeline does not stop at the NFL, it feeds into it.
Why It Matters
- Chicago State playing its first football game in school history marks a new chapter for a local program and creates a foundation point for future recruiting and development.
- The connection between an NFL coach and a first-time college head coach highlights how relationships and shared football pathways can carry across levels of the sport.
- For the Bears, the storyline adds community context to a preseason weekend that still centers on on-field evaluation and preparation.
- Inaugural-program debuts often set early expectations for infrastructure, depth, and culture, making the first game a benchmark moment even as the season continues.
Key Facts
- The Chicago Bears announced they are “thrilled to support” Chicago State University’s football program as it prepares for its first game in school history.
- Chicago State’s head coach for the program’s first football game will be Bobby Rome II.
- Ben Johnson, who coaches the Chicago Bears, will lead the Bears into their preseason finale on the same day the Bears’ release highlights Chicago State’s debut.
- The Bears’ release ties Johnson and Rome II together through their shared college history at North Carolina.
- The Bears’ preseason finale opponent identified in the release is the Tennessee Titans.